If you are vegetarian or vegan, do you think it is weird to replace?!
I am not trying to be mean. I really am curious. And for all ofthe regulars you all know that I am not a vegetarian, but a human who tries to be conscious by avoiding companies that do exploit animals. However, I am not ready to make the full plunge. My problem in the last few days is that if I mention that I am still an omnivoe that I get a million thumbs down no matter how good my answer is. That bothers me a little bit. Then I see how people want to replicate meat and I just have to wonder about it.
Then again it may because I had a wee little too much time at happy hour, and like aphone, a key board should not be in front of me!
Answers: meat with a substitute that is "meat resemblance". My example is the person who said that that at Thanksgiving they have a tufturkey and such as this. Are you still craving meat and you need a substitute? If you are vegan does this make you wonder about your beliefs (even if you are following strictly?) ?
I am not trying to be mean. I really am curious. And for all ofthe regulars you all know that I am not a vegetarian, but a human who tries to be conscious by avoiding companies that do exploit animals. However, I am not ready to make the full plunge. My problem in the last few days is that if I mention that I am still an omnivoe that I get a million thumbs down no matter how good my answer is. That bothers me a little bit. Then I see how people want to replicate meat and I just have to wonder about it.
Then again it may because I had a wee little too much time at happy hour, and like aphone, a key board should not be in front of me!
First of all, I will say that sometimes omnivores give good answers and sometimes they give HORRIBLE answers, and I grade accordingly. This isn't a horrible or mean question, although it has been asked before. But I suspect you want an honest answer and are not trying to wind us up.
Now, onto the analogue issue. I eat the analogues because they taste good. I don't like all of the substitutes, but I have found those I like. And I think they make veganism--or at least reducing meat--a little more accessible to people. I stopped eating meat because I was disgusted by the taste and texture, and it sort of morphed into an ethical issue. The substitutes give me flavor and texture without the cruelty, the fat, the cholesterol, the hormones, and the antibiotics.
For the record, I don't eat Tofurkey roasts because I don't like the texture. But they make some pretty good deli slices.
I did not stop eating meat because i did not like the taste
I did it because of the abuse
I don't crave fake or real meat
I don't give thumbs down if you are an omnivore, only give thumbs down if i don't like the answer
I do plan to eat tofurkey in thanksgiving because i want to have the "traditional" thanksgiving
If you're craving meat than it is probably because your body is lacking a particular vitamin or amino acid. Craving meat shouldn't have anything to do with your beliefs. You should be able to follow a vegetarian diet without cravings. Although, I was vegetarian for several years until I was pregnant. At about 3 months I had these uncontrollable cravings and went to a Taco Bell. Now, nine years later I still eat the fake meat. I don't refuse meat (I should)...but I love the Morningstar farms meat scrambler...I mix it with ortega seasoning all the time...that stuff has sooo many ingrediants though...I don't know if I could say that the fake stuff is any good for you either...
HA! Tofurkey ain't nothin like the dead bird and I'm perfectly fine with that.
It does have stuffin and gravy but it has its own thing goin on, believe me.
I haven't craved any of that stuff in years. Even if I did, it's about my commitment to not eat the real thing and not about having a pure mind. My goal is the reduction in the suffering of animals and as long as I don't contribute to it, if it tastes good, I'm gonna eat it........well, as long as it wont make me fat.
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Gravy? They have a few vegan gravies out there. I'm no gravy expert but feel free to experiment if you are willing. The tofurkey gravy I just had wasn't all that nostalgic.
Gravy is mostly congealed fat and whatnot so the whole concept can't be too hard to replicate. If I was a gravy fanatic I'm sure that I could make one up from scratch or purchase some and customize it.
It's okay if you are from the midwest. Fresno, CA is the meth capitol of the world. I've never been there but it's only about 150 miles from where I grew up. Fremont, CA, white tweakers galore. My parents both have very unique issues. I did hear a few nice folks on YA mention that veg*ans all suffer from mental illness. You think that's why I turned out to be a pompous, elitist, "vegan" with OCD? jk
The world is plagued with hype. You just have to do what suits you and not worry about where and how you were brought up.
Our personas can't really expect more than thumbs down really. If most folks had their way we wouldn't be here. Nobody likes controversy and to be honest, being an omnivore in a V & V section is a recipe for dislike.
But, I actually like some of the people here. I like you (which goes without saying) but I like the people as a whole too. There are some I dislike and I'm sure quite a few who dislike me.
It's strange how things play out. I'm here by complete accident. I answered a question, and the original "me" was a jerk to me. So I played with him a little. I had no intention of being the "me troll" (though I revel in it now). Things went on an interesting path from there and voila here I am.
I never lie. I never make anything up. All my claims are backed with references (which I've been noted for and thanks to those who mention it).
Always remember, the V & V section (or any section for that matter) is for the questions and answers regarding that subject. Not for the promotion of that ideal.
You have to admit, you've learned here and so have I. That's the point of YA. To learn, not to posture.
To answer your question Trace, I think they miss the taste. They want the flavor without the guilt and if it can be achieved it's the best of both worlds for them. I hope it happens but the stuff now falls kinda short.
I don't think anyone thinks that you're a mean person. You're an omnivore posting in the V & V section. We aren't designed for popularity...LOL
I'm not vegetarian, but I do enjoy vegetarian food. I avoid "meat replacement" meals, because when I eat vegetarian, I don't want a "resemblance" meal, I want a delicious meal with it's own flavors and properties, but now I have a question for this board, thanks!
