Depends on the culture you are looking at. Of course you should also balance that with examining the leading causes of death for the culture.

Lots of thumbs-downing in here. I say this as a vegan, but meat actually can be part of a healthy diet. You would need to eat about 1/5 of what the typical American eats, though, and you will be taking on some bad stuff no matter how lean the meat is. (Hormones, antibiotics, parasites, etc.)

A diet that includes meat will never be as healthy as a veg diet.

Because the animal exploitation industries have convinced people that they need meat, dairy, and eggs as part of a balanced diet. Their advertising is very insidious. They can spend more on advertising in a week than pro-vegetarian organizations can in a year!

They’re ignorant.

They’re too busy worrying about their acne and diabetes to learn some facts.

They are VERY confused and think that meat is the ONLY source of protein.

It may or may not be PART of a balanced diet. And IMO to exclude such a critical nutrient as B12, a diet is not balanced. A balanced diet does not require supplements, IMO.

Like you said when “you” think of a balanced diet, “you” think of the proper amounts of proteins, carbs, fats, vits and minerals. Yes you can get it them from a Vegan diet but for most people that have been raised on some kind of meat, becoming a vegan is not a easy thing to do. Meat is and can be a part of a balanced diet. No one has ever said that you have to eat meat or you will die. You are incorrect saying that meat is “not” part of a balanced diet, you choose not to eat meat in order to not kill animals, and that is your every right. Please do not state untrue facts about things you many not fully understand because you choose not to understand the facts. Speak with a nutritionist and they will say that meat “can” be a “part” of a balanced diet if you “choose” to eat meat.

Besides 95% of people do not eat a balanced diet in the first place.

Ignorance. Meat is not a food group, protein is. You don’t need meat, you need protein. As long as you’re getting enough, you’re eating a balanced diet. Trolls like to preach meats amazing nutriental values, like artery clogging cholestrol!

It is what I use as my protein source, sorry not in to eating lentils all day. However if you don’t want to eat meat all the power to you. Do you know you can die from not having protein in your system , its called protein poisoning. If your a vegan, well lentils are the best source of protein, and they come in array of colors.

Meat is one of the only things with protein and vital vitamins you need it to stay alive otherwise your body starts eating its self because of a lack of vitamins
good luck and you can’t get all you need from a veggie diet!!! Trust me i know i was one until my mum and doctor saved me from myself and had to force feed me proper food until i was back on track please don’t hurt your self by not eating meat i would never want what happened to me happen to someone else!If animal welfare is stopping you from eating talk to someone in a shop or supermarket and they will give you well kept meat that was brought up well it works for me and i should work for you.
good luck chazy