Is there something wrong with people who find it hard to get through the day without eating red meat?

Red meat is not unhealthy. We evolved to eat it.
For some it’s kind of a macho thing. They want to be seen eating STEAK (insert Tim the Toolman grunt here) not a foo foo salad.

Oh. To answer your questions….not sure. Just make sure you get enough protein so you don’t crave meat.

Variety for me – one day meat, another day fish, another day chicken, some days salads. No set requirement for meat.

@elbanditoroso Me too.

As a raging carnivore, I’m NOT convinced that red meat is bad for you!!! I’m also NOT convinced that being a vegan is bad for you either. I believe that we ALL should eat a well balanced diet in order to be healthy. IF eating red meat makes me feel better then I see NO reason to stop. At the same time, IF not eating red meat makes you feel better, then it is the right thing for you to do!!! I don’t care how much extra protein that I eat, it doesn’t replace my need for a good steak!!!

Wrong with people? Do you mean are they deficient in some nutrient?

Some people are accustomed to eating a lot of red meat, and so that’s their diet.

I crave beef when I’m sick. Might be the protein or iron.

When I go veganish for a while, I sometimes start to really crave red meat. I think that’s probably also me not paying enough attention to protein needs. I do run low on iron, but I take supplements for that and eat leafy greens.

If you work a physical job you might require more protein.

All animal has protein though.

I don’t think red meat is much worse for you than any animal product. Mammals, poultry, seafood, it all has protein and cholesterol, which I tend to keep an eye on for my own diet.

It could also be craving salt. Meat eaters tend to consume more salt.

Here is a study from Harvard that discusses the relative risks of eating a diet high in red meat, and offers the Mediterranean diet as a healthier alternative:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/whats-the-beef-with-red-meat

As a vegetarian for over 30 years, I never crave meat. Not even when I decided to become a vegetarian. What I have found to be the best way not to crave meat, is to find other foods, not just a few, but lots and lots of different foods to eat, that you like. Trying new foods is the only way to find out if you like other things. I have found out also, that it sometimes takes about 3 separate tries, of eating a new food before you acquire a taste for it.

And I can’t stipulate enough, how trying different methods of preparing and cooking things can make all the difference between not liking something, and loving it. Boiled, bitter, mushy Brussels sprouts is a far cry from this:

https://keviniscooking.com/roasted-brussels-sprouts-balsamic-vinegar-honey/

There are so many different ethnic cuisines, and so many different ways of preparing the same ingredient, take cauliflower as an example, that you could eat the same ingredient in 10 different ways and it would not taste the same, or have the same texture.

Variety, and knowledge about what you are eating, and where your food comes from goes a long way in making the connection between what you ultimately decide to put in your body.

For me, learning how to cook, opened up a multitude of culinary opportunities.

You don’t need to become a vegetarian, unless that is what you want. You should probably start with swapping out some things for the meat that you would normally eat. Also, make conscious decisions about what you are going to eat, and when. Make schedules. Meatless Monday is a thing, but you could make any day(s) meatless.

Have a menu, and a plan. It’s easier to stick to a menu, if you have a plan. A weekly plan, a monthly plan, a daily plan. Write it out, put alerts on your phone, start looking at meatless meal planning websites for recipes and inspiration.

Let your friends and family know what you are trying to accomplish. Some will be helpful and supportive. Some will be insulting and try to sabotage your efforts.

Before heading out to a restaurant, look at the menu online, or call the restaurant and ask some questions.

But mostly, don’t beat yourself up if you fall off the wagon, or fall short of your goal, or make a few missteps. All you have to do is start again, even if you have to start again multiple times.

Get rid of the meat in your home. Gift it to your friends and relatives. There is no sense in wasting it.

If you have any desire for recipes, just let me know.

I ate red meat a lot until I joined the Navy. I was spoiled on Iowa, tasty meats. Beef and pork most other places have a flavor less than acceptable when you’re raised on the best. I took to eating fish and chicken so much I pretty much stuck to them after that.
There is nothing wrong with people eating red meat, or not eating it.
I found my best way to get through a day onboard, since my meat habits have changed, was to do raw eggs in a glass of milk. Unlike Rocky, I put only one egg in the glass at a time, with just enough milk to help it down in one gulp. Kinda like swallowing a lugy.
Did you know pandas were originally carnivores, and evolved to vegetarian?
Now they are loosing habitat, and can’t go back to killing for food.

I would advise against eating raw eggs. The most serious reason is because of the chance of salmonella poisoning. I live with people with weakened immune systems and I would never risk their health with raw eggs.

Also, even though raw eggs are full of nutrients, eating them raw often inhibits the absorption of the nutrients, including the protein that most people want from eggs. Cooked eggs, on the other hand, make absorption of the protein and other nutrients more accessible.

You can read more about that here:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/eating-raw-eggs

You can buy pasteurized eggs to eliminate the risk of salmonella. I advise using them for sunny side up, over easy, and raw cookie dough.

All terrific answers. Thanks so much jellies! I remember doing the South Beach diet several years ago and aside for being very effective for losing weight I remember it says eat all the meat I want. I didn’t do it then.

It was seared in my memory that warning my friend’s Dad gave me. The only reason he ended up getting a bypass was his red meat eating. He lived almost 15 years after that bypass before he passed away for heart related issues.

I’m kinda torn between that cautionary tale and my for some unknown reason great appetite for red meat these days. Just imagining a Porterhouse sizzling in a pan or the grill drives me nuts. Lol

@mazingerz88…. It probably wasn’t the meat eating that caused his heart issues. Genes are more likely. Also was he overweight?

@mazingerz88 Does your family get heart disease? Is your cholesterol high? You might not need to be as concerned about eating meat as me, or your friends dad. Recently, my kidney function went below normal from a drug I was taking, and it barely came up into the normal range. I think I have permanent damage. Another reason for me to not eat a lot of meat, but I mean any animal, not just mammals.

You could try eating more beans like black beans, pinto, etc. Get protein other ways, and then you might be ok eating less meat, not feel deprived. I’m not saying eliminate meat, but you could reduce the portion maybe. I love steak or pork with rice and beans, so that’s a lot of protein. Add a salad, I like it all on the same plate. Yum.

Old habits die hard

@JLeslie Sorry to hear about a drug having that side effect on you. I have a friend with MS who tried new drug treatment twice but it only made him worse. Sure, the same drugs might have worked wonders for others. My friend unfortunately wasn’t just one of them.

But yes, re red meat consumption practicing moderation is the best way to go. We don’t have heart disease in the family but we have cancer.

@Dutchess_lll No he wasn’t overweight but after the bypass at 50 he slowed down his physical activity. Worried about having another attack he had this routine of napping for an hour in the afternoon. This went on for years.

Do humans count as red meat? If so, then there is nothing wrong with me.

Humans are red meat. And there are so many things wrong with you, red meat is a non issue.

Coming from you, I take that as a compliment.

Getting back to the question, I think it’s not a nad idea to limit red or fatty meat to a few times a week for health and environmental issues.

Well this was timely. Lol

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/30/health/red-meat-heart-cancer.html?te=1&nl=evening-briefing&emc=edit_ne_20190930?campaign_id=57&instance_id=12747&segment_id=17470&user_id=65f0bbd3a2f85106ef9b932918a32097&regi_id=65611854