Commentary: Eating less meat could help the environment and our health – so what’s stopping us?

Singapore is ranked among the top vegan-friendly cities in Asia but going meatless can still be an uphill struggle.

SINGAPORE: A few months ago, my 30-something cousin made a surprising confession. He’s trying out a vegetarian diet.

I’ve always thought of my cousin as a hardcore meat-lover. I remember him (when he was a younger lad) vacuuming up all the beef slices in the hotpot, or extricating every bit of flesh from spindly crab legs.

But he and his wife – parents of two infants – have watched Netflix’s The Game Changers. The documentary explores how vegan diets have benefited world-class athletes, from lanky marathoners to hulking weightlifters. Where vegetarians do not eat meat, vegans go the extra mile by not eating animal products, including dairy and eggs.

Both my cousin and his wife were convinced by the documentary’s argument that a plant-based diet provides sufficient protein, and reduces the risk of heart diseases and cancer.

My cousin also confided in me that his cholesterol level is four times higher than what’s considered healthy.

PLANT-BASED EATING GAINING TRACTION

The past decade has seen an uptick of interest in plant-based diets, which comprise grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables with few to no animal products.

People are growing more aware of the nutritional and environmental impact of their food. This awareness has been reflected in the growing appetite for sophisticated plant-based “meat” products Barclays predicts that the global industry will be worth US$140 billion by 2029.

Plant-based meat producer Beyond Meat saw its shares rise more than 160 percent after its market debut in May 2019, in one of the year’s best-performing IPOs.

Plant-based eating has been picking up in Singapore as well. Vegetarian and vegan eateries have mushroomed in Singapore over the past ten years, from international chain VeganBurg to homegrown outlets like Real Food and Greendot.

In 2016, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) ranked Singapore the second most vegan-friendly city in Asia (Taipei clinched the top spot).

However, sometime during our family meal last week at a tze char restaurant, I glanced over at my newly vegetarian cousin and saw him eating pork ribs.

PLANT-BASED EATING NOT YET MAINSTREAM

I don’t blame my cousin entirely. As a vegetarian myself, I can empathize: The meatless pickings at our table that day were slim. I too wish for the day where I could order more than fried kailan, three-egg spinach, and white rice.

And when your non-vegetarian family members order up a feast, you can’t help but feel that you’re being irritating with your dietary restrictions. It’s so much easier (and more polite) to acquiesce and eat whatever’s on the table.

Many experts say we should be eating less meat for health, economic, and environmental reasons. But if we truly accepted plant-based eating, surely any given restaurant would offer more meatless options.

Perhaps we could make more meaningful moves to exclude meat from our diets if we tackle the misconceptions around plant-based eating.

MISCONCEPTION #1: PLANT-BASED EATING IS A FAD DIET

People have asked me before whether I’m a vegetarian to lose weight. That question has always suggested to me that people think of plant-based eating as some fad diet that is no different from a juice cleanse.

But plant-based eating seems like a sensible orientation worth considering for the long term on an increasingly strained planet.

Globally, food accounts for a third of greenhouse gas emissions, and red meat has the biggest carbon footprint per kg of protein.

In Singapore, the total emissions of the food people consume will increase by about 19 percent by 2030 due to population growth. Pork has the highest carbon footprint here, accounting for about 28 percent of food-related emissions. The most straightforward way to reduce food-related emissions would be to consume less meat.

Shifting towards a less resource-intensive plant-based diet could also reduce the stress put on global food supply chains.

An August 2019 United Nations report suggests that global population growth has strained land and water resources. Coupled with extreme weather events brought about by climate change, rising food insecurity and hunger is an emerging reality many nations will face.

A plant-based diet also suits the reality of living in land-scarce Singapore. Singapore produces less than 10 percent of its nutritional needs, half of which come from fruits and vegetables, but in March 2019, the Singapore Food Agency announced a target for Singapore to up this number to 30 percent by 2030.

