Vegetarianism vs Veganism

[MatticusMania]

my main problem with vegetarianism is chicken burritos, pepperoni pizza, sausage egg and cheese on an everything bagel.

I can make a vegetarian alternative for all of those. Well, I havent had veggie pepperoni, but I believe Ive seen it before.
You'd likely notice the difference between real chicken and veggie chicken, though its not too far off. After not eating meat for 3-1/2 years, I dont miss it.
My favorite breakfast sandwich: Veggie Sausage, Egg, Cheese on a flakey buttery biscuit. You can use an Everything Bagel, too.

 

[boynamedsuse]

I can make a vegetarian alternative for all of those. Well, I havent had veggie pepperoni, but I believe Ive seen it before.
You'd likely notice the difference between real chicken and veggie chicken, though its not too far off. After not eating meat for 3-1/2 years, I dont miss it.
My favorite breakfast sandwich: Veggie Sausage, Egg, Cheese on a flakey buttery biscuit. You can use an Everything Bagel, too.

QFT.

 

[DwaynieAD]

I can make a vegetarian alternative for all of those. Well, I havent had veggie pepperoni, but I believe Ive seen it before.
You'd likely notice the difference between real chicken and veggie chicken, though its not too far off. After not eating meat for 3-1/2 years, I dont miss it.
My favorite breakfast sandwich: Veggie Sausage, Egg, Cheese on a flakey buttery biscuit. You can use an Everything Bagel, too.

you're gettin' me hype bro.

 

[MatticusMania]

you're gettin' me hype bro.

You got me hungry!

Im not going to be the guy who says that all meat subsitutes taste just like the real thing, though, sometimes they do.
A meat eater is likely to taste the difference with most of them. However, if prepared right in a dish that isnt all about the meat, one could easily trick a carnivore with a substitute.

Veggie beef crumbles or meatballs in a spaghetti sauce is fun. Ive fed it to people who wince at the thought of "fake meat" and they were surprised when I told them they just ate vegetarian.

Soyrizo, no one can tell the difference!

Smart Dogs... well, I was never a fan of hot dogs, knowing how theyre made and all, so I think even if I did eat meat, Id likely still eat Smart Dogs instead of hot dogs. Tastes the same to me.

Of course, a diet based heavily on meat substitutes is not the healthiest way for a vegetarian to eat.

 

[smperry]

Man, I quickly lost the taste for meat entirely. The meat substitute stuff isn't appealing to me at all. No tofurkey at my house tomorrow.

 

[Ziltoid]

I could easily see myself living on a vegetarian diet, most likely ovo-lacto. Vegan? Never. Wine, cheese, eggs, etc. are just things I don't see myself living without.

However, while I wouldn't have any problems with o-l vege I just don't really see a reason to make the transition.

 

[two fingers]

I can't wait until we get to the red meat of this thread.

 

[DwaynieAD]

You got me hungry!

Im not going to be the guy who says that all meat subsitutes taste just like the real thing, though, sometimes they do.
A meat eater is likely to taste the difference with most of them. However, if prepared right in a dish that isnt all about the meat, one could easily trick a carnivore with a substitute.

Veggie beef crumbles or meatballs in a spaghetti sauce is fun. Ive fed it to people who wince at the thought of "fake meat" and they were surprised when I told them they just ate vegetarian.

Soyrizo, no one can tell the difference!

Smart Dogs... well, I was never a fan of hot dogs, knowing how theyre made and all, so I think even if I did eat meat, Id likely still eat Smart Dogs instead of hot dogs. Tastes the same to me.

Of course, a diet based heavily on meat substitutes is not the healthiest way for a vegetarian to eat.

when I was in highschool we did a unit in Culinary Arts class on vegetarian dishes. admittedly it wasn't very comprehensive as it was pretty much just "put tofu in place of the meat." most of it wasn't too bad. honestly I just like teasing vegetarians cuz so many of them get so riled up. damn you for being level headed. I do want to try seitan in place of chicken some time. I've had tofurkey, it's horrible. vegetables that I eat are pretty limited. I've tried many many vegetables but only seem to like the very basic corn, green beans, potatoes, carrots, peas.

