For instance, the typical Mediterranean and Nordic diets are not meat rich. Fish yes. I don't consider that meat. Flesh, but not meat.

I wonder if we could possibly state its more of an Anglo-Saxon and East European thing and we in the US are a nation heavily influenced by Anglo-Saxon culture.

I wonder if we could possibly state that for the majority of the world, one does not require, one does not think about, or one can not afford a big ol' hunk of meat at a meal.

Personally, and my parents are Russian, I grew up eating mostly non-meat. Breakfast is nearly always a non-meatcentric meal. Cereals, fruit, coffee, etc. Lunch? Yes. Some meat usually. In sandwich form or whatnot. Dinner? I would think the majority of even American male's meals at dinner are not over 50% meat. Carbohydratecentric perhaps? Potatoes, bread, rice, etc. Veggies.

If we think even about the food pyramid that we are supposed to use, its not meat-centric.