Impact of one non-vegan meal a week within a whole-food plant-based diet

[coo1guy]

I read everywhere that switching to a "whole-food plant-based diet" has numerous health benefits, especially from Dr Greger.

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

Is it like smoking one cigarette a day, which has surprisingly disproportionate negative effects, or can we assume that one meat-based meal a week roughly accounts for 1/21 of the impact (there's 21 meals in a week)?

Thanks

[Technoid]

From a purely health perspective I don't think there would be any negative impact to health at all. In fact, if your B12 supplementation was poor, it might even be beneficial. Some extra zinc too. If the meal was good quality fish there might even be an omega-3 benefit. I like Dr.Gregor, I use his daily dozen app and watch many of his videos but I do think he has a bias in that he cannot admit that small amounts of animal foods are not harmful to health if the diet is primarily whole food plant based. I also think his position on oils, specifically olive oil/rapeseed oils is not science backed (like many other low-fat vegan sources) but other than that, I find most of his dietary advice excellent and it really forms the backbone of how I shape my diet.

I do not eat animal foods in any circumstances but I am vegan for ethical reasons and not for health, although I certainly want to stay as healthy as possible by eating mostly whole food plant based.