Why do vegans eat food products that represent animals?

louised88

I know that when vegetarians use terms like "bits of dead animal" and "dead animal flesh" it's done in a judgmental way but all it does is make me hungry for hunks of dead animal.

No, it's done in a descriptive way.

I buy and cook meat for my partner, my family... I don't really *care* what other people eat, and have never felt judgemental about it. But call a spade a spade mate. It's a hunk of dead stuff. It's a description anyone preparing to eat it should really be comfortable with. (As you clearly are.)

I have an issue with people who only want sanitised products, where the animal they're eating is not really evident in the 'product'. If you're prepared to kill it, skin it, bone and gut it, I reckon you have the right to eat it. Myself, I could never do all those things, and I'd feel a hypocrite picking up something in the supermarket someone else killed for me, conveniently forgetting it was once a living thing.

That's not really calling a spade a spade though, it's more calling a spade an 'implement commonly used for digging'. We have a word that conveniently describes slaughtered and butchered animals: meat.
And deciding whether someone has 'earned' the right to eat meat (by raising and slaughtering their own meat? LOL, do you apply the same logic to vegetables? Leather used in shoes? Trees that are cut down to make paper?) That's more than a bit hypocritical, unless you're making everything you use from scratch, lest it it be a 'sanitised' product.

Seriously though, be as judgmental as you want, just own it.

beckajw

I know that when vegetarians use terms like "bits of dead animal" and "dead animal flesh" it's done in a judgmental way but all it does is make me hungry for hunks of dead animal.

No, it's done in a descriptive way.

I buy and cook meat for my partner, my family... I don't really *care* what other people eat, and have never felt judgemental about it. But call a spade a spade mate. It's a hunk of dead stuff. It's a description anyone preparing to eat it should really be comfortable with. (As you clearly are.)

I have an issue with people who only want sanitised products, where the animal they're eating is not really evident in the 'product'. If you're prepared to kill it, skin it, bone and gut it, I reckon you have the right to eat it. Myself, I could never do all those things, and I'd feel a hypocrite picking up something in the supermarket someone else killed for me, conveniently forgetting it was once a living thing.

That's not really calling a spade a spade though, it's more calling a spade an 'implement commonly used for digging'. We have a word that conveniently describes slaughtered and butchered animals: meat.
And deciding whether someone has 'earned' the right to eat meat (by raising and slaughtering their own meat? LOL, do you apply the same logic to vegetables? Leather used in shoes? Trees that are cut down to make paper?) That's more than a bit hypocritical, unless you're making everything you use from scratch, lest it it be a 'sanitised' product.

Seriously though, be as judgmental as you want, just own it.

^^ This. Don't pretend it's not judgmental "because that's what it is". The peas you are eating are dead also, do you call them a bowl of dead stuff? Meat is meat, beans are beans, peas are peas. It's okay if you think meat is gross, but at least own what you are doing.

redraidergirl2009

First off nothing against vegans or the food as I have best friends that are and I cater to them when they come to visit. So yea I have always thought it funny that hard core Vegans eat foods that look like animals. Like burgers. The whole Morning star brand. Fakin bacon etc. Am I the only one that thinks that's funny?

Most people eating those are vegans starting out. However, why would a meat eater not eat veggie burgers and chick'in nuggets since they taste like meat but no animal needed to be murdered?

beckajw

I understand it. There's more societal pressure than you think. Plus, cutting into a tofurky on thanksgiving is just more fun than just cutting into a giant block of baked tofu. It's tradition and allows a vegan the pleasure of enjoying a holiday without being too weird about it.

I'll say it again, societal pressure is more powerful than you think. Plus, what else would a burger look like. Round, triangle, 3 dimensional? How else would you make a burger look?

I think the people saying "because thats what a burger looks like" are missing the point of the question. Why do you want a food that looks like a burger? I think if you've made a life decision to have a plant based diet, no meat or meat products, I would think you would want just that food. The question is more if you dont eat meat, why is there a need for products that make it look and feel like you're eating meat?

