Science & Technology

The Hidden Forces Behind Your Food Choices | Sarah Lake | TED

What we eat is less about what we choose and more about what’s offered to us, says food and climate expert Sarah Lake. Unpacking how governments and companies have driven up meat consumption in the US through extensive marketing, she explains how we could employ these same forces to incentivize plant-based eating — for the…

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What we eat is less about what we choose and more about what’s offered to us, says food and climate expert Sarah Lake. Unpacking how governments and companies have driven up meat consumption in the US through extensive marketing, she explains how we could employ these same forces to incentivize plant-based eating — for the sake of the planet, public health and global food security. (Recorded at TED Countdown Dilemma Series: Food on June 6, 2024)

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64 Comments

  1. @robertrafer9422

    October 8, 2024 at 9:17 am

    Climate nut. Love my beef.

    • @Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism

      October 8, 2024 at 9:38 am

      Calling someone who cares about our life sustaining environment a “nut” is a 100% self inflicted coping mechanism for you not to have to listen to truth and reality; that we’re not living for our children first; we can’t sustain this.

    • @smbaumer1

      October 8, 2024 at 9:43 am

      Agree 💯! I’m won’t be weakening my family with ultra processed plant based diets for the sake of “climate change”

    • @Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism

      October 8, 2024 at 9:48 am

      @@smbaumer1 I hate to be the one to inform you; but you’re actually already weakening your family with ultra processed meat based diets. We’re all getting fat on this slop. Many of us love the taste, so we don’t want to face it but it’s true, nonetheless.

    • @smbaumer1

      October 8, 2024 at 9:56 am

      @@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism I don’t eat McDonald’s. I buy meat from a farmer who doesn’t feed their cows corn based diets. I think you are mistaken but nice try.

    • @Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism

      October 8, 2024 at 10:20 am

      @@smbaumer1 I think you are mistaken as to how good red meat is for human consumption. I don’t eat the slop at mcd’s (too often; maybe a couple times a year, when on the run when nothing else is open) and I love me a good rib-eye from time to time, but just like I like cake and other treats; I know it’s the best for me, so I try and eat mostly turkey and chicken; even though I’d rather be eating beef; red meat.

  2. @Comenta-san

    October 8, 2024 at 9:19 am

    🌱👍

  3. @robertrafer9422

    October 8, 2024 at 9:20 am

    Does this lady not remember the food pyramid that lasted for decades that said to eat 6 portions of carbs a day? Beef is the best grass made thing you can eat. Grass is eaten by cow. I eat cow. Perfect

    • @omen8491

      October 8, 2024 at 2:05 pm

      Scientists have spent several decades gathering data on human health, population growth, efficient land use and greenhouse gases. And your response is “no because cow eat grass”.

      … seriously?

    • @sojournern

      October 8, 2024 at 4:13 pm

      Wow the arrogance of the willfully ignorant. Guess what robert? If you eat the cow you don’t eat grass. BTW, most of the diet of cows is GMO corn that is made to fatten the cow in just a year or two and what you eat is an animal that couldn’t have existed more than 100 years ago. It is much fatter and much weaker. Cows metabolize what they eat just like we do and turn it into an animal. So if you want to eat something healthy cut out the middle man and eat plants. But you see you’d have to listen to the TED talk and try and learn something. So, guess that won’t work will it?

    • @robertrafer9422

      October 8, 2024 at 4:57 pm

      @sojournern  i buy my beef from local farmers that feed them grass… those four chambers take that grass and turn it into the purest form of amino acids on the planet. I personally know over 20 friends who do carnivore and do crossfit. These people are incredibly fit and healthy. Some are doctors and ceos of million dollar companies. Meat is king. It’s about the science. You can’t get all the nutrients the body needs from plants. Facts

  4. @Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism

    October 8, 2024 at 9:24 am

    She’s 100% correct. I love meat, but she’s 100% correct.

  5. @Laralinda

    October 8, 2024 at 9:25 am

    She is absolutely right with the govermental stuff, the whole climate topic and that on average we eat too much meat, but she absolutely needs to be more careful with what she consideres to be “healthy”. Because it is high processed, sugary food which causes the most problems, not the meat, at least not in the first place. And I really doubt that a plant based burger pattie is healthier than regular meat.
    Don’t get me wrong, if you are eating at a fast food restaurant it is probably better to get the plant based stuff, but in the end it would be better not eating junk food anyway.

