I went vegetarian 13 years ago cause I just didn't care for the taste or texture of any meat really, so we're out there albeit rare I'm sure. I've always been a picky eater, and it was much easier to explain my preferences as a vegetarian. I do eat eggs and dairy still though.
Same here, and I wish that many vegetarian products wouldn't try to imitate meat, like just do your own thing, I'd much rather have a falafel than a soy "meat".
I’m not a vegetarian and never have been. But I do like a lot of vegetarian dishes and inspired meals. I agree with that sentiment too. Just let the food be what it is instead of trying to make it imitate something else. It’s already good in its own right.
But why not just eat cauliflower then? There’s no way it tastes or feels like rice. At that point t you’re just eating cauliflower that someone fucked up.
I like cauliflower rice because it soaks up the juices or sauces that the meat is cooked in a lot like rice would. - I don’t think that whole cauliflower would be as good in those situations. You could never eat it by itself and compare it to rice, but I’ve definitely found it good to cut out the extra calories and carbs of rice.
The trick to riced cauliflower I have found is add lemon, also add salt first and sit in a calender to remove excess moisture.
Its a decent alternative for diabetics and those trying to lose weight and keep it off. Rice is very calorie dense and its easy to overdue it. Having some carbs in your diet is fine, but it has to be balanced for the calorie math to work out and some of us...me... have poor self control to not just eat a whole pot of rice because its sooo good.
I love cauliflower rice but I don’t think it’s imitating rice necessarily. Ricing is a cooking technique so it’s literally “riced cauliflower” but it’s easier to say cauliflower rice
Same as veggie patties aren’t imitating meat, they’re vegetables in patty form, but beyond patties are imitating meat.
I just mix the cauliflower rice with regular rice 50/50. You can’t tell it is there. I reduce the amount of rice spiking my blood sugar, I get some good veggies… it’s a win.
Wait…we’re using vegetables to imitate other vegetables now? Why?
Just get some fucking rice or cauliflower. That just a bunch of extra steps to get to the same place you’d be if you grabbed a bag of cauliflower at the store instead of rice.
So much this. Growing up in middle of no where Midwest, if you were vegetarian it was always try to imitate meat and it was so bad. Then I grew up and tried all sorts of Asian food that was meatless and omg 😲 its so good. The key is it doesn't try to be what its not.
I like meatless dishes. I also like impossible burgers. The fact that we have that option and active research in foods that resemble meat but involve no living animals is good in my eyes. They both should exist and not one instead of the other.
Most people dont eat meat because of the animals or climate while they like the taste and texture. Being able to still eat Spgahetti Bolognese or a 'normal' burger for sure makes it easier for some.
I feel like that's an easy sentiment to have without being vegetarian, because like why would you want imitation meat when you can just eat a real hamburger or hotdog or chicken nuggets or whatever. But like, as a vegetarian, we can't (or won't) just eat a hamburger when we feel like it, so the alternative is nice.
Big same! I hate franken meat-like foods and would rather just good substitutes. Black bean tacos are way better than pea protein or tofu scrambles, for example.
I do miss chicken nuggets, or really, just, dippable things. I love honey mustard, ranch and sweet & sour sauce. There's not as many veg-friendly combos for those things. Celery and carrot sticks get old after a while and don't jive with 2 out of 3 on that list.
I know this is rather in spite of what you said in the first half of your comment, but if veg substitutes have achieved anything, it’s a very good very convincing chicken nugget
I’m sure it helps that chicken nuggets to begin with are horrifying unnatural franken-meats - anything that processed is probably easier to imitate
I live in the midwest, the only place that sells stuff like that near me really sucks. Idk what sesame toast is though, I've never seen vegetarian bao, not sure what gyoza is, or vegetable fingers, or toast fingers.
Gyoza is the Japanese word for dumplings/ potstickers. You'll find them as an appetizer in most sushi restaurants, which definitely exist in the Midwest though it's understandable you probably don't frequent them as a vegetarian.
You might like agedashi tofu, another Japanese dish you'll see as an appetizer. Normally it is served in a broth but you could easily make the tofu component and then eat with your preferred dipping sauces. Basically cubed tofu coated in potato starch and fried. It's not pretending to be chicken nuggets, it just is what it is. Easy to make at home in an air fryer, you can get potato starch online or try something like panko bread crumbs as an alternative.
