Troll Kingdom
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Vegetarians and Vegans
- Thread starter eloisel
- Start date
eloisel
Forever Empress E
The reason I ask is I wonder about a specific aspect of the current state of food for vegans and vegetarians.
I've been a vegetarian off and on most of my life simply because I feel better when my diet consists mostly of fruits, vegetables, and grains. However, I like meat, fish, fowl, eggs, and dairy products.
I don't get the current trend of making fake food. If you don't want to eat meat for ethical reasons, then why eat something made to similate meat - like tofurkey? Even though I am a huge fan of veggie burgers, I don't want my food to mimic something I don't want to eat.
However, I don't eat any products for vegetarians or vegans other than veggie burgers. I just eat more fruit, vegetables, grains, etc. The fake food may be tasty.
I've been a vegetarian off and on most of my life simply because I feel better when my diet consists mostly of fruits, vegetables, and grains. However, I like meat, fish, fowl, eggs, and dairy products.
I don't get the current trend of making fake food. If you don't want to eat meat for ethical reasons, then why eat something made to similate meat - like tofurkey? Even though I am a huge fan of veggie burgers, I don't want my food to mimic something I don't want to eat.
However, I don't eat any products for vegetarians or vegans other than veggie burgers. I just eat more fruit, vegetables, grains, etc. The fake food may be tasty.
Cinch
Axe Wielding Maniac
I am vegetarian and I do eat the veg. substitutes on occasion. My whole family loves tofurky, though they're not vegetarian. My younger brother even put it on his Christmas list a few years back. I stayed away from it for years because I figured if I didn't like turkey I wouldn't like tofurky. They've really got very little in common.
Most of the fake meat (or real soy, black bean, quinoa etc etc) is very tasty. But I wouldn't call it simulated meat. Granted, it's been 18 years since I've had meat on a regular basis but the taste and texture are really off on most of them. Which is very good because then the substitutes would gross me out.
I don't completely get the problem that some vegetarians/vegans have with the stuff though. How does being against cruelty to animals lead directly to being against a protein source that is shaped into a circular patty? Yes, I get the whole idea that eating something shaped like a meat product leads to the idea that meat can't be lived without and so legitimizes the industry. I think it's bullshit but I understand the concept. I think the whole idea of veggie burgers and such being hypocritical was spread by the meat industries to undermine the (supposedly) more health conscious vegetarian food competition. I'm just not that political or holier-than-thou about what goes into my mouth.
Convenience is a big part of why I use the substitutes sometimes. I know that I started to eat the veg. substitutes because my mother bought them. She had no idea how to deal with a vegetarian teenager but knew that I couldn't live on potatoes, peas and rice forever. So she started buying the substitutes which she already knew how to prepare because the prep was pretty damned similar to what she already made.
And when I go to a friend's to eat it makes life a lot easier for the omnivore hosts. There are a few who can handle a more traditional vegetarian meal, some who try (shudder), some who just put a veggie burger on the barbecue, and some who just give you a salad every single time. One friend tried but didn't know to take the gills out of the portobello cap before he barbecued it. Taking a few bites out of that was one of the bravest things I've ever done. So it does make co-existence a lot easier.
And it gives a variety that keeps us from going insane. Just like you wouldn't want chicken at every meal we don't want tofu at every meal. Far too many young vegetarians and vegans don't understand the importance of finding a variety of good protein and iron sources and the substitutes are an easy way to start. It's absolutely not the only way or even the best way, but it is easy.
And there's not much difference between eating more vegetables/grains or eating one of the substitutes since that's mostly what they're made with. (Laughs at self...) Okay, there is a pretty big difference. Like any processed foods the salt content is higher than whole foods. And some brands have ingredient lists that read like chemistry experiments. If you want to gripe about the stuff that's the point that sticks.
Most of the fake meat (or real soy, black bean, quinoa etc etc) is very tasty. But I wouldn't call it simulated meat. Granted, it's been 18 years since I've had meat on a regular basis but the taste and texture are really off on most of them. Which is very good because then the substitutes would gross me out.
I don't completely get the problem that some vegetarians/vegans have with the stuff though. How does being against cruelty to animals lead directly to being against a protein source that is shaped into a circular patty? Yes, I get the whole idea that eating something shaped like a meat product leads to the idea that meat can't be lived without and so legitimizes the industry. I think it's bullshit but I understand the concept. I think the whole idea of veggie burgers and such being hypocritical was spread by the meat industries to undermine the (supposedly) more health conscious vegetarian food competition. I'm just not that political or holier-than-thou about what goes into my mouth.
Convenience is a big part of why I use the substitutes sometimes. I know that I started to eat the veg. substitutes because my mother bought them. She had no idea how to deal with a vegetarian teenager but knew that I couldn't live on potatoes, peas and rice forever. So she started buying the substitutes which she already knew how to prepare because the prep was pretty damned similar to what she already made.
And when I go to a friend's to eat it makes life a lot easier for the omnivore hosts. There are a few who can handle a more traditional vegetarian meal, some who try (shudder), some who just put a veggie burger on the barbecue, and some who just give you a salad every single time. One friend tried but didn't know to take the gills out of the portobello cap before he barbecued it. Taking a few bites out of that was one of the bravest things I've ever done. So it does make co-existence a lot easier.
And it gives a variety that keeps us from going insane. Just like you wouldn't want chicken at every meal we don't want tofu at every meal. Far too many young vegetarians and vegans don't understand the importance of finding a variety of good protein and iron sources and the substitutes are an easy way to start. It's absolutely not the only way or even the best way, but it is easy.
And there's not much difference between eating more vegetables/grains or eating one of the substitutes since that's mostly what they're made with. (Laughs at self...) Okay, there is a pretty big difference. Like any processed foods the salt content is higher than whole foods. And some brands have ingredient lists that read like chemistry experiments. If you want to gripe about the stuff that's the point that sticks.
eloisel
Forever Empress E
Don't know anything about the meat industry spreading misinformation. Back when I first was vegetarian in the early 70s there weren't any "vegetarian" products on the market. It truly was fruit, veggies, grains, milk and eggs. I've tried many of the products available now but I'm not a big fan of soy and tofu. My daughter really likes the tofurkey. I'm a big fan of nut butters and and beans so don't really worry about getting enough protein.
You're right about the ingredients and marketing though. An item will sell because it is marketed as vegan, vegetarian, or organic and people think it is healthier for them. However, the item is high in salt, fats, carbs, and sugars that make the item taste better but make it very unhealthy.
There is a Hare Krishna temple in Dallas that has a very good vegetarian restaurant - Kalachandji's. Wish they had a cookbook. They know about variety and tastiness.
You're right about the ingredients and marketing though. An item will sell because it is marketed as vegan, vegetarian, or organic and people think it is healthier for them. However, the item is high in salt, fats, carbs, and sugars that make the item taste better but make it very unhealthy.
There is a Hare Krishna temple in Dallas that has a very good vegetarian restaurant - Kalachandji's. Wish they had a cookbook. They know about variety and tastiness.
Hey don't knock my Tofurkey man!!
eloisel
Forever Empress E
Thanks for bringing them up. I've heard of them but haven't looked much into them. They have some of their recipes online:
http://www.moosewoodrestaurant.com/recipes_archive.html
Do you recommend one of their cookbooks to start with?