combining). Though meat has been
seen as an accessible and tasty source
of protein (and other nutrients such as
iron) for a very long time, it’s certainly
not essential, and definitely not in
the quantities that we’re accustomed
to. According to the Australian
Dietary Guidelines, you should eat no
more than one serve (65 grams) of lean
meat per day, or no more than 455
grams per week.
“If consumers were willing to
pay a fair price for the meat and
eat a little less in the process then
our farmers could still run a viable
business while farming in a way that
regenerates rather than degrades the
environment,” Duncan says. “It would
also allow for a more ethical approach
to raising animals.
“I don’t believe that we have to
remove meat products altogether in
order to combat climate change or
diet-related illness, but we do need
to challenge how we are raising these
animals and how much meat we
are consuming.”
According to Meat & Livestock
Australia (MLA) statistics, around 200,
000 people are employed in the red meat
industry alone and the gross value of
cattle and calf productions in 2014-2015
was 11.4 billion. Rather than completely
demolishing the industry, Duncan
points to the farmers who are raising
animals ethically, and using a ‘whole
farm’ approach to help preserve the
environment – such as the use of
manure from the animals as fertiliser
and ensuring proper crop rotation to
allow soils to recover. However, these
practices, she warns, do come with a
price tag for the consumer.
“Farmers take care of roughly 60
per cent of our land here in Australia,
but who is paying them to keep it in
a condition we have come to expect?
We can’t sit at home and be critical of
the state of the environment if we’re
not willing to support those who are
responsible for preserving it,” she says.
“Again, so much of this comes down
to using our shopping dollar as a vote
for the type of food system and
world we’d like to be a part of.”Going meat free
(sometimes)
Whether it’s once a week
or five days a week, most
of us could benefit from
being a little more meat free.
“Australia as a nation is not
consuming enough vegetables
and other plant-based foods,
so encouraging consumption
of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts
and seeds – which are plentiful
in vegetarian and vegan diets – can
improve overall health,” says Parker.“So while it may not be necessary
to go fully plant based, experiment
with plant-based meals and vegan
foods to improve your intake of
nutritious foods.”
Reducing your meat intake may
require little nutritional recalibration –
especially if it is your primary protein
source. “For vegetarians, especially
women, the greatest risk of deficiency
is with omega-3, iron and zinc.
Omega-3-rich foods are vital for heart
and brain health, and the best sources
are oily fish,” Parker says. “Low zinc
levels can lead to lower immunity and
impaired growth, so consuming foods
such as nuts and seeds, legumes and
grains can help prevent this.”Parker says the key to meeting
nutrient intake needs on a vegan or
vegetarian diet is eating a variety of
plant foods. Walnuts, f laxseed, LSA,
canola oil and avocado are rich inLOW ZINC LEVELS CAN
LEAD TO LOWER IMMUNITY
AND IMPAIRED GROWTH,
SO CONSUMING FOODS
SUCH AS NUTS AND SEEDS,
LEGUMES AND GRAINS CAN
HELP PREVENT THIS.