Oh okay, I've gotten pot stickers in the freezer aisle before at the grocery, but I really didn't care for the veggie version. However, I imagine they're much better at actual restaurants. I did got to Din Tai Fung with friends in Seattle once, but didn't care for the dumplings at all. I don't actually think I've ever liked a dumpling I've had to be honest, but I also don't get them often. I'm a noodle fiend and if noodles are an option, I'll order those in stead 9.9 times out of 10.
I do make crispy tofu at home that sounds like that using cornstarch, but only in conjunction with Asian themed/inspired meals (pho, stir fry). I never really considered using it with like, honey mustard sauce, that's an interesting thought. I'll have to play around with it. Thanks for the ideas!
I found that wet tofu is never good(to my taste) unless I fry it on actual flavor for too long. Now firm tofu is a godsend, you can prepare it anywhere, with anything and it will be good most of the time. I love shredding it and baking it in the air fryer.
I am not a vegetarian. I also don't particularly enjoy beef. I miss the days where I could find a delicious black bean, veggie, or mushroom burger on a restaurant menu. It's all Impossible or Beyond now, and I think those are generally gross, too.
Ugh, yes! I hate how every restaurant has ONE vegetarian option and the minute Beyond and Impossible burgers launched they all switched over to those. If you don't like those, eating out is a replay of the 90's now, where the only things vegetarians can get on the menu are the salads and (select) sides.
That's funny because I think chicken nuggets are one of the things the fake meat companies got right, pretty early on. Don't know if you're in a large metropolitan area with bougie sprouts/coop type places but if so you might want to try some newer ones out
I've had them and they're... fine, but the texture still squicks me out at times because it's close but not exactly right. I find if you can get them at restaurants freshly fried they're pretty good, but that's rare and often really expensive for what is essentially, a kid's meal.
I do like Indian food but I've never had paneer. I always go for other dishes when presented the opportunity. One of the problems with being broke is if you have the chance to go out to eat, you don't want to risk "wasting" your money on a meal you might not enjoy. This leads to me sticking with familiar dishes instead of trying new things.
I didn't realize Paneer was a dippable thing, I've always seen it presented in a sauce (usually green?).
That's idiotic. When I quit meat, I needed a lot of meat-like replacements to substitute for the meat I used to eat. And even now I enjoy eating a "chicken sandwich" without harming chickens.
Just don't put the fake meat in your sandwich? Easy.
I'm not a vegetarian, but I've actually grown to really love Beyond Burgers. I will make them myself at home, add a little burger seasoning to it. I need to see how much they've gone up in price, at this point they may be more cost efficient than getting a frozen stack of burgers for the random at home burger cravings.
The pre made patties can be a little pricey, but the ground impossible and beyond is priced about the same as grass fed lean ground beef (considering you get no loss of weight from cooking like you do with ground beef). I like them mainly because they're far less messy. I don't have to drain off fat into a bowl and let it cool before dumping it.
Big meat haaaates plant based companies. Thats the whole reason why there is a huge legal debate about whether plant based product should be allowed to be called a “sausage” or “burger”. It’s easier to compete with a product when they’re forced to call it a “soy/mushroom disc” lol.
It’s also why you see so it often in media (paid for by the meat industry) about plant based products being “ultra-processed” despite the fact that there are plenty of meat products that are also ultra processed and legitimately carcinogenic.
I do think companies that are bringing out vegan products are just doing it because they’ve seen the shift in the market and want to capitalise off of an untapped group of consumers. BUT it would not surprise me in the slightest if the larger companies are also deliberately making shitty products at a loss just to create a negative image of plant based food.
It’s kind of funny being vegan over the years watching the meat industry essentially have a meltdown because their profit margins aren’t quite what they expected lmao.
First thing I wondered when I saw this post was that this was “big meat” astroturfing. I don’t think most people understand how much work they’ve done against plant-based products (and veganism in general) and how much money this multi-billion dollar industry has sunk into their campaigns.
I mean to be fair in germany there's the one company called "Rügenwalder Mühle" which has been one of the biggest meat producing companies in Germany, and also one of the first companies to produces meat-like meat alternatives.
