Guest guest Posted May 8, 2003 Report Share Posted May 8, 2003 Hi all, i just wanted to add one more comment to the mix, as i assume your comment (Marcy) was made in order to not just critique, but to also gain insight into the reasons some consume faux-meats and cheeses. I became vegan not because i disliked the way animals and their milks (in their various forms) taste, and also not because i felt my health would be better suited, but because i could no longer morally be a part of a murderous machine. i figured that if i could live without killing (for the most part, as i do still drive, walk, consume foods which most likely have dead insects in them, etc.), then it was imperative that i do so. that said, unfortunately, when i did eat animals i also happened to like the way they tasted. so, if there is a substitute available to me (which i actually don't feel warrants the term 'allegory,' as it actually feels to me that i'm conveying to the farm-factory/'meat' industry that i can still enjoy certain tastes while not paying homage to murder, thus not making it representative of 'meat' or death, but of life), and if that substitute helps me to maintain my behavioral pacifism, then i'm absolutely going to reward myself with their indulgence. however, i've also found that as time goes on, i've become more and more aware of the components of my consumption, which has also led me to care more about my health and 'feeling healthy'...this being the case, i actually do consume far less faux meats and cheeses than i used to--not an apology or rectification, as i don't feel there to be anything wrong with them, even for those who eat nothing but the aforementioned-- but, do enjoy when i find something that pleases my palate, as i think that all of us who do our best to abstain from 'death culture' absolutely deserve to be rewarded. hope this helps. amanda --- Marcy Greenhut <imgreen03 wrote: > > > Why are we so stuck on animal products that we have to > eat allegories? Can > we learn to live without cheese or it's imitations? > Can we eat at an Asian > restaurant without fake meats? I've had really good > cheese-less pizza (it > starts with a great crust). To me, that's a real test > of a pizza-maker. > > I'm allergic to soy, but I know vegans (chefs and > otherwise) who feel tofu > & other soy products are overdone and overrated. They > are hi-fat, difficult > to break down and fairly (entirely?) unnecessary in a > vegan diet. > > I don't like having to tell Golden Lotus to serve me > only vegetables. > Everything on their menu comes with at least 6 > different meat allegories, > even the items listed as vegetables. > > It would really be educating the public, restaurants > and others, to show how > we can live not only without meat, but without meat & > cheese imitations. > It's as if we can't wean ourselves off of meat and > cheese. (Don't get me > wrong, I eat seitan and soy free cheese imitations as > a treat.... not as a > steady diet and not even every time I eat out) > > As vegans, we should lead the way ..... really showing > the meat and dairy > industry that we can live without them, their > products, and their > imitations. > > Anyone else feel this way? Guess I've been reading so > much about how great > the vegan pizza-with-fake-cheese is at Panhandle , I > finally had to say > something. I know I'm sticking my neck out on this. > > just one point of view among many- > Marcy The New Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2003 Report Share Posted May 9, 2003 Well said, Amanda. I thought I'd throw in my $0.01 worth (half of my thoughts on this have already been said by others.) Human taste buds can detect some basic tastes like sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and unami. The last one is a rich, brothy, or savory taste triggered by amino acids. For some, this may be meat. For others, they may like to tickle those taste receptors with portabello mushrooms or potatos. I won't go so far as to say our taste buds were engineered to enjoy meat, but most people will agree it does taste good. There are a great number of reasons for people's food choices -- the way it makes them feel, comfort food, soul food, convenience food, the memories the smells invoke, mouthfeel, and most importantly, taste! I enjoy a vegetarian eel dish. I don't think I would have sought out the real eel but the analog has a good texture and taste. Does it taste like real eel? I honestly don't know. Am I worried about what it tells the meat industry or the fishing industry about my food choices? Absolutely not. I figure their absence in my food purchases should already speak volumes about what I think of them. I don't see veg*nism as food restrictions but compassion opportunities. The great thing about analogs is that my non-veg friends don't have to commit to being a veg*n to reduce the suffering in their diet. And I don't have to feel guilty for still having the taste for meat. Cheers, Matthew Message: 8 Wed, 7 May 2003 18:29:38 -0700 (PDT) amanda <equalismkitty re: animal product 'allegories' Hi all, i just wanted to add one more comment to the mix, as i assume your comment (Marcy) was made in order to not just critique, but to also gain insight into the reasons some consume faux-meats and cheeses. I became vegan not because i disliked the way animals and their milks (in their various forms) taste, and also not because i felt my health would be better suited, but because i could no longer morally be a part of a murderous machine. i figured that if i could live without killing (for the most part, as i do still drive, walk, consume foods which most likely have dead insects in them, etc.), then it was imperative that i do so. that said, unfortunately, when i did eat animals i also happened to like the way they tasted. so, if there is a substitute available to me (which i actually don't feel warrants the term 'allegory,' as it actually feels to me that i'm conveying to the farm-factory/'meat' industry that i can still enjoy certain tastes while not paying homage to murder, thus not making it representative of 'meat' or death, but of life), and if that substitute helps me to maintain my behavioral pacifism, then i'm absolutely going to reward myself with their indulgence. however, i've also found that as time goes on, i've become more and more aware of the components of my consumption, which has also led me to care more about my health and 'feeling healthy'...this being the case, i actually do consume far less faux meats and cheeses than i used to--not an apology or rectification, as i don't feel there to be anything wrong with them, even for those who eat nothing but the aforementioned-- but, do enjoy when i find something that pleases my palate, as i think that all of us who do our best to abstain from 'death culture' absolutely deserve to be rewarded. hope this helps. amanda ===== ( " '- " -/ " ).___..- " " '-._ '6_ 6 ) '-. ( ).'-.__.') (_Y_.)' ._ ) '._ '. " -..-' _..'--'_..-_/ /--'_.' ,' (il),- " (li),' ((!.-' straycat000 http://www.eds.org/~straycat The New Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo. http://search. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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