Almost six in ten Dutch people aged 16 and older describe themselves as meat eater (59%) and more than a third consciously skip meat one or more days a week and call themselves a flexitarian (37%). The percentage that describes themselves as vegetarian (2%), pescatarian (2%) or vegan (<1%) is still very limited. Men than women are more likely to describe themselves as meat eater (66% vs. 51%), while women are more likely to be flexitarian (42% vs. 32%), pescatarian (3% vs. <1%) and vegetarian (4% vs. 1%). This is apparent from the Vegamonitor 2019, an annual survey by Natuur &Milieu into the eating behavior of the Dutch.The hot meal consists of a dish with meat on more than half of the days
On average, the Dutch eat meat 4 to 5 days a week (on average 4.6 days) with a hot meal. Fish is eaten considerably less often, namely less than 1 day a week. A vegetarian dish 60% of the Dutch choose at least once a week as a main meal and on average this comes down to more than 1 vegetarian main meal per week. A vegan main meal is the least eaten; 17% opts for a dish without animal products at least once a week. People often eat meat or fish outside the main meal, for example for breakfast, lunch or snack. On average, the Dutch do this on 3 to 4 days a week. Other animal products, such as eggs or dairy, are consumed on average on more than half of the days. Despite the fact that meat plays a major role in both the main meals and other eating moments, four in ten Dutch people indicate that they eat less meat now than 5 years ago (43%).
Fish is most often mentioned as the main substitute for meat
People who eat a vegetarian or vegan main meal at least 1 day a week indicate that they replace their meat most often with fish and shellfish (25%). Furthermore, the most important meat substitutes are diverse; cheese (15%), ready-to-eat meat substitutes (13%), egg (13%) and beans/legumes (11%) are equally often mentioned as the main alternative to meat. At least six out of ten Dutch people who occasionally eat meat with their main meal indicate that they will opt for an alternative to meat (even) more often if it would be tastier (70%), healthier (69%) and/or cheaper (64%). to be. A more extensive range (64%) and/or if it were indistinguishable from meat (61%), would be a reason for six in ten to choose an alternative to meat (even) more often.
Every day no longer eat meat of this time according to half the Dutch
Almost half of the Dutch agree (completely) that eating meat every day is outdated (47%). When it comes to their own meat consumption, four out of ten Dutch people (who now eat meat at least 1 day a week) indicate that they think they will eat less meat in the next five years (42%). Also when it comes to other aspects, the Dutch think that there will be a movement towards vegetarian/vegan food in the next 5 years. Men are more likely to be meat-eaters than women and women are more likely to opt for a flexitarian, pescatarian or vegetarian lifestyle. For example, men eat meat more days a week with the main meal (4.8 days vs. 4.3 days a week) and next to the main meal (3.8 vs. 3.3 days a week). Men are therefore more likely to believe that eating meat every day is necessary to stay healthy (24% vs. 13%).