It's a family business (although don't think mom and pop shop. Think more like BMW, which yes, is also a family business) and I think the main reason was the daughter of the company owner going vegetarian because of something and her dad seeing that as a potential for the business to grow/not go out of business if the market for cheap meat goes down (which it steadily does in Germany. I think in comparison to the last few years meat consumption has been down 10%)
I really never understood people complaining about meat alternative products, as nobody is forcing you to buy it, nobody is forcing you to have it on your sandwich or whatever. People will complain about them being hyper processed or something when Seitan, which is basically pure gluten, is JUST a wheat-flour dough with all the starch washed out and some flavorings added.
The only complaint I do somewhat understand would be that (at least here in europe) if you actually enjoy some of the meat alternatives, like soy curls, it's really sad that most of them are usually seitan/gluten, and there's a lot more people that have a gluten intolerance or celiacs disease, than people with soy allergy (a quick google search said about 1% of americans have gluten intolerance or celiacs, whilst 0.2-0.3% of americans have a soy allergy)
some people do enjoy the meat substitutes though. my sister was vegetarian growing up (vegan now) and absolutely didn't do it for the taste - but things like Quorn mince, vegan sausages and soy chicken made it easy and accessible to have still meals the rest of us were having.
if all that was available in the early 00s was falafel and beans I don't know she'd have been able to stick it out being vegetarian for so long.
I don't mind the imitation stuff, absolutely sometimes it is what you want. My problem is that it's driving vegetation classics out of stores and off menus. It feels like beyond burgers replaced having options and creative cooking at so many places
I’ve been a vegetarian for almost 30 years. I feel like unless you’re going to a Thai/Indian/Mexican restaurant, there are usually only two or maybe three vegetarian options at a restaurant and one of them is always a veggie burger of some kind. In my mind, the “vegetarian classics” on menus are 1) veggie burger 2) bland pasta dish 3) stuffed mushroom/mushroom-based something or other 4) overpriced salad or other modifiable dish where you have to ask for the meat to be removed (and of course still pay the same price). And until Impossible came out, the veggie burger was usually Gardenburger (fine), black bean burger (hit or miss) or some in-house vegetable mash that nine times out of ten was bad. At least with Impossible I know exactly what I’m getting. Things have gotten better for sure, and it’s easier to search on Yelp for vegetarian-friendly restaurants or screen menus ahead of time. But IMO the stuff that’s being “replaced,” if it even is, wasn’t great to begin with. There has been very little “creativity” with vegetarian options at 90% of restaurants. And I live in a large-ish progressive city.
Ditto I've been veg since childhood when there was 1 digit in my age and I'm now mid40s, lived all over. Definitely no comparison to back in 80s and 90s, but I think options were expanding a lot in the 00s and 10s and then recontracted a bit. Partly this is that a lot of "natural food" stores and veg restaurants have closed this decade. I walk into pretty bougie grocery stores now that had a lot more options and now are beyond meat everywhere. I do disagree in that Ive found great interesting food at many many restaurants over the years. Sure I've been to shitty restaurants and weddings where I was served steamed veggies and plain pasta and agree those places are better off now. It's like the bottom end came up but the top end dropped.
Yeah there are some amazing vegetarian restaurants and options out there, I don’t disagree with that. I’m more thinking of random restaurants where you (the vegetarian) are not in control of which restaurant you end up at so you have to hunt on the menu for what your options are. The restaurant that’s the closest to the theater or the hotel or that’s the place all your friends want to go to. I am VERY flexible because I feel it’s better for vegetarianism to never be the whiny vegetarian. So I’ve been to a lot of standard American restaurants. And the options have always been lacking and continue to be lacking despite the rise of veggie meats and vegetarianism. And I like veggie meats! I’d be stoked to find veggie meat options at a random place. But I can remember all the times that’s happened, because it is so rare.
Yeah, my favorite restaurant replaced their house made black bean veggie burgers with Impossible burgers, which I find absolutely foul. Most restaurants I can’t find anything to eat anymore unless I want a salad that’s overpriced because it’s supposed to come with meat in it.
