Veggies/Vegans: If you're NOT eating meat, they why are there so many products that....?

Come on Christopher, you should know this. People aren't born vegans/vegetarians, usually. people grow up eating meat, have great times, bad times and food is sometimes involved with these times. people at some point in their life make a conscious choice to decide to make a lifestyle change. You really ought to know better Christopher. Food evokes memories, and if you can come close with a boca burger, and it reminds you of that time you were at the bar, just got out of the kitchen after getting your sh it pushed in all night doing 600 covers, and you and the crew went out, had a few too many brews, and just had a great time. if that boca burger can invoke that memory, which food often does, then why would you not want that meatless burger? Inside you know the answer to your question, Christopher. I know you do.

This question is asked a lot in this section. The short answer is, just because someone no longer eats meat, doesn't mean they don't still like something that tastes similar to meat. I've gotten away from the Boca burgers more and more now that I'm accustomed to veganism, but I relied on them a lot as a beginner. And the whole point is that they DON'T contain any animal product (well, as long as they're vegan), so there really is nothing to feel guilty about. I was at a graduation party this weekend and it was nice to have something that resembled what everyone else was eating.

I also just tried SO Delicious dairy free "ice cream" a few minutes ago for the first time and BOY WAS IT GOOD! I used to be ADDICTED to ice cream, and while this had a totally different texture, it was nice to be able to scoop it out, and even put it on a cone if I wanted to. I wasn't a vegan for 21 years of my life, so people get into routines! :)

I figured this would be a pretty obvious answer =\

You know, vegans and vegetarians aren't the only ones who eat these foods. A lot of these products were first produced as no cholesterol, low fat alternatives for older people who were suffering from a life long dedication to eating the real stuff.

Most faux foods are used by transitioning vegetarians and vegans. It's not about resembling...it's about the convenience and association we grew up with. It isn't the idea that bothers me, its the cruelty, the additional unhealthy side effects and the unnecessary nature of it all that comes with eating meat.

Diet is the biggest determining factor in our survival. period. It's too bad so few people actually take it serious. That's because we take it for granted though and our survival is basically guaranteed in our societies now. If we lived in the wild what we ate and how we ate it would be priority..instead of entertainment and possession is now.

It's just an easy way to add protein and supplement a diet for those who choose to do it. Some never learn other ways to prepare food in a more traditional vegan sense. Some use these till they do..either way I don't see a problem with it. It's better then the alternative.

First, if you ask most non-vegetarians if soy meats taste or are the same texture as "real meat", they'll definetly say no. Over the years I've accidentally tasted meat/ dairy a few times, and believe me there's a huge difference. As a long-time vegan I eat soy meats and drink soy milk for many reasons;

-to add varity to my diet (just tofu, nuts, and beans can get boring after a while)

-to make sure I get enough protein , many of these items have more protein then beans, nuts, etc (Tofurky Italian Sausage has 29g of protein!)

Many of these items are fortified with vitamins so I don't have to remember to take as many suppliments

-many recipes I grew up eatting call for meat/ dairy, and these items replace them

-most of these foods are very quick and easy to make, as a mom of two young children convienience is really important

-my husbad is a meat eater, but will eat vegan food if it resembles "regular" food

I could have sworn that this question was asked last week?

Ohh well.

Meat substitutes are not what every vegetarian or vegan uses. It may be used by some for transitioning from a diet that contained animal based protein and the person, for whatever reason, decides to go vegetarian. Perhaps some vegetarians or vegans may serve it at a dinner party for guest who normally eat meat but will not serve it for personal reasons.

It is kind of the same reason why I keep a well stocked refridgerator full of fruits and veggies, it is not only for myself but for my guests also as some of them do not eat animal proteins.

By the way, I am not vegetarian but I have enjoyed soy based products because they are healthy and they have come a long way from cardboard tasting putty. In my stew, chili, even scrambled eggs, I have used tofu in addition to the normal meat(s). Why? because it adds protein without the harmful fats. Just one of many reasons for myself at least.

As others have said - many vegetarians/vegans chose to no longer eat animals because killing animals to eat their flesh is just not an option anymore. I have never once said that chicken or fish or hamburger doesn't taste good - I loved the taste of meat but my ethics could no longer justify my desire to eat an animal that had to give their life to end up on my plate.

But then faux meats came along and now I can enjoy a similar taste - and it is not a dead animal!

Most people who have been vegetarians for a long time that I know don't eat those things.

They are mostly for people just starting who still remember meat and for people who are vegetarians for health NOT moral reasons.

Also they are an easy way to get replacements without looking hard.

For milk-Solymilk

For Protien rather than peanuts and tofu----meat replacements.

And then some people just know that eating meat is wrong but still like the 'taste' (since they eat the fake stuff) of meat.

Add all those people together and there is a big market.

Vegetarians vary from person to person, some hate the stuff and some love it....

"why would you want to eat something that resembles (remotely even) what you're trying your best to stay away from??"

Why not? Taste is only taste. It is the killing that matters, not the taste of the product.

First off, many people do not want to eat this, so these "faux meat" products are for only a segment of the vegit. population. Don't assume everyone likes them.

I guess the simple answer is that if many vegetarians are like myself, they really like meat from a diet/taste point of view; though do not want to engage in the cruelty and inhumane treatment of animals. No matter what a product tries to taste like, I can enjoy it knowing that I am not contributing to this industry.

It is rather simple really.

I am not a vegan so I still enjoy ice cream...though if I can eat a healthier frozen yogurt that tastes like ice cream, is that somehow inconsistent? I know what I am eating is potentially healthier. I love the taste of cow, I just do not love it enough to want to kill one just to please my taste buds. If I can get a similar taste, great....and nothing is hurt in the process.

BTW, if you do not want nasty answers, you might want to rephrase questions as to not be so attacking...you can cool it on the multiple question marks for example.

I personally do not eat fake meats.

But, please consider how your question contains faulty logic on two points:

1. Your premise that those fake meats are created only for veg*ns.

2. Your premise that ALL veg*ns became one for animal rights / hatred of meat (many become one just for health reasons).

The fake meat industry panders to meat-eaters who want to eat healthier, or meat-eaters who are transitioning to veg*nism, or veg*ns who are used to the look & taste of meat from being raised on meat-heavy diets.

Soy milk was not created to emulate cow's milk. It is a by-product of tofu, which has been part of Far-east Asian cuisine for thousands of years. Traditional Far-east Asian cuisine does not include dairy foods so I doubt they were trying to emulate cow's milk. Also, there is nothing inherently "animal" about cheese, ice cream, etc. Soy "dairy" often taste good, especially for those raised on dairy-rich western diet, and does not include unhealthy fats, hormones, nor cruelty. For many veg*ns that's the point.

I dont eat the fake meats or anything that resembles meat. I find them off putting. I eat whole, organic foods, in their natural state. My daughter likes the veggie burgers when she attends a BBQ at a friends house, but beyond that, we prefer whole foods. I think its because people acquire a taste for meat, and the meat substitutes make it easier to maintain a vegetarian diet. When my young daughter first became a vegetarian, she wanted to try one of the fake hot dogs, but when she looked at it in the bun, she said it looked and smelled too much like the real thing, and she couldnt eat it. Different preferences, I guess.