I'm sure you've heard the recent news about new government dietary guidelines recommending "eating less meat". Mainly there is a big concern about its impact to the environment, but there is also plenty of research pointing towards a more varied and plant based diet as being healthier for you by reducing risks of obesity, heart disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases.
I agree completely with this new recommendation and I think it is a VERY important one.
Now you may be confused, as you may know we have a farm with grazing cattle to produce organic, grass fed beef. But here is "my beef with beef":
#1- We should ALL be eating LESS animal protein.
Regardless of quality, QUANTITY is a real problem. Americans eat WAY too much meat. Think about the bacon or breakfast sausages for breakfast, lunch meats and processed meats for your sandwich at lunch, and the chicken, steaks or other piece of meat with your dinner. Did you know the daily recommendation for an adult woman is about 5 oz of animal protein and for men about 6oz A DAY?!
#2- When we do, it should be of good quality: grass fed for beef, pastured for poultry and pork, and wild for fish. When possible, organic as well.
Quality is VERY important. Animal production has become an intense operation to meet the demands and animals are fed all kinds of stuff they are not supposed to be eating. Starting with the naturally grass eating cow that is fed hard to digest corn to quickly fatten it, creating all kinds of diseases for them. Grass fed beef also contains as much as 5 TIMES more omega 3 fatty acids than corn fed.
Antibiotics is another big problem. Farmed fish is very heavy on antibiotics, by the way.
Did you know an astonishing 80% of all antibiotics sold in the U.S. are used on animals for meat production? Let that sink in. This rampant use is creating antibiotic-resistant “super bacteria.” According to the Environmental Working Group, 87% of tested meat samples (turkey, pork, beef, and chicken) were contaminated by at least one species of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
And then there is the issue of what these antibiotics are doing to our guts!!
Now, I know cost is an issue, but remember by eating LESS meat, smaller portions, and using more plant based proteins you will save lots of money that you can then use on QUALITY!
#3- Not ALL beef production is bad for the environment.
Holistic management (sometimes called rotational or intensive grazing) is actually GOOD and necessary for it. This is a complicated subject for which perhaps I'll have my husband be a "guest poster" one of these days :) He has read and studied extensively these types of operations and its benefits to the environment. Its just the old school, natural way of raising animals, and thus it makes sense for Mother Earth! If you are curious, you can read more here...
Conclusion and My Advice
Start with Meatless Mondays!
Have you heard of the movement? Here is more information.. To me, this was a great start. We started doing this at home about a decade ago and it has created a better awareness of how many different ways we can really eat plant based in a delicious, nutritious and fulfilling way. Today I can go beyond just Mondays...
There are so many plant-based protein sources that we can incorporate to eat less meat: lentils, beans, quinoa, seeds, nuts, and grains.
Avoid animal protein for breakfast and lunch.
Try oatmeal or chia pudding for breakfast, a lentil soup or green salad with veggies and beans for lunch. Reserve your animal protein only for dinnertime.
Get creative!
You can use nuts or chickpeas for your salads; make soups with lentils, and so many delicious dishes with protein-rich quinoa!! I also love the new black bean pasta (they sell at Costco) you can eat with your favorite pesto for a wonderful, nutritious, "meat-free" dish!
Want some recipes to get you started? Visit and follow my "Meatless Monday" Pinterest board!
I agree completely with this new recommendation and I think it is a VERY important one.
Now you may be confused, as you may know we have a farm with grazing cattle to produce organic, grass fed beef. But here is "my beef with beef":
#1- We should ALL be eating LESS animal protein.
Regardless of quality, QUANTITY is a real problem. Americans eat WAY too much meat. Think about the bacon or breakfast sausages for breakfast, lunch meats and processed meats for your sandwich at lunch, and the chicken, steaks or other piece of meat with your dinner. Did you know the daily recommendation for an adult woman is about 5 oz of animal protein and for men about 6oz A DAY?!
#2- When we do, it should be of good quality: grass fed for beef, pastured for poultry and pork, and wild for fish. When possible, organic as well.
Quality is VERY important. Animal production has become an intense operation to meet the demands and animals are fed all kinds of stuff they are not supposed to be eating. Starting with the naturally grass eating cow that is fed hard to digest corn to quickly fatten it, creating all kinds of diseases for them. Grass fed beef also contains as much as 5 TIMES more omega 3 fatty acids than corn fed.
Antibiotics is another big problem. Farmed fish is very heavy on antibiotics, by the way.
Did you know an astonishing 80% of all antibiotics sold in the U.S. are used on animals for meat production? Let that sink in. This rampant use is creating antibiotic-resistant “super bacteria.” According to the Environmental Working Group, 87% of tested meat samples (turkey, pork, beef, and chicken) were contaminated by at least one species of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
And then there is the issue of what these antibiotics are doing to our guts!!
Now, I know cost is an issue, but remember by eating LESS meat, smaller portions, and using more plant based proteins you will save lots of money that you can then use on QUALITY!
#3- Not ALL beef production is bad for the environment.
Holistic management (sometimes called rotational or intensive grazing) is actually GOOD and necessary for it. This is a complicated subject for which perhaps I'll have my husband be a "guest poster" one of these days :) He has read and studied extensively these types of operations and its benefits to the environment. Its just the old school, natural way of raising animals, and thus it makes sense for Mother Earth! If you are curious, you can read more here...
Conclusion and My Advice
Start with Meatless Mondays!
Have you heard of the movement? Here is more information.. To me, this was a great start. We started doing this at home about a decade ago and it has created a better awareness of how many different ways we can really eat plant based in a delicious, nutritious and fulfilling way. Today I can go beyond just Mondays...
There are so many plant-based protein sources that we can incorporate to eat less meat: lentils, beans, quinoa, seeds, nuts, and grains.
Avoid animal protein for breakfast and lunch.
Try oatmeal or chia pudding for breakfast, a lentil soup or green salad with veggies and beans for lunch. Reserve your animal protein only for dinnertime.
Get creative!
You can use nuts or chickpeas for your salads; make soups with lentils, and so many delicious dishes with protein-rich quinoa!! I also love the new black bean pasta (they sell at Costco) you can eat with your favorite pesto for a wonderful, nutritious, "meat-free" dish!
Want some recipes to get you started? Visit and follow my "Meatless Monday" Pinterest board!
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