That is a very interesting question. I am a vegetarian and I hate the meat substitutes. I stopped eating meat and I, in my case, do not want to feel the taste of it anymore.... not even w/a substitute.
I avoid anything with meat taste or look.... but that is just my opinion.
I think the substitutes are for begginers.... so the change is not so drastic...and also to give variation to the meals....
honestly, those substitutes bother me a little bit too.. :)
Hm, I'm a vegetarian and do eat veggie burgers and burritos. I don't do it for the taste(they usually don't taste anything like the real thing, though I don't really remember or WANT to remember what the real things taste like). I eat it only if it tastes good. If it tasted like meat, I would probably be more prone to not eat it. =) I rarely have time to fully cook my veg. meals so these "meat substitutes" are a quick fix I can mix with rice, bread or whatever I have.
The sandwich meat substitutes are awful though; I have never found one that tasted good, and don't dare test any other brands out now. Haha.
I went veg 20+ years ago at 16. I can honestly say it was a really easy transition to make. About a year after I quit meat cold turkey (no pun intended) I had a craving for a roast beef sandwich. It passed and I have never had any desire to eat meat beyond that. I use meat substitutes sometimes (not terribly often) not because I am craving meat and questioning my beliefs, but because they taste pretty good, are versatile, allow me to enjoy dishes I like, my omnivore boyfriend likes them too, etc... Omnivores tend to think of the vegan diet as limited somehow, but then get all out of whack when we try to inject a little extra variety into our menu planning by using meat analogs. That bothers me a little.
The eating of a faux meat is much different that eating actual meat. No animal has to die in order for a boca burger to be produced. I am against the cruelty behind the production of the burger and the health concerns regarding the consumption of meat.
Since faux meat is healther( in cholesterol, saturated fat, etc) and there is no cruelty involved, than the consumption of the product is no different that eating any other vegetarian food.
I myself, liken it to a person who is watching cholesterol who switches from regular bacon to turkey bacon. Should the person avoid turkey bacon because regular bacon is high in cholesterol... no, because what they are looking for is something healthier, just the same as vegetarians are looking for a cruelty free and healthier alternative so they choose boca burgers.
I am vegan, and some meat substitute products do seem a little weird to me. I do eat veggie dogs, veggie bologna/deli slices, veggie breakfast sausage patties and veggie meatballs...that's about it. I'm not craving meat, but just protein, which is only natural. What makes some of the products takes similar is the flavoring, such as hickory smoke and a special blend of spices. I could do without them. Mostly I eat my Mom's vegan chili, made with pinto beans, tomato sauce, onions, garlic, herbs and spices.
Doesn't make me question my beliefs. I know what my beliefs are. I didn't stop eating meat because I didn't like the taste. Vegan implies moral concern for animals. I've never known of a vegan who quit eating meat because of the taste (that wouldn't explain the rest of their vegan lifestyle.) If we can get cruelty-free versions of what we used to eat, it's win-win. I'm missing nothing and I'm not contributing to the demand for animal products.
Some vegetarians use meat analogs b/c of habit or tradition that a meal should consist of an "entree" & various "sides" so it seems more comfortable to have something as the "star" of the meal. From my experience & observing other vegetarians, analogs are used more often by "new" vegetarians.
My cravings for meat stopped a long time ago, & as several ppl have noted, analogs don't taste *too* much like actual flesh. Some are good & also filling. I use occasional analogs, but the centerpiece of our Thanksgiving meal is usually a sumptuous stuffed squash along with most of the more traditional "sides." It is possible to enjoy delicious vegan/veggie gravy, btw.
I don't eat any meat substitute. I have never eaten tofu or tofurkey or anything of the kind. And no, I don't crave any meat, I am perfectly happy as a vegetarian.
I gave up meat because I didn't want to gain pleasure from something else's pain... I was practically a carnivore before this and had meat with every meal because I loved the taste. I think fake meats are great because they give us an alternative to eating real meat. I don't eat them that often any more because I don't crave meat anymore and am perfectly happy without them but I still do once in a while.
I think all vegs should support companys producing meat substitutes because the more people buy from them, the bigger they will get and the more research they'll be able to do into making their substitutes taste more like meat. Hopefully one day they will become so popular that the prices will be driven down and they'll taste exactly like the real thing.... then meat eaters may choose these instead of meat. People aren't just going to stop liking the taste of meat but if there are good alternatives then hopefully there will be less of a demand for real meat and less animals will have to die.
I'm a strict vegan and eating fake meat doesn't make me wonder about my beliefs... in fact it only strengthens them. I still wear cotton instead of leather or wool... I still eat maple syrup instead of honey and see this as perfectly fine. Substitute meat doesn't cause animals to suffer and they actually do a lot for the vegan cause so I think they're great.
I stopped eating meat for moral reasons. When I first stopped I searched for replacements this was much easier then finding a whole new way to cook and eat.
I have been vegetarian for 12yrs now I do not crave meat at all because frankly I don't see it as food anymore. When I look at a slice of meat I don't see food I see death. Plus I found in the beginning of me becoming vegetarian it wasn't the meat I missed. It was the sauces and spices. So now I have the spices and sauces with out the death.