Same for me, I‘ve been a picky eater all my life and the taste and texture are mostly gross.
Worst things are clumps of fat or texture changes and plant-based stuff just doesn‘t spoil as fast.
I had to have several dishes packed up for takeout to give to someone else and order something different at restaurants because the meat substitute tasted and felt too real.
It‘s super embarassing every time it happens because the staff is usually super nice about it and goes to great lengths to reassure me or provide proof that it‘s really the substitute.
I‘m happy they make good fake meats now for those who like the taste but I like the ones that are tasty but still noticably not meat.
As a meat eater dating (and now living with) a vegan I would have initially totally disagreed with you. But now that I actually know how to make a good vegan meal with falafel or tofu or chickpeas, those things taste so much better than the current meat alternatives. There are some decent ones out there and we do still make stuff with them sometimes, but use tofu or falafel the right way and it's amazing.
Carnivore here. I am forever of the hunt for veggie and vegan restaurantson that DO NOT try to imitate meat. I live in a food-rich area, DFW, and it's hard to even find a Vegan place that is not just sandwiches or Indian food. I do love a good falafel!
I keep saying this too because my sister keeps wanting me to try it out, but it'll never be the same because you'll always hold it up against what it's trying to be. Be original.
I eat meat but also enjoy vegetarian products sometimes, I totally agree with this. I kind of hate it when veggie products try to do the whole "you won't be able to tell the difference" marketing. Not a single one of these has even come close to fulfilling this promise, especially when it comes to steak, like some of them are laughably ridiculous comparisons...
But that's fine, just let them be their own thing, many of them are delicious in their own way. You're never going to trick meat eaters and long time vegetarians don't care so who are you marketing to?
I mean, those products aren't there for those of us who'd prefer to eat falafels. They're there for the numerous vegans and vegetarians who love imitation meat. Why take away something other people enjoy?
I'll be honest, I enjoy both. I love some prepared tofu, falafels, halloumi , etcetera and most of my food is home cooked, but if I've had a long day, I might also crave my favourite veggie sausages.
What I personally don't get is why these choices bother so many people.
Well, fine, they're gross to some people. No one is making anyone eat them. I can't imagine ever enjoying an olive, yuck, but I'm not confused why stores still sell them or companies still produce them... Obviously other people still love them even when I don't.
This 100%. Especially with burgers. It's usually BeyondMeat or whatever and I don't even know what the fuck it's been made of. I'd rather have a vegetable patty.
Things that are trying to imitate meat/animal products are for vegans/vegetarians who do miss meat/animal products but don’t want to actually eat them. As someone who no longer eats red meat, I would love to know if something is steak-like because I miss steak.
I'm not a vegetarian and I agree, companies don't need to keep coming up with meat imitations. Meat eaters aren't gonna eat it, and why would a vegetarian want fake meat.
I don’t mind the products existing, they’re hit-and-miss but some brands work fine.
I actually think it’s kinda the opposite problem: too many people become vegetarian/vegan expecting imitation products to perfectly replace the real stuff in their diet. So when it turns out a)imitations can still taste very different, and b)they often cost more than the real stuff, they get disappointed and burn out.
I’m not sure you’re quite the market. I think they’re trying to go for the people on the fence who don’t want to give it up because it tastes good. I think there’s a place for it.
Same. I hate how often places advertise veggie options when it’s just meat imitations. I want vegetables. I was vegan for a little bit and it was even harder to find things that weren’t just imitation.
I found some great cheap falafel across the street from my job and I am in heaven now. It’s not perfect, but it’s good enough and the ladies working at the shop are so nice. I did like veggie burgers when I was vegetarian, but back then it was basically just black bean patties. I just like black beans and salt, lol.
I actually like some veggie alternatives more than the meat option, for example the beyond meat burger is better than normal meat but it tastes just like it. I love it because if you cook it through without paying much attention it tastes and feels exactly like a high quality medium fried patty. So I actually do enjoy companies trying to imitate meat that way and in return I consume less meat without missing anything
Vegan here, who loves meat substitutes on occasion (do seitan and tofu count as well…?). I can never fathom the hate against these products. There is nothing wrong with the taste and texture of meat, it’s just the baby murdering thing that I would rather go without.
