Why do some vegetarians want foods that taste like meat?

Question

None of my vegetarian friends try to imitate meat flavors or textures in their cooking but there are so many substitution questions on the internet.
I'm not a vegetarian but I don't require meat on a daily basis and often go without meat for days at a time. When I eat vegetables, legumes, grains, etc.. I expect them to taste like what they are with the best enhancements of herbs and spices, But I never try to imitate meat products with vegetables. What's the point?

Answer 1

what a stupid question..........because meat tastes good, it's really pretty simple

Answer 2

These meat substitutes or "fake meats" are often created to try and help people transition to vegetarianism. Its sort of like vegetarian made easy. For some people who believe that it has the same taste or texture, it is so easy to become a vegetarian because to them they are not giving anything up at all actually! I personally don't like them, and I've tried a couple veggie burgers and I found them atrocious, but a lot of people do. I am a vegetarian and I just like to stick to my yummy ol' green veggies and red fruits! People may ask questions about them though because they probably want a more "meat-like" taste to it so they may ask what kind of seasoning do I put and can I BBQ it. I used to be interested. but have given up on meat substitutes. I hope that I could have helped a little!

Answer 3

Sh*t I'm vegan and I wonder that same thing. I never looked back and get my food almost exclusively from the produce section. Unless it's rice or oats or beans or something or the rare occasion that I want a treat. Personally, I say that I eat the way I do for a reason. BUT, seeing both sides, I guess I can understand someone going for the veggie meats for health reasons, such as cholesterol issues. . .because they prefer the taste maybe. . .or simply because the pros outweigh the cons in that they see no difference in the taste, so choose the veggie versions so as not to contribute to the destructive nature of the animal industry.

Answer 4

Some people miss the traditional recipes made with meat that they had as children, so textured vegeatable protein and santarium products like nut loaf, vegetable casserole etc remind them of meat meals. Also some people like a ham and cheese sandwich but like the idea of hurting the animal so mock ham is a great alternative. Mostly these mock meats are soya based. Some people like cornish pasties but not the meat so they add textured vegetable protein (TVP) .

Answer 5

There are vegetarians that were former meat eaters and there are meat eaters that want to eat healthier but still like the taste of meat dishes... burgers, hot dogs, bacon... etc.

Hence, the market for meat tasting vegetarian foods.

I've tried Morningstar corn dogs and they are very good, much to my surprise.

For example,
Morningstar Corn Dog (71grams) 150 Calories, 4 grams Fat
Forster Farms Corn Dog (75grams) 180 Calories, 10 grams Fat

Answer 6

It's often a matter of convenience, habit, or simply because we remember a lot of recipes that include meat.

For example, tonight I felt like pasta with tomato sauce for dinner. Very fine, but I needed a complementary protein source. I suppose I could have thrown in half a can of beans, or eaten them on the side, but because of tradition it just doesn't seem to "go". It was so easy to toss in some Boca ground soy-burger and have spaghetti "bolognese".

At lunch at work, it gets to be a pain to mess about with Tupperware containers full of things you need to heat and eat with a fork or spoon. Sometimes you just want a sandwich. The fake meats and cheeses are a convenient alternative.

Answer 7

They like what they are used to. People grow up with tastes that have developed over their entire life. People that grow up vegetarian in India and then move here think that fake meat is repulsive.

If it helps people to never eat parts of tortured animals again, then no one can say there is anything wrong with it. Not everyone that eats them has to have them everyday. It just helps add to the variety of things that they can eat.

Some meat analogs such as Gardenburger's vegan BBQ riblets can't be beat, They are delicious in a sandwich, cholesterol and cruelty free, lower in fat and you don't have to chew them off of a nasty bone. So why not have them occasionally when they are on sale?

Answer 8

I love the meat substitutes. espically the ground beef, means i can still take a night off from cooking and make a hamburger helper..the ones with no beef stock of course. and veggie bacon or sausage are both good to round out the family breakfasts when not eveyone is veggie they don't look and see a hole in the plate. again on family gatherings, the burgers are a good way to be at the bar-b-que and still be fully involved by waiting at the grill and such. for me the veggie meat substitutes are more about bringing my diet to social functions and not having it be a to do kinda thing. plus sometimes i'm just lazy, and there rather convienient.

Answer 9

For some vegetarians, meat analogs are a transisional food. I relied fairly heavilly on analogs & dairy when I first stopped eating meat, but this was only temporary.
Occasionally I still use analogs for variety but I avoid ones that smell or taste too much like real meat.

Answer 10

Been a veggo for a very long time in fact I cannot even remember what meat tastes like. However, from observing what predators have to say about TVP it is close to the real thing only because predatory consumers want a cheap substitute for dead animals but with the same flavouring. I don't think dyed-in-the-wool veggos really care as both the TVP and spices are vegetable based. To the veggos out there... is there anything more disgusting than the smell of frying bacon... I want to heave just thinking about it. Most of us also expect our veg to taste like veg believe me. If I pick up any strange tang in my food I just wont eat it. That is why I am reluctant to eat out.

Answer 11

We are creatures of habit. So we sort a phyc selves out thinking its meat. I dont any more but sometimes it is good to have something that looks like meat so you dont get bored with "you should eat meat. You should do this You should change for me I am a dr or nurse I know you are wrong " lololol Actually it doesnt bother me to be a vegetarian but it does them