The choice of what to eat is highly a personal decision. However, the choices that people make about the feed choices and what they put on the plate always have a global impact. While the majority of humans prefer to eat both plants and animals, human’s teeth, jaws, and nail don’t qualify humans to be carnivores. Notably, humans have very short nails, soft fingernails, and very small canine teeth, unlike other carnivores that have sharp claws, and large canine teeth, which are capable of tearing flesh. With the rising trends in global warming, research indicates that meat production accounts for about 15% of all the greenhouse gases and this is expected to grow as the developing countries adopt the western ways of rearing animals and meat-eating diets (Cuff, 2016). Because of this, there is evidence indicating that it will be hard to tackle the global warming menace without coming up with means of addressing the carbon emissions associated with humans’ collective love for meat and dairy. In line with this, various government agencies, campaigners, and multiple businesses have recognized the need for people to adopt better eating habits and thus to come up with discussions about meat consumption (Cuff, 2016). However, the primary question that arises is which are some of the best strategies that can be used to start making people to eat different food choices. The role of this paper, therefore, is to highlight some of the strategy for convincing people not to eat meat and adopt a vegetarian lifestyle. Indeed, there is work to be done to inspire people to experiment with vegetarian diet and thus raise awareness of protein alternatives.
Strategies for Convincing People to Not Eat Meat
The high levels of meat consumption across the globe have come under criticism because of ethical, environmental, and social reasons with plant-based meat substitutes being identified as some of the healthy protein sources than meat. Indeed, the perceived health, social, and environmental concerns raised about high meat consumption have stimulated calls for reducing the quantity of meat consumed, and this has created an ongoing debate among the policymakers and academics. In the academic realm, many consumers regard the meat products as important sources of nutrients and remains a traditional component of their diet (Cuff, 2016). On the other hand, the high levels of meat consumption have been associated with health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and some form of cancers. Environmental, health, and animal welfare advocates have over the years launched campaigns in the United States of America about the impacts of meat production. However, according to research by Rabobank, the consumption of meat in the US rose by 5% in the year 2015, and the per-person meat consumption is expected to rise in the coming years (Barclay, 2016).
Source: USDA, Rabobank 2016
According to a research conducted by Hubbub an environmental behavior change charity in collaboration with the University of Southampton, the results of the study indicated that most people found it hard to maintain enough protein diet without meat in their diet (Cuff, 2016). As a result, such people felt that to support a healthy tasty free meal without meat would be more time consuming than one featuring meat. Therefore, to convince people to change their eating habits, then it should be done in such a way that people position the vegetarian’s type of food as fulfilling as eating meat products (Cuff, 2016). Historically, people have practiced vegetarianism mainly for spiritual and religious reasons some associated with animal cruelty. Based on this, coming up with sustainable technique to convince people to eat less meat must emphasize the personal health of all people. Health remains to be the predominant factor that can make people change their eating habits. Tapping into such motivations is likely to convince more people to change their diet rather than trying to engage people on intellectual debates on the effect of meat consumption on the environment and other ethical issues surrounding meat consumption.
Animal Welfare
Across various literature, animal welfare is often treated as an ethical issue, and of all the reasons to reduce meat consumption, the animal welfare is the most likely to attract judgment and divisiveness (De Passillé " Rushen, 2005). Indeed, there are clear arguments about the impacts of reducing meat consumption and how this would benefit the wellbeing of animals which scientifically do experience some feelings and thus have the capacity to suffer. There is evidence indicating that by reducing the demand for meat, it is possible to improve the animal welfare and thereby reduce the suffering experienced by such animals (De Passillé " Rushen, 2005). Notably, in the industrial animal production, their main aim is to maximize productivity and profit, and in so doing they adopt various strategies such as selective breeding, genetic engineering while rearing the animals in poor conditions and mistreatment. Such poor conditions and abuses include confinement, overcrowding, and overfeeding and this causes great suffering to the animals thus reducing the overall quality of their meat throughout their short lifespan.
While the measures to reduce the greenhouse gases emissions in the meat and livestock come at a cost to animal welfare, one of the significant ways of tackling this problem is by eating less meat (De Passillé " Rushen, 2005). However, this can raise ethical issues on the livelihood of those people that depend on their animals for sustainability. Indeed, there is the argument that the answer in this lies in the production and consumption of better meat and the adoption of measures that combine high animal welfare with good environmental performances. There exists evidence that shows housing systems associated with better animal welfare can have ripple effects on the animal health. For example, the dairy animals with greater opportunities for exercise ends up requiring less medication (De Passillé " Rushen, 2005). Evidently, a significant concern that brings about welfare problems is from the high stocking densities used in intensive animal husbandry. The practicing of better welfare services can meet the physical and mental needs of the animal and thus express natural behaviors. While the overall reduction in meat consumption is necessary, the support of better farming practices, which adopt a high level of animal welfare is also paramount.
