What is the the true cost of eating red meat? I want to offer you some alternatives to eating red meat. Here are some benefits of not eating meat to save money and the environment.
Other sources of protein
Contrary to popular opinion, red meat (as in beef or lamb, for example) isn’t the highest source of iron in our food. Obviously yes, red meat or liver is high but so are sardines, eggs, canned salmon, chicken, duck etc.
And then there’s the plant protein options like legumes (lentils, chickpeas), tofu, nuts, wholegrain cereals and green leafy vegetables, for example. For more info on protein sources and how much you actually need, check out this article for more information.
I must admit, I do love a nice piece of steak but I honestly can’t remember the last time I had one, let alone lamb. When I did buy beef more regularly, I’d look for whole rumps on special for $10 per kg or less and the butcher would slice it.
Looking at Coles website recently, the price per kg of red meat is outrageous and that’s why I don’t buy it. Also I know I can get my protein and iron from other, less expensive resources. Check out these cost examples from Coles (as at September 2020):
- sliced rump steak @ $24.00/kg
- sliced eye fillet steak @ $44.00/kg
- sliced porterhouse steak @ $42.00/kg
- veal sizzle steak @ $30.00/kg
- lamb leg steak @ $28.00/kg
- lamb back strap @ $50.00/kg
Cost on the environment
When you start to look at the harm that is being done to the environment in order to farm beef, it’s truly eye watering and very sad. Some quick stats:
- Cows must consume over 7kg of vegetation to produce 500gm of meat.
- Producing just one hamburger uses enough fossil fuel to drive a small car 32km.
- A typical pig factory generates the same amount of raw waste as a city of 12,000 people.
- Of all agricultural land in the U.S., 87 percent is used to raise animals for food.
- In 2018 alone, NSW lost 60,800 hectares of woody vegetation – or about 200 times the size of Sydney’s CBD.
You can read more about the harmful effects on the environment by farming.
Alternatives to not eating meat to save money & the environment
So when you consider any or all of the above, it’s certainly a lot cheaper to eat other sources of protein which will help you reduce your grocery spend. Here are 5 quick tips:
- Consider 2 serves of fish per week
- Consider 2 serves of egg based dishes per week
- Consider more plant based meals
- Use lentils to replace mince/ground meat
- Use poultry like chicken, duck or turkey
There are so many recipes on the internet. You only have to look at Indian recipes for beautiful vegetarian meals. Here are some links to inspire you:
13 Indian style salads & vegetable dishes
Can you live without red meat?