Exactly, I saw vegan ham in the store. Really vegan ham? What's in it. I'd rather know what I'm eating (which is why I generally avoid hot dogs, etc.). Why do you need vegan ham. Call a pear a pear (or whatever).

louised88

I understand it. There's more societal pressure than you think. Plus, cutting into a tofurky on thanksgiving is just more fun than just cutting into a giant block of baked tofu. It's tradition and allows a vegan the pleasure of enjoying a holiday without being too weird about it.

I'll say it again, societal pressure is more powerful than you think. Plus, what else would a burger look like. Round, triangle, 3 dimensional? How else would you make a burger look?

I think the people saying "because thats what a burger looks like" are missing the point of the question. Why do you want a food that looks like a burger? I think if you've made a life decision to have a plant based diet, no meat or meat products, I would think you would want just that food. The question is more if you dont eat meat, why is there a need for products that make it look and feel like you're eating meat?

Well, if you want a sandwich, vegan or not, why not have a filling that fits the shape of the bread? Meat isn't naturally a flat, circular shape, nor naturally sliced, so why does it matter whether your sliced sandwich fillings are made of meat or beans/legumes/tofu/whatever? Or should vegetarian eats food only as it's naturally shaped? Because I eat meat, but I don't insist on it being looking like a cow.

beckajw

First off nothing against vegans or the food as I have best friends that are and I cater to them when they come to visit. So yea I have always thought it funny that hard core Vegans eat foods that look like animals. Like burgers. The whole Morning star brand. Fakin bacon etc. Am I the only one that thinks that's funny?

Most people eating those are vegans starting out. However, why would a meat eater not eat veggie burgers and chick'in nuggets since they taste like meat but no animal needed to be murdered?

They don't taste like meat. I like veggie burgers and do eat them on occasion, but they don't taste like hamburgers. I don't have an issue with the veggie burgers. It's more the chick'in nuggets, and things of that nature. Why call it chick'in? Why not call it what it is? Tofu nuggets (or bean nuggets or whatever it is nuggets)? Why pretend it is meat? That's the original question.

FITnFIRM4LIFE

Why does a cop on a motorcycle, give you a ticket for no seatbelt? When he has none on? ;-)

dpwellman

Anyway, lets move on to something like the hundreds of thousands of people who, with no history of celiac disease, suddenly, overnight, developed a sensitivity to gluten

When Kellogg's emblazons Rice Krispies as "Gluten Free" I think maybe perhaps it has jumped the shark.

mfoutch86

I used to assume that vegan/vegitarian meant they ate healthy. Whole grains, fruits, veg, ect, just not meat/dairy. That is until we helped some friends of ours move a few weeks ago. I have never seen more packaged junk in my life! One is a vegan, one is a vegitarian, but they amount of canned processed food was incredible. We are meat eaters at our house, and don't have hardly anything from a package. It was very eye opening to say the least. I've realized that ANY diet (carnivore, vegan/veg) is only as healthy as you make it.

swest222

Anyway, lets move on to something like the hundreds of thousands of people who, with no history of celiac disease, suddenly, overnight, developed a sensitivity to gluten

When Kellogg's emblazons Rice Krispies as "Gluten Free" I think maybe perhaps it has jumped the shark.

Most of these things IMO are a "fad". Unless is it medically necessary, there is no need for this, but it's everywhere now and everyone around seems to be jumping on the "gluten free" bandwagon.
Just like with all the Soy products, why not have a helping of hormones?

redraidergirl2009

First off nothing against vegans or the food as I have best friends that are and I cater to them when they come to visit. So yea I have always thought it funny that hard core Vegans eat foods that look like animals. Like burgers. The whole Morning star brand. Fakin bacon etc. Am I the only one that thinks that's funny?

Most people eating those are vegans starting out. However, why would a meat eater not eat veggie burgers and chick'in nuggets since they taste like meat but no animal needed to be murdered?

They don't taste like meat. I like veggie burgers and do eat them on occasion, but they don't taste like hamburgers. I don't have an issue with the veggie burgers. It's more the chick'in nuggets, and things of that nature. Why call it chick'in? Why not call it what it is? Tofu nuggets (or bean nuggets or whatever it is nuggets)? Why pretend it is meat? That's the original question.

