Vegan Sesame Orange Seitan
While contemplating this post, I was thinking about someone prevalent in the vegan community who recently “came out” that she’s not a vegan anymore. Basically, she stopped being a vegan because she started to crave animal products, specifically meat. Her cravings led her to believe that she needed to eat animals.
I tried to figure out why I was so bothered by her confession. It literally gnawed on my mind for days on end. Her life, her choice, right? But as I thought about it more, what bugged me the most about her confession was not that she decided to start eating meat again. What really chapped my hide is that she made it sound like her cravings equaled necessity. I.E., if you crave meat, it must be because your body really needs for you to eat meat and other animal products in order to meet your nutritional requirements.
As you probably all ready guessed, I THINK THAT’S A BOGUS BUNCH OF HOGWASH.
Just because
I pretty much always want a doughnut
doesn’t mean I should be eating one.
So to me, this whole debacle was sad news indeed coming from such a revered health coach/cookbook author who has influence over so many other people regarding healthy eating choices. Her stance literally came across as if veganism is not a lifelong sustainable healthy lifestyle choice.
Black Bean Veggie Burger on a Pretzel Bun
So, I was going to launch into this whole schpeal about why vegans might sometimes have the urge to eat something meaty, but the lovely Cadry at Cadry’s Kitchen beat me to the punchline in EVERY SINGLE WAY in this post. I hope you’ll take the time to read it if you haven’t all ready.
To be honest, for the most part I’m not usually that interested in “mock” meat, I prefer the healthier option of mushrooms, tofu, beans or other veggies in dishes that would traditionally feature animal products.That doesn’t mean that every now and again that I don’t get a hankering for an old favorite recipe revamped vegan style.
I reckon I probably make something with faux “meat” about once a month. When I do, that faux “meat” is almost always homemade and not made in a frankenlab.
Maybe our role model friend who’s no longer vegan just needed a little something like this instead of the sea vegetables that she thought would solve her lusty meat yearnings…
Vegan Sesame Orange Seitan
For the sesame seitan strips:
- 1/2 of this seitan recipe (3 cutlets) OR 1 package store bought seitan OR for GF peeps, 1/2 package soy curls prepared according to package directions, OR 1 block store bought tempeh, cut into thin strips
- 1/3 C. non GMO cornstarch
- 1/3 C. raw sesame seeds
- 1/4 t. sea salt
- 1/2 t. ground black pepper
- 2 T. ground golden flax seed
- 1 t. baking powder
- 1/3 C. water
- 1/4 C. expeller pressed safflower oil (gasp! This is the first recipe on my site where I fry something in oil!)
For the Orange Sauce:
- juice of 2 oranges (about 1 cup)
- zest of 1 orange
- 2 T. bragg’s liquid aminos
- 2 T. agave
- 1 t. minced fresh ginger
- 1 clove minced garlic
- 1/4 t. ground black pepper
- 1 t. non GMO cornstarch
- sliced scallions for garnish
Method: In a large skillet, start heating the safflower oil over medium heat. Then, in a medium bowl, combine the cornstarch, sesame seeds, baking power, water, ground flax, salt and pepper. Put the seitan/tempeh strips into the batter and gently stir to coat. Working in batches, put strips of seitan in the hot oil and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden, I needed to do three batches to cook all my seitan, once strips are cooked, place on a paper towel to absorb any excess oil. Set the cooked strips in the oven on warm while you make the orange sauce. To make the orange sauce, combine all ingredients in a small bowl, pour into the same skillet you used to cook the seitan and cook down for 3-4 minutes until the sauce is thick and syrupy. At this point you can add the seitan to the sauce to flavor it completely, or if you like your seitan extra crispy, you can drizzle the sauce over each individual plate. I served mine on white basmati rice, because I had ran out of brown… Don’t make the same mistake. Sprinkle chopped scallions over the seitan for extra yumminess.
What do you think?
