Fake beef - why the hate?
Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2013 11:27 am
I really don't mean to be trolling. I've posted on this general topic before, and we've had civil conversations. I still get curious, though, why the very idea of faux meat seems to yank the chains of some meat-eaters and some vegetarians, so when we have a really good dish made in a comfort-food style using an ersatz "meat," I can't resist bringing it up again.
Fake beef - why the hate?
It’s a funny thing about plant-based meat analogues, a.k.a. faux meat, or for those who prefer to keep it in English, “fake” meat: it seems to make hard-core vegetarians and hard-core carnivores both almost angry to see people enjoying something like Gardein meat-free Home Style Beefless Tips.
I'm not sure I understand this.
This plant based product offers a surprising beef analog made with wheat gluten, soy and grain flours, and leaves no lingering questions about humaneness, hormones and other additives, saturated fat and all the other health, humaneness and sustainability issues surrounding industrial meat.
I guess serious veggievores consider it a cheat when seekers and inquirers use fake meat to bridge the gap between animal-based and plant-based cuisines. They view it as lazy vegetarianism and figure if they had to go cold pardon-the-expression turkey, so should we. Sort of like reformed-smokers looking Down our noses at those trying E-cigarettes in an effort to give up the addiction.
I am less certain why some meat eaters get so angry about faux meats, but I'm thinking a smoking analogy works here, too. They know they'll never give up meat, in spite of the evidence surrounding its health, humaneness and environmental issues, so they are so not down with anything that makes abandoning cow meat easier for the rest of us.
To them I gently say, "Mind your own bidniss, please."
Mary made us a pot of rich, delicious “beef” stew using Gardein on a cool late-summer evening recently. It was delicious, it came in at 150 calories per generous serving, no animals were harmed in its production, and it went great with red wine. Works for me!
Fake beef - why the hate?
It’s a funny thing about plant-based meat analogues, a.k.a. faux meat, or for those who prefer to keep it in English, “fake” meat: it seems to make hard-core vegetarians and hard-core carnivores both almost angry to see people enjoying something like Gardein meat-free Home Style Beefless Tips.
I'm not sure I understand this.
This plant based product offers a surprising beef analog made with wheat gluten, soy and grain flours, and leaves no lingering questions about humaneness, hormones and other additives, saturated fat and all the other health, humaneness and sustainability issues surrounding industrial meat.
I guess serious veggievores consider it a cheat when seekers and inquirers use fake meat to bridge the gap between animal-based and plant-based cuisines. They view it as lazy vegetarianism and figure if they had to go cold pardon-the-expression turkey, so should we. Sort of like reformed-smokers looking Down our noses at those trying E-cigarettes in an effort to give up the addiction.
I am less certain why some meat eaters get so angry about faux meats, but I'm thinking a smoking analogy works here, too. They know they'll never give up meat, in spite of the evidence surrounding its health, humaneness and environmental issues, so they are so not down with anything that makes abandoning cow meat easier for the rest of us.
To them I gently say, "Mind your own bidniss, please."
Mary made us a pot of rich, delicious “beef” stew using Gardein on a cool late-summer evening recently. It was delicious, it came in at 150 calories per generous serving, no animals were harmed in its production, and it went great with red wine. Works for me!