Meat also figures ito sexual politics. In all foraging societies, presumably including our ancestors, hunting is overwhelmingly a male activity...... Though people in modern societies are ever-so-more discreet, an exchange of resources for sexual access is still an important part of the interactions between men and women all over the world. In any case, we have not lost the association completely. Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior advises:

There are three possible parts to a date, of which at least t wo must be offered: entertainment, food and affection. It is customary to begin a series of dates with great deal of entertainment, a moderate amount of food, and the merest suggestion of affection. As the amount of affection increases, the entertainment can be reduced proportionately. When the affection is the entertainment, we no longer call it dating. Under no circumstances can he food be omitted. ~ Page 197