Why are most vegetarian meals meat flavoured?

Question

It seems to be the case though. Almost everything has hydrolysed plant proteins to give it a meaty taste, like veggie burgers for example.

Answer 1

Maybe to appeal to beginning vegetarians who still miss the taste of meat (but don't want to be cruel to animals) and also to appeal to others who are going vegetarian to try and lower their cholesterol (but still like the taste of meat). Also if there is a veg and a non veg in the same house, the non veg person might be more likely to eat it..so you don't have to cook two different things...or can split a meal.

Answer 2

Since when are most vegetarian meals meat flavoured? Most Vegetarian places I go to lack meat like items.. I had to learn to make my own fake meats. Most vegetarian meals don't have meat or meat flavoured items as far as I know! Maybe you only think they are meat flavoured cause of the spices used! If you're in a place that has restaurants with meat flavoured veggie dishes.. I'd like to know where! I see you put a u in the word flavoured so you must be Canadian as the USA way they leave out the U! I'm Canadian too!

Answer 3

They aren't. The only things that are labeled "vegetarian" are usually meat analogs and that's to show the consumer that it's not real meat. A pack of pasta or a bag of beans or a box of frozen vegetables aren't going to be labeled vegetarian because it's common sense, not to mention majority of an omni's diet should be vegetarian-friendly as well.

Answer 4

It's not that most vegetarian meals are meat flavoured. However most vegetarian versions of meat dishes are designed to at least partially simulate the real thing. If you're going to make vegetarian burgers, it still has to resemble a burger. Otherwise it's a tofu sandwich.

But I think most vegetarian meals are not such compromises. Those kinds of things are more for fair weather vegetarians who like to pretend, or for mixed households so that everyone can enjoy the meal together.

Answer 5

I think the companies that make these foods, like Morning Star, think vegetarians will miss omnivore food, which is usually not the case. It's actually sort of disturbing, I think, because if you're vegetarian, you should be willing to give up the taste, too.

Answer 6

Do you really think they taste like meat? If so why wouldn't a meat eater want to eat the healthier version?

Answer 7

Most of our meals aren't "meat-flavored" & I wouldn't want to eat *anything* reminiscent of cow or pig flesh. Occasionally we use Tofurkey or other analogs, but they don't taste like flesh (to the best of my memory)-- they're filling & convenient.
If ppl do want a realistic analog but don't want their meal to involve animal suffering, I see nothing wrong with that anyway.

Answer 8

meat is good.. and vegetarians would gladly eat it if it didnt mean that animals would be harmed in order to eat it.

Answer 9

maybe the people who don't eat meat for religous reasons, or for health reasons, but still like the flavor... personally i don't care what the package says, it doesn't taste like meat

Answer 10

Most of MY vegetarian meals are not meat flavored and contain no meat analogs. If you cook with veggies, grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices you can make an endless array of fabulous foods that bear no resemblance to meat in any way.