Will be mostly vegetarien in the future?

[Hayabusa Rider]

Of course this does vary among groups, but don't even hunter-gathers at the most only consume about 30% of their diets in animal products? An they just about eat the entire animal.

That is very true. I was saying that we evolved as omnivores, not subsisting entirely on plants or animals. Our teeth and digestive tract shows that so going entirely plant based would be and is very difficult to do. No pregnant woman who doesn't have a legit medical reason should no more be herbivore any more than trying to make your dog or cat into one. That it can be done does not mean it should.

 

[Bitek]

They can't even make it tasty now. The average meat you buy anywhere is flavorless and gross. I cut way back and just occasionally splurge on top shelf meats now because everything else just isn't worth it. I don't see the rest of the country weaning off the burger and chicken breast diet though.

Same here.

We get most of our beef from a local farm where it's grass fed and pasture raised. Unbelievable difference in taste and texture. Similar is true for chicken and pork.

Haven't bought beef from the grocery store in decades.

We prefer to just buy less and get better quality. We eat lots of vegetables, which have a great variety of great tastes and flavors.

Too much meat isn't good for you anyway.

My guess would be is that meat consumption goes down as costs rise. It won't be farmland itself that's the limiting factor. More like water and climate impacts

 

[Bitek]

So those of you who have experience with farming or gardens which crops you think that are most calorie dense, easy to grow, and can be store for awhile without much trouble?

Winter squash keeps well. You can get into preserving if you want to keep more summer crops.

Honestly I think it's easier to use the garden to grow fresh seasonal veggies (squash, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, lettuce, beans etc) to round out your plate and leave the starches ( corn, potatoes) to the farmers. You need a big ass garden with lots of work if you want to get a large portion of your calories out of it.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Same here.

We get most of our beef from a local farm where it's grass fed and pasture raised. Unbelievable difference in taste and texture. Similar is true for chicken and pork.

Haven't bought beef from the grocery store in decades.

We prefer to just buy less and get better quality. We eat lots of vegetables, which have a great variety of great tastes and flavors.

Too much meat isn't good for you anyway.

My guess would be is that meat consumption goes down as costs rise. It won't be farmland itself that's the limiting factor. More like water and climate impacts

If I could get my wife used to seeing and smelling a dead hog leg hanging up for a year or two I'd get one of the old heritage breed whole ham, hoof and all, and make prosciutto. I'd never even think about it if I had to use a modern pig.

 

[Bitek]

If I could get my wife used to seeing and smelling a dead hog leg hanging up for a year or two I'd get one of the old heritage breed whole ham, hoof and all, and make prosciutto. I'd never even think about it if I had to use a modern pig.

😀

It's amazing how much flavor had been lost in foods as they've been bred for industrial farming.
Same is true for a lot of fruit and veg too.

Luckily we have access to a lot of great farms and orchards, as well as keep a good size garden, so we are able to get some nice stuff.

Having to buy at the grocery store ends up being a disappointment in what you get.

 

[Amused]

Nope. No way. You're not going to turn omnivores into herbivores because... reasons.

 

[whm1974]

😀

It's amazing how much flavor had been lost in foods as they've been bred for industrial farming.
Same is true for a lot of fruit and veg too.

Luckily we have access to a lot of great farms and orchards, as well as keep a good size garden, so we are able to get some nice stuff.

Having to buy at the grocery store ends up being a disappointment in what you get.

Unfortunately I'm living in a SRO apartment so I don't have room for a garden, let alone one for enough veggies and legumes to feed me.

 

[Jaskalas]

Land is not and will likely not be the issue. Meat production uses a lot of resources. You are right that meat would likely become far more of a luxury product as the costs for meat go up due to resource constraints.

And if the United States stopped its population growth, we could rely on our meat industry without the pressure of having to produce ever greater quantities of meat.

 

[realibrad]

And if the United States stopped its population growth, we could rely on our meat industry without the pressure of having to produce ever greater quantities of meat.

Maybe. We are still in need of efficiency gains. We use to much water in food production and way too much in meat. Green house gases is also a thing.

 

[whm1974]

Maybe. We are still in need of efficiency gains. We use to much water in food production and way too much in meat. Green house gases is also a thing.

Not to mention that we eat way too much meat for our health.

 

[realibrad]

Not to mention that we eat way too much meat for our health.

Well that's debatable. We are eating to much sugar and carbs for sure. You need nutrients found outside of meat. So long as you get that, the calories being from meat should not be a problem.

We for sure eat too many calories.

 

[whm1974]

Well that's debatable. We are eating to much sugar and carbs for sure. You need nutrients found outside of meat. So long as you get that, the calories being from meat should not be a problem.

We for sure eat too many calories.

Well I did cut out most of the sugar and refined carbs in my diet. And also heavily processed meats as well such as bacon.

