America is often seen as a land of cattle ranches, and a beefsteak dinner
is considered by some to be one of the staple meals of the American diet. If the Japanese are fond of eating their fish raw, then perhaps it can be said that
most Americans enjoy their meat barbecued.

With the coming of summer the outdoor barbecue picnic is very much a part of
American culture. Perhaps the barbecue had it origins on the wild frontier when cowboys had to cook their meals on an open fire away from the blazing hearth of
a kitchen. The cowboys would sit around the blazing campfire and prepare their evening dinner out under the stars. In later years this custom became part of the larger culture and today a barbecue is an integral part of modern life.

For many it becomes a social event. School clubs and church groups often have summer barbecues in the same way that Japanese like to party under the cherry trees in spring. The Fourth of July, Independence Day in America, is always centered around the barbecue and inaugurates the summer season. The distinct aroma of barbecued meat whether it be chicken, franks or beef steaks fills the air in summertime and hardly a week may pass when a barbecue is not made into a celebration.
It is a fallacy, however, to conclude that every American is a meat eater. In recent years there has been a growing trend among younger people and older adults to exclude meat from their diets altogether. This is more than just a fad. It is part of America's changing eating habits. Some pure vegetarians may even go so far as to eliminate eggs, milk, cheese and all dairy products completely from their diets. Their decision is based on the assumption that the origin of dairy foods is organic. Since milk comes from cows and eggs come from chickens, the consumption of these dairy products can hardly be considered suitable for an orthodox vegetarian. Therefore, for their protein source such vegetarians turn to peanuts, beans and tofu. For some the decision is supported by nutritionists who advise that too much meat in one's diet is bad for the health and affects cholesterol levels in the blood. But not every vegetarian is motivated by reasons of health. For some the motivation to abstain from meat is based on a reverence for life. They are appalled that they should be nourished by the death of an animal.

It is now quite common in America to find restaurants which serve nothing but vegetarian dinners. They rival in patronage some of the more popular steak houses and their numbers seem to be increasing year by year. Surprisingly, vegetarian menus, when well prepared, are very tasty and varied. Even schools and colleges have become part of this trend by offering a variety of green salads and fresh fruit in addition to the hot dogs and hamburgers. Most institutions provide a special vegetarian luncheon for those who abstain from meat. The fad is more than fashion, and even airlines companies in America usually feature a vegetarian dinner along with the standard meat offerings.