I've been a vegetarian for 8 years now (not vegan)

Non-vegetarians always try to get me to eat the veggie lunch meat, veggie meat crumbles, etc., however, I simply do not miss meat at all. I have no cravings for the veggie chicken nuggets, hot dogs, etc.

I will occasionally have a spicy black bean burger, but not too often.

do you really miss meat shaped products - enough to eat the veggie chicken nuggets, etc.?

(I hope I am asking this question correctly - to make sense)

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Bevogal

It is not so much the meat or the meat taste I miss. I miss the consistency of the food. I miss the coating for example on fried chicken so that is why I like the MorningStar nuggets. I eat some types of seafood but nothing but a Boca burger is going to cure my "burger" craving.
I love Morning Star farm "bacon" or as we call it around here "facon". I make BLTs with it to satisfy that craving.
Especially around my PMS time I totally crave meat (protein) which I have to satisfy and also have to figure out if it is just the protein or am I craving flavor, consistency, etc.
I have not eaten meat since 1999.
At first I thought I would eat turkey at Thanksgiving and make some exceptions. But other than the fish (which are not mammals and are not like me so it doesn't really bother me) I don't.
It is not that I don't think God put some animals here for food it is just that the horrible, cruel, dirty, filthy way they are bred, raised, killed, and processed in this "civilized" country of ours is horrendous. Of course now I could not ever eat any meat no matter where it came from.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I eat fish too.

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Bevogal

I won't eat meat either - it is gross! Boca burgers or fish are my choice. :O)

I like some *meatlike* products and not others. I personally don't care for tofu pups or soy *chicken* products. I just don't like the texture. I NEVER crave meat, as I think it's disgusting. I try to get enough protein from beans, tofu, and nuts. It's nice that the world is recognizing vegetarians.

To add to the questions, when you're invited to friend's houses do they worry about what to feed you? Also, do they assume you'll eat stuff like gravy and meat broth soups...since there's no meat in them?

Most of my friends will be certain that there are some items I will eat (although my sister still can't seem to remember that I don't eat meat or meat products )

However, some people still ask why I can't 'just pick the meat out' of a dish - we've still got a long way to go!

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Bevogal

I have been a vegetarian for 14 years. I use alot of these products, not because I want the flavor/texture of meat, but because it makes it easier for me to prepare meals. DH is not vegetarian and I like us to eat the same thing. So if I am making him chicken and rice I will use the veggie "chicken breasts" for my meal. But some of them, I just like the taste. I don't know if they taste like meat (non-vegetarians say absolutely not! ) because it has been so long since I ate any.

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Raising my baby RIGHT!!!!!!

All the cool babies are wearing cloth!

I'm more of a picky eater and wouldn't eat meat for years. However, my fiance has pretty much made me eat chicken, so I'm not a true vegetarian now. They are big meat eaters at his house, so when I go over they will sometimes prepare meals around me. One time they had sausage mixed in and I gave it to him.

I do have a question though. Would you ever think about eating organic meat?

If you are a vegetarian for humane reasons, you might want to try to find a *family* farm, instead of buying *factory* farm meats. I bought a farmed raised turkey for Thanksgiving this year, and everybody loved it. They said there was a real difference in the quality and taste.

Check this out! It's a funny clip about factory vs. family farming....Matrix style:

http://www.themeatrix.com/

When I go to someone else's home as a guest it causes me some stress. My inlawas, for example. expected me to pick the meat out of things and he would say things like "we don't have anything for you to eat here, would you like a chicken salad from Dairy Queen?"
Now they see I don't eat it they are starting to understand. When I go someplace I bring food in my car just in case there is nothing there for me to eat.
You would think in this day and age where we are educated about food choices that people who have even a little intelligence and/or awareness would understand that eductaed people today don't eat meat (or much of it) and don't eat sugar, white flours, processed crap, etc.
I am not going to eat some horrible crap just to be "polite" and not hurt someone's feelings. It is my opinion that if you invite guests into your home it is your obligation to make sure they can eat. I always ask people I am not familiar with if they have food allergies, preferences, or special diets.

It is only being a good hostess.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I've been a vegetarian for 15 years and I like a few of the meat alternatives. I do like to keep some fake ham slices in the freezer for a quick sandwich if I don't get to the store and my veggies aren't looking so great. I like the fake bacon also for a BLT. That's about it though. I never liked meat in the first place, so I don't miss it at all.

My in-laws don't get it either. They will serve us a big pot of beef stew when we are there for dinner and get a little bent out of shape that I have brought something else. I usually just bring a big dish of something to share, mac and cheese, potatoe casserole.... nothing "funny" or I have to endure the complaints.

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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss

i have been a vegetarian for 10 years and use fake meat occasionally...i like the sausage that comes in a fat roll in the refridgerated section...lightlife i think. mostly because of the spices, not the 'meatiness' of it. it adds a nice flavor to stuffing.

sometimes i put chopped up fake ham or bacon in southern-style recipes, but i always ending up throwing away the rest of the package; i can't eat them like cold cuts.

i was vegan, but i've been bad about that lately...having trouble with cheese since i haven't found any really good vegan substitutes. but i don't crave meat.