Beef dinners have been a Christmas tradition for many American families, but more and more cooks are hearing, "I don't eat red meat anymore." Consumption of beef and animal fats has been declining — on doctor's orders. Beyond that, cattle have long been blamed for climate change.
Nicolette Hahn Niman is a vegetarian – and a cattle rancher. Her book, Defending Beef: The Case for Sustainable Meat Production, has earned some praise even from the food guru Michael Pollan.