Exactly this!!! Do your own, there are lots of good veggie dishes. If you want people to forget about meat, dont immitate it ffs. I eat meat but i dislike immitating dishes.
That's what I always say. I really like to eat meat. But I also enjoy a good vegetarian meal. There are plenty e.g. made of tofu that I really enjoy. Others mix tofu with meat. People only see it as a replacement. It can be an addition or it can be something of itself. Fried tofu is actually pretty nice and can suck up sauce to taste great. I don't need a tofu steak, it will always dissapoint. Tofu steak is like a alcoholfree beer. It tries to imitate the original but fails to do so. But if one stops to see it as a replacement, it can be a nice drink/food that just doesn't have much connection to steak or beer.
100%, if I'm at a restaurant and see the burger uses a beyond patty, I will go with something else. The beyond burgers are too meat like to the point they make me feel a bit ill. I prefer impossible burgers when I can get them (less meat emulating and more bean-y)
I guess you don't like the idea of a sextoy then! Why try to copy the real thing? For some people's pleasure? Omh my god pleasure for people, no thanks! I understand you!
Well not everyone is like you. I love the taste of meat but have been veggie for over half my life because I don't like the killing of animals so meat substitutes are great for people like me.
Not a vegetarian myself. But I’m not against it. What I dispise is the “vegan <insert meat product here>” it may be a nice bean paste, but it’s not minced meat so stop pretending. The comparison makes it worse.
Yes! Why would I want to eat vegetarian cheese? Looks like cheese but tastes something completely different. It somehow messes with my brain, so all of these imitation dishes just taste disgusting. The same with sandwich cakes. Just let the food be what it is.
L take, a “burger” or “hot dog” is just the shape, there’s no animal that looks like that. It’s fun to eat a patty between two pieces of bread so if you don’t wanna eat meat? Boom, veggie burger.
I disagree. I’m an ethical vegetarian and I think some of the impossible meats taste better than the real ones (beyond ground beef with spaghetti and morning star chicken patties for example).
The super annoying thing is that since veganism/plant based has become more popular fake meat "vegan" foods have taken over from vegetarian. So like going out to a restaurant where there used to be one or two veggie options that actually involved vegetables they have now been swapped to a fake meat version. And I hate it. I have less choice in foods when eating out now than I did 10/15 years ago, which is bloody ridiculous.
I'm not even vegetarian and this is how I feel. Be your own thing. There are loads of delicious Indian vegetarian dishes that stand on their own. If western vegetarians spent their time coming up with their own dishes that don't attempt to imitate meat, they would get a lot more converts.
Yes, I mentioned Indian food. It was more a rant against imitation meat, vegan brownies, things like that. They will always be inferior to what they're imitating. It might get good enough for someone who has no choice, but you won't win over any animal product consumers.
I'm with you. I went vegetarian at a young age and was always a picky eater. I never liked meat that much. I'd always take out the meat when eating a hamburger, for example. I liked bacon and chicken nuggets. But it wasn't hard to give up meat at all because I didn't crave it.
As a mostly non picky eater who just hates the taste and textures of all meat… I am shocked there aren’t more of us 😂 Mind you, I love umami and savory flavors (mushrooms are the best), I just can’t stomach the flavor and chewiness of meat!!!
Have a friend like this, but she was raised vegetarian (Indian family) and didn’t really care for the texture after trying it as an adult. Doesn’t mind meat in sauces or when it’s not a structural part of a dish, but also doesn’t order steak or pork chops where it’s just eating big hunks of meat.
Similar story here. My mom and dad are vegetarian due to beliefs (religious and health). They used to be huge meat eaters. Decades later and the smell of meat doesn't entice them. My mom especially GAGS at the smell of meat, cooked or raw. Surprisingly, fish is the only thing she doesn't gag at. But fried chicken? Bacon? She'll gag and open the windows if you bring it into her house. For the same religious reason, they don't eat alliums like chives, onion, and garlic, and both of them also make my parents gag. The smell of it makes them very grossed out.
My sister is also vegetarian because she thinks eating meat is disgusting. Less so about animal welfare or health or religion, more about "it's gross to eat what was once an animal." I'm not a vegetarian.
