Vegetarians/vegans...Do you eat fake meat?

Occasionally. No, I don't feel less vegetarian. I'm a vegetarian because I don't want to eat dead animals, not because I object to having something to throw on the grill, or something to toss into my tacos or soup for texture and flavor.

I almost never crave meat. I crave dishes that are often made with meat. For example, I want chili, or I want lasagna. It isn't like I'm thinking "I must have ground cow right now! ANY GROUND COW WILL DO!" I think that's true of meat eaters. You will rarely find a meat eater who wants just the meat. If a meat eater wants a porterhouse, a MacDonald's burger isn't going to kill the craving.

You clearly think people who use seitan are less veg, but I disagree. I'm not a vegetarian because I want to make a huge production of being disgusted by meat. I'm a vegetarian because I actually think it's icky. That being said, you're totally correct and a lot of the fake meats are pretty foul. I can't stand the veggie cold cuts (not that I ever liked cold cuts to begin with). I don't think that the alternatives really resemble the originals in much more than shape and seasoning. The texture is different, the taste is different. I would understand thinking that it was weird for a person who didn't like meat to eat the alternative if the alternatives actually tasted like meat. However, I really don't see much resemblance. It's kind of like the difference between fresh orange juice and orange Crush. They're barely comparable.

Sorry for mistaking your buddy's thoughts for yours! :-) I think your friend is silly and seems to care more about appearance than actuality. As for fake meat being gross, you should try some seitan that is prepared traditionally. It is AMAZING! Find a vegetarian/vegan Asian place. They do it really, really well.

lol, it definitely doesn't make you less of a vegetarian. I think it's great when someone can get over a craving without sacrificing their beliefs. We can't help it if we get occasional cravings, that's not something someone has control over.

Anyways, I eat them occasionally. Maybe once a week. Actually, twice or so a week would be more like my limit if it's homemade, and even less than once a week if it's the processed stuff from the store. Regardless though, for me it's not really about it being a fake version of meat. It might have been back when I was a beginner, but now I don't really regard them as 'fake meats', it's more about them tasting good in what I make. And I definitely don't feel bad or like I'm a bad vegan, cause no animal has to suffer or die for me to get it....it's not real meat. It's completely different.

I never crave meat lol Sometimes I'll want the taste of orange chicken (which is really just the orange sauce). When you are craving something, like meat, it means you are lacking protein and that can be fixed with things like tofu, nuts...I'm sure you already know this though ;) And besides, all the meat that people love? It's because of the seasonings. No one eats completely raw beef and chicken. So if you miss the taste, it's probably not because of the animal

It doesn't make you less of a vegetarian. Some meat items do taste good and a lot of times they can trigger happy memories from your childhood (like chicken mcnuggets from your happy meals). There is nothing wrong about that.

For me, I like to eat the meat substitutes when I'm at a BBQ it's a lot less awkward than sitting there eating carrot sticks lol

I do. I don't feel like less of a vegetarian at all. I grew up as a vegetarian and I've never had meat so I don't crave it at all. The fake meats have always been a part of my diet so they're not disgusting to me. There are some I don't like though. Would your friend prefer if we call our veggie burgers "textured vegetable protein burgers"? I think that's a bit ridiculous.

It doesn't make you less of a vegetarian because it's not meat. Vegetarians don't eat real meat for a lot of reasons. Those reasons don't apply to fake meat. So what's wrong with eating it? How does that make someone a poser? I can only understand that if a vegetarian is a vegetarian because they don't like the taste of meat. Most aren't vegetarians for that reason though.

Yes I eat fake meat - your still a vegatarian as it's FAKE and not meat!

I hate these judgemental people that think they're better than someone else because they don't eat veggie burgers or whatever. they're just giving vegetarianism in general a bad name!

I NEVER said I went veg b/c I didn't like the taste of meat! I don't like how the animals suffer and think that's more important than how something taste. so if i can have that taste without the suffering what is wrong with that? I also know other vegs who won't eat the fake meat cuz it tastes like meat which reminds them of meat and they don't want that. To each his own.

If someone doesnt' like something, that's fine, but to be judgey towards people in that manner (like saying they're "posers" or whatever) is just dumb.

I never really crave meat anymore, I might think that someones chicken fingers smell good but I never actually think about eating them. As far as fake meats as well as fake cheeses go I probably eat them once a every few months. Its usually just a TVP buffalo chicken sandwich from the only vegan place in my city or some soy hot dogs when I need a quick protein fix after a workout or something.

I don't think eating fake meat means you are craving meat and trying to find something to kill that craving. I have never ate meat in my whole life and therefore have nothing to miss! I obviously don't crave meat because I have never had it!

Yet I eat fake meat. I think it is a brilliant idea, most fake meat is full of protein and nutrients, It's easy for other people to cook for you (my mother in law often serves stake for her family, but I get fake meat, its easy for her because she can still serve me all the condiments), it gives vegetarians/vegans a lot of choice in dinners (which is good if you are not a good cook!) and best of all ITS NOT MEAT!!! Brilliant don't you think?

I do occasionally eat fake meat, like veggie dogs. I like being able to eat things that I miss from my meat eating days. It grosses me out a bit, and I feel bad/wrong, but at the end of the day I know that it's not meat. I rarely crave meat and that's not why I eat it. I also like not feeling so left out at BBQs ect...

Just me

I happen to like the analogues, and I don't feel like "less of a vegan" for enjoying them. I didn't go vegan because I hated the taste of meat (or, rather, the seasonings), I went vegan because my body can no longer digest meat and because of the ethical issues.

Eating analogues is perfectly okay because no animals were harmed in the production of that food. And if it makes it easy for people to go veg, that means fewer animals are dying for our taste buds. I think the fact that there are so many analogues makes veganism seem less threatening. People like certain looks, textures, tastes--the whole "mouth-feel" bit--and the analogues help with that.

If you and your friends don't like the analogues, you don't have to eat them.