Solution to world hunger? Eat less meat, new study urges

[greybeard]

Well, most Americans do eat too much meat. I mean, a proper serving size of meat is about the size of a deck of cards, which is 3 to 4 ounces.

Define "proper" please.
3-4 oz--That would be what--about the equivilent of 3 Soylent Green wafers? (ya never know where the world is headed)

But how many people when they eat meat eat such a small piece? Nope, they get gargantuan 8-12 ounce slabs of meat. Way more than your body needs. You won't get amino acid and iron deficiencies eating a the proper serving size. Other cultures are much more healthy because they consume much less meat. When I lived in Japan, very little of a meal was meat, if at all. It was mostly vegetables, legumes, grains, and fruit. Not half a cow on a plate.

We in this country, do not eat nearly enough fish. Can't blame us tho--heavy metal problems, freshness--all the other scares, tho most of the time, our food supply is among the safest in the world, but then again, mankind didn't work it's way to the top of the foodchain by eating like a rabbit.
As far as healthy, I'm in my 60s, eat whatever I want and I want a lot. Other than for a snakebite, I haven't been to a doctor in--well, can't remember, but it's certainly been over 25 years-maybe 35 years. I like my bacon chicken fried, and my tbone med rare.
YRMV

As far as people growing food instead of cultivating huge beautiful ornamental lawns, I suspect the global livestock #s would instantly double. Every zoning commission and HOA enforcement council would have a cow just at the thought of it..

 

[kstaven]

Every zoning commission and HOA enforcement council would have a cow just at the thought of it..

Personally I think it would be worth it just to see the look on their faces.

But then again, I do have an odd sense of humor. Pretty sure it is all that Celt heritage.

 

[Ms. Research]

Well, most Americans do eat too much meat. I mean, a proper serving size of meat is about the size of a deck of cards, which is 3 to 4 ounces.

Define "proper" please.
3-4 oz--That would be what--about the equivilent of 3 Soylent Green wafers? (ya never know where the world is headed)

But how many people when they eat meat eat such a small piece? Nope, they get gargantuan 8-12 ounce slabs of meat. Way more than your body needs. You won't get amino acid and iron deficiencies eating a the proper serving size. Other cultures are much more healthy because they consume much less meat. When I lived in Japan, very little of a meal was meat, if at all. It was mostly vegetables, legumes, grains, and fruit. Not half a cow on a plate.

We in this country, do not eat nearly enough fish. Can't blame us tho--heavy metal problems, freshness--all the other scares, tho most of the time, our food supply is among the safest in the world, but then again, mankind didn't work it's way to the top of the foodchain by eating like a rabbit.
As far as healthy, I'm in my 60s, eat whatever I want and I want a lot. Other than for a snakebite, I haven't been to a doctor in--well, can't remember, but it's certainly been over 25 years-maybe 35 years. I like my bacon chicken fried, and my tbone med rare.
YRMV

As far as people growing food instead of cultivating huge beautiful ornamental lawns, I suspect the global livestock #s would instantly double. Every zoning commission and HOA enforcement council would have a cow just at the thought of it..

My DH states if he can't stop the bleeding, maybe he will think about going to a doctor. No trust, no faith, no way. We eat what we want when we want and how we want. Sorry, not going to have someone tell me what I can and can not eat. I'm an adult. I think by now at 50 years old, I know what's best for me. Please don't put me in a box or catagory. But unfortunately that's the only way they can deal with people. Must have a catagory.

And regarding the Zoning and HOA enforcement, maybe they should start growing cattle rather than grass. Maybe we might get these inspectors to actually do something. Better yet, actually know something. They are not the brightest bulbs in the chandelier. DH has to deal with them all the time. And DH's past experiences with them is, you be amazed at what they SHOULD BUT DON'T know. Unfortunately 80% of those jobs are patronage. Who knows who. And they are constantly changing.

 

[redtailgal]

Greybeard wrote: We in this country, do not eat nearly enough fish. Can't blame us tho--heavy metal problems, freshness--all the other scares, tho most of the time, our food supply is among the safest in the world, but then again, mankind didn't work it's way to the top of the foodchain by eating like a rabbit.

AGREED. This backs up my theory that we are not facing a food shortage, we are insteand facing an intelligence and common sense shortage.
Society in general is getting dumber and more lazy with each passing generation. I watched a movie called "Idiocracy". It was an hysterical comedy, but was making a rather blunt point on the status of society in general. If you get the chance to watch it, do so. It will bring a laugh even if you dont agree with the political statement.

By the way, Greybeard, Welcome to the group!


