Meat Free Week 2015 – which runs until March 29  – encourages Australians to reduce their meat consumption for their health, the environment and animal welfare.

By KIRSTI WEISZ

This global campaign is a non-for-profit charity that raises awareness and funds for three leading charities including Bowel Cancer Australia, Voiceless, and The World Land Trust.

Globally, Australia is ranked No.3 as the world’s biggest meat eaters per capita, behind the US and Luxembourg.

Australia’s average meat consumption is close to 112kg per person per year, while the world average sits just below 42kg per person.

MFW Co-Founder Lainie Bracher said Australians needed to address the balance between eating meat and vegies.

“By participating in giving meat a miss for one week we hope participants will have an opportunity to try some new non-meat food options and understand individual decisions can indeed make a difference,” Ms Bracher said.

Bowel Cancer Australia nutritional advisor Teresa Mitchell-Paterson said she hoped the campaign would help raise awareness of the link between meat consumption and an increase in the risk of bowel cancer.

“[But] it is also a great opportunity to enjoy vegetable-based meals. We’re not asking people to become vegetarians, just be aware of the health implications of your food choices.

“Meat Free Week is about putting something different on your plate and introducing new habits to your diet,” Ms Mitchell-Paterson said.

It is hoped MFW will also highlight the issue of animal welfare in the meat industry.

“Animals will benefit too, as the demand for excessive[ly] cheap meat has directly resulted in factory farming,” Ms Bacher said.

An Australian Bureau of Statistics report showed the number of livestock slaughtered in December 2014 was more than 159 million.

Animal protection institute Voiceless found that while meat consumption increases, the number of meat producers has significantly reduced.

Australians now eat 10 times more chicken than in the 1960s, yet the number of chicken farms in Australia has decreased, with the majority owned by two corporations.

The clearing of land for raising cattle is a major concern for the environment as it causes deforestation.

World Land Trust CEO John Burton told MFW that deforestation for cattle was only one issue, highlighting “the vast quantities of cereals grown as feed … [resulting in] devastating impacts on the world’s remaining grasslands and forests”.

Aimed at addressing such concerns, "reducetarian" is a new movement focusing on reducing meat consumption rather than eliminating it. It has been described as the middle ground between paleo, vegetarian and vegan diets.

Mad for Health Nutritionist and Health Coach Jan McLeod said as a meat eater and nutritionist she supported Meat Free Week.

“I encourage participants to see Meat Free Week as an opportunity to not only improve your health, but to also discover the smell, sight, texture and taste of a wider variety of plant-based foods,” Ms McLeod said.

For more information and meat free recipes visit the Meat Free Week website.