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I remember when I first heard the term “vegetarian.”
What was that, anyway?
In the mid 1970s, it was something that was as novel as colour TV sets and microwave ovens.
In other words, it wasn’t a thing.
Sure - vegetarianism has been around for millennia, particularly in Eastern cultures, but here in the West, it’s a relatively modern undertaking. Yes - we’ve had vegetarians here for a long time, but it’s safe to say that for the most part, they’ve been in the minority. And as for veganism? Fuggeddaboutit. I don’t even think the word existed back then (okay, it probably did but it wasn’t used much at all). All this to say that in the groovy days of granola and quiche, there was almost always a meat component to accompany each meal. The vegetables were secondary and frankly, a formality.
The meat was where it was at. It was the centrepiece of the meal, full stop. That was the way things were, end of story.
The meat was where it was at. It was the centrepiece of the meal, full stop. That was the way things were, end of story.
So when the idea of perhaps not making meat the focus of meals came along, there was understandable outrage and disbelief. The nerve! Imagine having a meal - whether it was breakfast, lunch or dinner - that didn’t focus on the protein punch that is scrambled eggs and bacon, a cheeseburger or a steak. What were people to eat without these expected staples?
The move towards a less meat-heavy diet started in earnest in the 1960s and by the mid 1970s, it was in full bloom. Perhaps part of the swing in this direction could be attributed to one of the most famous vegetarian couples of the day, Paul and Linda McCartney. Staunch supporters of a fully plant-based diet from before it was cool, this power couple gave all of us food for thought. The story goes that Sir Paul made an abrupt switch to an all-vegetarian palate when he and his wife spotted a lamb outside their window of their farm, while they chowed down on a leg of lamb. It was at that point they realized that vegetarianism was their only choice moving forward.
McCartney explained his and his wife’s foray into vegetarianism in the mid 70s, one that continues on to this day:
"When I met Linda, one of the immediate things was our love of animals. That was a huge bond between us. We loved animals… [Linda] had this warm, innocent view of animals.But we ate [animals] because we both were brought up as traditional eaters.
We were on our farm in Scotland one day and it was lambing season. The lambs were running up and down the field. It was the joy of spring and the lambs had just been born and they were safe out in the sunshine. Winter had finished and the lambs would just run from one end of the field. It was like one of them had said, 'Let's go back.'And they would run to the other end of the field and they would just keep running. We were looking and loving it. But we looked down and we were eating a leg of lamb for Sunday dinner.
We both said, 'Woah, wait a minute.' We made the connection."
It didn’t hurt that one of the cultural icons of Western culture in the 20th century was at once embracing a life choice that many had never heard of, or would ever consider. The “nice, cute” Beatle was doing it, so it couldn’t be bad, right?
This confluence of cultural awareness facilitated by McCartney as well as the growing concerns regarding health, the environment and the economy led to a surprising uptick in people making the shift, however trepidatiously. There were new foods and recipes to discover, after all.
Tofu and bean curd dishes came out of hiding and into the forefront, with brown rice, granola and a plethora of grain-rich meals that were high in fibre and short on flesh. Eating flesh was bad; eating plants were good.
Not that all were on board with this new paradigm. There was certainly pushback by those who couldn’t fathom the thought of forsaking that medium rare steak or juicy burger at the next barbecue. The fact was, however, that the whole idea of changing it up, of not adhering to the status quo, was now okay and by extension, so was vegetarianism.
For some.
For others? It was just weird.
Popular culture had done a great job of inundating us with all things protein, and not plant-based, at that. Burgers and fries were as American as apple pie. And from my neck of the woods - Canada - the same could be said for any dish that featured chicken, beef or venison (depending on your Northern locale). Meat wasn’t just the focus of every meal, meat just was.
So when an edict (by who knows whom) declared that beans and tofu were now on the menu, there was certainly a revolt amongst the masses. Eating “rabbit food” and bean curd was not going to cut it. Not at all. This trend was never going to take off, never…
Fast-forward to today when the number of vegetarians and vegans is likely on par with those who eat meat. To each his or her own. In most restaurants, everyone is welcome. Got a hankering for some deep-fried tofu and stir-fried vegetables? No problem. Equally available are the dishes that are centred around a big, fat, juicy cut of meat that may or may not be garnished with vegetables. Greenery is always optional in these instances. What is also optional is what’s on the menu. Nowadays, it’s uncommon to find an eating establishment that doesn’t have a vegetarian and often vegan choices. The world is your oyster…or your kelp, depending on your preference. And that’s a good thing.
Nowadays, it’s uncommon to find an eating establishment that doesn’t have a vegetarian and often vegan choices. The world is your oyster…or your kelp, depending on your preference. And that’s a good thing.
It’s funny how what was once considered to be unfathomable - living on a diet that was completely plant-based is now the norm, not the exception. It’s also funny that many diehard meat-eaters have chosen a different path, one that they may have never considered in another lifetime. There are certainly those who tried vegetarianism, didn’t like it, and promptly returned to the comfort of beef gravy and roast beef. And many tried, but failed, to give up bacon, the item that seems to be the one barrier to becoming vegetarian for many who have tried.
Regardless of their perspectives, the choice is there. Back in the day, it wasn’t really. Eat only vegetables and you were considered a weirdo. Now all bets are off, no judgement required, expected or generally received. Food choice is where it’s at, thankfully.
So enjoy that T-Bone steak, that tofu salad or a combination of both. Nobody should care what you eat, and most of us don’t.