Supported by advances in vertical farming and urban agriculture, and investments in developing local farming talent, Singapore, in particular, aims to supply 20 percent of the fruits and vegetables it needs.

In this context, a plant-based diet may be aligned with Singapore’s vision of becoming more self- sufficient in feeding its people.

MISCONCEPTION #2: PLANT-BASED EATING IS FOR THE WEALTHY AND VIRTUOUS

Another complaint I’ve heard many times is that plant-based eating is expensive.

Many imagine that plant-based diets entail kale shakes for breakfast, avocado toast for lunch, and quinoa bowls for dinner. It seems that the only people who eat that way are white-collar workers who can afford to take yoga classes during lunch breaks.

All those foods listed above are or were at some point, health food trends. Their high price points do not reflect the cost of raw materials, but rather, of rent, labor, and marketing.

We place a higher value on these food items because they’re sold to us as healthy and trendy, not very different from how much more people are willing to shell out for artistic Instagram foodporn or the newfangled fancy their favorite food bloggers gush about.

I readily admit that there can be an offputting aura around vegetarianism and veganism. The perceived exclusivity, coupled with the suggested moral superiority of its proponents, can sometimes add to a cult-like fervor around plant-based diets.

But plant-based eating isn’t some posh membership awarded only to a select few.

Such a diet could be cheaper than a meat-heavy one. Ordering three vegetable dishes at your cai png store sets you back less than ordering three meat dishes. Chickpeas cost less than chicken breast on a per-kg basis in an average supermarket.

Moreover, vegetarianism has long had a presence in Singapore. Many Buddhists and Hindus are vegetarians. Their vegetarian cuisines are a part of Singapore’s culture.

Hawker centers ranging from Chinese vegetarian stalls to social enterprises also provide some affordable, vegetarian fare. 

ARE PLANT-BASED DIETS HERE TO STAY? TIME WILL TELL

Perhaps plant-based eating is too new a trend for us to judge whether it’s just a phase or the first step towards a more sustainable and lifestyle. The sustainability debate hasn’t been around long enough and it admittedly takes time for habits and lifestyles to shift.

Maybe the climate crisis would push us to take real action towards eating more sustainably.

And maybe one day, we will have a greater diversity of vegetarian options in more restaurants, cafes, and hawker centers – beyond vegetarian stalls, and beyond having just one vegetarian option on menus around Singapore.

For now, I’ll continue eating my plant-based “meat” – and hope with all my heart that these products are here to stay. And that meatless chicken wings would one day be made a reality.

The task

You have been tasked to prepare a portfolio supporting this issue to formulate some key findings for your client. As such, you have a choice of two clients:

1.    The National Environment Agency

Formed on 1 July 2002, the National Environment Agency

(NEA) is the leading public organization responsible for ensuring a clean and green environment, and the sustainable development of Singapore. Its key roles are to protect Singapore’s resources from pollution, maintain a high level of public health, and provide timely meteorological information. NEA also develops and spearheads environmental initiatives and programs through its partnership with the People, Public, and Private sectors. Amongst others, NEA’s key programs include Environmental training by providing various environmental capacity building training programs for working professionals from the industry, international organizations, and the general public through the Singapore Environment Institute.

2.    Ministry of Health

Ministry of Health (MOH) is an innovative, people-centered organization, committed to:

• medical excellence
• the promotion of good health
• the reduction of illness
• access to good and affordable healthcare for all Singaporeans, appropriate to their

Through MOH, the Government manages the public healthcare system to ensure that good and affordable basic medical services are available to all Singaporeans. MOH achieves this by providing subsidized medical services while promoting individual responsibility for the costs of healthcare services.

While our population is encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle and take responsibility for their own health, safety nets are in place to ensure that no Singaporean is denied access to healthcare or turned away by public hospitals because of a lack of money.

There are three possible target audiences for your messages:

• The Singapore Youth mainly millennials aged 21-34.
• Health professionals including GPs and nurses
• Corporate organizations