The Japanese Way of Eating Less Meat
It’s about balance
It’s not that I don’t want to go vegan — thinking about the environmental impact of meat consumption and the health benefits of eating plant-based, it seems like an ideal lifestyle choice that would fall in line with my values.
But it can also be hard for multiple reasons.
Meat alternatives aren’t necessarily healthier
Although the meat-alternative industry is booming, these products still fall short on nutritional factors. They contain a lot of processed fats such as sunflower oil and canola oil, chemically altered fats that have been shown to lead to heart disease and other chronic inflammatory diseases. They can be high in sodium (higher than regular burgers on average) and contain a lot of highly processed ingredients, such as protein isolated from plants, which isn’t particularly surprising considering it’s a plant-based product designed to taste like meat.
But to be vegan, you don’t necessarily need to eat meat alternatives — a diet of veggie burgers, tofu, and other soy and plant products work as well. But no sauce or dressing can make seitan or beans taste like meat. In addition, if you enjoy meat and it’s a large part of your culture and upbringing, it could be even more challenging to make the switch. And…
