Michael Pollan - Eat some meat!
Here's a 7 minute video of Michael Pollan answering Time's 10 questions. I'm just beginning to tune to Michael's work, with The Omnivore's Dilemma sitting at beside unopened. His new book Food Rules: An Eater's Manual. sounds like it offers both wise and common sense advice on the increasingly complicated question of "What's for dinner?"
I was struck by his comments about meat, saying that it is both healthy and environmentally constructive to eat sustainably raised meat.
What do you think?
See it here:
10 Questions with Michael Pollan - Video - TIME.com
Re: Michael Pollan - Eat some meat!
Given carbon sequestration and increased biodiversity in intensively managed rangelands, yes it is environmentally constructive to eat sustainably farmed meat.
The "Free range" designation does not specify this type of farming - it's more a feel good thing for animal rights folks. Animals grazing preferentially on an open range are actually detrimental to the rangeland biodiversity and productivity. Conversely, high intensity short duration grazing enhances rangeland productivity by mildly tilling seeds into the soil, concentrating excrement, and equalizing pruning over all forage species to stimulate plant growth. There is no organization yet certifying intensely managed grazing.
Re: Michael Pollan - Eat some meat!
Quote:
Posted in reply to the post by Barry:
After reading Lierre Keith's book "The Vegetarin Myth - food, justice and sustainability", I am convinced that eating sustainably raised meat is both healthier for us and environmentally much more constructive than a diet based on monocrops grown (mostly) in other places. I think that many environmentally-conscious and compassionate people have been led astray and stopped eating meat altogether because of our objection to factory farming and a misunderstanding about eating a grain-based diet. Although we need to oppose factory farming and the corporate take over of our food system, there is compelling evidence that vegetarianism actually works against our goals of health and sustainability. I speak as a former vegan and vegetarian. I highly recommend reading her book.
Best,
Sasha
Re: Michael Pollan - Eat some meat!
Not to mention the emotional savageness that seems to overwhelm most of the vegans I've known. It's like they're always hypoglycemic or something.
Quote:
Posted in reply to the post by Jupiter13:
After reading Lierre Keith's book "The Vegetarin Myth - food, justice and sustainability", I am convinced that eating sustainably raised meat is both healthier for us and environmentally much more constructive than a diet based on monocrops grown (mostly) in other places. I think that many environmentally-conscious and compassionate people have been led astray and stopped eating meat altogether because of our objection to factory farming and a misunderstanding about eating a grain-based diet. Although we need to oppose factory farming and the corporate take over of our food system, there is compelling evidence that vegetarianism actually works against our goals of health and sustainability. I speak as a former vegan and vegetarian. I highly recommend reading her book.
Best,
Sasha
Re: Michael Pollan - Eat some meat!
Omnivores eat Vegetarians and other animals Too.
But Vegans are tough and stringy
and have little sense of humor about it all.
Know your place in the Food Chain
The grass grows, the cricket eats the grass. The rat eats the cricket; the cat eats the rat.the cat dies and the grass grows.
