Hacker News Reader

Comment by _bxg1 | Hacker News Reader

Americans are eating more beef than they have in a decade? That's really surprising; seems everyone I talk to - not just vegetarians - have started looking at beef as something to be indulged in only on occasion. I assume the climate impact is the main reason.

View on HN

That's why one should not make assumptions based on limited personal experience.

We have eaten meat for thousands of years and most people will not stop doing that, just bcause it's currently fashionable to say you do not eat meat or have reduced consumption.

https://www.nationalchickencouncil.org/about-the-industry/st...

So beef consumption is up slightly since 2015, but is still far below its peak in 1976

This is per capita. It would make more sense to get total numbers in this context.

I disagree, if we're saying that "this context" is the GP post's surprise.

Leather and leather goods are easier to export than beef, so what really matters would be total world supply and demand, not so much local per capita consumption, no?

Total red meat and poultry shows 2020 and 2019 as the 2 highest estimates though and the rest of the data shows a pretty clear trend line going upwards.

I'm guessing it has more to do with doctor recommendations to limit red meat for health concerns and so people are moving to other meats like poultry.

The surge in interest in keto (and less so the "carnivore" diet) would probably have something to do with it. As far as meat goes, beef is preferred to poultry or pork on that diet due to fat content.

I would bet money that some of the people you talk to have had a McDouble in the last month. :)

Huge swaths of America still see meat as an every meal thing ( myself included), and beef is a large part of that.

I would have a hard time without meat. There's so much food I don't like.

What do you eat besides meat? Since meat has the lowest energy density, you most likely get your energy from other sources anyway. Even if you eat 500g / 1lb per day for a 2000kcal target, you would still get 1500kcal from other food.

I think you have those reversed. Meat is incredibly packed with proteins and the calorie density is very high.

Lean meat is has around 100 kcal per 100 grams. This is similar to most fruits and veg.

More fatty meat sits at around 230 kcal per 100 grams.

You'll find that carb sources are around 200-350 kcal per 100 gram and sweet process foods are around the top of this level.

So when the OP says that the calorie density in meat is low, they are correct in the case of lean meat.

Source for the 100kcal per 100 grams please.

Even rabbit meat, the leanest possible game meat has 136 calories per 100 grams.

https://www.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/usda/rabbit-mea...

Average red meats will have calorie ranges right around 180-240 kcal per 100 grams. Of course that's low compared to sugary processed foods if you're going just by calories.

But it certainly isn't lowest when you consider the entire food pyramid. (most veggies and some fruits are lower)

My source? The packs the food comes in. Why? Bodybuilding. To build muscle without adding a lot of fat you need to know your protein.

A quick google and here are some example numbers.

Lean beef:

https://www.eenvoudig-afvallen.nl/voedingswaarde/hoeveel-cal...

Chicken breast:

http://www.calorielijst.nl/product/?calorie=418

White fish like Cod and Haddock are similar only they contain less water.

Maybe you don't have lean cuts in your country?

Seems like your 2nd link is to Aldi.

I'll check it out next time I buy groceries.

Yes, I was thinking in the way of radicalbyte's comment and I take the dry values of carb sources which indeed reverses the ranking.

But even with beef, it takes 800g to reach 2000kcal[1]. I am just wondering if this can actually be the main source of energy for a long period of time.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beef beef: 1,047 kJ (250 kcal) per 100g

I like most food and am also not able to stop eating meat. It's just too nice. We have cut our consumption a lot though.

Eventually eating only exceptional quality meat 2/3 days a week is fine for me.

I also have a terrible palate, do you think that's part of it for us? Beef is a fairly "guaranteed" taste that, depending on the cut, will give you what you're looking for regardless, I'd expect.

The population is also growing, even assuming everyone keeps the same eating habits it results in increased total consumption.

It's just lot of signalling. If they are vegetarians they eat no meat, ever. No chicken, seafood or taco Tuesday.

I don’t think it is. A lot of people have serious concerns and take steps because of that.

A lot of people do but go back some because of health issues, others because there friend circle changed and others keep going forever.

The parent poster mentioned everyone around him.. when the majority has accepted a viewpoint many will signal they are on board but eat meat with their other friends or parents. People want to fit in. It may seem like everyone but it may not be true.

The parent said: "seems everyone I talk to" and "have started looking at beef as something to be indulged in only on occasion". Not that people weren't still eating the same amount or that they didn't still eat red meat on social occasions to fit in (wait, more signalling!).

My dispute is with the idea that people only take an action to signal and not because they personally care.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com