Non-Vegetarians' Experience with Vegetarian Food

[warmonger]

I'm a definite carnivour. At one stage of my life, I would have 21 meat meals per week; that's right, meat of some sort breakfast, lunch and dinner.

However, on my many trips to India over the past 25 years, I only eat vegetarian food whilst there and it's fantastic. I started the habit on my first trip there purely for hygiene reasons - back in the 80's it wasn't safe for a Westerner to eat any form of animal protein - it hadn't been raised, butchered, stored, transported or cooked in sanitary conditions. Now, I eat Indian vege stuff purely for the taste.

 

[Zelig]

That's not real, isn't it o_O?
I already ate vegetarian pizza, and found it quite good, but these photos look IMHO just awful.

Food photos are tough to do, and photography isn't one of my skills, I can assure you the taste is good.

 

[El_Machinae]

When given the choice, I'll always take a professionally made vegetarian meal (most commonly at wedding receptions). I really quite prefer vegetarian foods, I find them more interesting. Now, when I cook, I use meat, because it's easy to make tasty, but not when I order.
I vastly prefer vegetarian lasagna and always order vegetarian pizzas.

 

[Zelig]

When given the choice, I'll always take a professionally made vegetarian meal (most commonly at wedding receptions). I really quite prefer vegetarian foods, I find them more interesting. Now, when I cook, I use meat, because it's easy to make tasty, but not when I order.
I vastly prefer vegetarian lasagna and always order vegetarian pizzas.

Hah, I'm pretty much the reverse. Cooking without meat has greatly increased my overall cooking skills, and I save a bunch of money by not buying meat. Also I'm generally unhappy with professionally made vegetarian meals often not reflecting the decreased ingredient cost.

 

[Quackers]

I have found a good substitute for meat is beans. Black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas and butterbeans are great alternatives insofar they provide a big hit of protein, a different texture compared to other vegetables (thicker, denser more meat-like) and you also feel full after a meal.

 

[El_Machinae]

Hah, I'm pretty much the reverse. Cooking without meat has greatly increased my overall cooking skills, and I save a bunch of money by not buying meat. Also I'm generally unhappy with professionally made vegetarian meals often not reflecting the decreased ingredient cost.

I tend to not buy much meat, either, but I do use hamburger in my chilis and I buy a decent amount of canned salmon.

 

[BenitoChavez]

I grew up in a family where meat every meal was the norm. As I grew up I've branched out more and find vegetarian meals can be every bit as enjoyable as a good old fashioned meat and potatoes meal. Now that I'm mostly in control of what I eat, I try to limit my meat intake to less than 1 meat meal a day.

Many of the people I know have a stigma associated with the word vegetarian. They don't want to go to a vegetarian restaurant for a meal, but they will willingly make omelets or bean burritos for themselves as an entire meal.

 

[warpus]

So I was wondering, since the overwhelming majority of posters here (and people in most places, anyways) aren't vegetarian, have you ever ate vegetarian food, and if so, what was it like for you?

I went to a vegan restaurant with some friends once and it was kind of horrible. Their "speciality" was fish and chips made out of soy or some other thing like that. They also specialied in desserts that were uncooked.. this place tried to cater to those crazy people who don't like cooking their food at all.. or whatever that fad or trend would be called. Dessert was crap, did not enjoy.

That's vegan, not vegetarian, so a bit different than what you were asking. I went to a vegetarian restaurant once and it was good. I mean, I like salads and soups without meat and all that stuff, so all the dishes were good. But then at the end of it all I really wanted a burger or some wings or something. I just need meat in my diet.. otherwise the meal doesn't feel complete.

I've had veggie patties before and they ranged from horrible to decent/passable. Did not compare to the real thing, but I did not hate some of it.

 

[Bulldog Bats]

There are great vegetarian options even for meat lovers (Indian, pasta), and some great restaurants. But I agree with these posts. If you want to eat vegetarian, do so. But I hate the "faux meats", both as far as taste, and concept. If you are against eating meat, for religious, ethical, or other grounds, eating something that is supposed to imitate meat seems like a cheat.

 

[dutchfire]

When given the choice, I'll always take a professionally made vegetarian meal (most commonly at wedding receptions). I really quite prefer vegetarian foods, I find them more interesting. Now, when I cook, I use meat, because it's easy to make tasty, but not when I order.
I vastly prefer vegetarian lasagna and always order vegetarian pizzas.

I used to cook meat myself too, and I also found it a bit easier than cooking vegetarian. A hamburger is very easy to make tasty, while with vegetables you have to think a bit about the spices and the combinations. I now cook vegetarian about 70% of the time I cook for myself. If I'm using a couple of vegetables, some sauce and some potato/pasta then I typically have enough food already, adding meat is not really needed. Most meat in the supermarket is also packed for two or more, which really makes it a bit of a hassle to buy. Cooking vegetarian also forces me a bit more to think about what to cook and to try something new.

In restaurants I'll often try a vegetarian option, since I don't like fish and chicken and these cover a large part of the meat options.

Most vegetarian 'meat' you can buy in supermarkets is pretty meh and I'll typically only eat meat replacements if they're recommended by experienced vegetarians. I've had some very excellent tofu, but I've also had very poor imitation meat.

 

[mitsho]

Vegetarian meals is a tricky topic imho since up to the Fifties - European point of view here - most of our meals were vegetarian, just not called that way. The "meat obsession" came afterwards and what we consider now classical vegetarian meals are kind of a response to that, often putting the vegetable (or the meat substitute) in the central place. I'm not sure I've eaten much of those, I've hear of Quorn, I guess I tasted it once, not sure I liked it. I don't like Tofu that I know for sure.

On the other hand I love vegetable lasagna, there's quite a few ways to make that delicious. And then again, do those traditional 'vegetarian' dishes count? I.e. Omelets? Mac and Cheese (or or us, Alps Macaroni)? Quiche? Any kind of Salads? Soups? There's also many sweet dishes. And what about the fancier ones like Fondue? Do they count or not?

Looking at that list, I'm a bit amazed at how much cheese is involved here. On that note I could never do vegan since all those 'moral' reasons do not resonate at all for me. I eat 'vegetarian' a lot because I like vegetables (and fruits and cheese ) a lot, it's cheaper and healthier. Also, meat varies a lot more in quality in my mind (everytime I'm at McD or a Döner I afterwards ask myself why.... ) and cheap meat is so much worse.

But I guess I've never really eaten a "meat substitute" vegetarian dish.

 

[strijder20]

I like vegetarian meat replacements much more than actual meat, and I almost exclusively eat chicken and meat replacements these days.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

The gf is vegetarian, so I actually eat vegetarian fairly often. It's not so bad. Generally vegetarian food isn't that bad. The only time the frustration with vegetarian food really rears its ugly head is when we're ordering pizza.

Link to video.

 

[classical_hero]

As long they aren't trying to imitate meat and allow the vegetables to shine, then I have no problem. Normally for me a meatless meal would be lunch time or breakfast. Often having soups were fine without any form of meat.

 

[onejayhawk]

My wife to eat meatless during Lent. Cheese and onion Pizza. Cheese enchiladas. Pasta primavera. Hummus and chips. I make a killer layer dip, which we eat with corn chips.

J