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There are many reasons why people choose to become vegetarians. Some people are against the way animals are looked after and killed, others are concerned about the environment, and some simply don’t like the taste of meat.
Whatever the reason, it’s a growing trend with as many as 2.5 million Australians preferring a vegetarian diet. This trend looks set to continue growing in popularity.
It is worth noting that meat-eaters have approximately ten times the carbon footprint of non-meat eaters, per meal. Combine this with increasing concerns regarding the viability of the food chain n the future and you can see why eating less meat could be a good idea.
The Principle Behind Meat As A Seasoning Agent
People with strong feelings on the subject and an excessive amount of willpower can stop eating meat and still derive pleasure from their food. However, for many people, it can be difficult to simply give up on meat.
For those that want to try but are struggling, you can start by adding meat as a seasoning agent.
In essence, this means creating a vegetarian meal, the same meal you would give a vegetarian. You can then add meat to it. But, instead of adding a normal size portion of meat, such as an eight-ounce steak, you add just one ounce.
The food is then flavoured with meat, giving you a balance between the environmentally friendly choice and your passion for meat. If you try it you may be surprised at how good it tastes and you don’t even notice you’re eating less meat.
Of course, if you’re eating out, or buying processed, you’ll need to verify that the best food processing equipment has been used. That means keeping meat and other products separate to ensure vegetarians can adhere to their principles.
Cost-Saving
It’s not surprising that using an ounce of meat instead of eight ounces is going to be cheaper. But, what may surprise you is that you can buy meat trimmings, designed for seasoning. These are even cheaper than the equivalent amount of meat by the ounce.
That means you’re saving in two ways. It’s particularly beneficial to buy meat this way if you have a loved one that is vegetarian. It will make it easier to prepare the same meat and season with meat afterwards.
Potentially Healthier
Although research is ongoing it appears that vegetarians generally have lower ‘bad’ cholesterol levels and are likely to have lower blood pressure. They are also at less risk of developing type 2 diabetes and may be less at risk of developing cancer.
In short, switching to vegetarian may be better for your health but, if you can’t do this, then dropping meat consumption and using meat as a seasoning agent is a close second and will help you to stay healthier.
The Bottom Line
Even if you have no strong feelings about meat, the environment, or even how animals are cared for, it won’t do you any harm to try meat as a seasoning agent. You may be pleasantly surprised.
