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Vegetarian or Vegan. Thoughts?

Vegetarian or Vegan. Thoughts?

Old Jan 14th 2018, 1:35 pm
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Default Re: Vegetarian or Vegan. Thoughts?

Originally Posted by hannah1001
...give vegetarianism a go. It's a lot easier now than in the 1980s!...
It was the 80s I was buying those lovely nut cutlets in Safeway.

Veggie alternatives certainly did improve, but not really in Canada. Veggie alternatives here tend to be vegetables.

I mean there are a few things but they're all 3 or 4 times as much as their meat equivalents. It wouldn't be so bad if their taste was better, at least you'd be paying more for improved flavour, as you would with spending more on other things of better quality.

I can remember buying bags of TVP in the UK as well as Quorn and just using it as ground beef....at least mixed with if not instead of.

Can't do that here. Although I have bought that brand - still can't remember the name - in Sobeys when it's been on offer so not so outrageously expensive.
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Old Jan 14th 2018, 1:38 pm
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Default Re: Vegetarian or Vegan. Thoughts?

Originally Posted by Shard
2.5 years vegetarian in my early 30's. I enjoyed it. Ethically, I am against eating meat and there are many problems with the industrial production of meat. I switched back as it was just so much hassle having to eat out socially and not be able to enjoy or accept certain foods. Especially in France where they will laugh in your face at the concept!
Is France still like that?

I think it’s more socially acceptable than it used to be. But regardless of convention unless I can shake this way of thinking of mine I won’t have any choice but to stop eating meat.

Caretaker, Maybe look at honey alternatives?

Last edited by DandNHill; Jan 14th 2018 at 1:41 pm.
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Old Jan 14th 2018, 1:40 pm
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Default Re: Vegetarian or Vegan. Thoughts?

Originally Posted by BristolUK
It was the 80s I was buying those lovely nut cutlets in Safeway.

Veggie alternatives certainly did improve, but not really in Canada. Veggie alternatives here tend to be vegetables.

I mean there are a few things but they're all 3 or 4 times as much as their meat equivalents. It wouldn't be so bad if their taste was better, at least you'd be paying more for improved flavour, as you would with spending more on other things of better quality.

I can remember buying bags of TVP in the UK as well as Quorn and just using it as ground beef....at least mixed with if not instead of.

Can't do that here. Although I have bought that brand - still can't remember the name - in Sobeys when it's been on offer so not so outrageously expensive.
I bought some really nice veggie burgers over the summer. They were only slightly more than meat ones and tasted really good. Can’t remember where they came from though.
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Old Jan 14th 2018, 1:41 pm
  #34  
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Default Re: Vegetarian or Vegan. Thoughts?

Originally Posted by DandNHill
Is France still like that?

I think it’s more socially acceptable than it used to be. But regardless of convention unless I can shake this way of thinking of mine I won’t have any choice but to stop eating meat.

Maybe look at honey alternatives?
Duuno. Haven't been veggie for quite a long time now.

I am sure there are pockets of vegetariansm there.
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Old Jan 14th 2018, 1:47 pm
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Default Re: Vegetarian or Vegan. Thoughts?

Originally Posted by Shard
Duuno. Haven't been veggie for quite a long time now.

I am sure there are pockets of vegetariansm there.
More than likely. I shall have to quiz my old school friends. They’re in small town eastern France so should be a good indication I would think.
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Old Jan 14th 2018, 2:37 pm
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Default Re: Vegetarian or Vegan. Thoughts?

Originally Posted by DandNHill
Caretaker, Maybe look at honey alternatives?
Why? Honey is the most ancient and perfect of foods. Sugar is a substitute and I put that in my coffee in the morning, and the artificial sweetener in my Diet Coke to mix with my rum is a substitute, but they each have their place already.
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Old Jan 14th 2018, 2:38 pm
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Default Re: Vegetarian or Vegan. Thoughts?

Ah whatthehealth, one of the few documentaries on food that I couldn't finish. I like seeing other viewpoints and proper analysis but this to me seemed a bit like sensationalist American journalism.

I could never give up meat, but I would like to move away from sourcing mass produced meat i.e. through hunting or fishing. I suppose I could also eat a few more vegetables too ha

Indian cuisine would be my go to if I ever was to become vegetarian, delicious food
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Old Jan 14th 2018, 2:51 pm
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Default Re: Vegetarian or Vegan. Thoughts?

Originally Posted by DandNHill
I bought some really nice veggie burgers over the summer. They were only slightly more than meat ones and tasted really good. Can’t remember where they came from though.
I found what I was thinking of. Yves.
Their basic veggie burgers are something like $5 or $6 for four.

They're nice enough but my meat store up the road sells four fresh beef patties for $3.50. They're bigger (even after cooking) and tastier.

The 'ground round' is good and is very like extra lean ground beef. But again it's about $6 for a mere 340g (although it can be Mexican or Thai and others)

Extra lean is significantly less normally and more so when on 'special' which Yves rarely seems to be.
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Old Jan 14th 2018, 2:54 pm
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Default Re: Vegetarian or Vegan. Thoughts?

Originally Posted by mahdawg
Ah whatthehealth, one of the few documentaries on food that I couldn't finish. I like seeing other viewpoints and proper analysis but this to me seemed a bit like sensationalist American journalism.

