Look, I just had a patient last week - a guy in his 40s who went full vegan for two years. His B12 was critically low, iron stores were depleted, and he was experiencing neurological symptoms. He thought he was eating healthy. That's the problem with the vegan narrative - it oversimplifies nutrition. Now I'm not saying meat is the only answer. But humans evolved eating animal products. Our brains grew because of it. You can get some nutrients from plants, sure, but B12, heme iron, DHA - these are way more bioavailable from animal sources. You need supplements or fortified foods to make up the difference. And let's be real - most people aren't perfect planners. They don't track every micronutrient. So when we're talking about public health, a balanced diet including moderate meat is actually safer and more sustainable for the average person.

PeaceMaker_P, I hear you on the environmental side. But here's the practical reality I deal with every day. You're asking people to cut back on meat, and that sounds reasonable on paper. But what happens when someone drops red meat but doesn't replace those nutrients properly? I see it all the time. That "meet in the middle" approach sounds great until you realize most people don't have the time or knowledge to balance a semi-vegetarian diet. They drop the burger, eat more pasta, and end up with worse health outcomes. Higher carbs, lower iron, less satiety. You're focused on emissions. I'm focused on what actually happens when people change their diet without proper guidance. And the data shows that moderate, balanced omnivorous eating is both environmentally kinder than factory farming and nutritionally safer than half-baked meat reduction.

Here's the thing - you keep talking about this "flexitarian" neighbor like she's the norm. She's not. Most people who try to cut back on meat just end up eating more processed carbs and feeling hungry. I see it in my practice constantly. You say we should meet in the middle. But the middle you're describing still requires people to actively plan their protein and iron sources. That's not realistic for the average family just trying to get dinner on the table after work. And about the emissions - let's be honest. The real environmental problem isn't moderate meat eating. It's factory farming and food waste. A pasture-raised cow from a local farm has a completely different footprint than a feedlot operation. So why are we telling everyone to eat less meat instead of demanding better farming practices? I'm not defending industrial agriculture. I'm saying the "less meat" solution misses the actual problem while creating nutritional risks for people who aren't dietitians.