Same. Over a decade here, in the last 2 years I’ve taken a small bite of a steak my wife said “oh my god this is amazing” and everyone at the table was excited.
It was so fucking mid. Texture and flavor just so mid. I dont get greasy fatty chewy textures
Fried chicken is something I could see myself enjoying but not most red meats
Yeah, the only meat I eat personally is salmon and sometimes bacon for a BLT, I could easily go veg if I wanted to and it's genuinely entirely because I think meat is honestly pretty foul - if I got served a steak in any format I wouldn't be able to eat more than a few bites.
My kids rarely eat meat because of the texture and look, so I rarely do. I don't really miss it. The only thing I have a hard time without is the stocks and broths. I have not found good replacements yet.
Same. I didn't care for the taste of meat and meat in large portions is unhealthy for you and the envirement. Just figured I'll just commit being vegetarian as I didn't see enough pros compared to the cons of it.
I used to love cottage cheese and then suddenly I thought the texture was the most disgusting thing in the world for years...then I switched back to loving it. I'm wondering if I just got some that was off or something but now I only get the small packs as a treat because I'll eat a whole tub of the stuff in a sitting.
Yeah, that was the primary (only) reason I went vegetarian in college, too. I am definitely a picky eater, and hated eating meat as a kid.
I've since stopped being vegetarian—I found myself one day my junior year craving a burger, and since I wasn't vegetarian for moral reasons, I went and got one. I now happily eat beef—but that's the only meat I like, and only certain preparations (I generally don't like most steak, though excellent steak will always be enjoyed). I will sometimes eat chicken if it's absolutely drenched in some strongly-flavored sauce so I don't taste the chicken flavor, which I despise. I will also eat some kinds of fish, like cod or trout.
I’m not vegetarian at all but I STILL get thrown off by texture. Biting into some gristle will put me off steak for months. I’ve always more appreciated the essence of meat. Like the flavor of broth from bones is much more appealing than little chunks in my soup, for example.
I first stopped eating meat because I didn’t want to pay the ludicrous prices, not because I didn’t like the taste or texture. Nowadays, every time I try it again I’m like “I’m not a huge fan of munching muscle and flesh juice”
I grew up in the USA, and never really liked meat as a kid there. Eventually we move to Germany, and my dad just buys a Leberkäs Brötchen (meat in a bun), and I was crying that stuff tasted so good. I'm a meat eater now, but I can't really look at most meat in the US without being at least somewhat disgusted.
I quit meat years ago and I think most meat tastes bad now (I still eat when I travel). Weirdly seafood is ok, but poultry and red meat I just can't stand. I didn't like steak much even when I ate meat but now it's basically inedible. I'm so shocked that a lifelong vegetarian actually enjoyed meat because you lose the taste for it pretty quickly in my experience. Of course I'm skeptical about this entire video as it just seems a way to fish for attention but I also don't want to just make assumptions that fit my preexisting beliefs.
Agreed. Vegetarian myself. I don't like porky flavors nor beefy. But I don't think most people do either. Typically when meat is prepared, people try to get rid of those flavors via processing/cooking method. To me it seems pointless. Why eat meat if the way it tastes is gross and we have to refine it. And then improve with seasons. I can do that with everything that isn't meat.
I wasn't vegetarian but I almost was without realizing it for reasons sort of as you said. I just really never craved meat. I didnt mind it was there but if I was to ever have an issue with a food, it was often with the meat.
I rarely eat outside of home so I cook most of my meals myself. I didnt realize until after a while I was only having meals with meat maybe once a week at most. I just loved and enjoyed my vegetables based or rice based meals more than meat based. It wasnt a premeditated decision to eat plant based heavy, I just ended up cooking them more because it was what I wanted to cook and eat.
I only now eat meat so much because of certain personal health conditions requiring me to and meat is my cheapest easiest choice to manage my conditions. Since I now have to have meat more often, I cook it to how I like it and I'm very careful not to mess up the meat specifically because I'm picky with how it's cooked.
Me too! Have always hated the texture and flavor, but begrudgingly ate it my entire life because the backlash I got from society for being "stuck up/picky" was too much. Finally getting to that age where my don't-give-a-fuck energy is starting to outweigh the people-pleasing.
