Greetings,

I am curious about the response you receive when you recommend people reduce their intake of meat and dairy products to the "ideal" one serving per day, as you state. Among those who eat a conventional diet, it is usually predominantly based on meat and dairy products. Everyone I have spoken to thus far about reducing meat consumption has reacted very negatively.

Thank you.

Differentiate between situations where you present certain facts or recommendations to your surroundings, and those where you are asked for recommendations. Generally, information is more likely to be well-received when it is targeted at the requester; the probability is inherently much higher. Still, be prepared in practice for some resistance or disagreement with advice, regardless of how well-intentioned it is. If, as a consultant, you have an idea of how and to what extent a diet should be transformed, the next challenge is to present this idea to the client in a way that fulfills the proverbial "You can't have your cake and eat it too." The goal is dietary change, where you must accept in advance that the defined goal may not be fully realized. In most situations, this is not a problem; it is always important to make a change and move forward as much as possible.

A typical meat-eater is most likely not willing to reduce the daily number of meat servings from four to one, and rational arguments usually won't significantly convince them. In such a situation, consider it a victory if you reach a compromise of two servings—you as the consultant won't feel that you have failed, and the client will make real progress. Generally, everything takes time, and you should not expect rapid changes in a short period; this idea simply does not work in practice.

Themes:  Weight loss   Dairy products