I completely agree that cravings don’t indicate any kind of nutritional necessity. After all, if you apply the same logic to an alcoholic who’s been ‘on the wagon’ for years and suddenly develops a strong urge for a Scotch and dry, you’d end up arguing that he or she should get back on the turps again!
I do a lot of work with my clients’ food cravings using EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), and it’s fascinating how often, when doing the EFT process, the craving completely disappears and the person suddenly accesses an emotionally-charged memory that involved the food they were craving. This really confirms to me, that most cravings are emotional at their roots, not physical.
Robyn Chuter
http://www.empowertotalhealth.com.au
http://www.getleanforlife.com.au
I LOVE this response! I can’t wait to learn more about your Emotional Freedom Technique. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I completely agree with you that most cravings are emotional and not physical as well.
I did an EFT session this week with one of the participants in the online weight loss course I’m running right now that was just mind-blowing. She had cravings for this particular type of chococlate mint cookie that she got from a local bakery. As we did the EFT process on the craving, memories came up for her of how lonely, misunderstood and angsty she was as a teenager, and how those cookies felt like the only thing that would ‘fill the hole in her soul’. By the end of the session she had no desire for the cookies. 2 other participants who were listening and ‘borrowing benefits’, as we call it in EFT, contacted me after the webinar to tell me their cravings (which were for completely different foods) had disappeared too. Very cool stuff
.
That is so interesting and cool. As someone who’s been every shape and size, I certainly get that food, and especially the wrong foods are emotional addictions. Thanks for sharing that story.
LOL – what a witty, fun response filled with delightfully delicious “alternative”. Somer, you have one of the best senses of humor I think I’ve seen in a long time. This blog post is oh-so-shareworthy for so many reasons
. Thanks for not only sharing these incredible recipes (and links to resources!), but also for the subtle humor in providing them. Now I’m off to find some ingredients for that delish looking BBQ sandwich and Orange Seitan!
Thanks Dawn
I have loved interacting with you on Facebook recently! Yeah, I probably got a bit too fired up about this issue, but I can laugh about it now. All I really wanted to say is that if you’re a vegan craving something meaty, there are options 
Good ones too! Thanks for being in my cheering section. I think you’d love that BBQ Sandwich, It’s pretty incredible! xx
I am totally with you on this.. and Cadry talks about what goes in the meaty stuff very nicely as well. I would never crave meat if i was eating this delicious seitan to replace my once fave non vegan version.. and i love my lentils and beans.. they fill me up very nicely. i crave to eat savory spicy lentils when i do get hungry..
that was “totally with “you”"
got it
It’s SO easy to replace a “craving” with a vegan version….
that dish
would be amazing
with soycurls!
xo
kittee
Why, yes it would! Updating!!!
Oh goodness…that’s a copout excuse. Well in that case, every pregnant woman should gorge herself with greasy, junky garbage then right….just because she’s craving it right? I had cravings out the wazoo while pregnant, but I still knew that my body, nor baby, needed that junk. Of course I had some cravings fulfilled, but ultimately I made the decision with my mind, what was right and kept self control. It’s so hard for me to wrap my brain around somebody being vegan so long doing that….ethically that would have to affect them. Just speak the truth and say you want meat!
Honestly, I never crave meat anymore, it detests me. I crave beans and veggies and pancakes and chocolate! Ha!
I’ve never had seitan before…it looks delish.
I completely agree, if craving something means our bodies NEED it, then that would be free license for people to drink, smoke, eat fast food and fulfill any other appetite that they desire. #fuzzylogic
I completely agree with you, Somer. Alex’s confession disheartened me greatly because of what you mentioned – that people who already have negative attitudes towards veganism or are newly struggling to adapt to a vegan diet will use her position of “authority” as the ultimate excuse to give up. An eating disorder like hers does nothing to speak for the vegan community and lifestyle at large. Clearly a vegan lifestyle is about much more than simply eating for health; it’s about making a choice to deny cravings for that taste of meat for a variety of reasons that are bigger than ourselves. Bravo, Somer!
