Are Meat Substitutes "Cheats"?

[4EverGrounded]

Don't let omnis try to tell you what's acceptable or not acceptable in a veg*n diet unless they are veg*ns themselves (defective veg*ns don't count).

[Doktormartini]

I think cheating would be if someone claimed to be veg but ate chicken like once a week.

[kali]

how can something that isnt real meat be a cheat ?? i dont think your friend had her brain in gear when she made that comment

[Sevenseas]

People have grown up being fed certain types of stuff. Wanting stuff that is like it in taste and texture, but from more ethical sources, seems pretty natural to me. Now if there's some kind of intentional design to make some product look as much like a dead animal as possible, or something like that, then that raises my eyebrows a little. But vegan "fish"fingers for example, I don't see the problem.

[Kiz]

The logic of these kind of statements is always dubious to me.

If eating plant matter shaped like meat is "cheating" - is eating flesh matter shaped like vegetables OK? I mean, it's not what it is that counts by her reckoning, it is what the product looks like, right?

PNow if there's some kind of intentional design to make some product look as much like a dead animal as possible, or something like that, then that raises my eyebrows a little. But vegan "fish"fingers for example, I don't see the problem.

I've bought, cooked and served things like the ultra-realistic prawns before, but always as some kind of sick joke, the same way I might serve realistic looking chocolate-covered marzipan cockroaches. And yes, the last one is actually a real product.

[Blobbenstein]

what's wrong with cheatin'?

[froggythefrog]

I guess what I don't understand here is the significance of "cheating" here. I bet the person who said you were cheating can't explain to you in concise terms what they mean by that. I imagine them saying the whole point is not to eat meat (which may be incorrect -- usually the point is the reason for the avoidance of meat, not just simply avoiding meat.) I imagine vague phrases like "that's just wrong" being a big part of their explanation.

I imagine winning this argument being easy:
Omni: That's so cheating?
You: It is?
Omni: Yeah, you're not supposed to eat meat!
You: This is meat?
Omni: No, but it looks like meat!
You: so?
Omni: So, you're not supposed to eat things that look like meat!
You: I am not supposed to eat things that look like meat?
Omni: Yeah!
You: Why?
Omni: Vegetarians aren't supposed to eat things that look like meat!
You: Yeah, but why?
Omni: Because you just aren't.
You: I am just not? Pretty convincing there... Care for some meatballs?

[Kiseki]

Um no!!! Of course not!

Though I can see how some people would look upon it negatively, like maybe they think veggies should be eating only nuts and seeds or something. They might think it is hypocritical to still desire the taste of meat.

[Toast]

No, mincing up plant materials and forming them into shapes that are convenient to eat isn't "cheating" any more than mincing up body parts is. Or can your friend identify which part of the anatomy hot dogs come from?

I've never seen meat substitutes standing in line fearfully awaiting slaughter.

Haha.

Don't let omnis try to tell you what's acceptable or not acceptable in a veg*n diet unless they are veg*ns themselves (defective veg*ns don't count).

Totally agree.

[Pirate Huntress]

Um no!!! Of course not!

Though I can see how some people would look upon it negatively, like maybe they think veggies should be eating only nuts and seeds or something. They might think it is hypocritical to still desire the taste of meat.

Yeah... "You eat the fake stuff, so that must mean you secretly want the real stuff".