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by lajy 3390 days ago
I'm hesitant to believe you've had modern, high quality (or even moderate quality) meat-replacements. My girlfriend is vegan so I've been exposed to an array of options, and there are plenty that I would have never even guessed weren't meat had I not already known. There are members of the vegan community that won't even eat some meat-replacements because it tastes and feels too much like flesh and it grosses them out. Granted, part of that effect likely comes from not exposing oneself to meat for extended periods of time, but the technology really is making rapid progress. Getting some big, mainstream money behind it is only going to accelerate that process.

It doesn't always even come down to technology either, you just have to know some of the methods. Prepare a jackfruit the right way and it becomes delicious seasoned shredded chicken. Textured vegetable protein can become seasoned ground beef just as easily. Yeah, the flavoring plays a big role in those cases (which it often does for meat-replacements, to be fair), but it does in many situations with meat preparation too e.g. adding cumin to make taco meat, marinading your meats, slathering them in BBQ sauce, etc.
1 comments
seangrogg 3390 days ago
The question here is whether that "modern, high quality meat-replacement" is equally as affordable as meat (within reason). If so, show me where I can get it. If not, I likely won't reallocate my budget.
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lajy 3390 days ago
Gardein Breakfast Patties[1][2] retail for $3 at my grocery store and regularly have $1-off in-store coupons. Even the macros are solid. Everything else I've tried from Gardein has been excellent as well, and this is far from the best stuff out there.

[1] https://gardein.com/products/breakfast-patties/

[2] http://imgur.com/XUodQQv

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seangrogg 3390 days ago
I'd be willing to give this a try. Out of curiosity, what would you consider the best (or at least respectably high)?
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lajy 3390 days ago
I wish I had an answer for you, I'm really honestly not too educated on the subject. I just know that there are more expensive and better reviewed meat-replacements out there than what I've personally bought in the store. That being said, Gardein is no slouch. I've also been to The Herbivorous Butcher in Minneapolis and Twin Cities Veg Fest and the quality of meat-replacements (and cheese-replacements) at both those places were on a whole other level.
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