Thanks for your thoughts Amy, that is exactly what I was concerned about, people looking to her and thinking that a vegan lifestyle is a health fad or a craze and not a viable lifelong lifestyle choice.
It really ground on my gears that she used the phrase coming out, not being vegan punishable by death in some country where as I think coming out as gay is, or in some countries you have to be sterolised to be considered trans… but I will try not to agnst over that. Also I miss smoking every day, if it wasnt all evil and such cause of the animal testing then id go back to smoking cause I crave it sooo much, sure as hell aint good for me.
I hadn’t thought about that, your comment really got me emotionally. You’re right, to equate her decision in those terms doesn’t seem fair. She just decided to start eating differently, but it’s not the same sort of backlash that others face when they “truly” come out.
Nope, smoking isn’t good, no matter how much you might crave it. Glad you stopped….
Excellent points, Alexander!
Hi nice to see you tried making Seitan hope you liked it. I make it now and again. I think if you become vegan because of for example health, weight, or anything other than ethical reasons you may fall back to eating animal products just like someone who is on a diet may have another piece of cake etc… I know you are different and for me are the oppose to what person I am portraying, but if you see the way animals are used and abuse to satisfy our tastebuds you simply cannot ever consume animal products again or wear them etc…. PS Is that movie you commenting on coming out of DVD or apple TV soon.. Do you know ? Thanks and good health to you and your family
I have a love hate relationship with the Seitan, it’s so realistic texture wise, it’s a bit disturbing, but since it’s something I can make in my own kitchen and control exactly what goes into it, I’m okay with eating it every once in a while. I think you are right about those who convert to veganism for health, which she acts like is the case in her situation, but if you read one of her books, Vegan Living for dummies, she suggests at one point vegans should bring a pillow with them when they go out, so that if they have to sit on leather somewhere, their skin won’t come in contact with it…… That sounds pretty hardcore animal activist vegan if you ask me.
The film Chow Down is available on DVD on Amazon, but I’m not sure if it has been released in Australia, if you’d like, I can email the director and ask her. Thanks Thom!
Couldn’t agree more, girl! What my body craves is whole, wholesome, nutrient-packed goodness: fruits, veggies and grains!! Meat is murder! Love your guts. PS dang that sesame seitan looks GOOD!
Kale baby Kale! More protein per ounce than a steak. Sipping a giant cold buster orange kale smoothie now. And the seitan was good, if you’ve got ideas of how it could be made without the oil I’d be interested, I don’t think oven baking would work in this case.
I love Annie’s recipe of the seitan too but I also make my own version now! I can relate that vegans sometimes miss the real deal but I love seitan the most like a meat shape texture & taste! This is one tasty seitan recipe that I must try soon! Yummm!
I hope you enjoy it if you do! Seitan is unreal as far as texture goes, and once it’s seasoned it’s scarily “meat” like!
It surely is! When are you coming by my blog again? I missed your views on my latest vegan creations!
This looks amazing! I have a serious weakness for faux meat used in any sort of Chinese inspired dish. I imagine this is because I frequently ate at a vegan Chinese restaurant as a teenager. Oh, food nostalgia!
It is pretty dang tasty, I’ve only ever found tofu here at Chinese restaurants, but I’ve heard other places have lots of options!
I sometimes grave the feeling of meat, in that I remember my mom’s cooking, and the memory of her fixing me hamburgers, etc. But today I would feel so guilty sticking meat in my mouth. Maybe in the next life I’ll be born into a family who is vegetarian or vegan. The orange seitan looks great.
I hear you, which is why I create dishes like the ones in this post. I even ground my homemade seitan once in my food processor with some fennel, chili flakes, garlic and Italian seasonings. It was just like minced sausage in my spaghetti. So these are the types of things I turn to when I miss my moms cooking.
Sorry, I meant crave instead of grave. That is kind of telling isn’t it?
VERY telling
Well said Somer – nice article and recipes. Yum!
