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Remember that time KFC ran out of chicken in South Africa?

People lost their minds.

The same thing seems to be happening in the United States, except it’s beef and pork that’s becoming increasingly unavailable.

Wendy’s, a popular fast food joint, reported that they were low on supplies due to the pandemic and it heralded in a certain degree of panic.

A number of meat processing plants across the US have closed in the past few months, hiking prices and impacting distribution, but experts reckon that it might not be the worst thing in the world to cut back on beef and pork in daily diets.

It’s hard to argue with their logic.

Per CNN:

Reducing intake of beef and pork is good for you, said Lilian Cheung, director of health promotion and communication at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s department of nutrition.

“An optimally healthy diet should be low in red meat,” said Cheung, who has a doctorate in nutrition. “There’s plenty of data that [meat] increases the risk of colorectal cancer, other types of cancers, heart disease, diabetes and the higher risk of dying from these things.”

Some of these health conditions are especially serious during the pandemic.

“With Covid-19, the underlying conditions of heart disease and diabetes increase the risk,” Cheung said. “You become much more vulnerable and increase the risk of dying and complications.”

A number of common questions tend to arise when people start contemplating a meat-free diet.

Let’s tackle a couple of those.

Can You Get Enough Protein Without Eating Meat?

Cheung reckons you can easily absorb enough protein by including fish, legumes, nuts and seeds in your diet. Poultry like chicken or turkey is another good alternative to red meat.

What About Vitamins And Minerals?

Other foods don’t contain high quantities of vitamin B12 (supports brain and nerve-cell functioning) and iron, but these can be easily replaced with supplements.

Cold-pressed juices or shots are also a good way to up your vitamin and mineral intake.

How Do You Get Over The Meat Cravings?

Yes, you might find yourself longing for bacon.

When considering a diet change, the first step is changing kitchen habits.

Here’s Brian Kateman, the editor of The Reducetarian Cookbook:

“If you’re a person who likes making burritos, make a burrito,” he said.

Instead of beef or pork, he suggested adding in extra vegetables or avocado. “It’s much smarter to simply eat the foods you’re used to eating and make a one-to-one swap.”

If you’re after a snack, reach for a handful of nuts.

Whether you’re cutting down to lower your grocery bill, or chasing a healthier lifestyle, you don’t have to take the ‘all or nothing’ approach.

Ease into it, explore recipes, and have fun.

It’s not like we’re short on time at the moment.

[source:cnn]