Impact of one non-vegan meal a week on a plant-based diet

[coo1guy]

I read everywhere that switching to a plant-based diet has numerous health benefits.

I'm wondering to which extent these benefits can be impaired by having one animal-based meal a week, typically because of a Sunday meal with family members who are more reluctant to do the switch.

Is it like smoking one cigarette a day, which has non-linear and disproportionate negative effects that one wouldn't expect from just one cigarette a day, or can we assume that having one meat-based meal per week roughly accounts for 1/21 of the impact of your diet (= one of the ~21 meals of the week)?

Thanks

[hfl20]

In my opinion, it would not hurt anything to occasionally eat anything you desire within reasonable quantities / limitations. If you are familiar with Dr. Greger, many of his videos / blogs show just how fast animal products affect various body functions (blood pressure, glucose, etc.) as well as how long it takes for them to return to your norm.

What I have found over the years, is that my desire for many things has completely gone away and in other cases I may still enjoy a portion of ice cream or chicken every week or two, and maybe even beef once a year (or not).

[Lizzo30]

The most ardent vegans are vegans bc they don't want to be involved with suffering to animals ?I don't think the health benefits of being vegan have been proven

So if you are being vegan for health benefits and it isn't practical then absolutely go for Sunday lunch with your family

[Cooper27 Administrator]

I think you'd have to compare relative risks to be honest. Most meat/cancer associations are based on daily intake of processed meat, with an increase of 18%. Infrequent smoking (less than one a day) has an increased risk of 64%.

Only eating meat once a week would generally mean lower risk than the studies indicate, which is already that bit lower than smoking risk anyway.

I think really it boils down to your reasons for following a plant based diet and whether you might find some compromise e.g. by making it an opportunity to eat an omega 3 rich fish dish, or perhaps a vegetarian option rather than a vegan option? Depending on who's doing the cooking.