Cauliflower "steaks"? Why do vegetarians/vegans constantly try to replace the names of foods?

[Overmind One]

I was just served "cauliflower steaks". They are nothing more than large slices of cauliflower, roasted and sauced. They are NOT steaks. They are slices of cauliflower! I do not understand why there are such foods as: garden "burgers", vegetarian "bacon" or textured soy protein dressed up to look like meat. Why not just eat the textured soy protein and the cauliflower and stop trying to call them steaks and burgers?

Why does this dish exist and why was it prepared in this fashion?

If they want steak, then why dont they just eat it! Why prepare soy protein to look like meat?

 

[shavedape]

I agree completely. And it's not just vegans that pull these shenanigans, the "Paleo" crowd does it too with carb-based foods like cake and pizza and bread and cookies, etc. Trying to imitate food items is just not worth it in my opinion. It's so much easier to just give them up altogether I've learned.

 

[Overmind One]

It's 9:29pm, and Im still hungry. I was with a couple who are vegetarians. Actually, one is a vegetarian and one is a vegan. They served me dinner, and the featured entree was these "cauliflower steaks". But they also had some kabobs which looked like they also had meat on them but were actually textured soy protein (you know how I feel about soy). I told them I do not eat soy products except fermented ones so that knocked out the kabobs and the dessert which was whipped tofu "ice cream". . It feels completely unnatural to eat like they do.

 

[Overmind One]

I agree completely. And it's not just vegans that pull these shenanigans, the "Paleo" crowd does it too with carb-based foods like cake and pizza and bread and cookies, etc. Trying to imitate food items is just not worth it in my opinion. It's so much easier to just give them up altogether I've learned.

Im okay with healthier versions of common foods, but not imitation of those foods. I use lower carb flours, I drink zero carb sodas and I do not eat refined sugars (stevia or splenda only). I make pizza crust with low carb Carbquik flour and almond flour, etc. But Im not going to eat turkey "bacon" or textured soy protein "meatballs". Paleo still means meat and veggies which is the natural diet for humans. I know there are a couple of veggies here, but hey guys...it isnt natural for humans to be vegetarians. Im cool that they want to choose to be veggies, but dont try to argue the science against it.

I could not get over the unhealthy look of this couple. Their skin looks lifeless and both are sickly looking to me. When they met, the guy (the vegetarian) had a dog. But shortly after they moved in together the dog was put on a vegetarian diet and it died about two months ago. The vet told them that dogs are not vegetarians, but they ignored him. A cat would not survive on a vegetarian diet for even a WEEK. Poor dog.

 

[shavedape]

Tofu "ice cream" is an abomination. I don't understand this need to recreate things like ice cream but with completely different ingredients. There's no way it can compete with the real thing so why even try?

 

[Joelist]

Try this instead:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/11355085/Fancy-a-slice-of-haggis-pizza.html

 

[Overmind One]

Tofu "ice cream" is an abomination. I don't understand this need to recreate things like ice cream but with completely different ingredients. There's no way it can compete with the real thing so why even try?

I like this couple. The female has been a vegan for about 4 years, and the guy became vegetarian to be with her. He has about a year being a vegetarian. He loved that dog of his, but the female would not allow the meat based dog food to be stored in the pantry or the fridge (he lives with her in her place), and even though the dog was showing signs of not tolerating the vegetarian diet he was suddenly being forced to eat, they both insisted he would "adjust", but he died in December. I would classify both of them as hipsters, even if not extreme ones.

The whole "Hey, it looks and tastes like meat!" was so over the top tonight. When asked how I was enjoying my dinner, I could only say that it was "tasty" or "interesting". I wasnt lying, but it certainly was not satisfying or delicious. The mushrooms and eggplant were good, but nothing to rave about. When meat is missing, I just do not feel satiated.
--- merged: Feb 15, 2015 at 10:23 PM ---

Try this instead:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/11355085/Fancy-a-slice-of-haggis-pizza.html

Ewwwww.....haggis!

 

[Overmind One]

Wait...people are killing their children with vegan diets and going to prison for it? I didnt know!

http://naturalhygienesociety.org/diet-veganbaby.html

Lots of cases there. This is at the end of the article:

From Vegan-style Creationism Woo Kills Baby

• "Unfortunately there are vegans who subscribe to what is really a form of creationism, a fictional evolutionary narrative in which humans are a peaceful herbivorous species. Proponents of this often cite "evidence" that is very poor and completely irrelevant, such as our lack of fangs (plenty of herbivores have fangs and many omnivores do not). ...
  A few other woo victims (strict vegetarianism =vegan):

• A Syndrome of Methylmalonic Aciduria, Homocystinuria, Megaloblastic Anemia and Neurologic Abnormalities in a Vitamin B12-Deficient Breast-Fed Infant of a Strict Vegetarian

• Severe Vitamin B12 Deficiency in an Infant Associated With a Maternal Deficiency and a Strict Vegetarian Diet

• Nutritional Vitamin B12 Deficiency in a Breast-fed Infant of a Vegan-diet Mother

• Vitamin B12 deficiency in a breast fed infant.

• Brain damage in infancy and dietary vitamin B12 deficiency.

