Letter: Healthy diet means no meat

Friday, March 17, 2000 | 10:31 a.m.

I was delighted that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has finally shown some interest in protecting consumers. Its new dietary guidelines are recognizing fortified soymilk as a calcium source on par with cow's milk. School cafeterias are finally allowed to replace greasy hamburgers, laced with cholesterol and pathogens, with wholesome, soy-based veggie burgers.

It's about time. The U.S. Senate Select Committee for Nutrition and Human Needs recommended reduced meat consumption back in 1977. The American Dietetic Association, American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute and other national health advocacy organizations have advocated increased consumption of fruits and vegetables for more than a decade. Recently, even the giant food conglomerates like ADM, ConAgra, and Kraft have gotten into the act by launching vegetarian food lines.

These must be heady times for the folks celebrating the 16th anniversary of the Great American Meatout on Monday. Nearly 2,000 communities in all 50 states are expected to participate in America's oldest and largest grass-roots diet education campaign with information tables and other educational events. They will ask their friends and neighbors to "kick the meat habit on Monday (first day of spring), at least for a day, and to explore a more wholesome diet of fruits, vegetables and grains."

It's sound advice that the USDA and the rest of us should have adopted a long time ago.

DEBBIE DILL