Meat Protein Sources

[Ken Anderson]

Isn't it interesting that a huge percentage of the meat protein that most people eat today, at least in the United States, is based on the cow, the pig, and the chicken? Sure, fish, turkey, and lamb are common components of many diets, and those who are part of a hunting culture might eat deer, moose, rabbits, or game birds, but these make up a much lower percentage of most diets. There are probably sharp differences in other parts of the world, where lamb might be one of the more common proteins, or where fish might dominate diets. Much of this comes from availability, of course, but it also has a lot to do with the fact that some edible animals are more easily managed by the food industry, making them more profitable.

Due to intestinal issues, one of the healthiest things I can eat is fish, yet unless I buy and prepare it myself, I don't get a lot of fish because my wife isn't a big fish fan, and it's more expensive than other proteins. Conversely, she loves lamb but doesn't eat it often because I don't even like the smell of it cooking, so she would have to prepare it only for herself.

While deer exist pretty much everywhere in the United States, far fewer people hunt today than in the past, in part due to a growing number of people who have learned to frown upon hunting, but also because hunting has become more expensive and regulated than ever before, and most people live in cities now. Finding venison for sale in a grocery store would be rare, if available anywhere, and many states, including Maine, have made it illegal to sell venison. With a license, you can hunt deer, and you can eat it yourself or give it away without compensation, but you can't sell it to your neighbor.

I wonder if it would be healthier for us to expand the variety of proteins we eat.

 

[Krystal Shay]

Beans are a good source of protein, if you do not like meat protein. We try to eat beans fairly often, either on the side or incorporate beans into a recipe. I don’t like fish, deer, or lamb. I like beef, poultry, and pork the best.

I have family members that are big hunters and they hunt deer every season; bow and shotgun. We are overrun with the deer population. Yes, hunting has become very regulated. Hunters are only allowed to kill 2 deer a season in Il. I have at least 6 deer that come through my yard almost every night! They are tromping all over the subdivisions eating landscape plants too.

 

[Marie Miller]

Isn't it interesting that a huge percentage of the meat protein that most people eat today, at least in the United States, is based on the cow, the pig, and the chicken? Sure, fish, turkey, and lamb are common components of many diets, and those who are part of a hunting culture might eat deer, moose, rabbits, or game birds, but these make up a much lower percentage of most diets. There are probably sharp differences in other parts of the world, where lamb might be one of the more common proteins, or where fish might dominate diets. Much of this comes from availability, of course, but it also has a lot to do with the fact that some edible animals are more easily managed by the food industry, making them more profitable.

Due to intestinal issues, one of the healthiest things I can eat is fish, yet unless I buy and prepare it myself, I don't get a lot of fish because my wife isn't a big fish fan, and it's more expensive than other proteins. Conversely, she loves lamb but doesn't eat it often because I don't even like the smell of it cooking, so she would have to prepare it only for herself.

While deer exist pretty much everywhere in the United States, far fewer people hunt today than in the past, in part due to a growing number of people who have learned to frown upon hunting, but also because hunting has become more expensive and regulated than ever before, and most people live in cities now. Finding venison for sale in a grocery store would be rare, if available anywhere, and many states, including Maine, have made it illegal to sell venison. With a license, you can hunt deer, and you can eat it yourself or give it away without compensation, but you can't sell it to your neighbor.

I wonder if it would be healthier for us to expand the variety of proteins we eat.

Ken, I disagree with you about the decline of the hunting culture. Maybe you are not exposed much to it. It is well and alive and younger generations are active. I see 6-7 year olds, young ladies with pedicures and curls and gramps almost needing a walker. We meat hunted in AL, GA, WA, TX, OK. I shoot it, gut and skin it and put it on a plate. So far no complaints.

Putting a piece of salmon on a grill, in an air fryer or a pan is a matter of minutes.

Have you looked at tofu and legumes from lentils to pinto beans?

 

[Ken Anderson]

Maybe you are not exposed much to it. It is well and alive and younger generations are active.