@ Thomas: I agree — I could never go back to meat/pork/poultry/fish/eggs or dairy because I spend a good part of my week watching undercover videos so as to learn everything I possibly can about the egregious abuse happening to farm animals. I do so, so that I can make a compelling argument when confronted by someone who opposes the vegan ideology and in turn proceeds to verbally attack me and I have run up against some serious “vegan haters”. Now that my eyes are open and I am aware of the connection from farm to plate, I can no longer look at, say a glass of milk, without thinking of the poor abused dairy cows who suffered.
Susan, I normally try to stay away from that side of things since for me, no good can come to my thoughts or happiness by watching animals suffer, it’s too emotional. I couldn’t watch Earthlings or other sorts of films like that because it’s just too traumatic for me. I’m aware of what happens and don’t turn a blind eye, but would rather focus on other things that increase my well being so I don’t get overly depressed about the treatment of animals. Mostly I just try to win people over with the health benefits of good food. I think more people would be willing to try out the vegan lifestyle if they thought that they could still eat deliciously. But this issue wouldn’t leave me alone, so naturally I had to voice my opinion about it.
I do understand though that for a lot of people, that sort of information is the catalyst for them to change their eating habits and stop eating animals. I love Paul McCartney’s statement that one day they were eating lamb for dinner and he looked out the window to see their little lambs on their property and said “Why are we eating these creatures? We love them” and that was that.
I totally see your side (and I love that Quote from P. McCartney!).
For years (more than I can count) I have been involved with animal rescue, mostly cats and dogs. Initially I became a vegan for health reasons (like you). When I launched my blog, the purpose was to wax on about all things green living. I don’t know when it happened but the more I researched the vegan ideology the more I kept running into the abuse happening behind factory farm and even so-called “organic” farm walls. I don’t know exactly when it was but one day it hit me, why do I rescue cats and dogs, but ignore cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, et al?… Why don’t they rate in the grand scheme of animal rescue? That’s when my focus shifted and my campaign became “to be the voice of the voiceless”. The deeper I dug, the more I uncovered until one day I was faced with the reality that not only to animals suffer on factory farms, but animals are also suffering in research labs, fur farms, water theme parks and so on… My journey keeps expanding and I firmly believe G-d put me here to protect animals and to speak out. My passion for cats and dogs has expanded to all animals, land and sea.
I do realize it is hard for some folks to hear about abuse towards animals – I get it, but I can no longer turn a blind eye to it. So when some smug meat eater says, “I love meat and eating meat is instinct, G-d put those animals here for us to eat…” that’s when I enlighten these folks to the hard cold reality of what’s really happening behind factory farm walls.
I will admit, after watching a really horrible video exposing abuse I will become enraged and then anger turns to depression and from there it down shifts into: “Mankind s*cks and all humans s*ck” and then eventually I realize that I am making this about me when it’s about them – the victims.
I don’t quite know when or how but I do know that I am here to make a change, to uncover the truth and to expose the abuse.
For those vegans like you, who chose to turn away from the ugly side of the meat industry — that’s fine — no judgment here. I don’t expect every vegan to immerse themselves in the dark ugly side of animal exploitation. We all serve a purpose. You have taught me so much about vegan cooking and I will teach people about the egregious abuse, provide they are open to hearing it (I do realize my blog can be hard to swallow).
Sorry this comment is so long.
Hey, I hear you. Every word. I think we both have a purpose my dear and I certainly didn’t mean any offense, only that I can’t stomach it. If I can help people through food and you can through your activism then we make a pretty good team eh?
xx
Oh I am soooooooo completely NOT offended — not in the least. No way Jose’.
We would make a darn good team!
xx
Good
I am pretty sure I offended some of my readers today though. I hope I don’t lose too many followers 
Back to the food next post! xx
I don’t see how you could have. Honest.
I haven’t been craving meat so much but cheese. I have yet to find a vegan cheese I like. Any suggestions?
