why vegan or vegetarians need 'meatless' meats?

Question

Since there are protien sources in the vegetable world, why bother with nasty tasting, nasty textured fake meat? It ranks up there with 'nearbeer' and decaf coffee. whats the point? I am not trying to be snotty, I have always wondered.

Answer 1

Convenience. It's our way of cheating sometimes.

Not all of it is nasty. The Yves vegan pepperoni is pretty good.

But I agree with you on decaf coffee. What's the point???

Answer 2

They dont "need " it but they choose to have it for whatever reason. And personal diet choices are nobody else's business but the person who makes them. It' just a food preference like why would some people like say avocado but some don't.

Also many vegetarians are converts and may actually like the taste and texture but not the source or the process by which meat is obtained. This would be a guilt free way of consuming food they previously enjoyed. Like fat free ice cream or someting like that

Answer 3

I wouldn't bother eating nasty-tasting faux meats.... but a lot of the faux meats are delicious, like Boca Chik'n Patties and Nate's Meatless Meatballs. I didn't go vegetarian because I dislike the taste and texture of meat - I went veg for animal cruelty reasons. If there are cruelty-free versions of meat products that taste good, why not enjoy them? :)

Answer 4

Let's face it, if you decide to make a moral stand and not eat animal products there's going to be certain foods you'll miss. So these products are intended to simulate the old favorites, allowing a vegan to indulge without giving up their beliefs. Also, many times these kinds of things are used by families so they can still share a meal without making separate dishes for the vegetarian and meat eater membes of the family.

Answer 5

The fake meat products are convenient, they are already prepared and you just need to zap them in the microwave. They look close enough to the real thing, and it helps recently-turned vegetarians substitute the fake meat into recipes, since they might not be familiar with meatless recipes yet.

I relied on fake meat substitutes when I was younger but ever since I've lived on my own I've made my own food more and more, and I feel that the fake stuff is loaded with salt and fat, and it began to gross me out to eat something that looks like chicken strips - in a way it felt hypocritical, since eating chicken in itself disgusts me. Or those weird rib substitutes - they are stamped so it even looks like they have bones in them... icky, icky. I guess it's inexperience, convenience, ease of use, and lack of information/motivation as to how to get protein and what to cook otherwise.

Edit: Kevinak - I was vegetarian while in the U.S. Army. I ran for MILES every. single. day. I often finished in the top 5% time, and was very fit. Please don't generalize and stereotype vegetarians.

Answer 6

Well personally I love them. Actually my parents prefer some of the burgers to the real thing. They aren't vegetarians. Mostly I use them because they are quick and easy. I like the taste.

The Yve's stuff is really good, so is the MorningStar. But I can understand why some people don't understand. It's just Tofu. When spices.

Answer 7

It is not nasty. I am vegan for animal rights, that does not mean I am ready to give up the taste of meat, or dairy. Lots of people like me do the same thing. I think you are being judgemental by saying that.

Answer 8

For some people its because they didn't become vegan because they didn't like the taste of meat. Meat replacements (well some of them) can taste like a meat product a vegan enjoyed before making the transition.

For new vegans, meat replacements can make the transition much easier, as they can use "ground soy" to make things like tacos, spaghetti sauces, chili's and stews, and "soy steak" to make fajitas and other stuff.

I use them on a constant basis. It helps me in the kitchen, and to me they don't taste nasty. (well most of them don't).

Hope that helped.

Answer 9

i dont know! I'm a vegetarian and i do not feel you do not need meat substitutes personally i dont like them but they are vegetarians and vegans who do. It's not my place to judge what people like and don't like but i did this
http://www.mypyramid.gov/mypyramid/index.aspx
i found out I only need 6 ounces of protien a day. In my opinion people think you need a lot of protien and you don't. 6 ounces is not a lot

Answer 10

Well first off lets start with your phrase "meatless meats",
Anything that it meatless is not considered meat sweety,
so there is no problem with eating it.
And I find these soy substitutes way more deliscious than the real thing anyway. It's choice so mind your own diet.