[sillystuff]

> I got Beyond burgers for the veg option.

As someone who doesn't eat meat, I prefer not to have fake meat. I'll often just pass on eating anything if fake meat is the only non-meat option.

A stir fry with rice or veggie fajitas (could be just peppers and onions) with Mexican tortillas possibly with a side of beans would be much preferable, and cost nearly nothing. Adjust for regional tastes.

Easy to justify when it is something that can be a main dish for the non-meat eaters and a side dish for the meat eaters. But, if people are serving themselves, the non-meat item should be earlier on the table / separated from the meat, so meat eaters do not contaminate it with meat (common).

Fake meat is a nice option for meat eaters who are trying to reduce their consumption of meat for $reason(s), but still crave meat. But, for folks like me who do not eat meat nor have any inclination to do so, it is kinda weird.

[tomcam]

I was a vegetarian for 40 years. I could never understand why people go vegetarian and then... eat fake meat? WTF? There are zillions of awesome vegetarian dishes in this beautiful culinary world.

[sseagull]

Speaking from experience, one reason is that people grew up cooking meat, and therefore know intuitively how to cook it.

When I cook vegetarian, it can be a lot more work. How long do I do so-and-so, how much whatever goes in the what not, stuff like that.

There’s a lot of intuition in cooking, and switching paradigms can be challenging.

[tomcam]

Never considered that perspective. Thanks!

[astura]

Because they enjoy the taste and/or it's something very familiar and comforting to them; it's not at all difficult to understand.

Especially if someone is new to vegetarian food and don't know what those "zillions of awesome vegetarian dishes" even are, let alone how to prepare them.