As I embark on this dietary adventure, I’m trying to gather as much advice as I can from my colleagues and friends. I was initally hesitant to get my family’s opinion for fear that they would think I was reverting back to my high school ways – you know, being a “vegetarian” for all the wrong reasons. But as it turns out, I’m not alone in thinking that maybe we’re eating too much meat for our own good.
My grandfather was telling us about his childhood recently, and remarked that he used to eat meat once a week at most – for a special occasion or on Sunday after church. Leftovers didn’t last long (he was one of 9), so his meat-eating was truly confined to one day a week. The rest of the week, he was certainly well-nourished with vegetables, bread, plenty of starch. He grew up to be healthy and strapping – as a matter of fact, he seems to have been no worse for the wear considering the rarity of meat in his diet.
So when did we starting eating a meat with every meal? My mom mentioned that although she thinks she could give up meat with ease, she doubted that my dad would even consider it – he is a man who insists on eating meat with every meal, and I know he’s got plenty of company in that.
But why? Is it generational? Is it that the people who, as children, weren’t given the opportunity to eat meat at every meal are now “making up” for it by having it twice (or thrice) daily? When did we decide that a meal isn’t complete if we aren’t serving meat? (I know that rhymes, and I agree that it would make a clever catchphrase for the meat at every meal masses. So masses, if you’re reading this, tell me why you prefer meat at every meal, and the slogan’s yours!)
What do you think? What changed? Why is meat now a staple at EVERY meal, instead of at the special ones?
