I don't mean this to be rude or offensive in any way, and I'm not referring to people who don't eat meat for health reasons (like, meat literally makes them sick, kind of people).
But this has been something that has confused me. I'll go to the store and see things like vegetarian meatballs, for example. Products that are meant to mimic meat. I thought that being a vegetarian was about eating vegetables, fruits, grains, and beans, and liking it? When I try to go vegetarian I get upset because a lot of the recipes I find are either trying to mock meat-using ones too much, or simply are covered with things I don't care for. I mean, if I decided for whatever reason I wanted to be a pure carnivore (regardless of the fact that I'd die of malnutrition and I'm sure other things), I don't think I would start eating fake vegetables made out of meat. Ok, yeah, that sounds a lot more disgusting, but it's along the same concept in my mind. Kind of like saying you're against fur, but then going and wearing faux fur 'cause it's so "fashionable". Again please dont take offense i am just curious
?2012-07-30T21:56:59Z
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I am a vegan, and I don't eat meat mostly because I am against factory farming and the unethical treatment of animals which goes on in them, as well as for overall health reasons. Vegans/vegetarians have to be a little more creative with they way that they get protein, and when I first became vegan I had a lot of fun trying new recipes and foods. I really expanded my taste for different foods, and now I love a variety of different vegetables and fruits, but I still use things like tofu and tempeh in a lot of my dishes. Personally, I really enjoy the taste of all kinds of different foods and sometimes things like tofu really soak up spices and add protein to a meal, and I don't think of a "substitute for meat", just another ingredient. However, I know a lot of people who are vegetarian either for ethical or health reasons or a mixture of both, but still enjoy the taste of meat. It's normal and common for someone to forgo animal products but still crave the taste/texture of a burger. It's not so much the meat as the whole burger with cheese/tomatoes/dill/bun etc. Without some protein, it's just not the same experience. No one's exactly the same, but some vegetarians use things like tofu in dishes simply to add to the meal while others might still miss the texture of meat. To use your hypothetical example, someone who was living purely off of meat would probably be limited in the different meals they could make, and using a "vegetable substitution" might simply be a way to experience a different texture or taste. Hope that helped to answer your question!
Simple: I did not become a vegetarian because I dislike the taste and texture of meat. While I DO like vegetables, fruits, grains and beans, I ALSO like the taste and texture of meat. I just choose not to eat it for moral reasons.
So if I can get close to that taste and texture without the moral issues, what's the downside?
I don't base my diet around meat substitutes, but see no reason why I should avoid them completely. They're just one of many things that keep my diet varied and interesting.
PS I AM against fur. And I am NOT against synthetic fabrics, including faux fur, with the same pattern as certain animal pelts any more than I am against wearing a dress printed with the image of some rare flower. No animal is killed for the faux fur and no flower was picked for the dress. THAT is the point.
I eat fake meat. Everyone is veg*n for different reasons, and for me, the reason is the farming methods. I'm not ok with it. But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy the taste of meat. I love burgers, steaks, venison and chicken as much as the next person but I don't like the way it's produced. I wasn't brought up in a family that ate much meat anyway, so most of the meals I cook don't involve any sort of meat substitute. but occasionally I will crave a burger and have a quorn quarter pounder, or I will want a chicken dish so I use fake chicken pieces. Then it will satisfy any craving I might have for the taste or texture of meat.
The other main reason for being vegetarian (apart from health reasons and just not liking the taste) is for moral reasons - not wanting to harm any animals, or not agreeing with meat industry standards, stuff like that.
The only thing that matters to those types is where the product comes from and what the product is made out of. If it isn't made by killing an animal, it's ok. Even if it looks or tastes like meat.
It would depend on the reason why someone has become vegetarian or vegan. Some people do it for health reasons, others for environmental reasons, and then there's the people who do it for the animals. If you have a cholesterol problem, a vegan diet would suit you perfectly as there is no cholesterol in vegan food, including faux meats. I personally hate the taste of meat so I avoid a lot of faux meats. Some aren't so close to the real thing, so I eat those on occasion. However, there might be people that love the taste of meat but don't believe in animal cruelty, so they eat faux meats. There's nothing wrong with that.