At the risk of offending vegetarians....

That's a good question.

It's a social/psychology thing, I suspect.

Carnivores are never creepy

I had this conversation recently. I think the Quorn stuff looks like meat to please the newer veggies, rather than the well practiced ones. It's a good substitute to ween new vegetarians off of meat products and onto more 'true' veggie foods. Veggies do not need this processed stuff on a daily basis.

Us carnivores have some pretty awesome foods, no reason the veggies can't have an equivalent/substitute!

...I know nothing btw, just my opinion.

what does it really matter?

it's not like anyone's trying to trick you into eating fake meat, right?

These just make me smile.

I actually really like standard quorn fillets/pieces in their own right - they sure as heck don't taste or feel anything like chicken.

I had this conversation recently. I think the Quorn stuff looks like meat to please the newer veggies, rather than the well practiced ones. It's a good substitute to ween new vegetarians off of meat products and onto more 'true' veggie foods. Veggies do not need this processed stuff on a daily basis.

^^This
When I first went to vegetarian the fake meat help make the transition a great deal easier. Now that I have been at it for almost a year I no longer eat that fake meat. I did some research on it and it is worse for you then real meat. Now I really enjoy the veggie based foods. But it is all a matter of personal opinion and ye=our own reason to go vegetarian.

As a former vegetarian...the key to offending them is to open your mouth and have sound come out. They will take it personally.

LOL

QFT

I admit I find this weird, too. But I think it's more to do with how other people perceive what they're eating.

Like, you can't tell the difference between a quorn sausage and a real sausage unless you're eating it... maybe it comes from a desire to not feel like an outcast.

Although I don't know any health benefits to not eating meat, nor do I see any environmental benefits if you're eating organic free-range meat products, so I don't know why anyone would choose not to.

Fair enough that animals get slaughtered and that's not so nice, but... meh? animals die horrible violent deaths all the time. At least our version of slaughter is "humane" in comparison.

For people that can not eat meat for medical reasons not ethical.

I'm not offended as a vegetarian. I'm not sure exactly WHAT the reasons are, and I don't eat a lot of fake chicken nuggets, fake corn dogs, fake sausage, and fake bacon, but I know a lot of people like them as a lower calorie (possibly healthier, depending on your definition) option. It's an easy way to get protein if you're not watching your sodium. I eat boca burgers at work quite a bit because it's really convenient. If it wasn't a pattie, it would be bit harder to pop into the toaster oven.

I know that my mom buys them because the idea of everyone not having a burger at a bbq feels like bad hosting to her.

Also, meat doesn't come off the animal in hot dog or hamburger shapes. Maybe we're all just programmed to chow patties... even us weirdos who want soy-based patties :P

When did we decide animals should be meat shaped and cooked into things like hamburgers, hot dogs, deli slices? These are constructs of the human imagination that formed a massive animal into another product/image. We are just applying the same construction by using different ingredients. Now are those highly processed faux meats all that great for you? That's another story altogether.

Maybe because meat tastes good and we've been conditioned to want it. Those who don't eat it for either ethical or health reasons still want it, and the food that resembles meat is very appealing.

I had this conversation recently. I think the Quorn stuff looks like meat to please the newer veggies, rather than the well practiced ones. It's a good substitute to ween new vegetarians off of meat products and onto more 'true' veggie foods. Veggies do not need this processed stuff on a daily basis.

^^This
When I first went to vegetarian the fake meat help make the transition a great deal easier. Now that I have been at it for almost a year I no longer eat that fake meat. I did some research on it and it is worse for you then real meat. Now I really enjoy the veggie based foods. But it is all a matter of personal opinion and ye=our own reason to go vegetarian.

I agree. I was brought up vegetarian as a child in India ... I assure you there are no fake meat products there! Meat eaters who have given meat up as a choice use these products you mention to help get through the transitional phase.

1) Many veg*ns (including myself) grew up eating meat, and thus like the familiarity of the products. There can be a significant overlap period while people transition.

2) It allows for direct substitutions in recipes and social gatherings. Example: veggie chicken strips for fajitas, and tofu dogs for BBQs.

3) Meatless Mondays are becoming more and more popular, thus there is a market in making vegetarian products that appeal to meat-eaters. (I was one of those).

Just as a note: meat itself is often arbitrarily shaped. I might ask the same question back: why is meat often pressed into strange shapes: strips, nuggets, sausages, etc. Over the decades, we've sort of figured out these ways of eating that are convenient meat-delivery options, so it would make sense that the vegetarian options are just the same.

Anyways, it's just the fake meat stuff anyway. It's not like they're trying to make broccoli look like a steak.