Why assume vegans want a meat alternative?

I'm a vegetarian, my partner is vegan. We tend not to buy the supermarket "meat replacements" as they seem unhealthy and very processed. I've been vegetarian for 50 years and I have made all kinds of vegetarian and vegan dishes, especially curries, over the years, using lentils, pulses and beans. We keep some veggie products in the freezer for emergency but generally there is no need for them. For special meals with relatives, we have had nut roasts or mushroom Wellington as a main protein with vegetables.

I wouldn’t assume that all vegans/vegetarians want UPF ‘looks like meat’ alternatives, any more than I’d assume that all omnivores would be happy with curry or no meat meals.
They were a way forward in trying to persuade omnivores that meat isn’t essential.
I wouldn’t eat them, personally, but what I really hate is ordering a jacket potato with cheese, which then arrives with vegan cheese, which IMO is an abomination!

I'm a veggie but do not like some vegan food.. Plant based food to resemble meat disgusts me.. I can't cope with the look, smell, taste....
I dislike the fact that most places think if offer vegan food it's ticking boxes for veggies too.. Which isn't the case for me...

NotSpaghetti

Doodledog

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

I assume this was the person with allergies.

Ah yes, of course. D'oh!

My niece and nephew are vegan, so I wondered if strawberries were something I should be aware of.

Nobody is making you eat it, but several of you seem to be sneering at those of us who do enjoy "mock meat". Please stop it.

If you've been vegetarian or vegan all your life, you won't know what it's like to give up meat, in exactly the same way as I don't know, at first hand, what it's like to give up smoking, since I never smoked in the first place. Many people who enjoyed but then gave up meat say the thing they miss most is bacon sarnies – I certainly do, after over 30 years! And I enjoy the taste of meaty flavoured crisps, in the knowledge that all these flavourings are artificial anyway.

A lot depends on WHY you're not eating meat. I gave up because I didn't want to eat animals and birds (I'm actually pescetarian) but I did enjoy the taste of sausages. I'm sick of smug comments from meat-eaters about people eating things that "look like" meat, such as Veggie sausages, when they don't want to eat actual meat. There's more to the enjoyment of a sausage, a burger or mince than simply knowing you're eating an animal, so why should we not have that enjoyment too?

How's this for a chat up line? Young man "Excuse me but are you vegan?" Granddaughter " Yes but how did you know?" Him "I could tell by the stickers on your computer ". They have been together for many months now. Just shows how a pick up in a coffee shop can evolve.

Doodledog

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

I suspect strawberries are an allergy to some people?

Or the surface seeds are difficult to their colon?

Doodledog

NotSpaghetti

Doodledog

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

I assume this was the person with allergies.

Ah yes, of course. D'oh!

My niece and nephew are vegan, so I wondered if strawberries were something I should be aware of.

Cross posted. Sorry.

I expect Gizzy48 includes me in that diatribe against people who find the labelling of “mock meat” products distasteful. But that doesn’t mean I have anything against her or anyone else’s dietary choices. Not only do I have a meat-eating partner that I cook for all the time, but he still smokes in the house (which I hate)! How’s that for tolerance, lol? For the record, though, my decision to go fully veggie had nothing to do with animal rights or any ethical consideration (not that I’m against any of that either). I just prefer plant-based food and always have.

I'm a vegan and do eat meat alternatives if offered BUT i prefer to eat plant based. meat alternatives are useful if eating out. ck . The one benefit is that there is less "meddling "from staff who have no knowledge of in a resa vegan diet. I've been given home made veggie meals but they have Worcestershire sauce
(contains fish) or dairy.
I have not cooked meat or fish for over 40 years and would not offer to do that as I could not taste it to check if ok.

Rula

In my experience, over many decades, your friend IS very unusual and very special.

Without exception we (as a group) always supplied our vege friends with a non-meat meal but never once did they offer us a meat based meal.

A lovely memory is of two of them turning up one lunchtime when a few of us were having bacon sandwiches. The smell tantalised them and they ended up eating them too!
.

What a narrow-minded attitude! I am well aware that the vast majority of people enjoy eating meat, but I don't preach at them not to. I was brought up on meat and two veg., but now the thought of eating dead animals disgusts me. I choose to eat the alternatives, meat substitutes and meat alternatives. I eat a lot of mushrooms!
Let people make their own choices, and don't preach!

Who makes this assumption? Myself, and all the vegans I know, never opt for a "meat replica", instead preferring to create wonderful plant based meals

Not vegan, though heading in that direction. I hate meat substitutes, but then I don't like processed food. I'd much rather have lots of lovely veg, nuts and pulses.

marymary62

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.

Quite kind.

Those hosting us do attempt to ensure they serve us 'proper food' I appreciate their effort. However, seemingly 'not mains' fill the plate well. We happily eat 2 portions of roasties, extra cauliflower and sauce.