I've had some that taste pretty close to meat imo. I think they call the chick'n nuggets that because they are suppose to remind you of chicken nuggets, it's not like they are hiding what it's made of. If someone wants to pretend it's meat then who cares? I know it's soy or whatever but I don't pretend it's meat. I just like some fried or breaded veggies here and there.

redraidergirl2009

Anyway, lets move on to something like the hundreds of thousands of people who, with no history of celiac disease, suddenly, overnight, developed a sensitivity to gluten

When Kellogg's emblazons Rice Krispies as "Gluten Free" I think maybe perhaps it has jumped the shark.

You can develop food allergies at any point in your life. I recently discovered I have a dairy allergy. I have known I was lactose intolerant for years, but recently dairy started to clog my face with mucus and I was taking hard allergy pills because I didn't know what was doing it. When I quit dairy, it went away and I don't need pills to sleep anymore.

meerkat70

I know that when vegetarians use terms like "bits of dead animal" and "dead animal flesh" it's done in a judgmental way but all it does is make me hungry for hunks of dead animal.

No, it's done in a descriptive way.

I buy and cook meat for my partner, my family... I don't really *care* what other people eat, and have never felt judgemental about it. But call a spade a spade mate. It's a hunk of dead stuff. It's a description anyone preparing to eat it should really be comfortable with. (As you clearly are.)

I have an issue with people who only want sanitised products, where the animal they're eating is not really evident in the 'product'. If you're prepared to kill it, skin it, bone and gut it, I reckon you have the right to eat it. Myself, I could never do all those things, and I'd feel a hypocrite picking up something in the supermarket someone else killed for me, conveniently forgetting it was once a living thing.

Of course, the carrots, tofu, etc. are also a hunk of dead stuff. Correct?

If you like.

Do you really want to dredge up the tired, fallacious 'carrots have feelings too' nonsense. Cause I may myself lose the will to live.... do you really want that on your xconscience

redraidergirl2009

I understand it. There's more societal pressure than you think. Plus, cutting into a tofurky on thanksgiving is just more fun than just cutting into a giant block of baked tofu. It's tradition and allows a vegan the pleasure of enjoying a holiday without being too weird about it.

I'll say it again, societal pressure is more powerful than you think. Plus, what else would a burger look like. Round, triangle, 3 dimensional? How else would you make a burger look?

I think the people saying "because thats what a burger looks like" are missing the point of the question. Why do you want a food that looks like a burger? I think if you've made a life decision to have a plant based diet, no meat or meat products, I would think you would want just that food. The question is more if you dont eat meat, why is there a need for products that make it look and feel like you're eating meat?

There is a growing number of people who have become vegan or choose vegan options like veggie burgers for health reasons, ie. bill clinton. Veganism isn't always a moral choice, especially with new research demonstrating that a plant based diet can lead to fewer health problems.

Laurie061273

I have heard from veggie-friends that it made it easier to switch to the veggie lifestyle if they "tricked themselves" rather than eating the real thing.

We have a couple of veggie-saurus' living with us and with how they cook, we've been slowly shifting over to some veggie based foods without complaint! Granted, it is more expensive, but I'll tell you what... Boca tacos and boca sloppy joes are more filling than meat ones!

beckajw

I know that when vegetarians use terms like "bits of dead animal" and "dead animal flesh" it's done in a judgmental way but all it does is make me hungry for hunks of dead animal.

No, it's done in a descriptive way.

I buy and cook meat for my partner, my family... I don't really *care* what other people eat, and have never felt judgemental about it. But call a spade a spade mate. It's a hunk of dead stuff. It's a description anyone preparing to eat it should really be comfortable with. (As you clearly are.)

I have an issue with people who only want sanitised products, where the animal they're eating is not really evident in the 'product'. If you're prepared to kill it, skin it, bone and gut it, I reckon you have the right to eat it. Myself, I could never do all those things, and I'd feel a hypocrite picking up something in the supermarket someone else killed for me, conveniently forgetting it was once a living thing.

Of course, the carrots, tofu, etc. are also a hunk of dead stuff. Correct?

If you like.

