Early USDA guidelines highlighted the "meat group."
Protein propaganda: It's what's for dinner
Most vegetarians are tired of being asked, “Where do you get your protein?” by a seemingly concerned family member, friend, or even stranger.
I know many vegetarians and none of us have come close to suffering from Kwashiorkor. Never heard of it? It’s a form of malnutrition from lack of protein, found in areas of famine and extreme poverty. Protein deficiency is rare in the developed world, despite a significant portion of the population eschewing meat.
So where did this idea come from that vegetarians and vegans are doomed to a life of protein deficiency?
This post is part of Protein Angst, a series on the environmental and nutritional complexities of high-protein foods. Our goal is to publish a range of perspectives on these very heated topics.
http://grist.org/food/protein-propaganda-its-whats-for-dinner/