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Bettie

(16,089 posts)
Sat Jun 11, 2016, 07:23 PM Jun 2016

Joni Ernst...wants to ban meatless Mondays for the military

Just when you think she can not possibly be more dim.

Nothing wrong with a meatless day weekly, even if you are not a vegetarian.

[link:https://www.yahoo.com/news/senator-wants-ban-meatless-mondays-192500307.html|

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst introduced legislation this week to prohibit U.S. armed forces facilities from establishing “Meatless Monday,” suggesting that such a program might leave soldiers without adequate meat protein.

The Ernst proposal—technically an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act—cites the federal government’s dietary guidelines as reason to ensure that members of the armed forces get enough meat. The guidelines do suggest that protein from meat plays a key part in a healthy eating pattern, but the document also says that the average American man gets too much of that protein from meat. Instead of relying on meat, the guidelines recommend diversifying the diet with seafood, nuts and beans.

In an emailed statement, Ernst described Meatless Mondays as “misguided at best” and in conflict with dietary standards. “Our men and women in uniform should have the option to consume the protein they need, including meat, on a daily basis,” she said.

The Ernst proposal comes as the Humane Society has made inroads promoting Meatless Monday—abstaining from meat on that day of the week—for members of the armed services. The animal welfare group provides training and recipes to help facilities reduce their meat consumption. The group helped the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut cut meat consumption by 10% in three years, according to a Politico report.

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Joni Ernst...wants to ban meatless Mondays for the military (Original Post) Bettie Jun 2016 OP
I dunno, Senator gratuitous Jun 2016 #1
Eat spinach it is loaded with iron. Rex Jun 2016 #2
Iowa has is largest pork producing state by far= Iowa Senator Joni Ernst tonyt53 Jun 2016 #3
Right. elleng Jun 2016 #7
As adults, they should have choice. itsrobert Jun 2016 #4
Our military goes a day without meat? Is meat still available for those who want it, or what? braddy Jun 2016 #5
She has personal interest in this issue: elleng Jun 2016 #6
I am so embarassed to have Bettie Jun 2016 #11
My brother and sister in law are with you, Bettie. elleng Jun 2016 #14
This is a good example why RW asshats are suing Gawker into bankruptcy Odin2005 Jun 2016 #21
It hurts her Castration business, perhaps. Agnosticsherbet Jun 2016 #8
If the troops want to be able to meat every day, we should provide meat every day. n/t pnwmom Jun 2016 #9
Should bases be banned from planning meatless menus then? Bettie Jun 2016 #13
They can have a meatless choice. itsrobert Jun 2016 #18
I just don't see the need to legislate this Bettie Jun 2016 #19
They should be required to offer meat, fish, or poultry for anyone who wants it. pnwmom Jun 2016 #20
Why? yewberry Jun 2016 #23
Because troops make enough of a sacrifice. They should be able to eat pnwmom Jun 2016 #24
Again, it's up to the facilities managers. yewberry Jun 2016 #25
Not necessarily. That would depend on laws and regulations. pnwmom Jun 2016 #26
The Army issues (or did) a "master menu" covering a 30 day period 1939 Jun 2016 #34
Disagree rpannier Jun 2016 #39
Poor thing had interrupt hibernation in the do nothing cave for this? IADEMO2004 Jun 2016 #10
Well all you can say is she is representing the farmers in her jwirr Jun 2016 #12
They eat horses libodem Jun 2016 #15
Nah that was just because Bettie Jun 2016 #16
All hat libodem Jun 2016 #17
They produce a lot of pork and cattle in Iowa Algernon Moncrieff Jun 2016 #22
up hers MFM008 Jun 2016 #27
It looks like it's not actually meatless anyway: kentauros Jun 2016 #28
Good... TipTok Jun 2016 #29
Another 4 years until Iowa can vote her out. NT Eric J in MN Jun 2016 #30
This is the pig testicle lady, right? Warren DeMontague Jun 2016 #31
She's so many shades of horrible Aerows Jun 2016 #33
Anytime you say the name Joni Ernst Aerows Jun 2016 #32
Just don't say it 3 times in front of a mirror pinboy3niner Jun 2016 #36
All the problems in the world and she's worried soldiers might have to eat Vinca Jun 2016 #35
Joni Ernst, witless, 7 days a week. Solly Mack Jun 2016 #37
Gladiators in Ancient Rome were vegans. And they were healthy and battle-ready. DetlefK Jun 2016 #38
Interesting Bettie Jun 2016 #40

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)
1. I dunno, Senator
Sat Jun 11, 2016, 07:26 PM
Jun 2016

Yes, you were in the military and stuff, but why not leave the day-to-day stuff to, you know, the chain of command? Besides, isn't there (Supreme) something else (Court) you (vacancy) might (budget) want (jobs) to devote (environment) your time to, instead of micromanaging the military's menus?

Bettie

(16,089 posts)
11. I am so embarassed to have
Sat Jun 11, 2016, 07:36 PM
Jun 2016

her and Grassley as my senators.