Do you really want to dredge up the tired, fallacious 'carrots have feelings too' nonsense. Cause I may myself lose the will to live.... do you really want that on your xconscience

I didn't say the veggies had feelings too. You said, you called meat "bits of dead animal" only because that's what it is. You said it had nothing to do with being judgmental. However, you don't call carrots bits of dead produce. So, ,my point is you aren't really being honest when you say you're only calling it what it is. You are calling it that for effect.

aqm22

There is a growing number of people who have become vegan or choose vegan options like veggie burgers for health reasons, ie. bill clinton. Veganism isn't always a moral choice, especially with new research demonstrating that a plant based diet can lead to fewer health problems.

Eating vegan does not mean eating healthy. Trust me. There are some pretty unhealthy vegan out there. I've tried to find vegan breakfast ideas to try to get veggies in my morning all I found are muffins and pancakes as vegan breakfast...yeah super healthy.

redraidergirl2009

There is a growing number of people who have become vegan or choose vegan options like veggie burgers for health reasons, ie. bill clinton. Veganism isn't always a moral choice, especially with new research demonstrating that a plant based diet can lead to fewer health problems.

Eating vegan does not mean eating healthy. Trust me. There are some pretty unhealthy vegan out there. I've tried to find vegan breakfast ideas to try to get veggies in my morning all I found are muffins and pancakes as vegan breakfast...yeah super healthy.

I know there are unhealthy vegans, but most who switch for health reasons know the difference. Also, this may shock you, but vegans can still be healthy and have a pancake now and then just like some meat eaters can be healthy and have a cookie here and there, Its this new thing called moderation.

mixedfeelings

For me I liked the taste of meat just not where it comes from, a lot of vegetarians are like that. Now I wouldn't want them to taste exactly like the stuff, it creeps me out but I still like a frankfurter or hamburger I don't think they will ever taste that much like them without having the animal fats in.

jofjltncb6

Anyway, lets move on to something like the hundreds of thousands of people who, with no history of celiac disease, suddenly, overnight, developed a sensitivity to gluten

When Kellogg's emblazons Rice Krispies as "Gluten Free" I think maybe perhaps it has jumped the shark.

Hey. Start your own thread.

jpuderbaugh

morning star is not vegan there are eggs in most of their products as well as cheese.

Thank you! I was going to say this too. There is a difference between vegetarian and vegan.

I personally like the flavor of a burger, but growing up with cows on a farm, I forbid to eat any beef products. I got attached to so many of the cows and then watched them be hawled away and then learned I was eating them (why my parents and grandparents found it so funny to tell me this I will not ever understand). So morning star products are such a blessing. I remember eating them years ago, and being the picky eater, I did not like them because they used to contain big chunks of veggies. Now they are smooth and you don't see them, except for some of the burgers, depends on the flavor. I like that they contain beans too because I cannot stomach the texture of beans. You bite into them and this pre-chewed goop comes out of them, disgusting. The only beans I like are edamame.

bsexton3

20 some years ago, my wife and I were basically vegetarians for financial reasons. We had just moved to the East Coast where meat was about twice the price as on the West Coast. So, we got the Moosewood Cookbooks and became mostly vegetarian. I say "mostly" because we ate meat when we could afford it--about twice a month.

I am amazed that it now seems to cost more to be vegetarian or vegan than not. We will consider meat a luxury, and don't necessarily eat it every day.

jpuderbaugh

I understand it. There's more societal pressure than you think. Plus, cutting into a tofurky on thanksgiving is just more fun than just cutting into a giant block of baked tofu. It's tradition and allows a vegan the pleasure of enjoying a holiday without being too weird about it.

I'll say it again, societal pressure is more powerful than you think. Plus, what else would a burger look like. Round, triangle, 3 dimensional? How else would you make a burger look?

I think the people saying "because thats what a burger looks like" are missing the point of the question. Why do you want a food that looks like a burger? I think if you've made a life decision to have a plant based diet, no meat or meat products, I would think you would want just that food. The question is more if you dont eat meat, why is there a need for products that make it look and feel like you're eating meat?

