Chest freezers were often kept in garages and other cold places and worked efficiently (and economically) by not having to fight central heating temperatures. I have read your column for years, and been impressed with the clear explanations you normally provide.
Amino acids are found in animal sources such as meats, milk, fish, and eggs. They are also found in plant sources such as soy, beans, legumes, nut butters, and some grains (such as wheat germ and quinoa). You do not need to eat animal products to get all the protein you need in your diet.
Humans actually have adapted to be able to eat both meat and plants, turning us into omnivores, even though our bodies are much more similar to herbivores. Now, in the wild, this would mean that we would eat mostly plant matter and would eat a very small amount of meat matter.