Why is every vegetarian meat substitute designed to look, smell and taste like meat?

Most vegetarians grew up eating meat. For most of us it's not that we don't like the taste but that we don't like the cruelty involved in producing meat, dairy, and eggs. So if we can find something that replicates taste and texture, but without the cruelty, why not? I mean, what's the difference between shaping animal flesh and other fillers into a hot dog and shaping vegetable foods into a hot dog? What's so different about creating a chop from, say, cows' flesh and creating a chop from soy or wheat gluten? We vegans like good food as well and want to be able to enjoy eating. Plus, bringing a veggie burger to a cookout where there are meat eaters makes our diet a bit less "weird" to them.

As a vegetarian that used to eat meat, I like those type of substitutes because I miss the taste of meat. Although I've had many that taste nothing like meat, but they give a similar texture if you are cooking it in a recipe that would have called for meat, which makes swapping recipes for vegetarian easy.

If it's a meat substitute, of course it's going to look smell and taste like meat. If it didn't taste like meat, it'd just be a flavor-neutral slice of tempeh/seitan/tofu.

Would you expect a substitute teacher to be a police officer?

most people that make the switch from eating meat to being vegetarian, do so for reasons that involves health or fitness or something like that. I don't think there's one reported case where the reason was because of me. So, as with all the changes in lifestyle, they try to make it as seamless and smooth as possible and still giving you the taste that your used to but also gaining benefits that made you switch in the first place

That's not true at all. Ever have a good black bean burger? It doesn't even look like meat. Good veggie burgers don't taste like beef, they taste like veggies. How many people have *really* been fooled? And why does it matter?

And when was the last time you had a veggie burger that smelled like meat? xD

The word substitute would be your first clue.

when you use a substitute for ANYTHING you are trying to make it taste, look, smell and feel like the real deal.

Other wise it wouldn't be a substitute but an alternative.

i use the substitutes that dont taste like meat, i once had these vegan burgers but they reminded me of real meat, this made me feel sick and i nearly was sick. I prefer making things using beans pasta, nuts and all sorts, i only buy these vegan fish finger type things and vegan sausages sometimes. I do occasionally have other substitutes but not ones that taste of meat ewww

I always wondered this. I can understand why they look like real meat. Like meat hot dogs and veggie hot dogs, meat burgers and veggie patties. Because then you would only have to have bread and you can eat hot dogs and burgers just like everyone else. The fact is meat burgers is made of meat and veggie burgers are made of veggies doesn't mean they can't be eaten but by two different groups.

Does that makes sense?

Because it's delicious. I'm sure most vegetarians would enjoy meat for the taste. I mean I can't eat a meal without meat, so I'd understand why they'd want to find substitutes for it.

I've heard of stupid food questions before but this one takes the cake.

I don't bother with meat-like substitutes.