 

[killster1]

I'm not sure about being forced to do it. We continue to do things we probably shouldn't all the time because it's convenient. However, if you're thinking of some time in the future where available land is the limiting factor for food production, then crops are significantly more efficient so there would be economic pressure to make better use of the land. I think it's much more likely that meat would become a luxury product that only relatively rich people, like most of the west, could eat.

I think the concern about eating rats is a bit silly. If someone offered you an ear of corn or a rat, which would you eat?

id eat the rat .. well wait how hungry am i? is there a Costco nearby? On my farm they raise chickens, geese, pigs, and goats. i dont understand how they would just disappear, is there a black cloud involved in this scenario?

 

[whm1974]

id eat the rat .. well wait how hungry am i? is there a Costco nearby? On my farm they raise chickens, geese, pigs, and goats. i dont understand how they would just disappear, is there a black cloud involved in this scenario?

Meat is really expensive in term of inputs and land use. Due to Global Warming and rising World population, among other things, it will be more costly to continue to consume as much as meat we are now in the Western World.

 

[Moonbeam]

If this guy is right this is a profoundly important lecture. Hope you watch:

https://www.ted.com/talks/allan_sav...nd_reverse_climate_change?language=en#t-23329

 

[killster1]

Meat is really expensive in term of inputs and land use. Due to Global Warming and rising World population, among other things, it will be more costly to continue to consume as much as meat we are now in the Western World.

So you went from we will all be vegetarians to "it will be more costly" haha , You think all the land has been used up and no more room for animals? maybe you are speaking of certain big cities but im not sure what % of the world lives in overcrowded cities.

 

[killster1]

If this guy is right this is a profoundly important lecture. Hope you watch:

https://www.ted.com/talks/allan_sav...nd_reverse_climate_change?language=en#t-23329

funny, so the video is saying all of the world needs livestock to come stand on the grass and poop or it will not grow again! wowowow we need to raise animals for food to help with soil erosion! SIGH, we can just get solar powered robots to do the grass smashing 😉🙂

 

[whm1974]

funny, so the video is saying all of the world needs livestock to come stand on the grass and poop or it will not grow again! wowowow we need to raise animals for food to help with soil erosion! SIGH, we can just get solar powered robots to do the grass smashing 😉🙂

With factory farming cattle raised for meat are mostly fed a grain and soybean diet and too many cattle on one plot of land will kill the grass.

 

[Moonbeam]

funny, so the video is saying all of the world needs livestock to come stand on the grass and poop or it will not grow again! wowowow we need to raise animals for food to help with soil erosion! SIGH, we can just get solar powered robots to do the grass smashing 😉🙂

Down the road perhaps. Robots could be built that extract water from the air, grow algae in tanks for fertilizer, plant alfalfa , or nitrogen fixing ligumes, and grow trees. They could swim to sea and desalinate water and pipe it inland watering desert land but all of this is much more complicated that raising cows. I don't know if the guy is right but his before and after photos are impressive if real.

 

[sdifox]

Any others?

Soy

 

[whm1974]

Soy

I think that most soy products are highly overrated. Aside from Tofu, Natto, and Tempha of course.... Soy milk? Tastes really gross.

 

[sdifox]

I think that most soy products are highly overrated. Aside from Tofu, Natto, and Tempha of course.... Soy milk? Tastes really gross.

I grew up near a soy product factory that run at night. They make soy milk and tofu for the next morning. Fresh soy milk is great. I am not one of those Whole Food shoppers 😛


There are many types of tofu, each have a different use. There are tons of different soy food as well. I don't know how exhaustive this list is.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_soy-based_foods
I like this one
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dougan

and love this one, though I would go eat it at a restaurant 😛

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinky_tofu


Wheat gluten is a great meat substitute as well

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat_gluten_(food)

 

[whm1974]

I grew up near a soy product factory that run at night. They make soy milk and tofu for the next morning. Fresh soy milk is great. I am not one of those Whole Food shoppers 😛


There are many types of tofu, each have a different use. There are tons of different soy food as well. I don't know how exhaustive this list is.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_soy-based_foods
I like this one
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dougan

and love this one, though I would go eat it at a restaurant 😛

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinky_tofu


Wheat gluten is a great meat substitute as well

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat_gluten_(food)

Thanks. I read about Stinky Tofu and have wondered about how it taste, any good? I wish I lived where there is an Asian food market nearby. Alas I don't, but if I did I would be eating Tofu more often.

 

[sdifox]

Thanks. I read about Stinky Tofu and have wondered about how it taste, any good? I wish I lived where there is an Asian food market nearby. Alas I don't, but if I did I would be eating Tofu more often.

well it's fermented then deep fried. served with a sweet thickened soy sauce and chili sauce, with sugar pickled Taiwanese cabbage on the side. I love the stuff. But then I am from Taiwan so definitely a biased opinion.

 

[whm1974]

well it's fermented then deep fried. served with a sweet thickened soy sauce and chili sauce, with sugar pickled Taiwanese cabbage on the side. I love the stuff. But then I am from Taiwan so definitely a biased opinion.

I just have to try some if I ever get the chance.😎