Why assume vegans want a meat alternative?

Exactly. I don’t understand why meat eaters care what vegans eat or how they refer to their food. It seems to me such an odd thing to care about. (I’m a meat eater)

merlotgran

It doesn’t matter what vegans eat or what it resembles so long as there’s an alternative source of protein and it’s a balanced meal.

This.

One example, delicious bean burgers, no beef. Burger is just a word.

Yes, and Glamorgan sausages are lovely too.

Currently we are touring India, and many of the dishes offered are vegetarian, some will be vegan but not labeled as such. Choosing which isn’t an issue it’s what looks nice and tastes good, to be honest some of the chicken and lamb dishes have been poor anyway, the veggie offerings are better!.

Naming meat alternative dishes is hard
Nut roast describes itself well
What would meat eaters call a vegan or vegi sausage? a vegetable roll , but that would imply pastry ie sausage roll
What would you call bacon surely it’s just keeping the known names as they are familiar I can’t imagine what else you would call them for people to recognise them

I have always preferred bean -burgers -to those made from meat.

Which illustrates the point that there is nothing special about being vegan, apart from not eating animal products, which is no different to someone avoiding dairy products because they are lacttose intolerant. All of us have likes and dislikes and moral principles that govern what what we eat.

I have strong principles around animal welfare, for example, and only buy meat that comes from 'pasture for life' sources and I rarely eat meat when out.

I don't need fake meat products.
Long term vegetarian (vegan in the late 1980s/early 90s)... they just didn't really exist then.

LisaAN

Agree with Babs03. It is the taste that matters to vegans and vegetarians, but in their minds no animal should die. Half my family do not eat meat, although I do on occasion. Absolutely love the plant burgers they have at that fast food restaurant with the golden arch (not advertising lol)

I love that too 🫣

Casdon

OP, most meals have a ‘main’ ingredient, and I think people who aren’t vegan assume a vegan meal needs the same composition. It’s not that they are looking for a meat substitute, but a main ingredient substitute. I have three vegans in my family, and hate cooking, so I find it a struggle to find no fuss vegan options.

Perhaps a jacket potato or portabello mushroom(s)? Topping: coconut yogurt, lemon juice, Maggi Würze, chopped coriander.

Quick, fills area on the plate, lovely meal.

Norah

Casdon

OP, most meals have a ‘main’ ingredient, and I think people who aren’t vegan assume a vegan meal needs the same composition. It’s not that they are looking for a meat substitute, but a main ingredient substitute. I have three vegans in my family, and hate cooking, so I find it a struggle to find no fuss vegan options.

Perhaps a jacket potato or portabello mushroom(s)? Topping: coconut yogurt, lemon juice, Maggi Würze, chopped coriander.

Quick, fills area on the plate, lovely meal.

Do you put the topping on the mushrooms then bake in the oven or cook the mushrooms then add the topping and serve?

Allira

Norah

Casdon

OP, most meals have a ‘main’ ingredient, and I think people who aren’t vegan assume a vegan meal needs the same composition. It’s not that they are looking for a meat substitute, but a main ingredient substitute. I have three vegans in my family, and hate cooking, so I find it a struggle to find no fuss vegan options.

Perhaps a jacket potato or portabello mushroom(s)? Topping: coconut yogurt, lemon juice, Maggi Würze, chopped coriander.

Quick, fills area on the plate, lovely meal.

Do you put the topping on the mushrooms then bake in the oven or cook the mushrooms then add the topping and serve?

Cook jacket potato or mushroom(s). Place on plate, add topping.

I'm basically vegetarian - with some vegan food thrown in. I wouldnt dream of cooking meat for someone who ate a more "conventional" diet. In fact I can remember back in the 1980's (before anyone much was vegan) I cooked a vegetarian meal for a group of striking Welsh miners that were staying over in England and the (obviously meat-eating) Labour Party candidate. Cue for the miners promptly saying "I couldnt eat like this all the time - but I could do so once a week". They looked like they were enjoying it.

What I'd done them was a vegan "spaghetti bolognaise" and salad - with some grated (vegetarian) cheese they could throw on top of they wanted to. In hindsight all I'd change is I'd possibly have given them beer to drink with it - rather than wine.

I've noticeably often given someone a non-meat meal.....and it's always seemed to go down okay...

A few years ago it was hard to find or make vegan meals. I remember a recipe for vegan cheese which contained about 20 ingredients, mostly unknown.
When veganism became popular the manufacturers produced dozens of ultra processed foods which were meant to look like meat. Sales fell because many vegans want good healthy meals, not junk.
Vegan recipes are much better now, using normal ingredients. I’m happy to just eat the vegetables, I don’t want anyone cooking something different for me.

