Meat - where do you draw the line?

I'm going to be writing a blog this week about eating meat and would love to know where you stand.

Firstly, I'd like to say that I'm a meat eater and have been all my life. My partner eats meat as do most of my family.

This week I've had some interesting conversations about where individuals draw the line at their carniverous exploits.

  • Will you eat most things?
  • Where do you draw the line?
  • Is this for religious/ethical/health reasons?
  • Are there other things which mean you don't eat something?

I'd love some honest feedback on this but I want to keep this friendly so no taking the piss out of someone else's dinner choices, please!

Thanks for the great feedback already received on Facebook and my twitter feed!

Comments

Mark Turner said…
I eat meat, although my girlfriend of almost five years (gulp) is a vegetarian, which has had an effect on my diet and consequently on how I view meat as part of it.

Mainly I don't eat as much of it as I used to, and I have come to realise that this doesn't matter too much, you can have a perfectly fine meal without meat in it.

In fact, in general I think it's a good idea to try to cut a lot of meat out of our diets for health and environmental reasons.

When I do eat meat, I try to go for free-range/organic wherever possible, although if buying from restaurants/takeaways/work canteen, I operate a don't ask, don't tell policy, for obvious practical reasons.

I do try to avoid eating certain (ie endangered) species of fish (there are more of them than you might think: http://www.fishonline.org/information/MCSPocket_Good_Fish_Guide.pdf), and I would object to eating especially cruel forms of meat like veal and foie gras on ethical grounds. The exception is British 'rosé' veal, which is worth encouraging as it is much kinder than what happens if the calves are shipped to europe.

Ok, I think that about covers it, putting the soapbox away now :)
Urban Foodie said…
I'm a conscious meat eater, in that I have thought long and hard about the ethics of it and am comfortable eating meat infrequently (2-3 times per week) and only eating meat that has been humanely reared and slaughtered.

I've never actually killed anything to eat myself, I'd quite like to, I don't think it's a deal breaker re-eating meat but I think it would be an interesting experience to have.

Meat tastes wonderful, I think it can definitely have a place in one's diet.

As far as what kind of meat I wouldn't eat, I think I draw the line at anything endangered (of course) or carnivorous (dog, cat, rat, fox, etc.) it just seems somehow unsanitary (cows that ate other cows = CJD) too easy to pass on nasties. Having said that I did once eat crocodile - tough and not very tasty.

But I'd try anything else that fit my earlier criteria, including roadkill (I imagine it is a quick death). I probably wouldn't like it - I hear it isn't very tasty - but I'd certainly try it.

I do also try and eat all the bits of the animal too, although I have to say that I hate most tripe, I do keep trying it in different guises though as I think eating the whole animal shows due respect.

Eyes, I don't think I could eat an eye, just because it is too yukky!
thelongmile said…
I eat meat, I eat food, i am also open minded about other cultures.

I am not one of those ignorant people who walk into another country and scream until they are blue in their face because another culture eats dog or rabbit. At the end of the day food is food, and I am completely open minded about food and where it comes from.

At the end of the day if we look at the absolute basic structure of life, we as humans are predators, and anything else is food. now granted there are protected species and limits but we have chosen to domesticate some animals for pets. At the end of the day however there is no reason not to eat dog (it's actually quite nice although a little tough) or snake meat.

I've travelled to other countries and eaten many things that are "taboo" in this country, but never once did I bat an eyelid and call them wrong. Who the HELL am I to call them wrong. It is that cultures and countries way of life. If someone is so ignorant that they cannot accept that another country or culture is different, and that in fact we might be the ones who are wrong, then they are not fit to enter society. It is not just about food, it's about social expression, breaking out of the taboos.
Thanks for the comments so far guys!

thelongmile - cultural differences are an interesting point indeed and one I think many westerners are a tad too squeamish about. however i'm more interested in people not eating something that is acceptable in thier culture - i.e. not eating game or offal
Mark Turner said…
Ok, another comment as I don't seem to have addressed the things that everyone else is.

I don't care whether or not an animal is 'cute' or considered domesticated or whatever. Sheep are just as domesticated as dogs, and lambs are widely considered to be cute, and that doesn't stop many people eating them.

So I suggest that anyone who won't eat something because of how it looked when it was alive is probably a hypocrite!

I wouldn't criticise anyone for eating anything that fits into that criteria, unless it was on my list of no-no's for another reason. I can't think of anything that is though.

