I recently came across a New York Times article titled "Putting Meat Back in Its Place", under the Dining and Wine section. What struck my attention was that I have been thinking about the same points as the article brings up, namely:1. Forget the protein thing.
2. Buy less meat.
3. Get it out of the center of the plate.
4. Buy more vegetables, and learn new ways to cook them.
5. Make nonmeat items as convenient as meat.
6. Make some rules.
7. Look at restaurant menus differently.
My reason for reconsidering meat is simply a practical one. Vegetables are generally easier to cook, and easier and quicker to prepare. Cheaper too. The drawback, I think, is that it is harder to make an all-vegetable dish seem more impressive, by virtue of point #3 from above; meat generally claims the center of the dish.
I'm not going to claim to become a vegetarian, but I will also not try as hard to get meat in to every night's dinner.
Having started cooking for myself this summer, I don't think I have eaten this healthy in a long time, since I was away from home. I have put aside Collegetown food for a while, to save money, and to eat healthy.
It also saves gas and helps fight against global warming, or at least I'd like to think.