Dairy is the hardest for most people to get over, especially cheese! I have several vegan cheese recipes here on my site:
fresh moxarella: http://vedgedout.com/2013/03/11/individual-vegan-margherita-pizzas-with-homemade-fresh-moxarella-cheese/
pepperjack cashew cheese: http://vedgedout.com/2012/10/23/updated-pepper-jack-cashew-cheez/
smoked coconut gouda: http://vedgedout.com/2012/10/22/smoked-coconut-gouda/
and finally, my macadamia nut brie: http://vedgedout.com/2012/10/31/virtual-vegan-potluck-spooky-vegan-macadamia-nut-brie-en-croute/
You make me want to become a vegan! And I really should give it a try, because of my chronic condition…
Now that’s the best thing I’ve heard all morning
Have you watched Forks Over Knives my dear? 
I have not. I know you’ve mentioned this movie before…
Here’s her problem: “I ate more sea vegetables in order to add more minerals to my diet as I had told so many of my vegan-curious friends to do. I chose more protein-heavy plant foods on a regular basis. I avoided sugar and drank green juices by the pint, all in an effort to give my body the nutrition that I thought my body was asking for.” Sea vegetables? Green juices? No sugar? Ewwwww. I mean, if you like that kind of stuff, fine, but I enjoy real (vegan) food that actually tastes good. (And I am about to eat a mint Rice Dream “ice cream cookie” sandwich.) I can’t tell you how many of my omnivore friends express surprise when they dine with me, because they like the food and they were expecting … well, tofu, sea vegetables, and green juice.
I think she is doing this for the publicity. I foresee a new book in the near future … which will be much beloved by meateaters with guilty consciences.
I do think that perhaps she approached the situation the wrong way, but I’m not necessarily sure I think she did it to get publicity. She faced a lot of backlash for what she voiced. Some of the comments on her site got really ugly and there was some bullying which is not what I wanted to have happen here. My problem is mainly with the craving =’s necessity issue.
Those all look so tasty, Yum!
Thank you so much!
First of all, that orange sesame seitan looks incredible! I used to love orange peel-type dishes, but I’ve never tried making it at home. Second, thanks for all of the love on my post! I’m glad to hear that it resonated with you. I have so enjoyed reading all of the comments on this post and hearing everyone’s insights.
Oh my goodness, it’s really easy to make, and the results are totally delicious! I’m really happy to see so many clicks on over to your site today! It seems like this is a hot topic my dear
xx
This is a great post! I haven’t gone completely vegan yet (I decided to get used to vegetarian/mostly vegan first before going all the way), but I can definitely understand the cravings to eat meat, and this recipe definitely looks like it will fix one of the main cravings I’ve been having.
It saddens me whenever someone goes back to eating meat, particularly someone who’s well-known. That just makes it that much harder for people to take veganism seriously.
It’s a strange feeling and I’m not so sure why we all feel so let down. I guess It’s like Lance Armstrong and we think he’s this amazing hero and suddenly we find out he’s been doping and fooling us all this whole time. Not that any of this was necessarily equivalent to that, but we have a bit of a hero worship syndrome. I don’t think people in general will look at this and take vegetarianism or veganism less seriously, I do however wonder if her current clients will wonder if a vegan lifestyle is unrealistic.
Hey Somer, thank you for introducing me to Alex – I really enjoyed reading her letter and also really enjoyed reading such passionate responses from you and your readers! I truly admire you for your unhindered passion & energy and love what you are and what you stand for (but you already know this). I really debated leaving a comment here, but since many of my blogging buds are hardcore vegans I wanted to add something that I haven’t yet seen represented here. I could be way off (and I realize this might be debated) but the majority of my vegan friends are still relatively new to it from what I have gathered (within a few years). In fact, with plant-based eating having finally become mainstream, I reckon there are millions of folks who have seen the benefits that come from the lifestyle and think there is no way they could ever possibly go back. This is such a good thing.
