Vegan vs. meat – what is your opinion ?

Vegan vs. meat – what is your opinion? When it comes to diet and nutrition, discussions can quickly become heated. Everyone has different needs and opinions. Rarely, however, does it escalate as quickly as with the topic of vegan vs. meat. Is sustainable meat consumption even possible? Is it ethically justifiable?

La Vimea holistic vegan

The vegan hotel LA VIMEA clearly states: “We do not accept meat consumption in any way and do not believe that it can be sustainable in any form.” Maria and Wolfgang from Aufatmen see it similarly, and they also have their own explanation. For them, it is due to the high CO2 emissions on the one hand, and on the other, the enormous water consumption.

Another point is what is fed to the animals. Here, since the BSE crisis at the beginning of the 2000s, almost exclusively soybean meal is used as the feeding of bone meal has been banned. Because of this, an enormous amount of rainforest has been cleared for the cultivation of soybeans, which is highly detrimental since they absorb a lot of CO2.

Berghotel Rehlegg: “Nose to tail”

For the family hotel, sustainable meat consumption is possible! It is important to eat meat in moderation and to pay attention to where the meat comes from. An attitude that Daniel Ganzer from the hotel Outside shares. It is important for both hotels to value meat and to know where it comes from. Both hotels use only regional meat – so there is no long transport or suffering of the animals. Game meat is also on the plate, and the attitude of the hoteliers: “nose to tail“. This means that everything from the animal is used.

Regional and sustainable

Regionality is one of the key components of a sustainable diet, and all partners agree. And even if meat is eaten, the rest of the meal should be mostly plant-based – another point where the hotel owners of Outside and Berghotel Rehlegg agree. “Meat is a luxury good, you should never forget that an animal had to die for it,” warns Daniel Ganzer, the owner of the Outside. He has been to a few slaughters himself and has respect for meat consumption. He is also of the opinion that consumption would automatically decrease if people had to slaughter animals themselves. “The meat comes in a sterile package, people can’t see that it was once an animal,” he says about the meat available in supermarkets.

Vegan nutrition

Hotel LA VIMEA therefore poses an opposing fundamental question: What are the reasons for a non-vegan diet? Because even through a vegan lifestyle, the needs of one’s body can be well met. “The vegan diet, when well balanced – without preservatives, organic, as seasonal and regional as possible – is the perfect formula that brings together three very important things: the right to life and respect for all living beings, love for our threatened environment and interest in one’s own health.”

Meet is bad for your health

Naturhotel Aufatmen raises another point in the question of “Vegan vs Meat”: too much meat is actually detrimental to human health. “We simply consume far too much animal fat and, as is now known, this not only puts a strain on the joints, but above all on the cardiovascular system.”

Vegan vs.meet: Hannes Müller from Genießerhotel Die Forelle, Karinthia

In your opinion, is sustainable meat consumption possible – and why?

Absolutely!! But we have to go a long way….. let’s start with the farmers and the cultivated landscape — how would that be possible without animal husbandry?? Not at all!! How do we get the milk, one of our main staple food ?? We need cattle, sheep, goats, and they must have young ones for the production of milk at all. What would happen if these animals were not eaten or processed by us? Exactly — an overpopulation. That’s why there needs to be a control within the circular economy.

If we — the end consumer — make sure the meat we buy is coming from farms, which operate with according to the above-mentioned process, then eating meat is 100% justifiable. Important is that we reduce the amount that we consume, probably on 1x per week!!! That would be the right approach. The problem is that the demand for meat is so high that we have to work to extremely fatten animals, which is the opposite of a natural cycle. For this, feed is cultivated as cheaply and efficiently as possible — without regard to environmentally harmful consequences.

What should one pay attention to in a sustainable eating style?

Of course on the food pyramid — you can see what your body actually needs — and of course on the purchase, the seasons ….. and very importantly the 2 Ws. What do I buy, WHEN do I buy it (season) and WHO benefits from it….