I grew up in the UP of Michigan and have lived in Maine for the past 26 years, so yes, I am exposed to it. I am a member of the Fin & Feather Club, a local hunting and fishing club, and I don't think we have any members who aren't old enough to join the Seniors Only Club. Yes, some young people hunt, but a smaller percentage of them are hunting today than in the past.

Nothing in my OP suggests I don't like meat, or that people in general don't like meat. There are meats that I'm not supposed to eat much of, but that's due to recently developed digestive issues. Vegan culture is loud but small. My point is that most of the meat we eat is based on only a few species, as compared to the variety of meat species that were commonly eaten in the past. The same is true of vegetables, and I think I've posted about that in another thread, but this one is about meat. In large part, our palates are determined by the profit margins of the meat industry.

 

[Beth Gallagher]

I agree that the most common meats in grocery stores are still beef, pork, and poultry (chicken, turkey, etc.). Locally we have a lot of fish and seafood as well. Grocery stores in my area all have a fairly large fresh seafood department.

I'm sure that there has been a decline in hunting since I was a young person, but I don't know any statistics on that. I just know that fewer young people are interested in anything beyond their social media and phone, or anything that requires going outside. In my family and circle of acquaintances, there are a still a lot of hunters but most of them live in rural areas.

There are a lot of ethnic grocers in the Houston metro area... Mexican, Asian, Indian, etc. Those markets have a larger selection of meats, including stuff like goat, octopus, etc. When I was a kid my grandpa had a small herd of goats that were used for milking and the occasional slaughter for meat.

Personally I like some seafood but I have never liked fish. My dad was an avid fisherman so we had it fairly often. Since I've lived relatively close to the coast most of my life, I have always had access to fresh shrimp, crabs, oysters, scallops, etc.

 

[Ken Anderson]

Nearly 8% of the U.S. population hunted regularly in the 1960s. By the early 1990s, that had dropped to just over 7%, and in 2020, it was estimated that the hunting population was fewer than 5%. That percentage is predicted to drop sharply due to an aging hunter population, reduced access to hunting land, and changing recreational interests among younger generations, such as Gen. Z adults, Gen. X, and Millennials. Hunting participation statistics were less complete before 1960, but since the country was substantially more rural in the 1950s and earlier, it can be assumed that the percentages were much higher.

Due to freezer space leased from my grandfather's grocery store, we had venison available through most of the year, and my older brothers all hunted ducks, geese, pheasant, and partridge, but these still were not staples in our diet.

 

[Mary Stetler]

Beans are a good source of protein, if you do not like meat protein. We try to eat beans fairly often, either on the side or incorporate beans into a recipe. I don’t like fish, deer, or lamb. I like beef, poultry, and pork the best.

I have family members that are big hunters and they hunt deer every season; bow and shotgun. We are overrun with the deer population. Yes, hunting has become very regulated. Hunters are only allowed to kill 2 deer a season in Il. I have at least 6 deer that come through my yard almost every night! They are tromping all over the subdivisions eating landscape plants too.

They seem to know that shooting them within a subdivision is a no no.

 

[Mary Stetler]

Nearly 8% of the U.S. population hunted regularly in the 1960s. By the early 1990s, that had dropped to just over 7%, and in 2020, it was estimated that the hunting population was fewer than 5%. That percentage is predicted to drop sharply due to an aging hunter population, reduced access to hunting land, and changing recreational interests among younger generations, such as Gen. Z adults, Gen. X, and Millennials. Hunting participation statistics were less complete before 1960, but since the country was substantially more rural in the 1950s and earlier, it can be assumed that the percentages were much higher.

Due to freezer space leased from my grandfather's grocery store, we had venison available through most of the year, and my older brothers all hunted ducks, geese, pheasant, and partridge, but these still were not staples in our diet.

I believe that during WWII most wildlife (especially in the south) was wiped out because of rationing. Hunters abound in Wisconsin but there is a new disease in the south of the state killing so many deer. I think hunting down there has stopped. My accuracy has gone down hill but I would take a cleaned squirrel from almost anyone.
; )

 

[John Wick]

I gave up hunting because I felt guilty about killing animals. Sadly it was for sport, not for nutrition.