Honestly, I really hope Trump chooses her as his running mate, she leaves the senate and drifts off into obscurity after they lose.

itsrobert

(14,157 posts)
18. They can have a meatless choice.
Sat Jun 11, 2016, 07:48 PM
Jun 2016

Last edited Sat Jun 11, 2016, 09:57 PM - Edit history (1)

And they usually provide meatless meals just about everyday. Along with choices with meat.

pnwmom

(108,976 posts)
20. They should be required to offer meat, fish, or poultry for anyone who wants it.
Sat Jun 11, 2016, 07:50 PM
Jun 2016

A fully vegetarian meal shouldn't be the only option.

yewberry

(6,530 posts)
23. Why?
Sun Jun 12, 2016, 01:16 AM
Jun 2016

It's up to the facilities managers. That's a nutritional and budgeting concern and there's really no reason for any politician to attempt to hamstring those decisions.

Additionally, it's simply fact that the wide-scale production of meat is more environmentally destructive than vegetable- and grain-based food production. Reducing demand for mass-market meat is, in general, a good policy.

There's no way to tell from the OP whether it's simple encouragement to try meatless meals for one day or a decision to not offer meat for that one day.

pnwmom

(108,976 posts)
24. Because troops make enough of a sacrifice. They should be able to eat
Sun Jun 12, 2016, 01:33 AM
Jun 2016

animal protein at every meal if they so choose.

No one's forcing vegetarians to eat meat. Vegetarians shouldn't force their preferences on the troops, even for a day a week.

yewberry

(6,530 posts)
25. Again, it's up to the facilities managers.
Sun Jun 12, 2016, 02:03 AM
Jun 2016

It's a budget and nutritional calculation. A politician from a state that is the #1 producer of pork and the #2 producer of beef in the US should not be able to force those facilities to make a decision one way or another.

Vegetarians aren't forcing anyone to do anything.

pnwmom

(108,976 posts)
26. Not necessarily. That would depend on laws and regulations.
Sun Jun 12, 2016, 02:11 AM
Jun 2016

And I disagree with facility managers who would impose vegetarian days on the troops.

1939

(1,683 posts)
34. The Army issues (or did) a "master menu" covering a 30 day period
Sun Jun 12, 2016, 06:33 AM
Jun 2016

Local mess facilities have the ability to deviate from it somewhat, but the issue points dole out rations according to the "master menu".

rpannier

(24,329 posts)
39. Disagree
Sun Jun 12, 2016, 08:05 AM
Jun 2016

Iserved in the army
At the mess hall you get what they serve, you don't like it... eat out
That's pretty much been the policy of the army since the mid-70's (likely longer)
In the field, we got those bags of MREs. Don't like 'em too bad.
Eat what you like
No one is getting robbed of important nutrients.
There is a dietary requirement that every mess hall must meet
And they have a budget they must keep
If they're not in the field and they don't like what's on the menu, do what lots of soldiers did when I served... go out to eat.
There are at least two fast food places on almost every post, not to mention there are often restaurants as well
Go off post and eat

libodem

(19,288 posts)
15. They eat horses
Sat Jun 11, 2016, 07:42 PM
Jun 2016

Don't they? Kinda figured that was why Duyba, allowed all that slaughter of mustangs on BLM land.

kentauros

(29,414 posts)
28. It looks like it's not actually meatless anyway:
Sun Jun 12, 2016, 03:22 AM
Jun 2016

"the guidelines recommend diversifying the diet with seafood, nuts and beans."

I still don't get why people refuse to classify sea-animals as meat.

Vinca

(50,261 posts)
35. All the problems in the world and she's worried soldiers might have to eat
Sun Jun 12, 2016, 06:55 AM
Jun 2016

mac and cheese instead of pork chops for one day a week? Her priorities are very, very odd.

DetlefK

(16,423 posts)
38. Gladiators in Ancient Rome were vegans. And they were healthy and battle-ready.
Sun Jun 12, 2016, 07:34 AM
Jun 2016

The image we have of gladiators in Ancient Rome is wrong. Most of the time they were neither scrawny slaves nor fighting to the death. There were slave-gladiators who were forced to fight, but there were also professional gladiators who did this for the money.

Letting your performers die is bad for business and experienced performers draw more viewers. While fights to the death did happen, they were rare. Most fights were rather "first blood": Show the audience some nice bloody wound and then declare the fight over.
(The colosseum had advertisement-banners, famous gladiators had action-figures...)



And what did those slave-gladiators eat?
The main diet was beans and grains, combined in a dish called "puls gladiatorum".
(I have cooked it many times. Simple and tasty.) Plus some vegetables and fruit for the vitamins. Plus some seaweed for the minerals.
That was what got them ready for grueling hours of combat-practice each day.

In fact, the diet was so rich that gladiators added considerable weight over time.

Why was this important?
Because a gladiator's body can handle cuts and bruises easier if there is some fat as cushion under the skin. And that is good, because if your gladiator dies, your investment is gone. You have to buy a new slave, train him and hope that he's a good fighter who can draw an audience.



* If someone wants the recipe for "puls gladiatorum", just ask me. I don't want to take this thread too far off-topic.

Bettie

(16,089 posts)
40. Interesting
Sun Jun 12, 2016, 09:47 AM
Jun 2016

I did not know this at all. Though, to be honest, the study of what gladiators eat was never one of my research topics!

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