Last week, we talked for an hour about our respective diets, mostly our conversation was him telling me why I should go meatless and me trying to pull him back over to the dark side. He recommended that I “at least try” one of the raw-food or vegetarian restaurants he swears by. Now, I know what you’re thinking. And, no, this story doesn’t end with me having an epiphany about the benefits of only eating plants. But I’m curious to know why meat is the first thing that “healthy eaters” cut out of their diets? So, I did some investigating.

My friend and neighbor Rob, who hasn’t eaten meat for 15 years, came by with a chickpea roti a few days ago and talked to me about hormone-laden chicken and the slight guilt he feels about eating living creatures. “Have you ever been to a slaughterhouse?” he asked me. Uh, that would be negative. More importantly, why has he? Another friend, Michelle, gave up meat in high school “to have a cause” and eventually got grossed out by the idea of consuming animals because it reminded her of her dogs. Alec, a vegetarian for the last 11 years, says since he stopped eating meat, he has a lot more energy.

Okay, okay, it’s true. Our bodies take longer to digest meat. And eating too much of it is linked to serious health issues. And, yes, some animals are too cute to slaughter. I get it. But while recovering from the trauma of surgery, my doctors suggested that I eat lots of protein. Meat protein that is. I also remember reading that leading anthropologists believe eating cooked meat is what made it possible for humans to evolve bigger brains. Meat fueled Homo erectus’ brain, giving early man longevity unlike our smaller-brained ancestors who died off. Isn’t this proof enough that God wants us to eat the beasts that live on planet Earth?

But I’m a good sport. So, in between interviewing all of my meatless friends, I decided to give Kirk’s restaurant, Angelica Kitchen, a try (see photo at right). It wasn’t bad at all. In fact, my red lentil soup and roasted vegetable salad were quite tasty. I’m just not sure if I could eat like that all the time, or that I’m necessarily interested in giving up meat. Kirk assures me that I wouldn’t miss it, but I’m not so sure about that.

My boyfriend makes a truly delicious steak. Two weeks ago, I had dinner at a friend’s house in Brooklyn, and she made the best short ribs I’ve ever tasted. And could I really never have another pork bun from Momofuku, a great little noodle bar on the Lower East Side of Manhattan? One word: heaven. And, yes, I eat pork. So all you holier than thou, I-don’t-touch-the-swine black folks just back up off me. I can see you shaking your head in disapproval, and I don’t know what to tell you. Plus, Dr. Tom Fisher eats pork, and he’s a brilliant young physician in Chicago. If it’s okay with him then that’s good enough for me.

Interestingly enough, nearly all of the vegetarians I know drink. Kirk says he’s good for throwing back a few. Michelle drinks like a champ. And before my chemo-induced liquor hiatus, I spent many nights with Alec holed up in a bar ordering just one more round. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Darren and Tina, my vegetarian friends who eat fish. Every time I hang with them, there’s liquor involved. But, I’m a drinker, so I have no intentions of pointing out the evils of alcohol. Plus, all in moderation, right? And isn’t that what healthy eating is all about? Balance. A little yin with my yang, a little sweet with my sour, a little ham with my burger. I mean, can’t the meat and vegetables (and alcohol) all get along?

So while there may be no persuading me to give up my carnivore lifestyle, I feel good about going vegan for one day. In the end, it didn’t require that I give up meat. I can appreciate both. And I’m sure I’ll make my way over to Angelica again, especially since the steak house I’ve been wanting to try for years is right down the street.