Fellow vegans, what do you think of this?!
I'm a vegan now, and although I think going vegan is one of the best things I've ever done in my whole life, I still sometimes crave some of the stuff I used to eat!. And it's for that reason that I sometimes eat vegan substitutes for such things as chicken, beef, bacon, and cold cuts!. However, a meat-eating acquaintance of mine accused me of being a hypocrite for eating vegan meat substitutes!. I don't really agree with this, because first of all, I've never denied the fact that I enjoyed the taste of meat when I used to eat it!. Second, everything I consume is plant-based, so I am following my principles!. Do any of my fellow vegans think that it's hypocritical for vegans to eat vegan meat substitutes!?Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
Your friend has misunderstood two concepts - veganism and hypocrisy!.
The point of veganism is to minimise your personal contribution to animal suffering and exploitation as much as possible!. Avoiding food fashioned into particular shapes and with particular flavourings is not required, unless those flavourings come from animals!.
And hypocrisy is claiming higher standards than you in fact have, or saying one thing and doing another!. If you said you were vegan and secretly ate steaks - that's hypocrisy!. Saying you don't eat any animal-derived food and then eating something that's not derived from animals - not hypocrisy!.
One reason fake meats are popular is that they make it easier for a new vegetarian or vegan to make the change from eating meat!. And many, like you,have a moral objection to eating meat, but enjoyed and miss it!.
But mostly 'meat substitutes' are just different tastes and textures, and who doesn’t crave that in their diet!?
And they don't really resemble meat - sausages, patties, rashers etc are just forms, usually made from meat, but they can just as easily be made from seitan, tofu etc!. They’re not necessarily meat substitutes, but ways of processing and shaping food!. You never saw a round flat animal, after all, or a sausage shaped one!. They're just convenient shapes to form the centrepiece to a meal - or to fit in a bun!.
Ask your friend why, if meat-eaters like meat so much, they have to spice it, flavour it, add soy and other fillers,shape it into sausage shapes, patties, rashers and other shapes until it no more resembles the cow or pig it came from (in taste or appearance) than it resembles a head of brocolli!? Same logic, same question!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
The point of veganism is to minimise your personal contribution to animal suffering and exploitation as much as possible!. Avoiding food fashioned into particular shapes and with particular flavourings is not required, unless those flavourings come from animals!.
And hypocrisy is claiming higher standards than you in fact have, or saying one thing and doing another!. If you said you were vegan and secretly ate steaks - that's hypocrisy!. Saying you don't eat any animal-derived food and then eating something that's not derived from animals - not hypocrisy!.
One reason fake meats are popular is that they make it easier for a new vegetarian or vegan to make the change from eating meat!. And many, like you,have a moral objection to eating meat, but enjoyed and miss it!.
But mostly 'meat substitutes' are just different tastes and textures, and who doesn’t crave that in their diet!?
And they don't really resemble meat - sausages, patties, rashers etc are just forms, usually made from meat, but they can just as easily be made from seitan, tofu etc!. They’re not necessarily meat substitutes, but ways of processing and shaping food!. You never saw a round flat animal, after all, or a sausage shaped one!. They're just convenient shapes to form the centrepiece to a meal - or to fit in a bun!.
Ask your friend why, if meat-eaters like meat so much, they have to spice it, flavour it, add soy and other fillers,shape it into sausage shapes, patties, rashers and other shapes until it no more resembles the cow or pig it came from (in taste or appearance) than it resembles a head of brocolli!? Same logic, same question!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
It's not hypocritical!.
If you are vegan for animal cruelty reasons, you are eating foods that are not tied to animal cruelty!. How is that hypocritical!?
If you are vegan for health reasons, you are eating foods that are nutritionally better for you!. How is that being hypocritical!?
Now, if your foods were directly tied to the meat industry or if your foods were filled with saturated fat and hormones like reall meat, I can see where that could be a grey area!.
Hold your head up high!. You are just fine in what you're doing!. As long as your food doesn't contradict your reasoning (whatever it may be) you're golden!.
:-)
go veg!Www@FoodAQ@Com
If you are vegan for animal cruelty reasons, you are eating foods that are not tied to animal cruelty!. How is that hypocritical!?
If you are vegan for health reasons, you are eating foods that are nutritionally better for you!. How is that being hypocritical!?
Now, if your foods were directly tied to the meat industry or if your foods were filled with saturated fat and hormones like reall meat, I can see where that could be a grey area!.
Hold your head up high!. You are just fine in what you're doing!. As long as your food doesn't contradict your reasoning (whatever it may be) you're golden!.
:-)
go veg!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Are you vegan because you find it morally wrong to eat something in a thin rectangular shape, or cylindrical, or disc shaped !?
No, of course not!.
"shapes" are not the preserve of meat-eaters and its comically for them to suggest such!.
You exclude yourself from animal exploitation, thats the point, not what shape the food is!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
No, of course not!.
"shapes" are not the preserve of meat-eaters and its comically for them to suggest such!.
You exclude yourself from animal exploitation, thats the point, not what shape the food is!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I would say something like that jokingly maybe, hoping to not be taken seriously, or maybe in defense in my choice!. Still, what you eat and why you it is yours alone and should never be something that should be questioned by anyone!. From a philosophical standpoint I can see what the other person is saying, however, eating substitutes is no different than nicotine gum!. It helps stave off craving and keeps you on the path!. I say smack them with a vegan hotdog!.
DRAGON 2012
"Great fortune for U!.S!."Www@FoodAQ@Com
DRAGON 2012
"Great fortune for U!.S!."Www@FoodAQ@Com
No, of course not!. For me, I mainly miss the texture of familiar foods!. I don't eat meat substitutes as I don't like the taste!. I know, it's weird, I love the texture and hate the taste!. It's not hypocritical!. It's like wearing non-leather leather shoes!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Since my body cannot tolerate meat, and since I abhor the cruelty inherent in meat production, I am vegan!. But I see nothing wrong with enjoying cruelty-free versions of foods we once enjoyed!. There's nothing hypocritical about it!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I don't think your a hypocrite!. I don't think we should imitate the food we are boycotting!. It tastes gross anyway!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
No, it's not hypocritical at all!.
Tell your meat eating acquantance to shove it!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Tell your meat eating acquantance to shove it!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Your not a hypocrite!.
People who say you are need to be
told that you are living a vegan lifestyle
to help the animals, not because you
dislike the taste!.
You aren't legitimising the enjoyment of meat either!.
When you are so accustomed to the taste of meat its
perfectly understandable to enjoy mock
meat!.
also, point out to them who it doesn't
acctually taste that much like meat,
cause it doesn't really does it!?
Personally I don't often eat these products
because even if they say vegan on the
packaging, you never can tell whats gone into
gathering and making it!. Best to do all
your our cooking from scratch!.!.!.if you can!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
People who say you are need to be
told that you are living a vegan lifestyle
to help the animals, not because you
dislike the taste!.
You aren't legitimising the enjoyment of meat either!.
When you are so accustomed to the taste of meat its
perfectly understandable to enjoy mock
meat!.
also, point out to them who it doesn't
acctually taste that much like meat,
cause it doesn't really does it!?
Personally I don't often eat these products
because even if they say vegan on the
packaging, you never can tell whats gone into
gathering and making it!. Best to do all
your our cooking from scratch!.!.!.if you can!.Www@FoodAQ@Com