Weight Management
While there exist numerous studies, which try to associate meat consumption with weight gain, there still exists uncertainties about the role of meat consumption on the risk of obesity and weight gain. The consumption of meat is regarded as fattening because of the high caloric density and fat content, and this has contributed to weight gain in both men and women. Research indicates that meat consumption is related to the increased risk for the different chronic diseases (Wang " Beydoun, 2009). On the other hand, the consumption of vegetables, cereals, fruits, nuts, and legumes are related with reduced risks of several chronic diseases that include diabetes, obesity, and cancer. Studies show that diets that are largely based on the plant foods and this include a well-balanced vegetarian diet offers various nutritional benefits, and this include lowers levels of saturated fat, cholesterol, and animal protein, and antioxidants. In comparison with people that consume meat, vegetarians have been shown to have lower BMI, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol levels. As a result, these people have lower instances of hypertension, prostate and colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, and reduced cases of heart diseases (Wang " Beydoun, 2009).
Indeed, studies have confirmed that the intake of animal proteins is associated with a more prominent BMI and thus putting the meat consumers at high risk of obesity. Based on this studies, then eating less meat can assist people in keeping a healthy weight. Consequently, this can reduce the risk of chronic diseases that have become a global epidemic because of people’s eating habits. Researchers are thus advocating for the consumption of vegetarian diets, and this can go a long way in the prevention of chronic diseases that include obesity.
Environmental Concerns
The environmental concerns surrounding meat production varies because of the wide variety of agricultural practices employed across the world. Nonetheless, all the farming methods have been shown to have an effect on the environment and this include but not limited to pollution. According to a study conducted by Environmental Working Group (EWG), the production and the processing of animals requires a massive amount of fertilizers, pesticides, fuel, feed, and water and this releases greenhouse gases, manure, and other toxic chemicals into the surrounding water bodies and air (Djekic, 2015). Animal husbandry that includes milk, eggs, and meat production provides income for more than 1.3 billion people, and this single human activity has a substantial environmental impact than any other human activity. Indeed, the livestock production sector requires natural resources such as land, water, and energy and the increase in this sector can have adverse effects on air, water, and soil (Djekic, 2015).
The impact on the environment arises as a result of the emissions into the surroundings as well as the consumption of resources required during the production process. According to Djekic (2015), the meat sector remains to be the leading pollutant in the food industry and the environmental impacts of meat influences in the following dimensions. First, climate change because of the release of the greenhouse gases. Second, the acidification and eutrophication potential of meat production is high and lastly, the consumption of natural resources, which comprises of water and energy. Indeed, while there is the need to change meat production in the near future, there is also the need to review meat consumption because of the total environmental impact of livestock production (Djekic, 2015). A report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization indicated that livestock production released about 18% of greenhouse gases and this figure is way too high (Cuff, 2016). Because of this, there is the need to adopt livestock management practices that are more efficient and the reduction of levels of meat consumption.
Recommendations
While there is the need for further research on this topic, evidence indicates that animal welfare can be the most common motivator for the adoption of a meatless diet. Indeed, much could be achieved towards the development of advocacy for a sustainable food system that takes to regard the connection between animal rights advocacy and the global food system. On the other hand, health-related arguments for people to reduce meat consumption are more complicated as they are very personal. Indeed, discussions regarding climate and sustainable food systems may be viewed as legislative and such findings can come under question and scrutiny. Based on this, the best strategy for persuading people to reduce their meat consumption should take a combined approach and the linking of the various approaches, for example, the linking of health problems emanating from meat consumption and animal welfare. In sum, coming up with an effective persuasive policy for the public to adopt more sustainable dietary practices requires a sophisticated approach that would consider all factors such as energy, water, and waste.
Conclusion
Despite the increased attention and academic literature highlighting the importance of reducing meat consumption, the level of meat consumers across the globe continues to rise. Based on this, the recommended strategies sole aim is to not only minimize meat consumption but to ensure it is at sustainable levels and thus achieve long-term changes in the consumers’ culture. Indeed there is the need to move towards a more plant-based diet as a vegetarian diet has been shown to have reduced instances of chronic disease. If all measures are put in place, then there could come a time when people will turn down burgers and bacon for dietary reasons other than their price.
References
Barclay, E. (2016). Americans should eat less meat, but they’re eating more and more. Retrieved from https://www.vox.com/2016/8/18/12248226/eat-less-meat-campaign-fail
Cuff, M. (2016). Can we ever convince people to eat less meat?. Retrieved from https://www.businessgreen.com/bg/analysis/2469267/can-we-ever-convince-people-to-eat-less-meat
De Passillé, A., " Rushen, J. (2005). Food safety and environmental issues in animal welfare[Ebook] (1st ed., pp. 757-766). Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/0fe5/3994aefeb8ef1e02a83051c51e6f49f84c4d.pdf
Djekic, I. (2015). Environmental Impact of Meat Industry – Current Status and Future Perspectives. Procedia Food Science, 5, 61-64. doi: 10.1016/j.profoo.2015.09.025
Wang, Y., " Beydoun, M. (2009). Meat consumption is associated with obesity and central obesity among US adults. International Journal Of Obesity, 33(6), 621-628. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2009.45