I could never give up meat, but I would like to move away from sourcing mass produced meat i.e. through hunting or fishing. I suppose I could also eat a few more vegetables too ha

Indian cuisine would be my go to if I ever was to become vegetarian, delicious food
Of course there’s sensationalism. But there is also some truth, like you mention, that mass production is bad.
I’m not coming from a “save the planet perspective” or a “poor cute animals” just simply my own changes in how I perceive meat. Who knows that might all change.
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Old Jan 14th 2018, 3:06 pm
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Default Re: Vegetarian or Vegan. Thoughts?

Veggies are just the same now as they were in the 80s so I don't see why it's easier now. There's no need to eat pre add foods, just cook. As for eating out the new many restaurants offer vegetarian options, especially Italian and Indian. If you go to a cavern just eat the vegetables. My back up meal was to ask for an assortment of vegetables and rice or pasta.
Vegan is more of a challenge and I'm not sure that it's possible without supplements.
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Old Jan 14th 2018, 3:57 pm
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Default Re: Vegetarian or Vegan. Thoughts?

Well Jermain Defoe figures becoming a vegan has/is extending his soccer career.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-5259233/Jermain-Defoe-striker-reveals-veganism-helps-fitness.html
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Old Jan 14th 2018, 4:26 pm
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Default Re: Vegetarian or Vegan. Thoughts?

Originally Posted by BristolUK
It was the 80s I was buying those lovely nut cutlets in Safeway.

Veggie alternatives certainly did improve, but not really in Canada. Veggie alternatives here tend to be vegetables.

I mean there are a few things but they're all 3 or 4 times as much as their meat equivalents. It wouldn't be so bad if their taste was better, at least you'd be paying more for improved flavour, as you would with spending more on other things of better quality.

I can remember buying bags of TVP in the UK as well as Quorn and just using it as ground beef....at least mixed with if not instead of.

Can't do that here. Although I have bought that brand - still can't remember the name - in Sobeys when it's been on offer so not so outrageously expensive.
Amazon has lots of brands of dried tvp - whilst some are available on Amazon.ca, the cheaper and more varied option would be Amazon.com, even with the exchange rate.

https://www.amazon.ca/Hoosier-Hill-F...2&keywords=tvp = $13.99 for 2lb

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...&condition=new = $17.99 (US) for 5lb

That's dry weight, by the way.

I used to buy the frozen bags of tvp (many years ago) and make chilli or cottage pie or spag bol with it. I've also made spag bol and chilli using finely chopped mushrooms before (for the texture) - that works well too.


Last edited by Siouxie; Jan 14th 2018 at 4:31 pm.
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Old Jan 14th 2018, 6:49 pm
  #43  
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Default Re: Vegetarian or Vegan. Thoughts?

I think as human beings we need a balance of both meat and vegetables in our diets, we are omnivores.

I understand people becoming vegetarians because they dont want to kill animals for food, and I think if I had to kill an animal myself, I may consider the vegetarian option, so I am somewhat if hypocrite in that way, I guess many people are.

I enjoy food, and I do really enjoy meat as part of my meals, as it offers so much more flavour than most vegitarian dishes which most of the time are pretty bland. Im not sure if there are health benefits from becoming a vegetarian, we need both in out diets, I have been eating less vegetables lately and that needs to change, but its partly due to my current circumstances, I will get back to my balanced diet again soon though I hope.

So for me, my choice to continue to eat meat is nothing more than the fact that I really enjoy it, no other reason and I think being a vegetarian would deny me of that, I enjoy cooking as a whole too, its been quite a pick me up in recent times.....probably why I have put on so much weight!
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Old Jan 14th 2018, 6:53 pm
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Default Re: Vegetarian or Vegan. Thoughts?

Originally Posted by bats
Veggies are just the same now as they were in the 80s so I don't see why it's easier now.
It's easier when things are ready made for you. You don't need to have things made for you but people still buy burger patties when they could make their own.

Buying ready made veggie burgers/sausages is easier than Sosmix and there's the difference.

You could make your own if you can get the mix/flavour/consistency right and if you don't mind mucking about with sausage cases.

Some of this may be just personal to me. On BE I've expressed a preference for ready made cook-in sauces which are plentiful in the UK but rather limited to Pasta Sauce and curries here. I can do my own, sometimes, but it's not the guarantee I get with Colman's pre-mixed packets or those that come in jars or tins.

It would likely be the same for me with making a veggie sausage or buying one.

Of course, I have a complaint about the price and you could say the solution is in my hands. But there is little difference between the price of an already made pattie and the ground beef necessary to make the same. The difference between the price of ingredients for the veggie version and the ready made veggie version is that much greater.



Originally Posted by plasticcanuck
Well Jermain Defoe figures becoming a vegan has/is extending his soccer career.
There are plenty of footballers who went on much longer without claiming anything about diet. Of course he uses much less energy than most because of the nature of his game

Plus he did have that year on holiday playing in the MLS

Originally Posted by Siouxie
Amazon has lots of brands of dried tvp - whilst some are available on Amazon.ca, the cheaper and more varied option would be Amazon.com, even with the exchange rate...
Once again I'm under estimating Amazon...though I often find the prices are expensive with mailing costs added.

Thanks...I shall look.
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Old Jan 14th 2018, 7:06 pm
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Default Re: Vegetarian or Vegan. Thoughts?

Originally Posted by Siouxie
...That's dry weight, by the way...
I suppose that makes 2lbs dry a bit bulkier when cooked than 2lbs ground beef.

The Amazon Canada one worked out nearly $11 lb including mailing.
The Amazon America one wouldn't deliver here so I couldn't compare.

Shame you can't get Quorn though. I massively preferred it and it was worth the extra cost.

Anyway...time to get the roast beef on for dinner.
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