• Severe nutritional vitamin deficiency in a breast-fed infant of a vegan mother"

Scary shit. Im hoping that this couple does not get married and try to have children. The guy is not going to last as a vegetarian. I know him well. But the girl...she will need convincing. Thing is, her personal ecosystem has cut out regular doctors. Her consultants are all going to reinforce her vegan lifestyle choices.

 

[Joelist]

Every vegan I ever knew finally gave it up for health reasons.

 

[Overmind One]

Every vegan I ever knew finally gave it up for health reasons.

Same here. Last year, I had different next door neighbors and they were mother and daughter. The 22 year old daughter was hospitalized for anemia TWICE, and she refused to believe that it was because of her vegan diet. Finally, the state decided she was not going to qualify as a home caregiver because of her vegan diet and her own health issues because of it. Mothers who are vegan will have unhealthy breast milk and that will not be enough to sustain an infant. The Social Services department will take children away from vegan single mothers in a heartbeat.

 

[Tripler]

My wife is flexatarian but she said one meal won't hurt you lol . My sides are sore from laughing . But that poor dog . I'm calling the SPCA ...

We had a beagle that ate all the carrots out of our garden . Dumb ass beagle

 

[Overmind One]

My wife is flexatarian but she said one meal won't hurt you lol . My sides are sore from laughing . But that poor dog . I'm calling the SPCA ...

We had a beagle that ate all the carrots out of our garden . Dumb ass beagle

Dogs and cats both like certain veggies. My Siete loves pumpkin and occasionally will eat carrots, in addition to his own cat grass which I grow fresh for all three cats to eat. They can get to their planters easily. But they cannot survive on plant matter alone and neither can humans. All three of my cats eat the cat grass which is a combination of wheatgrass, barley and oats. They mow it down pretty fast. But they must eat meat daily or they will get sick and die.

 

[Jim of WVa]

Im okay with healthier versions of common foods, but not imitation of those foods. I use lower carb flours, I drink zero carb sodas and I do not eat refined sugars (stevia or splenda only). I make pizza crust with low carb Carbquik flour and almond flour, etc. But Im not going to eat turkey "bacon" or textured soy protein "meatballs". Paleo still means meat and veggies which is the natural diet for humans. I know there are a couple of veggies here, but hey guys...it isnt natural for humans to be vegetarians. Im cool that they want to choose to be veggies, but dont try to argue the science against it.

I could not get over the unhealthy look of this couple. Their skin looks lifeless and both are sickly looking to me. When they met, the guy (the vegetarian) had a dog. But shortly after they moved in together the dog was put on a vegetarian diet and it died about two months ago. The vet told them that dogs are not vegetarians, but they ignored him. A cat would not survive on a vegetarian diet for even a WEEK. Poor dog.

Most dogs develop Type II diabetes when they are forced to eat too many vegetables.

 

[Rac80]

I knew a family of vegetarians - the father was a little wacky and wanted to go meatless- they had three young children - all the sickliest and pastiest looking kids you ever saw. then the wife got pregnant with #4 - the doctor told her she had to give up being a vegetarian if she wanted to keep the baby (she'd already had one miscarriage due to low iron) so she and the kids began eating chicken and fish, within 6 months she added lean beef...the look of her children improved dramatically! last I heard the family was all back to being normal carnivores except for the dad- he has had some serious issues with malnourishment... go figure!


edit - my theory for the cauliflower "steaks", etc is that the vegetarians/vegans subconciously CRAVE these foods and they are trying to play mindgames with themselves.

 

[heisenberg]

Vegetarians do lack certain types of essential micro and macro-nutrients but so do people who just eat meat. That's why it's good to eat both meat/eggs and vegetables. Getting the best of both worlds.

Most dogs develop Type II diabetes when they are forced to eat too many vegetables.

huh? Source? Last I saw, plant based fibre helps fight insulin resistance and prevents diabetes, unless it's different for dogs.

 

[Jim of WVa]

Vegetarians do lack certain types of essential micro and macro-nutrients but so do people who just eat meat. That's why it's good to eat both meat/eggs and vegetables. Getting the best of both worlds.

huh? Source? Last I saw, plant based fibre helps fight insulin resistance and prevents diabetes, unless it's different for dogs.

Dogs are different. The basic treatment for dogs with Type II diabetes is an all meat diet.

 

[Jim of WVa]

Dogs are different. The basic treatment for dogs with Type II diabetes is an all meat diet.

My goof. High plant fiber, low carbohydrate, and low fat diets are recommended.

 

[Jim of WVa]

Here is another source:

http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pe...e/animal-health/diabetes-mellitus-in-dogs/744

 

[Overmind One]

Cats are the ones which MUST eat meat. They are obligate carnivores and they cannot be vegetarian. Also, this thread is not about all-meat eaters, because I have never met one of those in life. Meat eaters are usually omnivores like humans were designed to be. It is the vegetarians and vegans who are modifying their diets to exclude foods which are natural for humans. Long term non-animal protein diets lead to poor health.

Somebody show me a 90 year old Vegetarian or Vegan.

 

[Illiterati]

Humans DO have fangs, they're just a lot more blunt than they once were. We're designed to be omnivores. Hell, I've known horses and rabbits who would eat meat when given the opportunity (really).

No vegan I have ever seen has looked healthy to me. Bony bodies and pale, pale skin. Not a good thing at all.

Pisses me off to no end when they put their kids on the same kind of diet. Kids NEED proper complete proteins in order to grow up properly.