Personally, I don't recall having eaten anything like dog or rabbit, although I wouldn't be particularly averse to anything like that. I was once tempted by a guinea pig in Peru, but it was quite pricey.
Georgia said…
I don't think there is a line to be drawn because I don't consider eating meat an exploit really. As long as you treat the animal you are eating with respect, ie. not wasting it and using as many parts of it as you can, then there is nothing controversial about it. We are omnivores by nature, and it's nothing to be ashamed of as long as we proceed honestly and fairly.
Thanks for such an insightful comment Georgia. I think perhaps for many the reality is they have become too detached from where their food comes from that when confronted with the reality it becomes a little (pun alert - i apologise!) hard to swallow. Certainly the feedback I've had on Facebook has included a friend who can't eat meat she has seen cooking - making the joy of spit roast hog off her menu.
Jo said…
Living in Australia, we are exposed to a few "exotic" meats and proudly say that we cook Kangaroo fillets regularly.

Many of our restaraunts offer Kangaroo, Crocodile, Emu and Camel on the menu. I have tried them all along with moose and buffalo while travelling abroad. I must say that if my family stilled lived in Wales I doubt I would have ever foreseen eating and enjoying such meats.

Although I am easily tempted by different foods, I cannot seem to bring myself to eat offal and cat, dog, guinea pigs etc would definately be off my list also. But do realise that these are in certain cultures and I accept that.

Like all things, I think it's up to the individual....
Ian Dowling said…
I am willing to munch on all meat unless I know that it was treated poorly. I am willing to also try anything once, as long as it is prepared well... if it was cooked badly, then I will try again obviously... like some scallops that I once had for the first time that were incredibly salty. I thought that they could not ossibly be that bad, and when I asked the manager to try them, I was made blissful to try the re-order of wonderful sweet tasting food. I dont know where I am going, but well... eat meat and eat it well, but stand up for the rights of the animals too and make sure that you know how it is raised. My political point made.
Neil Cocker said…
I've been a veggie for about 12 years.

In theory, I have no problem with eating meat. Evolution has perfectly designed us for an omnivorous diet. And if nature says it's right, then that's OK by me.

But until we improve the way most animals are treated prior to their slaughter I'll continue to abstain.

And then there's the huge environmental impact of eating meat....

:-)
hey neil, thanks for comment. i think the reasons for being vegetarian are a lot more varied than we think so it's great that you shared yours with us. can i ask if your partner Jo is vegetarian too?
Neil Cocker said…
She is now....

;-)
Urban Foodie said…
Quick question. Do the people who won't eat 'cute' meat also eat battery chicken? Is it their own feelings they consider? (trying to ask this in as even a way as possible but obviously I am biased...)
UF - a great question (and very sensitively put, thank you :D )

I will put this to them and report back shortly
Joanne Roach said…
Hi Nicki,

I became a veggie in my teens when I first found out how animals were treated in the meat trade. I was veggie for about 15 years. I am now married to a meat eater and have two kids.

I started eating meat again since we moved to the countryside and it became much easier to find out where the meat comes from. I never had an issue with us as an animal eating another animal in principle, only with the idea of it having a painful, inhumane life and an undignified or distressing death. I don't think I have the right to expect that of another sentient creature just so I can have a chop.

We now eat meat perhaps 2-4 times a week from local farms where I can ask questions. I defnitely belong to the camp which says that the planet can't sustain everyone eating meat several times a day, but some of the time is lovely. My years as a veggie means we have loads of good veggie meals in the arsenal, which I think most people don't and they can't imagine what they would eat if they cut down on meat.

If we had more space we would have chickens both for eggs and meat and yes, I would be prepared to kill them if needed. We do sometimes get given game in exchange for veg we grow, usually still with the feathers or fur. Don't have an issue about people eating wierd things, or me trying them. Each to their own culture.

I do try to learn how to cook cheaper or less popular cuts and odder bits of food for several reasons. They are often tastier or more nutritious, it's cheaper so it means I can stick to my guns about higher welfare standards and still afford it, and it also helps the butcher out because he can sell the whole animal. I find the idea of us throwing away whole 'unpopular' sections of animals which have lived and died purely for our table really disrespectful.

So although i am not a Michelin chef, and have to make things palatable for two normal kids who find things icky like most kids, I do try to learn to make oxtail soup or chicken liver pate, lots of braising recipes and so on. It's not going to change the world but it's a start that I can manage.

Fish is an absolute nightmare though. After reading Peter Singer's "Eating" and being quite far inland I have to source stuff very carefully and often don't have time. That's one I need to work on.

I am, I guess, what Peter Singer describes as a 'conscientious omnivore' and so are my family. I am very lucky that my kids school is a Food For Life school and as such all the meat is ethically and locally sourced, so that fact that they have meat EVERY day (which does irk me a bit) is mitigated by the sourcing of it.

These comments are all very interesting, look forward to your post.
Hey Joanne, thanks for such a well thought out and considered post.
I'm always interested to talk to ex-vegetarians about their decisions as I think it can teach meat-eaters a lot about how we eat.
UF - I have spoken to my two confirmed non "cute" eaters and both answers were polar opposites!