Vegan desserts are easy. Wine is always nice!

Having vegan and vegetarian family members I have always been happy to eat the same when sharing a meal. But I have never found a vegan sausage, vegan cheese or any of the meat 'substitutes' tasting anything close to tasty or pleasant. They always miss out on tasting of anything other than spicy, garlicky or oniony, all things that I can't eat. I much prefer a vegan meal made from scratch.

I have been veggie for over 50 years now, yes I am happy that there is more awareness and options for vegetarians BUT not all of us want to eat Fake Meat! why would I want to eat something that looks and tastes like meat?

Just a decade ago when being veggie meant menu choices at restaurants were chickpea/falafel/beetroot burgers/curries/salads it looked and tasted veggie. Now you have these ridiculous fake meat burgers that bleed blood (beetroot juice) if the person wants to eat meat then just eat it, stop trying to be an eco warrior trend setter, jumping on the look how good I am band wagon.

I went on a Butlins break with my daughter & grandkids and ALL the veggie options in every restaurant were fake meat, so nothing for me then!

Also if you look on Tesco online and search veggie mains over 80% of them fake meat. I know some newbie vegetarians miss eating it but it is getting so boring now that places use it as a cop out of creating vegetable based meals.

Also I worked as a restaurant manager and honestly after what I have seen I would not trust a place which sold identical products not to accidentally give you the meat version!!!

I am vegan and I find most of these meat and cheese substitutes pretty grim. Why eat highly processed or lab grown food??
I am very surprised that any vegan would serve meat to people. Veganism is about stopping the cruelly inflicted on animals - this by brutal animal ‘farming’ methods. It is also about the waste of land use, methane and contributing to climate change.

Philippa111

I am vegan and I find most of these meat and cheese substitutes pretty grim. Why eat highly processed or lab grown food??
I am very surprised that any vegan would serve meat to people. Veganism is about stopping the cruelly inflicted on animals - this by brutal animal ‘farming’ methods. It is also about the waste of land use, methane and contributing to climate change.

We serve meat because our children, GC, GGC, my brother like meat.

Simple really.

Gogo84

How's this for a chat up line? Young man "Excuse me but are you vegan?" Granddaughter " Yes but how did you know?" Him "I could tell by the stickers on your computer ". They have been together for many months now. Just shows how a pick up in a coffee shop can evolve.

A lovely sweet story Gogo84.
I hope they'll be happy together. 😊

My friend was vegetarian - she often cooked meat for me and I always devised a veggie dish as the protein part of a meal. It was never an issue

Sleepyhead52

My friend was vegetarian - she often cooked meat for me and I always devised a veggie dish as the protein part of a meal. It was never an issue

Well done to both of you, respecting each other.

I'm a vegan & I would not cook meat for anyone, I also really appreciate it when people cook something I can eat. But I don't think meat alternatives are a necessity, I've never liked the meat alternative thing, I prefer vegan food that doesn't replicate meat

I've been vegetarian for over 20 years, I stopped eating meat because I didn't like the cruelty involved in producing it, I certainly don't miss it. I like the Quorn products but not overkeen on the vegan plant based products. I struggle with the fact that a lot of it is made to look and taste like meat! Isn't that what we're trying to get away from? Why it has to taste and look like chicken, ham, bacon and beef I don't know! And I really don't care what other folk eat in front of me, be it meat or otherwise. And for last Christmas myself and my meat eating other half had yummy egg ( free range) and chips cooked beautifully by him.

As a vegan I find most meat alternatives taste disgusting bar for a few brands of plant based sausages and fake chicken.
The same with plant based cheese.

I don’t like tofu no matter how it’s dressed up to taste like meat. It’s a texture thing. I find it rubbery.

When I first became vegan 6 years ago I went to my Db for Christmas dinner. He said what am I going to cook for you this year.
I said the same as you but I’ll bring plant based sausages for myself so don’t put yourself out.

Well when I got there he had bought a nut roast for me which was vile.
I felt guilty that he’d gone ahead and bought it and while I tried my best to eat it, I couldn’t.
He now believes me when I say don’t get a meat substitute.
I don’t understand why people think we have to have an alternative as I’m quite happy with veg, my favourite being Brussels sprouts.
My daughter on the other hand who is also vegan, loves the alternatives.

When making curries, chilli, and spag bol, to bulk them up I replace mince with green lentils ( that’s as alternative as I get lol) They don’t have the same taste as red lentils which I also don’t like. Everyone I’ve made them for have liked them and say they didn’t miss the meat. My dsis and bil love my bolognaise and I always make enough for them to take some home.

I think the reason why people think you have to have a meat substitute on your plate is because we have become so used to having meat and two veg that we are depriving ourselves if we don’t have something to replace it.