When we had a celebration for our Golden Wedding anniversary, there were 14 people present at the celebratory meal. 3 vegtarians, 1 person with a severe allergy problem and someone whose physical condition limited the range of foods she could eat.

I and my caterer worked together and we ended up with a delicious meal shared by all where the only separate dishes were vegetarian main courses - most of us had lamb, they had aubergine, and one Eton mess had grapes rather than strawberries in it.

I rather enjoyed the intellectual challenge of devising a meal for so many different requirements in a way that minimised the number of occasions any member of the group had something difference, we got it down to two.

Are strawberries not acceptable to vegans? I had no idea. Why is that, please?

Rula

I have a fabulous friend. She's vegan. But a peaceful vegan, if that's the right word! She never mentions it. I only found out about 4 years after knowing her.

She will host dinner parties. And she will cook meat for meat eaters. Which has always surprised me.

I'm guessing that's not the norm. Or am I wrong?

I love the peaceful vegan comment. Totally understand.
I'm vegetarian but eat very little animals products in general and try to use items in every day life that have as little negative impact on other animal life as possible (but i don't label myself as vegan as I don't feel I want this pressure if this makes sense..or the judgement of others?
I'm a quiet vegetarian and do cook meat products for friends and family.

I had a family member who was a very "loud" vegan and it was so awkward to eat or be around her in general. I felt it was a terrible advert, as such, to anyone eating alternatively. (Although it's not such a big thing now) it annoyed everyone!

I try to be tolerant about other people's views but do sometimes have to bite my lip.
I know someone who declares they hate cats as they are all spiteful (she hasn't ever met any of the cats that have lived with us...bundles of fur who just lie about, trot after us for affection and mostly catch moss as prey ) she also eats all meat and lives on a cattle farm (for beef) but as she thinks pigs are cute and too intelligent to eat...she won't cook or eat pork.
.but wolfes the cow meat and anything else that used to walk about..Go figure.
Each to their own etc.... eek but I do struggle with this.
However, as someone who has to be dairy free and is gluten intolerant , vegetarian and has mouth rashes from eating most fruits..I am forced to be quite a picky eater and have been publicly made to feel ashamed or a fuss pot,so I try not to openly have strong views about other people's foods.
Great discussion!

Doodledog

Are strawberries not acceptable to vegans? I had no idea. Why is that, please?

I assume this was the person with allergies.

Norah

Allira

Norah

Casdon

OP, most meals have a ‘main’ ingredient, and I think people who aren’t vegan assume a vegan meal needs the same composition. It’s not that they are looking for a meat substitute, but a main ingredient substitute. I have three vegans in my family, and hate cooking, so I find it a struggle to find no fuss vegan options.

Perhaps a jacket potato or portabello mushroom(s)? Topping: coconut yogurt, lemon juice, Maggi Würze, chopped coriander.

Quick, fills area on the plate, lovely meal.

Do you put the topping on the mushrooms then bake in the oven or cook the mushrooms then add the topping and serve?

Cook jacket potato or mushroom(s). Place on plate, add topping.

Thanks!

I do like large mushrooms with garlic and butter (olive oil for vegans) then baked in the oven but thst sounds easier.

Why assume vegans are not people and they do nor want options?
Extend this to vegetarians too

Nor=not

[confsed]?

If I was preparing a meal for family and friends I would try to ensure they all had ‘proper’ food and there was a starter , main course and dessert that everyone could enjoy.

One of my sons and his family are vegan, as he says the majority of vegans don’t become one because they don’t like the taste of meat, they do so for the ethical reasons hence the ‘rise’ of meat alternatives (that said he doesn’t eat them regularly) I will sometimes use them when catering for them so as to respect their feelings (mainly my 6yr old granddaughter), for example chicken Kiev for meat eaters and the vegan version for them

Rula

I have a fabulous friend. She's vegan. But a peaceful vegan, if that's the right word! She never mentions it. I only found out about 4 years after knowing her.

She will host dinner parties. And she will cook meat for meat eaters. Which has always surprised me.

I'm guessing that's not the norm. Or am I wrong?

I’ve been vegetarian for about 35 years and it has never occurred to me to inflict my choice on others. Whether or not that’s usual, I don’t really know. It does have its downside, of course, in that you can’t test whatever dish you’re cooking for taste! But I heartily agree about manufacturers’ idiotic insistence on promoting their non-meat/fish ready meals etc as substitutes for what they insultingly assume all vegetarians and vegans must hanker after. My vegetarian diet consists predominantly of, guess what, vegetables and salad. As a matter of principle, I would never buy any processed food item labelled as “not chicken” or the like. Yuk!