USDA encourages Meatless Mondays

[tom_the_chemist]

The USDA was circulating an internal memo entitled "Greening Headquarters Update." In the memo they stated the following,

“While a vegetarian diet could have a beneficial impact on a person’s health and the environment, many people are not ready to make that commitment. Because Meatless Monday involves only one day a week, it is a small change that could produce big results.”

“According to the U.N., animal agriculture is a major source of greenhouse gases and climate change. It also wastes resources.”

“In addition there are many health concerns related to the excessive consumption of meat.”


Is this really what we want the agricultural department endorsing when they should be protecting those who raise and butcher animals for consumption?

For more info see:
USDA’s Vegan Days Cancelled « Protect What's Right

[tom_the_chemist]

BTW, this information came from the U.S. Sportsman's Association, a group that advocates for the rights of hunters, fishers, and trappers.

[Forerunner]

Can you say full disclosure ?

Before long, the working man won't be able to get meat in this country.....legally.

[Alice In TX/MO]

A paleo diet will reduce body fat, lower cholesterol, and support grass fed beef ranchers.

[sustainabilly]

I'm definitely an omnivore. P-eople E-ating T-asty A-nimals. But we do have veggie night every 8th day.

It's part of a weight loss program we do, mostly for my youngest son. With that, and fish every 4th day, he's lost over 100 lbs in about a year. We eat smaller portions, but we gotta have our meat.

[||Downhome||]

Hows about "USDA free week Day" ?

they can regulate food on the week ends...

[sustainabilly]

Originally Posted by ||Downhome||

Hows about "USDA free week Day" ?

they can regulate food on the week ends...

It would never work. The US Dept of Micromanagers would lose too much sleep on the weekends.

[||Downhome||]

Originally Posted by tom_the_chemist

“According to the U.N., animal agriculture is a major source of greenhouse gases and climate change. It also wastes resources.”

So exactly how are we or better yet vegetarians classified?

As a side note seems most of the "green house gas" offenders eat nothing but vegetation?

[Sonshine]

Many people need meat to remain healthy. God created us to eat meat and vegetables. Seems like the government thinks they know more than God and the people who have survived since the beginning of time about how to eat healthy. As for greenhouse gases, if we don't eat meat, won't that mean more animals contributing to it? Sounds like a better solution would be eat more meat.

[Alice In TX/MO]

If I eat beans (which I don't anymore) would the result be greenhouse gasses?

[VERN in IL]

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

If I eat beans (which I don't anymore) would the result be greenhouse gasses?

Over 51% of greenhouse gases emissions come from Livestock. Taking into account the resources and toxins used for growing animal feed, transportation of feed, animals, and product, and the deforestation employed to increase grazing acreage.

livestock production accounts for 90% of agriculture pollution and yet it produces only 15% of the food.

[LisaInN.Idaho]

Granted, I looked at it quickly but I thought it was a voluntary thing for USDA employees at their cafeteria. Did I miss something?

[Alice In TX/MO]

Somebody missed the tongue-in-cheek part of my question.

Lisa, the problem is the stance of the lies in the memo.

[MO_cows]

“According to the U.N., animal agriculture is a major source of greenhouse gases and climate change. It also wastes resources.”

This is bullspit and was debunked years ago but I guess it has nine lives and just won't die. It really makes my blood pressure rise that USDA is the one keeping it alive.

[Forerunner]

Well.....the USDA, and Vern.

[Paquebot]

A few years in a row like 2012 and there mightn't be any talk of "Meatless Mondays". It could be "Meat Monday"!

Martin

[Alice In TX/MO]

Droughts and hot weather have come and gone before. This isn't the apocalypse.

[Shrek]

Originally Posted by ||Downhome||

So exactly how are we or better yet vegetarians classified?

As a side note seems most of the "green house gas" offenders eat nothing but vegetation?

We had a vegan on our crew and when she was on her cabbage and brussel sprout craze I told her to watch out for the EPA because if they caught her puny looking butt in action they would force her to buy pollution credits like a steel mill belching sulfurs into the atmosphere

[tom_the_chemist]

Originally Posted by LisaInN.Idaho

Granted, I looked at it quickly but I thought it was a voluntary thing for USDA employees at their cafeteria. Did I miss something?

I think it was a suggestion in a weekly internal newsletter probably put together by their internal communications department. However, the article did say it was on their website. My company does this with health tips and benefit announcements. In my opinion, it is the stance at the USDA that would be concerning. They are the one's regulating agriculture, so I would like them to be an advocate for all groups under that umbrella.

Being healthy is all about eating things in moderation. I think the key to it is not "meatless initiatives" but looking at everything you are eating and pinpointing the wasted calories. I lost about 50 pounds 7-8 years ago, I now have perfect blood glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels it was not that I gave up meat; it was that I stopped eating so many brownies, chips, cookies, and other things that were of little nutritional value. Choosing to eat no meat could include eating lots of mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. You might gain weight by eating an overabundance of these.

Again, this was just meant to point out that this line of thought was inside of the USDA.

[Alice In TX/MO]

And you are right, Tom. The USDA should NOT be making this kind of statement.