I do not eat any kind of meat, birds, or fish, no living animals.

My diet gives me about 110 grams of protein daily. Milk, beans, oatmeal, eggs, cheese, peanut butter, ect, no powdered protein needed. (I was surprised to find out my 1 cup helping of oatmeal has 10 grams of protein.) It was easier than I expected to get plenty of protein after no longer consuming precious and wonderful animals

 

[Beth Gallagher]

I have mentioned before that I like watching youtube channels of "regular" people in other countries. I'm fascinated by the diets and daily cooking of Asians in particular. They eat very small servings of meat compared to Americans, and a lot of fish, tofu and eggs for proteins. They also have rice with just about every meal, as well as a small bowl of broth/soup. But their meat consumption is a fraction of the typical American's.

 

[Ken Anderson]

Other than my mother, I was the only one in my family who didn't hunt, but I'm not opposed to hunting. I can't imagine that a meal would be worth eating if it didn't include at least some meat.

 

[Marie Miller]

Other than my mother, I was the only one in my family who didn't hunt, but I'm not opposed to hunting. I can't imagine that a meal would be worth eating if it didn't include at least some meat.

Hunting was our main meat source for a couple of years. Vgetarian and carnivore household on a budget. 13 white tail fit in the freezers. Tag fee, bullets. My grandfather walked me through butchering on the phone. Open windows and a bottle of Merlot. Could. Not afford the meat cutter fee. My first anatomy lesson was still warm. Can I do it again? If that is what it takes to feed my family. Meat hunters only.

 

[Marie Miller]

I gave up hunting because I felt guilty about killing animals. Sadly it was for sport, not for nutrition.

I do not eat any kind of meat, birds, or fish, no living animals.

My diet gives me about 110 grams of protein daily. Milk, beans, oatmeal, eggs, cheese, peanut butter, ect, no powdered protein needed. (I was surprised to find out my 1 cup helping of oatmeal has 10 grams of protein.) It was easier than I expected to get plenty of protein after no longer consuming precious and wonderful animals

Your choice. I have never been able to eat a steak and SO refuses air fried tofu.

 

[John Brunner]

I have mentioned before that I like watching youtube channels of "regular" people in other countries. I'm fascinated by the diets and daily cooking of Asians in particular. They eat very small servings of meat compared to Americans, and a lot of fish, tofu and eggs for proteins. They also have rice with just about every meal, as well as a small bowl of broth/soup. But their meat consumption is a fraction of the typical American's.

I think that Americans get way too much meat and protein in our diets. It's as though having meat was a sign of affluence in cultures back home, and over-indulgence started because it's cheap and available here. Now it's cultural.

I was chatting with my favorite nurse at my urologist's practice a couple of weeks ago. She's from India and lives with extended family. They do not eat meat at all, including beef broth, but most everyone owned a cow or two and they got fresh milk. (We got on that topic because you cannot make genuine Indian ghee from American milk, which is not raw.) I did not ask about fish. They get their protein from tofu/soybeans. I don't know how people from meatless cultures get their essential amino acids.

Regarding hunting...I am shocked the number of hunters in the 60s was that low. There were a ton of hunters in my neighborhood when I first moved here in 2010. These days it's a fraction of what is was just that short time ago. My younger brother used to hunt when he had time on the farm owned by the family of a friend he knew since high school. I never have. I don't have an objection to it, I just never learned how to clean any critter, be it deer, turkey or squirrel (and I have a bumper crop of turkey on my property this year. The stupid things come right up to the house.)

 

[Ken Anderson]

Regarding hunting...I am shocked the number of hunters in the 60s was that low. There were a ton of hunters in my neighborhood when I first moved here in 2010.

I think you have to factor in the number of people who, even then, lived in large cities and were afraid of trees, let alone wild animals. Plus, it wasn't - and probably still isn't - common for women to hunt.