The latest research from the World Health Organisation (WHO) states that processed meat can increase your risk of cancer and red meat probably poses a risk, too. So, is meat yet another food to avoid? The short answer to this is no, it doesn't have to be, it’s all about quality and quantity.
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Find out everything you need to know about protein, including how much protein you need and how it helps to build muscle. Plus, have a look at our healthy recipes using chicken, pork, lamb and beef.
What are the health benefits of eating meat?
Meat is an excellent source of protein and provides many important vitamins and minerals, which your body needs to grow and work. Red meat, such as lamb, beef, pork and venison, is a rich source of iron and is important in preventing the condition anaemia. Eating red meat once or twice a week may fit into a healthy diet, especially for toddlers and women of reproductive age. Lean meats, such as chicken and turkey, are useful options and may play a role in maintaining a healthy weight, through helping control appetite and keeping you ‘fuller for longer’.
What is processed meat?
Processed meat is any meat that is preserved by smoking, curing, salting or adding preservatives. Bacon, sausages, salami, ham and pâtés are all examples of processed meats. These foods are often high in both saturated fat and salt and provide very little in the way of vitamins and minerals.
How much meat is safe to eat?
Recent research found that people eating around 76g of red and processed meat a day had an increased risk of developing bowel cancer compared to those who ate about 21g a day.
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The NHS recommends that those who regularly eat more than 90g of red or processed meat each day should reduce this in light of the possible associations with colon cancer risk. It's also best to reduce your intake of processed meats, too, where possible.
To put these portion sizes into context:
• Two thin slices of roast beef = 60g
• One pork sausage = 50g
• One portion of bolognese sauce = 60g
• One lamb chop = 70g
• One slice ham = 25g
• 5oz minute steak = 80g
If you’re eating more than this, cutting down isn’t as hard as you may think. Making small swaps to your diet can help without making radical changes. Aim to have red meat just once or twice a week, ideally swapping out processed meats altogether. Swap lamb or beef mince for turkey or vegetarian mince in spaghetti bolognese, lasagne and chilli con carne.
Introduce more white fish such as cod, coley and haddock. Aim to have oily fish such as mackerel, herring, sardines and salmon once a week. These are great sources of beneficial omega-3 oils. If you change sausages and burgers for a bean burger (or one made from lentils or chickpeas), these are less expensive, high in fibre and lower in fat.
Can I still eat a bacon sandwich?
If you eat a bacon sandwich once a month, then there's no need to worry. A healthy, balanced diet can include protein from meat, as well as from non-animal sources such as beans and pulses. Moderation is the key. Also, discover our how to cook bacon guide.
10 ways to cut down on meat
1. Build meals around vegetables and add a little meat in, rather than the other way around. For example, reduce the amount of meat in stews and curries, and bulk up with extra vegetables, pulses and grains.
2. Use vegetables with a ‘meaty’ quality, such as mushrooms and aubergines.
3. After soaking dried mushrooms (such as porcini and shiitake) in hot water, save the soaking liquid to use in stocks to add a ‘meaty’ flavour.
4. Devise a way of curbing your meat intake that works for you. For example, consider eating meat only on weekends, or restricting meat to one meal per day.
5. Buy meat less frequently but make it the best quality you can afford.
6. Opt for Indian, Middle Eastern or South-East Asian veg dishes that use plenty of spices and herbs – you're less likely to notice the absence of meat.
7. Add cheese to make your meal more satisfying. Try roasted vegetables with fried halloumi, crumbled feta or grated mature cheddar.
8. In sandwiches, swap salami, ham or other processed meats with canned tuna, sardines or mackerel, or use roast chicken.
9. If you love bacon, fry one rasher until crisp, chop into pieces and add to a salad, omelette or pasta dish.
10. Have one sausage and one bacon rasher, instead of two of each, in your full English breakfast – add another egg and extra beans if you're hungry. Alternatively, try our vegan fry-up.
Enjoyed this? Now read…
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Is bacon bad for you?
What is a flexitarian diet?
Have you cut back on your meat intake? Share what worked for you in the comments below…
Emer Delaney BSc (Hons), RD has an honours degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Ulster. She has worked as a dietitian in some of London's top teaching hospitals and is currently based in Chelsea.
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