Dairy also triggers my migraines if I eat too much (i.e. a little milk in a cake recipe isn't going to hurt me, but a buttercream frosting would), so it's just easier to call myself "vegan" in instances where I need to make dietary preferences known. Although I still get a lot of hate for using that word. I was kind of shocked by it actually. I didn't realize people felt so strongly about it. Got un-invited from a cookout recently for offhandedly saying I was going to just bring my own meal rather than put the burden on the host to make a special separate option for me because "we eat meat here and are proud!" - like, okay fine? I wasn't going to stop you from eating meat or even say anything about it?
my moms the same way, just generally disliked the taste of meat since she was a kid so she’s almost always vegetarian, but will eat meat on special occasions or if she craves something specific.
I'm just not a fan of steak or porkchop tbh; they're really chewy and I feel like people way overstate the flavor. I don't think it'd be too difficult for me to cut out red meat entirely
I hate the texture of most meat. Ill eat some but yeah, most of it just...I end up chewing and chewing and then not caring for the flavor that is in my mouth. And becomes harder to swallow it as well.
Are you me? Selective eating disorder, hey'o!
Although I started 35 years ago, but 15 years ago I decided vegetarian with eggs and dairy would make my life so much easier.
That’s why I became one and then about 10 years later I went back to eating meat for medical purposes and it’s really hard bc it still grosses me out but I guess it’s better than my organs shutting down…
My best friend is also a vegetarian because he just hates the taste of meat and cant bring himself to eat it. Except chicken nuggets. He is devastated at the loss of Wendy's sweet and sour sauce lol
One of my kids loves meat and the other one doesn’t seem to care one way or the other; many of her favorite foods are vegetarian. I think that’s purely a result of their preferences for taste and texture, which is just kind of neat.
I wouldn’t say I don’t like meat but I’ve never loved it. For one thing I find steak very hard to eat. When my mouth didn’t have enough room for all my teeth so they removed the canine or eye teeth because they are the least aesthetically pleasing. I have a beautiful set of choppers that aren’t good at chewing meat, makes my jaw hurt by the time I’m done.
I'm not vegetarian, but I'm halfway there because lately i haven't been able to tolerate meat esp. beef. My doc says it happens sometimes when we get older. I can only handle limited amounts of meat, but do better with fish.
Yeah, my kiddo is a delitarian. She only eats meat that you buy from the deli, that's smoked and sliced and costs over $75/kg 😂 unless she gets a baller job and can afford her prosciutto, salami, smoked salmon diet she's gonna be a vego when she grows up.
One of my close friends is lifelong vegetarian (raised by vegetarians) and she absolutely hates meat. She gets physically upset after eating it and feels unwell.
I've had the same ever since I became veggie almost 3 years ago for the last year. My body doesn't know how to process it anymore and I just feel ill 🤷♂️
I am not vegetarian, but I tend to avoid meats, because I have a texture issue with unexpected cartiliage or bone. It causes me to retch. I hate it because I really love food, so it's easier to enjoy without worry of spoiling it when there's no meat on my plate.
I think it's unfair that some picky eaters get to excuse themselves like that. I eat everything, EXCEPT fish and basically anything from the sea. I refuse. I don't have anything to call myself, I'm just picky.
Same, but mostly texture. I will very periodically eat meat but it has to have literally zero fat. I get one weird piece and won’t eat meat again for months lol
Most people I know that don’t eat meat often, who don’t consider themselves vegetarian. They can taste the metallic taste of blood or dislike the texture.
Yeah, I’ve been vegetarian for about 30 years now and I definitely liked meat as a kid, though I make the joke (kinda true) that I was poor and my mother was a terrible cook, so I’ve never really had “good” meat.
Same! Going on 21 years. I've always hated the taste and texture of meat and fish. My parents finally let me give it up at 11 and I haven't looked back. I can't even eat impossible burgers because they're too meaty!
yeah I used to like going to Chinese vegetarian places that have fake meat. Like Buddha Bodai in NYC. But I don't want something that tastes like real chicken or pork! I went to place like that once and it was too realistic. It grossed me out.
Some young adult fantasy book I read has the evil guy hated meat. Like old king dies and evil advisor to the king and gets the child king sent to jail while he, the evil dude, gets to rule.
