WASHINGTON—A new survey by Morning Consult and the nonprofit Physicians Committee finds that in response to current high beef prices , 60% of shoppers are buying less beef or skipping buying beef altogether.
If beef prices continue to rise, as currently predicted , 72% of consumers will consider buying less beef. The Physicians Committee is a nonprofit health advocacy organization with 17,000 physician members nationwide.
What will people buy instead? According to the new survey, young people who are members of Generation Z are leading the way with 52% who would strongly consider or somewhat consider buying plant-based protein instead of beef. Millennials and baby boomers are less likely to make this choice.
Future trends in food purchases are predicted by these findings relating to young shoppers choosing plant-based proteins. Members of Generation Z will probably experience the many health benefits of following a plant-based diet as they journey through life.
"From a health perspective, cutting back or entirely avoiding beef is a positive trend," says Anna Herby, DHSc, RD, CDE , nutrition education specialist For the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. "And it makes sense for the family budget to choose plant-based proteins like black bean burgers, lentil soup, and portobello mushroom steaks."
Shoppers who choose plant-based meals, can cut food costs by 19%, when compared with a standard American diet, according to research published in JAMA Network Open .
A recent study with 22 pairs of identical twins found that a plant-based diet improves heart health in as little as eight weeks. The twins following a plant-based diet experienced lower LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, and they lost more weight than the omnivore twins. The twin study adds to numerous other published scientific studies showing that a plant-based diet can help you maintain a healthy weight , lower blood pressure , improve heart health , and
reduce your risk of diabetes among other benefits.
Many healthful sources of protein like beans and mushrooms are affordable and popular with consumers. A study published in the journal Current Nutrition Reports finds that mushroom protein is of high quality in terms of complete essential amino acids. For farmers, mushrooms can produce high yields in a short amount of time, and for home cooks, they are an affordable source of high-quality protein.
"You can still have your favorite flavors and cuisines. Think about what you enjoy eating, then look for plant-based substitutions," says Vanita Rahman, MD , in an interview with the Washington Post . Dr. Rahman is the clinic director at the Barnard Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
