Meat Free Week

2 mins to read

Take just one week out of your year to remove meat from your diet and notice the difference this may make to your body, how you feel and to support a great cause.

Everyday healthWellbeing newsNutrition

Meat Free week is a great challenge and opportunity to stop and reflect on the impact eating meat on your health and the planet.

Shift towards diets with less meat

There is a current trend in Australians shifting their diet away from meat. The Marine Stewardship Council commissioned a survey in early 2022 with GlobeScan of attitudes to seafood and ocean health involving 25,000 people in 23 countries – the largest of its kind in the world.

It found that Australians consumers are shifting their diet away from meat with 38 percent saying they have eaten less or no beef and almost half (46%) saying they have eaten less or no pork, compared to two years ago. The top reasons for changing diets are:

To be healthier (57%)
To save money (37%)
To reduce environmental impact (32%)

The surveys shows that benefits to their budget is a reason people are reducing their intake. Recent research carried out by the University of Wollongong support this. The research has confirmed that eating a diet based on whole and fresh foods is still the cheapest option for most Australian families – despite CPI price hikes. Professor Karen Charlton, Accredited Practising Dietitian says the research conducted at the University of Wollongong in May 2022 found current diets are significantly more expensive than eating a nutritious and healthy diet. The average saving of a healthy diet ranges from $63 up to $78 per week.

The study was based on the Eat Lancet diet principles, that was presented by the EAT-LANCET Commission in 2019. It is known as the planetary health diet, for the health of both people and planet. Symbolically it is represented by half a plate of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. The other half consists of primarily whole grains, plant proteins (beans, lentils, pulses), unsaturated plant oils, modest amounts of meat and dairy and some added sugars and starchy vegetables. The diet is quite flexible and allows for adaptation to dietary needs, personal preferences and cultural traditions.

The Dietitians Association Australia also supports this healthy and sustainable diet.

How much meat should we be eating?

The flexitarian style planetary health diet recommends limiting red meat consumption to about 90g a week, about the size of the palm of your hand. However, you can have other meats such as farmed seafood as the primary source, along with moderate amounts of dairy, poultry and eggs.

Get involved with the Meat Free week challenge

With the Meat Free Week challenge, discover how easy it is to make little changes that can create a big difference. Delicious recipes can help. Meal preparation services have great vegan and vegetarian dishes if you are too busy to prepare your meals, or stuck for ideas.

Meat Free Week was founded by Lainie Bracher and Melissa Hobbs in 2013 and came from a shared passion for animal welfare and concern about the treatment of factory farmed animals. Meat Free Week’s website has some great recipes to help you get through your meat free week. To get involved click here. There is the opportunity to sign up and create your own Meat Free Week online fundraising page.