Vegetarian, Vegan and Animal Rights

I'm always a little surprised by the curiosity about why we might eat meat analogues and the expectation that we're a monolithic group.

FWIW, I stopped eating meat in the 80s. Meat analogues at the time were pretty wretched so it's taken me a long time to even consider them. But I have to say, it's really nice to have something for me to eat at summer parties that's not the bean & vegetable salad I brought. People here have probably heard this story, but at a picnic back in the olden days, I was presented with corn on a bun as the veg option. Loose canned corn on a bun. So yeah, why shouldn't I be able to have a 'burger' like everyone else? That said, if it's too realistic, it does make me a little uncomfortable. I tried the vegan Whopper and it freaked me right the fuck out.

These days, I'm enjoying the Tofurky line of deli slices. In moderation. (Sodium, yikes.) And all the new Gardein products are fun. I actually find them really hilarious. Spaghetti and meatballs? Fish-ish sticks? Sliders? I'm not sorry, that's funny stuff when you haven't eaten it for decades. Strange but true-feeling analogy: it's a little like going to a costume party.