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Comment by rossenberg79 | Hacker News Reader

There’s a good reason why these sort of products are marketed as meatless and not vegetarian, and it’s not because they still contain some animal products.

When a true vegetarian is hungry, the first thing that comes to their minds are plant based foods. If the first though is of juicy burgers or bacon or chicken then that person is not a real vegetarian. To be vegetarian is to be vegetarian in mind and identity.

Meatless options are things you offer to omnivores. If you do not identify as a vegetarian, many people will likely not even consider vegetarian options unless you think they offer some benefit for you to reach a goal.

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> To be vegetarian is to be vegetarian in mind and identity.

Most people don't consider this a matter of identity. They're not trying to stand our or make a statement based on what they eat. They just want a healthier more planet-friendly alternative, not a medal. For that, "meatless" is sufficient.

I dated a vegetarian many years ago. It was my first exposure to that lifestyle. She was not against me eating meat even in front of her. She didn't politicize her choice, it was for her health and nothing more. Luckily some fast food places serve salads and so on trips across country we could stop at those places where I could eat a burger and she could eat a salad. Alternately I would go with her to a local Austin burger joint that had a vegetarian night on Wednesdays. I would eat and enjoy a veggie burger with her. We both were willing to meet each other half way.

options like a veggie burger at Burger King give options to people like her. Not every vegetarian is a vegan who makes all meals political. Burger King serving a veggie burger doesn't have to be political. Not every vegetarian surrounds themselves with only other vegetarians.

I've not intentionally eaten meat in over 15 years. The only real definition of vegetarian is someone who makes a conscious choice to not eat something that contains meat. Just because someone may still crave meat but chooses not to eat it doesn't make them any less of a vegetarian.

Cool "No True Scotsman" bro. Problem is there's no "unified vegetarianism". There's some degree of common cultural identity, but I know plenty of vegetarians who DGAF about the grill their food was cooked on. Hell, just getting people to agree what the term "meat" means can be difficult.

> To be vegetarian is to be vegetarian in mind and identity.

I've been a vegetarian for 7 years. I identify as vegetarian. That doesn't mean I have some sort of purity of mind and spirit. It just means I don't eat meat, gelatin, etc... I enjoy fake meats, and I'm excited to try one of these.

When (probably not an if at this point) there are meat substitutes that are palatable to carnivores, will vegetarians accept them, meaning eat them? It's an interesting question, but I expect there will always be people that like the current vegetarian no meat lifestyle, even if there are non-meat but meat-like substitutes they'll avoid them.

I do love a burger, even though I feel like I'm moving toward the veggie lifestyle for health and environmental reasons. I do have one vegetarian friend who likes meat-like substitutes :-).

Honestly I see no reason to eat this stuff ever unless I'm in a pinch. If I want a burger I'm not wanting something that looks or smells like meat just something with the same form factor as a burger.

Lately it's lentils and kidney beans with walnuts. Smash em all up and you got yourself a nice lil patty.

I make sliders this way with all the fixings and I just don't ever see myself wanting something more "realistic" haha

No, the real reason is that as soon as you label something vegetarian, it's an instant turn off to many meat lovers.

"To be vegetarian is to be vegetarian in mind and identity."

Says who? Lots of people try out being vegan, vegetarian or eating plant based diets and many appreciate foods that remind them of meat.

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