<i>Hunting animals for food is core to what we as humans evolved to be. The way we sweat, walk, stand, etc. all seem to have evolved to be an endurance hunter. Clearly, our evolution favored those who hunt and eat meat.</i><p>This is a great point.<p>In addition, as far as I know, there were no vegetarian groups of people before religious reasons, and later ethical reasons came by.<p>Hunting consumes a lot of time and energy. If it was completely unnecessary, I would expect a lot of traditional societies just drop it and survive on plants.<p>The reality was quite the opposite - the game that hunters brought in was more valuable and sought after. That does not make sence if it was unnecessary for better health and survival.