    • @smbaumer1

      October 8, 2024 at 9:37 am

      Yes, she’s focusing on the wrong evil here.

  6. @ChrisComstock612

    October 8, 2024 at 9:32 am

    Vegan life 🌱 💚

  7. @meanderinoranges

    October 8, 2024 at 9:54 am

    Oh the humanity! Meat in every meal?! We should be so lucky.

  8. @meanderinoranges

    October 8, 2024 at 10:08 am

    I went strict catnivore over a year ago. You wouldn’t believe the list of health issues it has fixed for me. Everything from a heart arhythmia, to oral health. We need VASTLY MORE meat in our diets and VASTLY LESS carbs. Not the other way around.

    • @TheCorrupt

      October 8, 2024 at 11:22 am

      Cats are delicious.

  9. @shafiulnahid8238

    October 8, 2024 at 10:10 am

    The increased percentage of consumption of red meat in a week will causes a lot of health issue such as heart disease, obesity, high blood sugar. However consuming sufficient amout of beef which is high in protein has a lots of benefits. Besides, plant based foods are more beneficial for our body. Green vegetables are high in vitamins, fibers and minarels which keeps our body more balanced. In order to live a normal healthy The proportion of meat and plant based foods should keep in our regular meal. Also we should do exercise regulary for burning extra fats.Therefore, a balance diet is crucial for healthier and longer life.

    • @meanderinoranges

      October 8, 2024 at 10:26 am

      Red meat does not cause obesity, high blood pressure, or high blood sugar. Please stop spreading the lies of the food pyramid.

  10. @DemchenkoDmytro

    October 8, 2024 at 10:36 am

    This woman’s grandmother, her parents, and herself ate meat three times a day for most of their lives.
    Billions of people around the world could not afford it — like my family in the Soviet Union.
    Now this woman says I need to go back to boiled cabbage.
    Thanks, but no.
    And I don’t feel guilty.
    Because my family didn’t eat as much as she did.

  11. @JaivinBurrows

    October 8, 2024 at 11:33 am

    Hilbily acting like she know something

  12. @woobthepinkbunny8661

    October 8, 2024 at 11:34 am

    I watched this while eating McDonald’s chicken nuggets😅

    • @Picci25021973

      October 9, 2024 at 2:11 am

      that contain less than 10% of chicken…

  13. @jinks930

    October 8, 2024 at 12:53 pm

    Got shares in a few

  14. @Creepzza

    October 8, 2024 at 12:58 pm

    People don’t care what they eat. They just don’t want to make a choice to do away what they like for morality.

    Also great to hear about the success of plant-based options. In Sweden, they are definitely great too.

  15. @HelloHi-g2u

    October 8, 2024 at 1:43 pm

    The perfect diet. 50% Meat, 40% Vegetables, 5% Fruit 5% Grains/Starches.

    • @oletramekaf5603

      October 8, 2024 at 2:51 pm

      Not at all…

  16. @HelloHi-g2u

    October 8, 2024 at 1:45 pm

    The problem is NOT meat. It is highly processed foods.

    • @sojournern

      October 8, 2024 at 3:41 pm

      and meat. Don’t be a meat apologist, open your mind and learn. Please, for the animals, for the environment, for your own health and for all of us.

    • @truhhhhhhhokIII3

      October 8, 2024 at 4:24 pm

      Except you missed the part where it uses 20% of the farmland just for crops for them to eat, the water use, the health complications etc.

    • @misterio4439

      October 8, 2024 at 7:59 pm

      You’re absolutely right man.

    • @vqinet3287

      October 9, 2024 at 12:10 am

      There is no one problem, fruits are pretty high in sugar, something you don’t want too much of, at the same time, an apple with more sugar than a granola bar might be better for you because ultra-processed foods do not make you nearly as full in a given number of calories as unprocessed foods (generally speaking), at the same time, you also don’t want too much sodium/ saturated fats/ trans fats in your diet, and you want to make sure you get a good amount of your vitamins, and minerals, etc. pretty much every socioeconomic issue has more too it than “ X is the problem”

    • @crytocc

      October 9, 2024 at 5:07 am

      Nope, it’s not that simple – a lot of the “processed foods” research is junk science. There are specific mechanical operations (fine grinding) and additives (emulsifiers) that _have_ actually been shown to cause issues, but it isn’t “highly processed foods” as a whole, and those specific problematic methods are avoidable.

