Any vegans in the house? Why make meat substitutes?

[Airyaman]

I've watched my share of vegan recipes on social media. Some look good, but the biggest thing I notice is that alot of vegans seem to want meat substitutes.

Why? If you want to be vegan, why would you want something to taste or "feel" like meat?

I'm a meat eater who rarely shies away from vegetables, cooked in many ways. But I would never want to have to give up meat. It has the "right" proteins and damn, it tastes good.

So let's say I had to give up meat for some reason. Would I want fake vegan meat to substitute what I miss about meat?

Sounds like way too much work. Why not just make better tasting non-meats? Seems the right way to go imo.

Thoughts?

 

[Allan]

Why? If you want to be vegan, why would you want something to taste or "feel" like meat?

Meat tastes good.

 

[btthegreat]

Most vegans are not vegan because of negative aesthetics of the consumption experience. Their objection to eating meat is NOT based to some universal flavor or texture of animal protein, because there isn't a universal flavor or texture. Fish has a different flavor and texture than beef. Chicken has a different texture and flavor from ham. Caviar is nothing like jerky. Scrambled eggs is nothing like Pepperoni. It seems pretty logical to seek those flavors and textures that you actually enjoyed in say a casserole, or a sandwich or on a bun.

 

[ataraxia]

People become vegan for different reasons. Many do so for humanitarian reasons, not because they don’t like meat. So for them, I can see how this might be an appealing option.

 

[dmpi]

I like to cook and it's a fun challenge to try to put together an acceptable meat or fish substitute. But so far I've tried a number of times and have failed every time.

 

[JMR]

I have neighbors who are completely dedicated to a plant based diet. They have a small garden in their yard, belong to several food co-operatives, buy specialty products on line, and have frequent pot luck dinners with similarly minded friends. They have an incredibly varied array of foods they eat. I know it takes a lot of work to maintain that life style.
I also notice that they have surprising energy, in their early 60's they run, bike, camp out, chop wood to heat their home.

Which came first....the energy or the diet? I don't know, but it makes me give it some thought.

 

[venice_ca]

I have family who are vegan for moral reasons, and they do like meat and dairy substitutes.

I am not vegan — I consume fish and poultry for protein as I don’t particularly care for most meats.

When preparing meals for the vegans, no meat substitutes. Dishes are meatless and no dairy; grains, legumes, vegetables, herbs, and other seasonings. Plant-based ice cream for desert.

 

[Helix]

I ate vegetarian meat often when I was a vegetarian. I still enjoy it sometimes now. The fact is that no matter how we end up, most of us started out eating meat. If there's something that tastes a lot like it but is plant based, great.

 

[Bodi]

I've watched my share of vegan recipes on social media. Some look good, but the biggest thing I notice is that alot of vegans seem to want meat substitutes.

Why? If you want to be vegan, why would you want something to taste or "feel" like meat?

That is why I eat vegetable flavored meat... helps me maintain my carnivore diet.


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[Helix]

This short video reminded me of this thread.

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

I've tried several vegan meat substitutes and some of them are jolly well okay, so I do eat that stuff on occasion.
My problem is, my wife and our assistant are a definite big fat NO WAY on vegan meat so I'm all alone in this.