I don't feel like I'm eating meat when I have a veggie burger. I don't feel like I'm eating chicken when I have a veggie chicken patty. Veggie products like morning star are a blessing for people like me who don't want to eat meat but want to get protein in their diet without using protein powder in shakes and stuff. I don't eat them because I want something that looks like a burger, I eat them because they are a nice change from a stupid freaking salad.

kayemme

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kayemme

First off nothing against vegans or the food as I have best friends that are and I cater to them when they come to visit. So yea I have always thought it funny that hard core Vegans eat foods that look like animals. Like burgers. The whole Morning star brand. Fakin bacon etc. Am I the only one that thinks that's funny?

I don't know if vegans necessarily eat "food that looks like animals" I don't think a burger looks anything like an animal. In fact, pre-dating burgers are many vegan / vegetarian "fritters", falafel for example.

i recognize you're not trying to be offensive, and no offense is taken here; it's just that the perspective is a bit narrow.

Jesse_Hunter

Junk is junk no matter what it resembles, in my opinion.

Faux meat is chemically injected, processed slosh.

You are better off without it, your body will thank you.


http://www.icallthisliving.com

kayemme

Don't pretend it's not judgmental "because that's what it is". The peas you are eating are dead also, do you call them a bowl of dead stuff? Meat is meat, beans are beans, peas are peas. It's okay if you think meat is gross, but at least own what you are doing.

that's not entirely true. fresh food is still living in many cases. and your example of peas: it does not kill the plant to eat peas, in fact, it's good for the plant for the peas to be picked and eaten. it helps the plant thrive.

it's a tired and invalid argument that eating fruits, vegetables & legumes is dead food. it's not always, and often is not even close to the truth.

i say this as a gardener & foodie. I even eat meat occasionally, so i'm not saying it like "you're a meat eater and you suck for doing it" i'm just trying to point out that the argument for living food is a strong one.

njh2008

I am vegetarian and the primary reason I dont eat meat is I dont like the TASTE. The secondary reason is ethical.

The vast majority of quorn and soy "burgers", "fillets" etc DO NOT taste like whatever they are supposed to mimic. The only exception I have come accross are lamb and mint steaks which I couldnt eat as they tasted too "meaty".

It is not about thinking it is really chicken or beef mince, it is about ease. If you want to make shepherds pie, you can easily buy "fake mince", if you want to make chicken fajitas, you can use quorn peices. It is not about eating it pretending you are eating the "real thing". Also, if you want a burger for the bbq, it wont break up whilst cooking like a veg/lentil one would probablly. Plus theres the time aspect for people who have work/kids- if you want burger chips and beans, you can bang the beans in the microwave whilst the chips and burgers are in the oven.

And as for the real thing, most meat eaters I know who scorn at the vegetarians dont eat the "best " meat. They eat burgers, sausages, cheap chickens, and reconstituted sandwich meat. If they had to look at it with eyes they would squirm and think Gross but they can eat meat if they are not shown where it has come from(an animal). At then end of the day, the only reason the carcass lasts so long is because they drain the blood and take out its stomach etc which are the first things which start to degrade and decompose, and package it correctly so it lasts a while. It takes a while to go to slaughter, be hung for 21 days or however long, cut into sections, packaged, sent to supermakers, put on shelves with a further "eat by date". At least with quorn etc, it is frozen and so you can eat it as and when, without having to chuck it out once it goes off.

However, my husband eats ANYTHING and will happily de-bone and pluck etc any animal he's eating. He is happy to eat occasional vege meals as long as they do not include suchlike as quorn as it is "pretend", he can happilly eat lentil bake for example.

An undercooked carrot or "chicken nugget" is unlikely to kill me, an undercooked meat could, or give other things like BSE etc.

kadoodle76

Wow, what a ridiculous question. Ask about real issues, weight control, exercise, or something ... but why vegans eat faux meat that still resembles meat forms?

It's not a ridiculous question. She was curious, therefore she asked. An answer to a question that does not attempt to answer the question is ridiculous.

jenningsdustin

The veggie "burgers" are shaped like regular hamburgers because buns are circular. The veggie "hot dogs" are shaped like meat hotdogs because the buns are shaped to fit that type of product. Its really that simple.