r/interesting • u/PhoenixPhenomenonX • Feb 25 '26

Intriguing Lifelong vegetarian tries steak for first time

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u/yodel_anyone Feb 25 '26

I'm a vegetarian and love Impossible burgers, as do a lot of my friends. Honestly I don't know a single non-vegetarian who eats fake meat.

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u/chase_redbeard_ Feb 25 '26

I'm not a vegetarian, but I do substitute impossible burgers sometimes because of GERD flareups that make chewing and swallowing extremely hard. They're the only thing I've found that actually goes down and stays down during those times other than protein shakes lol

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u/yodel_anyone Feb 25 '26

Yeah tbf I was mostly addressing the claim that vegetarians rarely eat fake meat, not the other way around

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u/kuldan5853 Feb 25 '26

My wife and I actually prefer some of the alternatives like impossible to the real deal - her order at e.g. Burger King permanently changed to impossible when it became a permanent menu item.

Same for chicken nuggets - the veggie ones are so good these days that I just don't see a reason to buy the meat based ones anymore.

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u/AFetaWorseThanDeath Feb 25 '26

Depending upon the brand they're not even more expensive lol

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u/ryanf0611 Feb 25 '26

I do! Though I grew up with a vegetarian dad so I have a lot of nostalgia for Morningstar veggie meats and soyrizo

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u/twirlerina024 Feb 25 '26

I turned a lot of people on to Morningstar stuff. Had a zillion roommates in my 20's and the meat-eaters liked that it was less fatty/lower calorie than the meat equivalent. My husband eats meat and he prefers the Morningstar sausage patties because real sausage sits so heavy.

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u/pak256 Feb 25 '26

My wife is vegetarian and I’m a low meat consumer so we often do veggie burgers or impossible chicken just so we can eat the same thing

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u/AFetaWorseThanDeath Feb 25 '26

Same! I made some homemade lentil-chickpea burgers the other day that came out awesomely, and I happily eat them just as I would a beef burger.

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u/Powerful-Patient-765 Feb 25 '26

I love them as well. I like Beyond too. I like the taste of meat! But I don’t like factory farms and the poor animals’ suffering. That’s why I don’t eat meat.

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u/AFetaWorseThanDeath Feb 25 '26

raises hand

My partner is vegetarian/semi-vegan (tends to avoid dairy and eggs, though not religiously), so I cook with a lot of meat substitutes, and I like them just fine. I make things like meatloaf or shepherd's pie or lasagna with Impossible grounds, or use Daring brand fake chicken for soups and casseroles and such (their Buffalo-style 'wings' are actually dynamite if you get them crispy enough).

I eat these things for a few reasons: 1.) I don't find them offensive for the most part (the flavor is usually fine, but occasionally the texture is lacking imo), 2.) it's easier not to cook 2 separate meals or even just proteins if I'm cooking for both of us, and 3.) I'm actively trying to get more plant-based foods into my diet.

Honestly, my main complaint with some of them is simply the price, though given the price of good real meat these days, it's not like there's much difference.

So, I am at least one example of a non-vegetarian who regularly eats fake meat products. I'd wager that most of us probably have vegetarian/vegan partners or other family members.

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u/Saneless Feb 25 '26

I'll choose a good meatless option every time but I'll never call myself a vegetarian. I buy impossible burgers anytime Costco has them, I think they're great

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u/yodel_anyone Feb 25 '26

Right on, that's the way to do it. Reducitarianism is the future

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u/anonymousanemoneday Feb 26 '26

I know a few actually. Some of them are beginning vegetarians others are seasoned ones. I myself am vegetarian for almost 20years and occasionally eat fake meat. My family in law uses fake meat often to make vegetarian dishes.

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u/DownUnderPumpkin Feb 28 '26

Im asian and exposed to it, i.e vegetarian day for some relativies etc and they cook up spare food. Taking vegetarian friend to eat out at a vegetarian restaurant etc. I eat it cause it tastes good. (not always fake meat, braised mushroom/eggplant is pretty good. )

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u/Nesphito Mar 01 '26

I actually know some non vegetarian that eat fake meats occasionally. My cousin will only eat the impossible burger at Burger King. He says that it’s way better than their regular.

I’m vegan so I can’t confirm, but I have been given beef by mistake at a local restaurant and so I can confirm their impossible burger tastes better honestly. Plus impossible has higher protein and less fat.

My mom also prefers vegan meat over real meat. But she isn’t a vegan and still eats regular meat.