I'm open to the idea of limiting meat, but find it hard to find choices I enjoy, and who wants to eat food they don't like?

 

[groooooove]

life without bacon is unnecessary.

wish i had the willpower. but i dont.

t

 

[MatticusMania]

who wants to eat food they don't like?

Not many, Id presume, but they are out there. Super health-conscious people seem willing to eat some things that they dont enjoy for the health benefits. I couldnt do that.

Seitan can be good, but Ive never cooked with it myself, just had it at the vegan restaurant.
Im not big on tofu, but if its prepared properly (marinated well in something flavorful) it can be good.
I dont mind Tofurkey brand veggie deli meats, but I have had some meat substitutes that taste awful.
As for vegetables, I didnt eat too many before becoming vegetarian, and Ive come to like a lot of them since.

And vegetarians who get riled up over other peoples eating habits annoy me far more than people who enjoy teasing us.

 

[smperry]

Actually, I've had seitan I like in restaurants too...but haven't cooked with it.

What is it anyway? Googles...oh, interesting!

 

[Shakin-Slim]

And vegetarians who get riled up over other peoples eating habits annoy me far more than people who enjoy teasing us.

They sit at about the same level of P.I.T.A-ness for me. I've joined and left vegan groups over people making horrible generalisations and sweeping statements about meat-eaters. I got told off for smoking in my FB profile pic (it's not vegan-friendly apparently), but I quickly pointed out what I was smoking was too fat to be a cigarette.

Similarly, though, I've been living with a guy this year who likes to give me sh** every time I cook. He calls it "processed crap" This is a butcher, btw, I think he should know which of the two options is more 'processed'. But he is one of those types who thinks the All Blacks are gods on earth and "you're not a real Kiwi unless you grew up fishing"

Luckily, next year, my gf and I are moving in with some lovely people, one of which is vegan, so there will be three of us, and everyone likes to cook and bake. I may be able to put on some weight for once in my life!

 

[smperry]

I've never gotten any flack from a "higher order vegan"...I guess I'm not in that scene.

 

[MatticusMania]

Actually, I've had seitan I like in restaurants too...but haven't cooked with it.

What is it anyway? Googles...oh, interesting!

I believe it is some sort of wheat gluten. It can taste pretty good.

 

[MatticusMania]

I've never gotten any flack from a "higher order vegan"...I guess I'm not in that scene.

Ive never gotten much flak from vegetarians or vegans, but I have seen some go off on other people, usually meat eaters. I dont know if it was provoked or not, though.

I've joined and left vegan groups

Groups in what way? Ive never belonged to any sort of vegetarian group, though I do happen to have a lot of vegetarian friends, some who have fallen off the wagon after many years being meat free. I see it as a personal choice, and not much of a cause to group people into.

 

[macaroni tony]

Matticus anything in the vegetarian world that may satisfy my steak fix?

 

[MatticusMania]

Matticus anything in the vegetarian world that may satisfy my steak fix?

Seriously... I have nothing. The closest thing to steak Ive come across are actually mushrooms. Ive had a few variety of "meaty" fungus, most often portabello. Possibly eggplant.
The vegan restaurant near my house has these teryaki skewers, but Im not certain what theyre made from (could be mushroom).

OH! Gardein has these "beefless tips" (HAHAHAHAHAHA!) that are pretty good, but I dont know if theyd satisfy a steak craving.

 

[MJ5150]

What about the steak are you craving? The flavors? The smells? Are you iron deficient today?

-Mike

 

[pocketgroove]

Morningstar Farms used to make veggie steak strips, and they were yummy! In fact, they were the best of the whole "meal starters" line. However, they stopped making them.

 

[macaroni tony]

What about the steak are you craving? The flavors? The smells? Are you iron deficient today?

-Mike

Flavor. No iron deficiency....I just like the hearty steakiness sometimes

Matty....beefless tips sounds good; that should be worth a try

I can't eat fish ( ) because my wife is sensitive to it these days...that's how I usually get my lean protein on as I don't like chicken or turkey all that much. And beans I can only do sometimes. Now I'm eating more and more steak and my body is giving me the business about it.