As a lifelong vegetarian, I don’t crave meat and never have, but after 5 years of very strict veganism in my early adult life, I still suffered from chronic (though mild) fatigue and malaise until I started adding small amounts of animal products into my diet – and trust me, no one pays more careful attention to nutritional stats and figures than I (well maybe but you know what I am saying!). Since the body runs in very long cycles, I can see that after 5 – 12 years of strict veganism, things could really change for any one of us, and what works for one person may not work for another long term and vice versa. Only time can really tell and I truly believe that as long as folks are doing what Michael Pollen says: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” – the world will be a healthier, more moderate, and ultimately less divisive place. It’s only over a long period of time (20 + years) that I’ve found the middle road, and it works for me very well – unless it isn’t which is why I won’t label myself. I am also proud to have so many passionate vegan bloggers as part of my ‘online tribe’ – I still feel a kinship despite our slight difference in viewpoints. And for the record, my hubby still eats meat too!
I’d love to know if there are any long term vegan readers out there that could speak up and share their stories. I’d love to hear from them. Great post, thank you as always! xo
Hello Shira. Though I probably don’t qualify as a “long term” vegan yet (I’ve been vegan for around 8 years and vegetarian for about 13 before that) I came across this post a few days ago you might be interested to read. http://thevegantruth.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-compilation-of-long-term-vegans-our.html
Thanks Angela for sharing that post – such great stories!
Thanks for sharing that post Angela! What an amazing compilation! I’m really amazed at how healthy and YOUNG so many people on that list look. I need to add another couple to the list: Denley Fowlke and his wife, they’ve been raw vegan for likely more than 20 years. He’s a personal friend of mine and was the very first vegan I met.
Hi Shira!
I have been vegan for 23 year, and I loved reading the article on the vegan truth about long time vegans. I eat what I think is a healthy diet, but I don’ consider it restrictive, although others might since I also gave up gluten four years ago due to chronic muscle pain. (I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia around the time of my college graduation, just before I went vegan).
Here is what I wrote on the “about me” page of my blog, after reading all of the drama online about Alex reverting to an omni diet.
“The biggest reason I’ve been able to happily and easily sustain a vegan diet for so many years is I eat an abundance of delicious and interesting food. I eat lots of healthy whole grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables, but I also eat sugar, oil and salt and partake in the occasional indulgence, too. I don’t believe overly restrictive diets are balanced or sustainable for the long-term, so while I might sometimes juice fast, or go on a green smoothie and salad bender, it’s never for long extended periods of time. ”
xo
kittee
Sorry for those typos above! I also just added that I eat soy meat, too. I don’t eat them everyday, but It would be hard for me to sustain veganism without organic TVP, tofu, tempeh and my most beloved and healthy Soy Curls.
xo kittee
Hi Kittee – I really appreciate you sharing this and for introducing me to your blog! I am incredibly supportive of all efforts to support accessible plant-based eating and am pleased to meet you
Likewise!!
xo
kittee
Kittee, I love your perspective, I think that the key to your success story is that you’ve eaten a varied diet, as much as I like salad, I don’t want to eat it at every meal. Plus it’s fun to splurge once in a while. I also know that being an ethical vegan as you are is different than going plant based for health reasons, as Alex did. I’m glad I’ve found the middle ground. Love your guts girl! xx
I live the middle ground, too! I don’t live on junk at all, I eat mostly unprocessed yummy whole foods, but I do enjoy treats too! Tonight we had a small potluck at my house before crafting. I made a large pan of unprocessed mac n cheesie and my friends all brought salad. It was fabulous, and I was so happy to see taco salad with FRITOS too. Once in a while = happy all the while.
xo
kittee
Shira, I think that you are so truly blessed to have been a lifelong vegetarian. Your parents sound like amazing compassionate people. The fact that plant based eating has become more mainstream then ever before is pretty incredible. The health benefits of eating clean are just the best.
I think I got so fired up about this issue because I thought her admission would leave other people to believe that cravings really equal necessity, which is not spelled out very well in any kind of logical manner in her post in my opinion. However, I have to admire her for her guts in going public with her admission. She certainly faced a lot of backlash and most of it was not very pretty. I only wanted to express that cravings aren’t necessarily a reason to eat animal products and I probably got a bit snarky about it.