Greybeard also wrote: As far as healthy, I'm in my 60s, eat whatever I want and I want a lot. Other than for a snakebite, I haven't been to a doctor in--well, can't remember, but it's certainly been over 25 years-maybe 35 years. I like my bacon chicken fried, and my tbone med rare.
YRMV

Good for you! But, I would bet that you dont spend your day in the recliner with a bag of chips. You kinda strike me as the up and at'em sort of guy.
Every grey bearded Marine that I know (and I know a few) never loses that "Semper Fi, do or die" attitude. It keeps you alive and it keeps you healthy (and eating steak, lol). How are your knees, though? lol, I'm being silly, you dont have to answer. Many of my older USMC friends have had knee and/or hip replacements or repairs, again going back to the "do or die". They all had their surgery, came home to eat a steak and tater dinner and smiled about their perfect cholesterol.

Greybeard wrote: As far as people growing food instead of cultivating huge beautiful ornamental lawns, I suspect the global livestock #s would instantly double. Every zoning commission and HOA enforcement council would have a cow just at the thought of it..


Yes, I think you are right. But the boost in livestock population would only be temporary. As people became more self sufficient, their wouldnt be a need for the larger commerical dairy and meat herds, nor would their be a need for so many chicken houses. Food waste would be considerably less, people are not gonna be so quick to poor milk down the drain if they get up and milk their own cow.

There is a community in the mountains near where I live that has a community farm. They have one very large garden that each person cans out of. The familys rotate working the garden, so no family has to be out there every day (thus making grow your own food available without being tied to the farm. Each family contributes the $$$ needed to buy the equipment, 500$ per family bought a NICE tractor. They have a chicken coop with about 100 birds, that free range in the cow pasture along with a small beef and dairy herd. As with the garden, animal chores are rotated. This works great for these people, they are self sufficient, but no one has to miss a vacation or get up at 6 am to milk a cow when they are sick. They have their problems, but they always work it out. This community has been doing this for over 25 years.

Ms. Research wrote: My DH states if he can't stop the bleeding, maybe he will think about going to a doctor. No trust, no faith, no way. We eat what we want when we want and how we want

Tell your hubby that everything stops bleeding eventually. lol

 

[elevan]

This backs up my theory that we are not facing a food shortage, we are insteand facing an intelligence and common sense shortage.
Society in general is getting dumber and more lazy with each passing generation.

I happen to agree.

If SHTF tomorrow the majority of people would be in trouble.

 

[redtailgal]

I have heard many folks talk about the people who would starve if the shtf.

I worry more about the way lazy, hungry people would react. I think alot of good people would starve, or die trying to protect their livelyhood.

Walk softly, carry a big stick and sleep in the barn with a gun. I've done it before, and I would do it again, lol.

 

[greybeard]

Redtailgal, if ya notice, a lot of my post times are odd hrs, my day starts rather early and usually ends just a few hrs before that time. I don't have much of a requirement for sleep either--4 hrs is enough most of the time.
(before daybreak today, I had to get the machinery all lubed and ready to finish planting winter rye early this morning while it was still raining.)
No, I do not sit around much, which is why I have always kinda chuckled at the "one size serving fits all" theories. What may work for someone with a sedentary lifestyle, will not work for someone who is constantly active. People need to, in all things, do what works for THEM--not for someone else.

There's another side to all this, and it is even more disturbing to me. There seems to be a growing attitude in the world, that all the ills of the world can be solved if the developed nations give up what they have to the lesser developed or even to the emerging nations. ("3rd world nations" is no longer a politically correct term or so i am told) Basically, what the article implies, is, instead of (or is it in cunjunction with?) wealth redistribution, we should embark on a path of food redistribution--hasn't been too long ago I read a similar article saying we used far more energy than we should and should cut back so those same nations would have more. I'm beginning to see a pattern, a pattern that is as ancient as mankind itself. Not good at all.

 

[redtailgal]

Grey Beard, I think that me and you could get along pretty good, lol.

I hate the whole share the wealth mentality. It takes away a persons drive and motivation to do better, to go the extra mile and to work harder.

I work hard and enjoy the fruits of my labor, fresh veggies and quality meat. A person who sits on their duff all day, can whine and complain and resent it all they want, but they havent earned my fruits, veggies and meat. I will often swap with neighbors, they want some of my tomatos they bring me a bag of potatoes and we make a deal. I like that.

However, I have another neighbor in the neighborhood who thinks that I am being "unneighborly" to not GIVE her some of my tomatoes everytime she asks. She is a single mom of two boys, ages 10 and 12, both in school, yet she does not work. She gets that welfare check and foodstamps and is living large without having to work.

Share the wealth only breeds laziness. It will contribute to the problem, in my opinion.

Yup, you keep some odd hours, I noticed this while I was keeping my own odds hours, lol.

 

[Ms. Research]

Redtailgal stated:

Ms. Research wrote: My DH states if he can't stop the bleeding, maybe he will think about going to a doctor. No trust, no faith, no way. We eat what we want when we want and how we want

Tell your hubby that everything stops bleeding eventually. lol

Cute

 

[77Herford]

Hmm, if RedTailGal is my long lost sister, then GreyBeard is what my long lost uncle, lol.