  17. @santiagoagudelo9147

    October 8, 2024 at 2:04 pm

    Si lo crees lo creas Brian Tracy?

  18. @AdelaAbraham-h1r

    October 8, 2024 at 2:45 pm

    Garrett Hills

  19. @MurphyAKA

    October 8, 2024 at 3:07 pm

    what? where is this lady eating? everything is bread and pastas

  20. @adamradecki26

    October 8, 2024 at 3:16 pm

    There was NOTHING about “The Hidden Forces Behind Your Food Choices”

  21. @adamradecki26

    October 8, 2024 at 3:17 pm

    Misleading title

  22. @argynews

    October 8, 2024 at 4:57 pm

    So because her family was choosing to eat overprocessed food her dad had a heart attack and from all the other parameters she blamed it on the meat. If you cut out overprocessed foods and eat a Mediterranean style diet, a big percentage of health problems just disappear. It is ok where I am in Europe and i have gone to the US and i can say it is more difficult there because there aren’t many healthy options or they are more expensive. She is right thought it is not going 100% everyone vegetarian it’s cutting back in meat and eating eggs rice vegetables all kinds of pasta all kinds of legumes.

  23. @pervezh

    October 8, 2024 at 9:02 pm

    Meat is NOT the problem that gives heart attacks.

    It’s the LDL’s and the fat that’s in the meats.

    Lean meats like chicken, turkey skinless are fine

    So is fish

    It’s fatty red meat that clogs arteries.

    Limiting Low Density fats is important.

    I only eat extra lean ground beef. that has more protein that per serving.

    Even if you eat fatty meat, if you include cardiovascular excerise regularly and follow a disciplined exercise regime, you will be fine.

    If you want to burn fat, then also be on a caloric defecit.

    Sarah makes it sound like meat is the problem. Food nutrition is important but the problem is not meat, it’s the heart attacks caused by over eating unhealthy food and not doing cardiovascular excercise.

    Land used for animals is food for humans in the form of meats! And our pets!

    She’s very pretty and well spoken
    Educated
    But needs to educate herself on fitness to realize meat is not the problem but rather poor eating and excersise habits.

    In fact more meat the more satiating it is. 500 calories of protein is much more hunger abating then 500 calories of carbs

    Meat is used for muscle building. For structure. Also protein is used for function in the form of enzymes. ECM extra cellular matrix protein is what our ligaments are tendons are made of. In fact, protein makes the ECM backbone of tissues on which the invidual cells bind.

    Meat and protein is essential

    Yes you can get meat from plants but does it taste as good

    She’s very beautiful though

  24. @pervezh

    October 8, 2024 at 9:02 pm

    Meat is NOT the problem that gives heart attacks.

    It’s the LDL’s and the fats that’s in the meats that clog arteries and cause Atherosclerosis

    Lean meats like skinless chicken, turkey are fine

    So is most fish. They are high in protein and low in fats/oils. Fish oils are OMEGA 6 Fatty acids so there are benefit to them

    If you use cooking oil, use oil that is higher in unsaturated lipids (that have double bonded carbons in their fatty acid tails) rather than saturated lipids

    There’s also iron in meat that is crucial for healthy red blood cells (formation of oxygen carrying hemoglobin)

    The problem arises with eating too much fats and not doing enough cardio vascular excersise to compensate.

    This cardio unclogs those clogged arteries by increased sustained bloodflowrates.

    I see what she’s trying to do. The problem is taste and price..

    Does it taste as good and look the same?

    If the price and taste are on point then look at essential minerals like IRON that animal meats contains. Does the plant based meat have all the same nutrients?

    Interesting TED Talk

    Switching to plant based meats would be great because there is less land resource used to make it compared to animal meats.

    As long as the plant based meat has :

    -low fats,
    -same or better nutrients and minerals,
    -same or cheaper price,
    -and of course the same or better taste

    I would switch.

