Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by losteric 1991 days ago
> Why would fruits be more scarce for a non predator (as where human ancestors), than meat?

Seasons change?

Meat is available year-round but can be dangerous to acquire and prepare safely.

Fruits/veggies are easy but seasonal food sources that store poorly, and with vast competition.

Grains and tubers are difficult to transport, spoil, and are of limited supply determined by the growing season (especially without agriculture).

Our hunt & gather ancestors followed the seasons far closer than farmers. At least on gut check, it seems fat adaptation would be strongly selected for as well as a strong taste for carbs as available

2 comments

Also not to forget that modern fruits and vegetables are nothing like the ones we've spent much of our evolution with. I would guess honey would have been the most sugary thing available, and still guarded by a swarm of angry bees.
Was/is there that much of seasonal variety in the African regions, where humans evolved mostly? And why should we stop at humans and not go back even further?