As an argument against veganism and vegetarianism, you often hear "Why do vegans and vegetarians eat substitute products that look like meat?" This usually refers to meat-like foods, such as the Next Level Burgerwhich are amazingly similar to the taste, smell and chewing sensation of meat. Whether burger, schnitzel, sausage slice or meatball. These vegan substitute products come in all colors and shapes - and the market is growing. But are they healthy and sensible? And is it perhaps even hypocritical for vegans to consume foods that look like meat?
In this article I would like to explain to you briefly and concisely why there is more and more vegan "fake meat", "meat without animals" or "meat without meat". And why these plant-based substitutes are not only eaten by vegans.
Why do vegans eat foods that look like meat?
Vegans have no problem with how meat looks or tastesbut with the fact that one exploits and kills animals for their own nutritional habits, although this is not necessary for survival. In addition to this conscious renunciation of animal products, veganism with its ethical values and all its ecological and social opportunities is an ideology that is also Convince non-vegans can and should. But we humans often find it very difficult to break out of your own habits.
And that's where products that look and taste anything like meat, but have been produced free of animal suffering, come in. These vegan meat substitutes are eaten not only by vegans, but also by meat eaters and vegetarians. In this way, they find it much easier to make the change to an animal-free, plant-based diet without having to give up the familiar taste of meat.
Even though vegans might be quite taken with the tasty, meat-like foods, they also view them primarily as a means for positive change in our society's eating habits. The substitute products take the hurdle to veganism. Especially to the people who Veganism for unmanly because meat is dispensed with should take the wind out of their sails.
So when vegans eat substitutes for meat every now and then, that is anything but hypocritical. It only confirms that it is important to them not to exploit and kill any animal for personal taste experiences. And that their own way of life does not require sacrifice is something that every person should strive for.
But are vegan substitutes also healthy?
That can only be answered with a "it depends". Because just because something is vegan, it is not automatically healthy. A look at the nutritional value table is therefore strongly recommended, as with all foods. Since they are often produced on the basis of peas or soy, they are usually very rich in nutrients. However, eating meat is definitely not healthy. For example, it has been scientifically proven that regular meat consumption triples the risk of heart disease.₁ The WHO even classifies smoked meat and sausages as carcinogenic.₂ Last but not least, the antibiotic residues in meat products, which are a consequence of the intensive factory farming lead to resistance to the drug.₃
Eat meat without killing animals
Actually, "Why do vegans eat substitute products that look like meat?" is not even an argument, but a question. In the end, this sentence rather confirms that people have not yet dealt deeply enough with a meat-free lifestyle. And if you feel addressed, you should now compare this with the article about the vegan life change. Also be sure to check out these vegan documentaries to increase your knowledge about and motivation for the new lifestyle immeasurably.
Finally, answer yourself this one question: when there are dozens of substitutes and plant-based dishes, when meat has been proven to destroy our planet, endanger your health, starve people and cause animals to suffer: why do you still eat meat?
Do you have questions about the topic "vegan substitute products"? Then just write me a comment!
Stay sustainable,
PS.: You are not yet fully convinced of the plant-based diet? Then learn now all Reasons to go vegan.
References:
₁ National Institutes of Health: Eating red meat daily triples heart disease-related chemical (Accessed 08 Jan. 2019), Available from: https://t1p.de/avcc. [07.05.2020].
₂ V. Bouvard; D. Loomis; K. Guyton; et al: Carcinogenicity of consumption of red and processed meat (as of 10/26/2020), available at https://t1p.de/8v9e. [20.07.2020].
₃ Westdeutscher Rundfunk Köln: Tierhaltung So viel Antibiotikum steckt in deinem Steak (as of Oct. 30, 2018), available at https://t1p.de/nj3p. [20.07.2020].