    She’s gorgeus though. Great hair, great skin, tall, healthy and slender, and those beautiful blue eyes are mesmerizing.

    Everyone in the crowd loves her (which can be seen at the end when the camera pans around at the crowd)

    She is very blessed in looks, brains, and presentation skills.

  25. @elizabethdavis8264

    October 8, 2024 at 10:18 pm

    Meat is not the boogeyman you’re making it out to be.

  26. @Picci25021973

    October 9, 2024 at 2:11 am

    I switched to plant-based diet one year ago, at 50. I feel better, I lost 10 Kg, I have much more energy. Give it a chance, try.

    • @ishantsharma5113

      October 9, 2024 at 5:47 am

      And I eat plant based diet to increase weight atleast 5 years I loose weight 60 to 54 as well as doctor said you have vitamin b12 deficiency not on borderline its just about to initial point. After all, it infer that it’s all about the way you think.

  27. @BunnyFett

    October 9, 2024 at 2:18 am

    I’m diabetic. Plant-based proteins have a lot more carbs.

    • @dellavest9269

      October 10, 2024 at 1:21 pm

      There is a huge difference between the absorption of complex carbs and simple carbs. Also, along with those carbs comes a lot more plain old Nutrition, which helps your body overall. No matter if you are diabetic or not, your body requires some carbs.

  28. @jimiray1969.

    October 9, 2024 at 2:42 am

    The whole premise about “climate goals” is bull. There isnt a climate crisis, and meats are good for you.

    • @dellavest9269

      October 10, 2024 at 1:21 pm

      Milton says Hi.

  29. @DileepaRanawake

    October 9, 2024 at 3:44 am

    Agree meat isn’t great. However we must avoid ultra processed food which a very bad for us. A lot of plant based is ultra processed and should be avoided. You can make great food using just plants like vegetables, legumes, pulses and grains. No ultra processing needed.

    As we switch from meat we need to switch to whole plants, not switch from one source of heart attacks to another.

  30. @tamikovacs3887

    October 9, 2024 at 7:08 am

    Vegan for the animals💚

  31. @CRUISEWITHSPIRIT

    October 9, 2024 at 1:03 pm

    Switch your mind set to deny eating.

  32. @gabrielbevan-rt5yl

    October 9, 2024 at 1:55 pm

    Gorillas don’t need to eat meat, the reason they are so strong and muscular is because they get the required amino acids from plant sources, not from meat.

  33. @cxfocus905

    October 9, 2024 at 3:14 pm

    “People WANT healthier plant-based options! So we need the government to force it”

    I don’t think you understand how any of this works 😂

    I’m extremely health conscious. My diet consists 90% of meats, eggs, fruits and veggies. I’m in my mid 40s and every bio marker is in the ideal range. Blood pressure, cholesterol, VO2 max, etc.

    Simply put, you are fighting the wrong boogeyman.

    • @silasho

      October 9, 2024 at 11:41 pm

      Good on ya. But taking only one sample, or friends around you, so a few more, would not be meaningful in significance. Unfortunately, a majority of diseases are food born. Also, health is just one argument among many, e.g., animal cruelty reasons (again, 99%, probably not your beef from the local farmer) and environmental reasons. These things are interconnected – research it.

  34. @solidzane

    October 9, 2024 at 3:21 pm

    Lies

  35. @cristinaalexe7454

    October 10, 2024 at 4:59 pm

    Fantastic talk!

  36. @celestialcircledance

    October 11, 2024 at 6:14 am

    What about growing meat Parts in Laboratories? That could solve the ethical and environmental part of the debate anyway.

  37. @celecha

    October 11, 2024 at 9:35 am

    Great talk! I agree that plant-based needs to be the norm more

  38. @CollinsCorp

    October 11, 2024 at 3:45 pm

    I don’t think the problem is meat as much as all the stuff that we surround the meat with

  39. @stephenfrost6801

    October 11, 2024 at 8:19 pm

    This plant-based propaganda is too much. I only eat meat, and have done so for years, and I am in perfect health. You are pushing an unhealthy message.

  40. @asy9423

    October 13, 2024 at 7:38 am

    We had shifted un tasty things to tasty things, but this time we should move on tasty things to sort of untasty things😮😢

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