Frances Moore Lappe wrote about protein complimentarity in her first edition of “Diet for a Small Planet” back in the early 1970s. That was one of the first veg books I ever read (The first was “Laurel’s Kitchen” which mom gave me for a wedding present back in the early 80s.) and I was all gung-ho about the protein complimentarity thing for years, even though it made some recipes a little odd when you got the ingredients to the “proper” proportions to make complete proteins.

In the anniversary edition of “Diet for a Small Planet”, FML writes that she had been trying to lay the protein complimentarity myth to rest for the last twenty years and said that she had created a monster. Her intention in writing about protein complimentarity in such excruciating detail in her original book had been to prove to the naysayers that a vegetarian diet could supply just as much usable protein as a meat diet.

The national obsession with protein is a by-product of the meat and dairy lobbyist, by the way. We don’t need all those gobs and gobs of protein that people worry and obsess about. Getting us all hyped up about the specter of protein deficiency was just a way to sell more beef.

If you look at the world population, seeking out cases of protein deficiency, you’ll find that the only people who suffer from it are those who are also suffering from a calorie deficiency. In other words, so long as you aren’t starving, it’s a safe bet that you’re getting enough protein.

Hi Beau,
Those are some pretty serious “don’t eat me” signs!

Hi Gary,
Thank you. I agree that organic does not imply a better life for animals, however, this article specifies the organic pigs are free ranging too.
I was not aware that the animals are not given antibiotics to clear up infections – but that makes sense… then the meat producers can’t label them “organic.” Every time I turn around I learn more and more about how “bad” it is to eat meat, for us, for the animals, and for the planet.

I’ve heard from a few sources now that organic dairy farms may be harder on cows than non-organic. Both are horrific, of course, and filled with cruelty and killing. On organic farms, cows may not be given antibiotics to clear up the infections they get in large part by being engineered and coerced to produce enormous volumes of milk almost constantly.

Going vegan is such a straightforward, comprehensive, and kind solution to these human-induced problems.

Great info here! I wasn’t aware of the salmonella epidemic or the trichinella problem. Of relation to the “cost of meat” it’s important to mention that the 2nd largest polluter in America is animal production. An incredible amount of CO2, just look it up. It’s also worth mentioning that to grow one pound of meat requires 10 TIMES more water than to grow one pound of grain. This combined with other factors may actually make widescale meat production unfeasible in the near future. Hard to imagine, but just consider the growth rate of things. Meat is a luxury, that’s why the spanish are able to survive. Did you know that spanish dishes contain rice and beans combined because together they create the entire protein complex?

The slogan of the 21st century may become “no meat included (nor required)”. But just imagine how much healthier people will be!