Meaty facts on US Protein Consumption

The Nutrition Action Newsletter ran a very interesting article last year about how protein over-consumption is negatively impacting the environment and our natural resources.  According to the article, the US produces over 9 billion animals for food each year. (That breaks down to 100 million pigs, 35 million cattle, and over 8 billion chickens.)  While the animal meat does provide our population with needed protein, as a society we are severely over-eating protein, and not consuming the best kind there is.

The average male intakes 70% more protein than is needed on a daily basis.  For women, the over-consumption is at a rate of about 25%.  And, most of our protein comes in the form of animal products, whereas we could be easily getting more protein through vegetables, nuts, and other non-animal meat sources.  There are a few problems with over-eating animal protein.  First, it causes a drain on our nation's resources, since it takes significantly more water per pound of protein compared to the water required to generate an equivalent amount of non-animal protein.  When you think of the water that it takes to grow enough grain to feed to the 9 billion animals we eat each year, you'll start to get a sense of impact on our water supply.  Further, the animal waste generated by the large amount of animals, is now a major pollutant in our land's water, soil, and air.  Animal waste was once a great source of fertilizer, but this much only becomes a pollutant.

While the article explains the movement of "Meatless Mondays" as one way to remind us to consume less protein and help the environment, that is just one possible action to take.  At Atlanta Personal Chef Service, we serve only the highest quality meats, and in healthy portion sizes.  Our conscious decision to make smarter,  healthier choices, not only benefits your health, but it also controls food cost, eliminates wasted food, and helps the environment.