A Friendly Conversation: Exploring Omnivorous vs. Vegetarian Diet

[Monica]

I can say that very, very little red meat has entered our home in this past year.

Ethically, why do you suppose people tend to give up 'red' meat first? Is there an implication that cows are more evolved than chickens? Or is it just because of health considerations? Ounce for ounce, chicken has as much cholesterol as beef (actually a bit more). I did it that way too, but only because a nutritionist told me to avoid red meat. Just wondering what your take is on that.

Food Cholesterol (mg)
Beef liver, cooked, 3 oz 331
Beef sweetbreads, cooked, 3 oz 250
Squid, cooked, 3 oz 227
Egg, whole, large 212
Shrimp, cooked, 3 oz 166
Ice cream, gourmet, 1 cup 90
Salmon, baked, 3.5 oz 87
Lamb chop, cooked, 3 oz 75
Chicken breast, cooked, 3 oz 72
Beef, round, cooked, 3 oz 71
Beef, sirloin, cooked, 3 oz 71
Pork chop, cooked, 3 oz 71
Chicken, dark meat, cooked, 3 oz 70
Beef, rib eye, cooked, 3 oz 65
Ham, regular, cooked, 3 oz 50
Tuna, water packed, drained, 3.5 oz 42
Milk, whole, 1 cup 33
Butter, 1 tbsp 31
Ice cream, light, 1 cup 31
Cheese, cheddar, 1 oz 30
Scallops, cooked, 3 oz 27
Hot dog, beef, 1 frank 24
Cheese, reduced fat, 1 oz 6
Yogurt, part skim, 1 cup 6

http://www.diet.com/g/dietary-cholesterol

Interesting how a so-called 'healthy' fish like salmon has more cholesterol than chicken or beef. And look how pig meat is actually lower. Yet pig meat has a reputation of being somehow 'worse' than cow meat, which is somehow 'worse' than chicken meat, which is somehow 'worse' than the so-called 'healthy' fish meat. Fish meat does have Omega-3s, which is good, but it also has the cholesterol.

(The obvious Note: Cholesterol isn't found in plant foods.)

I realize cholesterol isn't the only factor, but I'm wondering why people tend to avoid 'red' meat.