Bunny Lover 1 - He does eat battery hens and intensively reared (by which I mean the opposite to free range) meat. He also remains unconvinced by organic produce and thinks GM gets an unfair press.

Bunny Lover 2 - Avoids battery hens and intensively reared meat as far as he can. He said he would even consider shopping elsewhere should he suspect a store were using battery hens.

Again, very enlightening when considered in the context of the discussions.
Matt said…
I've eaten meat all my life, and find the thought of becoming veggie a hard one to swallow.

I'm always happy to try new things - kangaroo, croc and frogs legs, to name a few. Like others though, draw the line at endagered species. Liver and kidneys. No thanks.

I eat meat probably 4-5 times a week, but as my cooking skills get better I'm finding new things to cook, a lot of which doesn't contain meat. If I cook with things like nuts, eggs and cheeses I really don't miss meat that much. I'm also discovering previously unused herbs, spices and vegetables which helps make non meat dishes more interesting.

Just don't make me go vegan, please!
Amy said…
I am a vegetarian, and have been since the age of about 11. My family and boyfriend are all meat eaters.

A lot of people ask how you do it, and if you miss meat. My answer is always no, in truth I have never really been much of a meat eater, so if I'm totally honest it was an easier commitment for me to make than perhaps others.

I am however completely against forcing my views on others. My boyfriend eats meat (although now enjoys more vegetarian food too) and I have no issue with cooking it, buying it. My choice is not a religious one, just my personal preference. Eating meat feels unnatural to me (Yes, I am aware of how silly that statement sounds).

My main issue is with current situations, such as live exports, and poor battery conditions.

In the future if I was to have children etc, I wouldn't dream of encouraging them to also give up meat, but instead would make sure they had a varied diet, tried everything and then were free to make up their own minds later in life.

As a vegetarian, I draw the line at meat and fish. Not the worlds best vegetarian when it comes to gelatine, although I avoid as much as possible.

Looking forward to reading your post!
Hi Amy - thanks for sharing with us. I have friends who are vegetarian for many varied reasons - some who do so because of their religion, some are raised as vegetarian, those who do it for ethical reasons and those, like you, who have simply never enjoyed eating meat.

And yes, meat free meals can be incredibly tasty, usually when you let the veg do the talking and not use some weird meat-substitute!
missbliss said…
Really enjoyed reading other people's opinions on here.

I didn't really take much notice of meat until I went away to a place where if you wanted meat or fish, you had to kill it. We can tend to eat meat with such frequency that we take it for granted that it features in every meal.

After a few weeks of fish alone, I craved meat. I killed some crabs (coconut crabs, huge things) and it didn't feel good. I didn't even like fishing because the fish flap and foam and bleed for too long if you don't thwack them over the head fast.

Having to kill the animal you eat makes such a difference. Like I said, I craved meat but then once I'd killed to have it it suddenly didn't feel quite worth it?

So much distance is put between ourselves and our food - even if we strive for local, organic etc etc - that the labour and sacrifice of providing food just disappears.

I remain a meat eater, but eat meat less frequently. I also don't think that fish suffer any less than chickens/sheep/cows in their slaughter. I eat meat because I like the flavour and, equally, because I can. I find the ethical argument really difficult, so I put it nicely to one side.
Hey missbliss, thanks for the comment. As I've said many times, we've become very detatched from where our food comes from and how it is produced. My own view, which I've avoided going into great detail about as I don't want to sway the debate, is if you're not going to kill it yourself then the least you can do is ensure that your meat is ethically sourced; that the animal had as good a life as possible; that as little of the animal is wasted once it is slaughtered and that the farmer receives a fair price for taking that extra bit of care with the animal.

For this reason I do make a point of buying free-range and, where I can, organic meat. I have no problem with eating most animals and figure if I'm hungry enough I'd pretty much eat anything. I'm currently trying to overcome my squeamishness over offal as I feel the more of the animal that we use for meat, the less animals we have to kill - it's a strange arguement for some but it makes economical sense to me!
Unknown said…
Hi, it's Jo (aka Neil-the-veggie's now veggie girlfriend).
I used to eat meat, but I don't now, not because I was 'turned' by a veggie, but because I never really liked it much anyway.
I've never eaten a steak in my life. Much preferred chicken and turkey.

But having not eaten meat for a while for reasons of living with a veggie, I realised that I'd actually gone off it. In fact, the thought of eating an animal or bird makes me feel a bit woosey (is that a real word?). And I'm going that way with fish too. Odd innit!?

So, apart from the way the animals are treated and the fact that you're never *really* sure where it's come from, I just plain don't like meat anymore.

I have no problem with people who do and I'm happy to eat veggie food cooked on a meat bbq... just don't fancy eating meat or poultry myself.

(And I can be a bit smug about my environmental footprint, but in a really nice way ;o)

Popular Posts