Upon learning that I’m a full-time vegetarian, people magically seem to grow incredibly inquisitive in a matter of mere seconds. I have no issues with answering their questions regardless of any redundancy. Nonetheless, even the most patient person in the world would want to smack him/herself continuously over the head if he or she were asked time and again whether or not he or she will ever eat burgers, nuggets, hotdogs, etc. again.
Although self-inflicted punishment is a bit of a severe reaction, it is not as if I don’t have my reasons to support my strong feelings. It may appear to be a logical question, but it is actually rather ludicrous (clearly it makes me bitter to even think about). If my life choice is to be a devout vegetarian, why would I consume meat ever again? Think about it. Does that even make sense? Additionally, I am still able to eat cheeseburgers, turkey breast, chicken strips, tacos, chili, etc. without sacrificing my own personal beliefs. What is my secret you ask? Each of the aforementioned are made from meat substitutes, like tofu, soy, etc. I’m aware that tofu has a negative connotation among most Americans, but in various products, the tofu has been so cleverly disguised that it makes it difficult for a vast amount of people to even notice the differences in taste. MorningStar Chik Patties, for example, taste nearly identical to your average chicken patties – the main difference being that the occasional piece of bone or fat that you might encounter midway through your meal is excluded from the product (yes, back before I went Veg., this did actually happen to me). Brands like Boca, MorningStar, and Amy’s have revolutionized the way we vegetarians get by in our world. They are constantly producing tasty foods that make it possible for vegetarians to satisfy a meat craving while still remaining true to their values.
So it is possible to have your bacon and eat it too, even for us vegetarians. I definitely suggest trying a meatless meat product at some point in your life. My question to you is what is one odd food that you think everyone should try?
Once again, I completely agree! I get asked that question all the time as well, and my response is very similar to yours. I also agree about the tofu. Even some of my friends that are also vegetarian refuse to try tofu simply because of its negative connotation. However, I've tried many different products and have found several that I absolutely love! As far as the odd food question, I would have to go with tofu. Everyone that I've actually gotten to try it has reported that it's "not bad."
ReplyDeleteIt is really great that there are so many meatless products out there that taste just like their meat counterparts. Although I have never tried them, I am definitely going to. Chicken nuggets and chicken patties can be so...gross. The tofu substitutes sound much better. As far as weird food that everyone should try, I have no idea. I'm not one to try weird foods, but my family is always trying to get me to try rhubarb. Maybe one day...
ReplyDelete