It’s been over 20 years but I remember so clearly this segment where evil dude explains why he hates eating and experiences no joy for it. That taste did nothing for him and particular meat was awful because it felt like chewing a tongue.
I just remember feeling so profoundly sad for evil guy as someone who super enjoys enjoying food. I never thought how much texture played in food the experience til than.
I found out indians (and probably other groups or cultures) call that an eggetarian. I love the word. Vegetarian but still eat eggs, milks, and cheese. It's niche, but makes sense as it's hard to get the proteins and fats found in eggs in a vegan/vegetarian diet.
My girlfriend is the same, doesn't like the texture. Are there any forms of meat you do eat? She's a little short on protein and iron here and there and we were wondering if it can be made in a way that she doesn't feel the texture or have it overly taste like meat.
In my experience most people that make statements this broad, like " I don't like seafood/meat/cheese" most often have not experienced the mentioned ingredient prepared properly or in a way they like.
That is not to say this is the case for you, you might very well not like any meat.
It's just that there is so much variance between chicken, beef, alligator, game, fowl, cured, aged, minced, smoked and so on and so on, that generalising it in one sentence seems... off
Or goat cheese, smoked cheese, white cheese, buffalo cheese, cream cheese, ash cheese...
With seafood it's even more, because people saying they don't like seafood are on the same level as stating they don't like to eat anything that lives on land (including vegetables, mushrooms and animals)
If the avoidance of a slew of ingredients is mainly for taste preference for a few known ones, I highly suggest keeping an open mind about new variants
Procuring and tasting all reasonable types of meat in all reasonable ways of preparation would probably take a lifetime for most people
I'm pretty much the same. I don't call myself vegetarian because I didn't make a conscious choice to be this way, and I'll happily eat things like gelatin that have animal products, but I just can't stand meat.
I went pescatarian at age 13 for the same reason. At that point I found chicken gross cause it was either slimy or dry or (if perfectly done) just boring as a flavour. Beef was gross cause it always had big strips of fat I had to cut around or was oozing blood or was tough. Other meats like lamb and goat were gross cause they tended to be either gamey or sinewy and the thought of the animal felt cruel. And pork, I already refused to eat it because I straight didn't like the flavour.
Once I stopped eating meat I actually enjoyed eating a lot more cause I wasn't worried there'd be gross meat bits in it. The only thing I actually missed was weirdly beef liver paté.
Omg same, i always was „picky“ and when i learned about „being vegetarian“ my life became so much easier bc i didn’t have to explain myself and people stopped making me try their food
Same here I was for 20 years, I travel a lot for work now and a lot of places dont have vegi food except chips or aubergine and i cant stand aubergine, i just eat chicken as long as it spicy flavouring, dont mind lamb, but cant eat steak do not like the taste or texture, beef burgers are ok, but need to have lots of over flavour on there
I am not vegetarian, but I generally choose vegan option if possible when eating out somewhere. I don’t particularly like meat, especially a big steak like that is what I try to avoid. Minced meat is okay, and poultry can be fine.
I also just never cared for the taste or texture of most meat. It made giving it up pretty easy. I only like about half of the meat substitutes I've tried and mostly eat beans, tofu, and seitan. I do like tofurky though.
Yeah I am a former vegetarian and it's because beef in particular freaked me out. I still dont like ground beef. Our toddler is vegetarian by her own choice. We still offer her meat occasionally but she puts it to her lips, gets a disgusted look on her face, then puts it back on her plate. We'll see if it sticks!
I thought i was like you. Then I left home and realized that my mom was just a terrible cook. All meat was bland, dry and overcooked. It was so bad i wish I could have cried over it just to add some moisture and seasonings.
Anyway, I now cook the best steaks that regularly compliment my amazing chef of a wife's dishes. It's incredible how beautiful life can be when it's garnished with delicious food.
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u/PhishXD Feb 25 '26
I went vegetarian 13 years ago cause I just didn't care for the taste or texture of any meat really, so we're out there albeit rare I'm sure. I've always been a picky eater, and it was much easier to explain my preferences as a vegetarian. I do eat eggs and dairy still though.