You're viewing a single thread.
It's worth noting that in countries like US, it's really only things like beyond burgers and impossible meat that cost more. It doesn't require eating those for a plant-based diet nor are people typically eating those every meal, is why plant-based diets generally have lower costs
Compared to meat eaters, results show that “true” vegetarians do indeed report lower food expenditures
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0921800915301488?via%3Dihub
It found that in high-income countries:
• Vegan diets were the most affordable and reduced food costs by up to one third.
• Vegetarian diets were a close second.
• Flexitarian diets with low amounts of meat and dairy reduced costs by 14%.
• By contrast, pescatarian diets increased costs by up to 2%.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2021-11-11-sustainable-eating-cheaper-and-healthier-oxford-study
Oh yeah I 100% spend less on food as a vegetarian, because black beans/lentils are such wonderful cheap sources of protein.
But sometimes I want like the premade like meat crumbles or burgers, and those cost more usually.
But do you spend less because you're vegetarian, or because you don't have options for spending money at fast food / restaurants?
I mean a pound of beef costs $4.
A pound of raw lentils like a $1.
Lentils are more calorie dense.
Lentils are more protein dense.
Black beans are in similar camp.
Rice and wheat products are cheaper per calorie, but lack the protein.
So yeah, it's just cheaper to be a vegetarian, even with massive beef subsidiaries. But veggie patties are still more expensive because of processing and they are smaller batches.
To add to this as a vegan of 10+ years. To supplement the lack of protein, I use pea based protein powder for a meal. And add hemp seeds for other meals/snacks during the day.
We occasionally get the processed grounds/meat substitutes only when they are on sale. Which would be 2lbs for $6 for a gardien/beyond/impossible alternative to animal flesh in pounds.
Unfortunately the difference between eating meat or lentils is having to eat lentils lol.
Lol, lentils are freaking bomb. Its a win win for me, I can eat bomb ass lentils, and save money.
I've always had issues with lentils but my diet is very Midwest American lol. The only time I've had good lentils is when they're masked as much as possible in heavily spiced curries or similar.
Aren't they already used in a bunch of processed foods as filler?
My mom would make lentil stew with sausage and I always ate the sausage and left the lentils. Was also forced to stay at the table until bed time because I refused to eat them. I need meat with my legumes that is if I am not working because I have a severe carb intolerance so anything from oats, to brown rice to beans and tubers trigger my IBS and make me confused. The only fix was 3 months of straight keto where I felt amazing, was exercising and looked great but... my boyfriend learned how to make pizza thw right way and nothing will ever replace the dough on pizza so once a week I have that, fast the rest and when I eat it's steak or chicken or shrimp or fish with spinach or something. I need to work so I can't just have a bean burrito or a bowl of rice or ill end up fired for spending too much time in the toilet or getting someone killed because I can't think.
Must be nice to have that kind of privilege to eat what you want though!
... okay you got me there.
But the veggie tech to make meat likes is getting better, so hopefully soon!
Yeah people really don’t believe me when I talk about how much I save by being a low fish pescatarian. A can of beans is cheaper than equivalent beef or chicken as are mushrooms. Peanut butter sandwiches are a cheaper lunch than lunch meat ones. And I’m not hurting for protein because beans are full of the stuff
I’m not vegetarian, but I will stand by peanut butter being the best sandwich filling for packing lunch. Nothing compares to its ability to keep well in a room temperature ziploc bag.
I realy don't get why people eat those meat subsidies. They are realy not that good and unhealthy too. Cooking a meal just with vegetables and other stuff can taste realy good, is healthy and cheap at the same time.
Probably because Americans were raised on a super meat heavy diet. Meat burgers. Meat casseroles. Meat sauces. Meat everything. Fake meats make those recipes achievable for vegetarians and vegans who long for mom's home cooking.
This is only a recent thing historically. Government subsidies and lobbying from the meat industry, not to mention letting agricultural corporations create our food pyramid, got us to where we are today.
We have been led into an unhealthy lifestyle for the profit of a handful of billionaires.
Take a look at places where people live above 100 yrs regularly. They aren't shoveling beef down there throats like Americans are. And we die 20 to 30 years earlier on average
Italian here, sardegna. Sausage, porchetto, chicken, lamb (lots of it), small baby birds, brains, all kinds of fish especially sword fish, octopus and Squid, lots of cured meats... the list goes on. Every meal has a meat and we live the longest in italy.
Want to hear some mind-blowing information? Not everyone likes the stuff you like, you're not the barometer on what is good or what is unhealthy.
You want the real reason in a thread jerking off vegetarianism? Here goes:
- Meat tastes great.
- It gives me a sense of fullness that plants rarely do (except beans).
- It's a better protein source.
- The iron, B12, etc. in it are more easily absorbed.
- Every brand of fake meat I've tried tastes terrible.
- It makes me feel the best mentally compared to eating other foods.
Why is it that countries that don't eat red meat as much as Americans live far longer than we do?
Okinawans live well past 100, and are doing physical activity into their 90s. Americans are falling apart by the time they turn 60, dead before they hit 80.
I hope the flavor is worth the colon cancer!
Not American myself, but I can think of a few factors besides meat:
- less stress
- less polution
- less processed food, be it meat or not
- less sugar
- less sedentary lifestyle
- genes
Nutrition alone won't get you to 100. Having a diverse diet keeps ypu healty, but there are many factors that impact health. I do agree that meat is overused in general population, but can't really force the vegan/vegetarian lifestyle onto an omnivore specie.
While moderation is the key to everything, and I wouldn't be surprised if cutting out red.meat is a lot healthier for the consumer
Feels like you just randomly made something up here by comparing some random outlier stories you've heard.
I'm sure that's the only difference between the average American and people from those countries. Same exact genetics, lifestyles, air pollution, economy, etc.
I would love you to show me where I said that's the only difference.
They also have a sense of community. Americans will fuck over anyone for a slight advantage.
They also are physically active, unlike Americans eating 3k calories and sitting on their asses all day.
There are actually many places on Earth that are just like Okinawa in that they have long lives. I think that's evidence enough that genetics are not a big factor. They are not some sort of superhumans, They just live a better life.
Go ahead and defend how Americans live.... We are insatiable pigs, on a whole. Nearly half of us are overweight because we can't control ourselves. We have no meaningful culture. We have no sense of community. We are individualistic to the core. And we die before we hit the age 80. But yeah America's number one right?
Yes meat does that. I am talking about fake meat.
Impossible and beyond taste delicious in respective appropriate dishes. Dunno wtf you're on about. Also a lot less prep and clean up to toss a frozen patty on the grill than cook a bunch of veggies. The downside is that it isn't particularly healthy-- at least on par with a red meat burger. But the idea that they all "taste bad" is just dumb and contrary to what clearly a ton of other people experience.