I am beginning to think the days of red meat in the American diet are numbered, at least as far as being a preferred source of protein. As our population grows older and heavier we have to be more careful about buying fast food, beef products, and fatty foods. And sales of fast food burgers have been declining in recent years. So even though beef may still be what's for dinner I think its popularity will decline for health reasons.
Sugar, fat, red meat, and high fructose corn syrup are the current bogeymen in our dietary myths but the science is stacking up pretty quickly against all of them. They are not carcinogenic they are still not as healthy as other foods. But we need some sugar, some fat, and lots of protein in our diet. So how do we handle that?
Well, vegetarians have solved the protein problem for years. Among the highest protein non-meat sources are mushrooms, lentils, quinoa, spinach, soy, and kale. All of these protein-rich foods have some drawbacks in taste, texture, or nutrition. Some vegetarians supplement their diets with protein from fish but we are overfishing our oceans.
And if you are gaining weight you have probably looked at Atkins-style diet plans to see if you can reduce the carbohydrates in your meal plans. We are caught between poor nutrition and poor health on these issues.
I, personally, love eating eggs, bacon, grits, and oatmeal for breakfast and I feel like I could eat that breakfast almost every day of the week. But I know that would not be very healthy for me. So maybe we're still looking for a great solution to a difficult problem.
I don't want to become a vegetarian. I like eating meat. Heck, I love eating processed meats like lunch meats, sausages, and the worst things you can imagine. I don't want to settle for fake meats.
And I want to enjoy good food of all styles. Give me more oriental food with protein, baby!
I think sooner or later a lot of us are going to face the Paula Deen question: can you reject the artist but not the art? For protein-lovers we'll have to decide if we want to stay with the old artist (red meat) or try a new one. I know what my doctor would advise me to do.
Well, this isn't a simple question for anyone. We are facing lifestyle changes on an almost global scale. So what is one more lifestyle change if it means we live longer, healthier lives?
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