How much meat do you eat?

[lanya]

Recently I've noticed in my circles that pretty much everyone is cutting back on meat due to environmental/ climate reasons.

Most people I know aren't vegetarian, but are more aware/ more careful about the amount they eat, e.g. only once or twice per week.

I am wondering whether this is the case generally across the UK, or if most people are carrying on as normal?

YABU: We are eating the same amount of meat as we always have.
YANBU: We have reduced our meat intake over the last few years for climate reasons.

Disclaimer: This isn't any kind of brag or meant to be condescending - I'm just curious.

We can afford to buy it, but I'm not comfortable paying £12 for 2 nights worth of chicken.

That's why I rarely buy chicken! I can get a kilo of local beef mince for £12.

I eat meat several times a week

I’m a life-long vegetarian but I’m trying to go more plant-based because of climate concerns. For example I have switched to oat milk.

I actually eat a lot more meat now due to health issues. I am suffering from chronic health issues and recovering from a very long period of being extremely unwell.
when i was well, I would eat meat maybe once every two weeks. I did try being vegetarian but it just didn't agree with me so I just ate small amounts of meat/fish.

the guidelines for someone in my position is roughly 1g/kg of body weight in protein every day and that is very hard to get from plant sources especially as legumes and beans do not agree with me due to medications. I am also trying to lose weight, so the protein helps with being full.

I find if I eat a decent chunk of meat/fish every day + at least two eggs and/or some Greek yoghurt, I do well with energy levels/exercise and avoiding overeating.

also I can't lie, I love all my food and having spent so long with a restricted diet due to illness I wouldn't want to restrict it even further.

I think things need to change though. but the way forward is to encourage people to eat more plants, not to become vegan overnight as that is too drastic. with eating more plants, veganism or near veganism might happen naturally. with the reduction in demand, animal farming would become more small farms/ethical/local. I think it's more realistic in the short term to put pressure on to improve animal welfare rather than having an all or nothing approach

Just as an aside - oats are heavily sprayed with pesticides. If you want to drink oat milk then organic is better. Plus check it doesn’t have a load of emulsifiers and seed oils in it - it can be a UPF.

I've never really enjoyed meat, so I very rarely eat it. And I'm not paying that much for something I don't enjoy and couldn't really afford anyway.

Lunch here is always meatfree. Dinner is meatfree 3x a week. I cook meat twice a week and the next day is usually left overs. I've made a concious effort to cut down.

My OH has a manual job and needs meat - he has been diagnosed with vitamin deficiencies in the past so we try to eat a nutritious balanced meals , but meat 5 nights a week from a good butcher - does tend to be cheaper cuts though, not steak

None. It boggles my mind that people can think it is OK to cause pain and suffering to animals because they like the taste of their flesh.

Up to you what you eat of course but nobody actually “needs meat”. It is a choice not a need.

I eat a lot of veggie meals. Probably chicken and fish once a week and maybe a roast at the weekends so 2 or 3 meals out of 7 (dinner). Breakfast is yoghurt and fruit, lunch usually cheese/egg/toast.
I couldn't afford meat every day

I have been similar for 3 years - to get my protein goal, I have tuna or mackerel at lunchtime, dinner is fish 2-3x a week, chicken 2-3 times, one or two meals of other meat. Plus protein powders of different kinds depending on training schedule.
Honestly I have never felt better

One of MN classics. Its not a need it's a choice bollocks 🙄

Well it isn't a need, it's a want. Humans can survive (and thrive) without meat. So not bollox at all.

Sorry I don’t want to be dictated what I can and cannot eat.

Have vegetarians friends they don’t go on and on about the cruelty etc. Some of them are vegetarian for their religions

I eat meat or fish at least once a day.

All of this, beautifully put.

Our family reduced meat for health reasons. We only really eat meat/poultry when we go out for dinner. If we feel like something ‘meaty’ at home, we use tofu or something similar.

I eat fish regularly though. Love mackerel too much.

Ok then, explain why a human needs meat please.
It is completely possible to meet all dietary requirements with a vegetarian diet.
I would never try to make meat eaters become vegetarian. All my friends are meat eaters and I have never so much as raised the subject with any of them.
But I will take issue with false information as posted here that that someone's OH has to eat meat because they work hard in order to get all their vitamin requirements because this is totally mistaken.

It’s totally normal not to eat cheap meat everyday. Post WW2, many families only ate red meat on a Sunday as it was expensive.
Now you can get a pack of sausages for £1. The state those animals must be raised in…
The thought of eating sausages and bacon, ham etc everyday makes me feel queasy.

I saw a documentary about the state of ‘free range’ chicken and farmed salmon. It was gross. The salmon are so deformed and sickly they have to inject them with pink dye so people will buy it. Won’t eat it anymore, no matter what ‘sustainable’ credentials are on the pack.

Reduced it but buy more from butcher so locally reared lamb rather than shipped from New Zealand. It’s £££ though so not cheaper and is delicious so feels like a treat. Fish is so expensive these days, I do wish it was more affordable as it seems like a much more sustainable way of feeding people.

I have been vegetarian for over 12 years. I have also recently developed issues that indicate a high level of inflammation in the body.
I was misrable, tried a lot of medication with limited impact.
5 months ago I gave a "anti inflammatory" diet a go..I cut out sugar, gluten and diary initially. I have started to eat fish. 5 months on I have lost over 2 stone any my symptoms are noticably better..I don't ache all the time.

I'm about to start eating red meat again.
Carnivore diet has been linked to reduced inflammation and I will give it a go.

I think the danger with vegan/vegetarian diets is the amounts of ultra processed foods avalibile that people think is healthy
Oat milk being one example. That being said meat can be ultra processed too. I think it's all about quality.

@Blackcats7 I tried a vegetarian diet recently, having been inspired by an exchange student. I managed a week.

Vegetarian food just doesn't fill me up. I felt weak and tired despite eating risottos, plenty of nuts, pulses, root veg and cheese.

I gave it a good try but I was constantly reaching for the biscuits.

So I am content to reduce my meat intake which I have done. I'm an omnivore and eating meat/poultry 5 meals out of 14, and fish 4 meals out of 14 is a good balance for me.

Every person has different dietary needs at different stages in their lives.

That depends whether you have any health issues or allergies that mean you have to restrict your diet.

I eat meat or fish pretty much everyday - normally chicken, pork, tuna or salmon but occasionally turkey or beef too.