Eating less meat would be good for the Earth. Small nudges can change behavior

The Associated Press ^ | November 16, 2023 | BY JONEL ALECCIA AND LAURA UNGAR

[Oldeconomybuyer]

NEW YORK (AP) — Preston Cabral eats meat nearly every day at home, but his favorite meals at school are served on “Meatless Mondays” and “Vegan Fridays.”

“Today I ate chips, tangerines and this thing that looked like chili but without the meat — just beans,” the 12-year-old said after lunch.

Programs like these are among the few proven to work for one of the thorniest problems of the 21st century: How to get people to eat less meat.

Experts agree that the urgency of climate change and the demands of a surging global population call for an overhaul of how humans get their protein.

“There has arguably never been a more important time in human history to transform our food system for the sake of humans and nature,” a coalition of United Kingdom climate scientists concluded in a 2020 analysis.

That will require changing consumer behavior around meat, particularly in rich countries, experts said.

Younger people could be key. They may be open to new ways of eating because they’re more aware of climate change and the environmental costs of our current eating patterns, said Dr. Martin Bloem, an environmental health professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

But he’s worried about the pace of change: “I think it goes too slow.”

Changing human behavior, especially regarding something as important and intimate as the food we eat, is challenging, no matter a person’s age.

[verum ago]

Younger people could be key. They may be open to new ways of eating because they’re more aware of climate change and the environmental costs of our current eating patterns, said Dr. Martin Bloem, an environmental health professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

They've partially indoctrinated your children, and they're looking to finish the job.

[Dr. Sivana]

I’m on a low carb diet, so I am eating more meat. And I wasn’t shy before. I am annoyed by these do-gooders who think it is their job to use soft coercion to take the fun out of everything.

[DeplorablePaul]

Let em eat bugs

[Nateman]

More Capitalism and less Socialism would be even better.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Nudge me and I will hit you with a bat.

[airborne]

I’m dealing with pressure sores so I’m eating lots and lots of protein.

Doctor’s orders!

I’m currently eating homemade venison jerky!

[KarlInOhio]

Small nudges can change behavior

Nudge for now. Then comes shove and after that hit and shoot.

[MinorityRepublican]

F U (not at you but at Liberals who are trying to control what we eat).

[hinckley buzzard]

They have indoctrinated our children but this tactic about eating crap for food twice a week won’t work. Remember how Michelle Obama tried something similar. The garbage bins were filled to overflowing while the kids went out and bought what they wanted.

[lightman]

By following the Orthodox Christian Fasting calendar one abstains from meat for about 200 days each year.

[telescope115]

With the prices of everything going higher and higher, we won’t be able to afford meat at some time in the future.

[ifinnegan]

Insanity.

[metmom]

They can stake that vegan fake food and stuff it.

I will eat meat and I will enjoy it.

[digger48]

I need protein and calories any way I can get them

Expecting some venison jerky from a buddy any day now

Aldi has some decent jerky thats far cheaper than brand name

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

Notice "nudge."

Sounds like a "smiley face" sort of thing, eh?

"Nudge theory is a concept in behavioral economics, decision making, behavioral policy, social psychology, consumer behavior, and related behavioral sciences that proposes adaptive designs of the decision environment (choice architecture) as ways to influence the behavior and decision-making of groups or individuals. Nudging contrasts with other ways to achieve compliance, such as education, legislation or enforcement."

Nudge theory

Cass Sunstein (a co-author of the book who advanced this social manipulation) was the administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Obama administration from 2009 to 2012.

"Better decisions?" According to whom?

"To achieve compliance." You will obey, said the happy face.

[GOPJ]

Yeah, let’s all do with less so corrupt ‘elites’ can have more. /s

[Telepathic Intruder]

What they really want to say is “less humans”, but small nudges. You can’t just say that.

[lee martell]

“Let them eat bugs!!”..Maybe that’s what Marie Antoinette really said about her downtrodden subjects. Maybe that’s what made everybody so mad at her.
Someone on FreeRep probably knows how to say it in proper french.

[Dr. Sivana]

By following the Orthodox Christian Fasting calendar one abstains from meat for about 200 days each year.

Tying it to Christian fasting is a fast way to get these folks to shut up. Recently I heard of a push for "Meatless Mondays". Why not make it "Meatless Fridays" as abstinence for Catholics is still proscribed, even outside of Lent? There is a loophole to substitute another form of penance, but the folks who say the rule isn't in force anymore forget that part, and don't bother.