Off-topic:
I've never understood why a vegetarian (basically someone making a choice not to eat meat for reasons best known to them) would want to eat food imitating meat. "Quorn Steak Strips" "Meat Free Chicken Pieces". Buy the real thing or stick to your ridiculous values.
Let's examine a few reasons people might choose not to eat meat and evaluate your statement:
1) They don't like the taste or texture of meat - in this case, I agree with you. It doesn't make much sense.
2) Health reasons - this is largely valid, as meat contains higher levels of mercury (e.g. fish), hormones, toxins etc. than vegetable-sourced products. Meat also tends to be hgher in saturated fat. (Toxins tend to accumulate upwards in the food chain). Eating alternatives is therefore logical.
3) Energy efficiency - It is more efficient to grow crops than farm animals, therefore eating alternatives is logical.
4) Environmental - Similar to 3) but with the additional issue of waste products, then eating alternatives is logical.
4) Morality - if the vegetarian in question believes that killing an organism capable of registering pain is wrong, then eating alternatives is logical.
5) Religion - if the vegetarian in question believes that (insert belief here), then eating alternatives is logical.
Other than 1), what's not to understand?
(Just for the record, I myself am vegetarian primarily because of the moral aspect. As a human, I am in the unique position of being able to transcend my instincts. I believe it is morally wrong to inflict pain or kill another creature capable of suffering. I choose to eat meat substitutes because I like the taste of meat, but eating it would be in conflict to my moral values. I would however find it very difficult to refrain from eating meat if there were no alternatives. In this day and age, there is such an abundance and variety of vegetable-based products that the
choice is available to all. With the advent of "meat without feet" - i.e. synthetic meat grown in vats etc. - the choice will be even easier, at least from the moral perspective. Serve me up a rare entrecôte with no pre-existing consciousness and I'm there!
)
On-topic:
Microwaves r0xor!
