Why do vegans want their food to taste like meat?
This is one of the most perplexing ones I often hear; “If you’re against eating meat, why do you want your food to taste like meat?” There are several pieces to address here:
We didn’t go vegan because we don’t like the taste of meat, we did so because we’re against the cruelty and unnecessary death that is required to make meat and other animal products.
Most vegans weren’t vegan for a large portion of their life. We grew up eating meat and other animal products. Transitioning to a plant-based diet can be a big change, so having foods that closely mimic the taste and texture of animal products can make the transition easier.
Not every vegan eats plant-based meat substitutes. The vegan meat substitute market is a relatively new industry. Vegans have existed for ages before these products existed, and they lived on vegan food that didn’t taste like meat.
Most vegan food does not taste like meat. Non-vegans seem to forget that the vast majority of food is naturally vegan - rice, beans, lentils, quinoa, farro, chickpeas, barley, potatoes, yams, nuts, apples, pears, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, mangoes, watermelon, cantaloupe, apricots, bananas, grapes, pineapple, pomegranates, oranges, coconuts, cherries, grapefruit, papaya, kiwis, peppers, broccoli, onion, cauliflower, artichokes, arugula, asparagus, celery, eggplant, carrots, lettuce, peas, kale, cabbage, avocados, seeds, oats, etc. And those are just the whole foods, and nowhere near an exhaustive list. You’ll also find that most (but not all) pasta and bread are naturally vegan as well. And for other foods that are not normally vegan (muffins, cakes, waffles, pancakes, donuts, ice cream, etc.) there are vegan versions that are nearly indistinguishable. Let’s also not forget that just about every spice and seasoning in existence comes from plants (pepper, basil, thyme, rosemary, garlic, onion powder, turmeric, curry, etc.) And of course, most condiments are vegan (ketchup, mustard, most barbecue sauces, soy sauce, vinegar, etc.), and the ones that are not, such as sour cream and mayo, have vegan alternatives that taste nearly identical.
The real question is, why do non-vegans make their food taste like plants? You don’t often find someone eating plain unseasoned meat by itself. Take a hamburger for example. A hamburger is seasoned with plants (garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, etc.), topped with plants (tomato, lettuce, onion, relish, etc.) with plant-based condiments (ketchup, mustard, etc.), and put on a bun that is most likely vegan. It’s actually non-vegans that go to extreme lengths to make their meat taste like a variety of delicious plants.
Side note: Do you ask people who are against murder (which I hope is almost everyone) why they play video games like Call of Duty? I mean if they’re against killing people, why are they simulating it in a game? Isn’t that the same thing?
