To reduce meat to twice per week and stay healthy?

[StarlingSpark]

I haven't eaten red meat much at all in decades because I don't like it, although will eat bacon or a steak a few times per year. I mostly eat poultry and fish, with eggs and dairy, about 5 times per week.

Due to costs, and having found so many delicious plant based recipes that I love, I feel that meat is getting in the way a bit now and would really like to narrow it down to only twice per week. So that would be either two chicken breasts or varied with fatty fish.

I eat a lot of legumes and veg, and love cooking, so happy to try anything new.

What I want to ask is, is this amount of meat enough to fulfil nutritional needs? I am obviously ok for iron as never really eat red meat to start with, but can't find anything on google. It presumes i am asking about red meat, not meat in general.

Just to add: I know vegetarians and vegans will say they're great and have done this for years, but we are all different, and I am not interested in becoming vegan, with all due respect.

Because people in ancient times didn’t live long enough to develop lifestyle related diseases. They died younger from communicable diseases.

First class protein doesn’t only come from meat. Fish, eggs and cheese can all provide sufficient for health, but as many people can testify, the 2nd class protein from beans and lentils etc., can be an adequate substitute.

Give it a go and see how you feel. I think it will be fine, especially as you plan to eat yoghurt and eggs.

I don't really understand your issue here. But for what it's worth I've been mainly vegetarian all my life and have always had strong iron counts. Over about the past 8 years or so, I've been eating some fish (salmon, sea bass), perhaps you to 3 portions a week. All healthy. You don't need meat to be healthy.