Michael Pollan is a huge role model for me, he’s very grounded and his words couldn’t be expressed more plainly or more eloquently. I know that’s the diet that you live by, and it’s an incredible one. One that if most people adopted, I think there would be very little sickness and a lot more compassion in the world.
I think that the idea that people’s bodies go through cycles is an interesting one and surely one that needs to be weighed in this debate. Did I ever tell you I went entirely raw for 6 months nearly 12 years ago before I really understood anything about veganism or real plant based eating? I was on a quest for health because I had always had health issues. Long story short, I didn’t thrive being 100% raw and everything started to taste like grass. I can’t tell you how delicious cooked food was to me after that stint and how long it took before I could look another salad in the eye. Now a high raw balance is where I’m at, it seems to do my body good.
I’m lucky to be a part of your tribe babe xoxo
XOX
DITTO!
Guess what folks…another fly by night vegan leaves the fold because “Paleo” is the new greatest fad to be part of in the “Look-at-MEEEE” world of “dieting” and “healthy diets” and “cutting edge diet choices”, last month it was gluten free…this month it’s Paleo and its all the easier to jump ship to be on the popular side of the fence. Don’t sweat it, she will be eating frog spawn next month…sorry “feremented frogspawn…SO much better for you and so very cutting edge…”…
. When you see how trite some of these people are, flitting from “diet” choice to diet choice when there are people starving, there are children sold into prostitution, where gay and trans gender people are suffering terrible injustices and where real life involves a degree of thought rather than the spoiled rich first world perspective it makes you want to turn your back on mainstream society. I don’t even know who you are talking about (but I am sure going to check it out now 
)… when your choices are made because of what is “in” and what makes you a “hipster” and what makes you cutting edge and up there in lights (at least in your own mind 
) you are living a very lopsided life and you are totally kidding yourself. The real world is a tough place to live and we vegans are just trying to level the playing field for the rest of the animalian inhabitants out there.
Yeah, not sure if she’s doing it as a fad. I know that a lot of people change their diet because friendships or relationships change. I have to admit, if my family didn’t go plant based with me, it would be harder for me to sustain across the board. I think I could do it, but I’d be like you, preparing animal products for the husband and kidlets and eating all by my lonesome. Which would be hard. I don’t want to be too hard on the girl, I only wanted to point out that I don’t believe that cravings equal necessity. xx
If you take money to be up in lights you have to be prepared for a backlash when you decide that you don’t want that spotlight any more (or indeed when you decide to hijack that spotlight that put you there and head off in another direction…). Thems the breaks
I constantly crave Cheez Its, and I’m pretty sure that doesn’t mean I NEED them. I agree. Bogus hogwash. Her choice, totally fine, but dumb explanation.
That’s precisely what I thought. Thanks for chiming in
First off, yes I would like some of that orange seitan, please! Looks SO GOOD! And second, I agree with you about the cravings. I hear that so much from people I work with… “I’ve been craving cheese so my body must need more calcium” or some such nonsense. One person told me she craved meat so she “knew” she was iron deficient- even after she went to the Dr who told her she WASN’T!
And, of course, back when I was omni I used to crave things like cheetos. Does that mean my body was deficient in orange dye #4 or whatever?
GAWD!
I only just found this comment! I’m so glad you’re with me on this one! SO SILLY!
And thanks again for making the seitan and getting me a gazillion hits on this post! xoxo!!!
Well said Somer and Cadry’s post was spot on- thank you (I finally subscribed to Cadry, she has some good stuff over there!) When first becoming vegetarian I did rely on “mock meats” often, however my tastes have changed and we typically maybe have a little “mock meat” 1 a week or less….bottom line is I don’t buy the whole I need to eat meat because I have a meaty craving- hahaha Hogwash- I love you Somer, you are the best!
Glad you subscribed to Cadry! She’s the best! I’m glad you’re with me on this one…. I think I may have gone a bit overboard, but the message is the right one… Cravings do not equal necessity….
xx
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Hi Somer… After reading this post I got to thinking about meat and meat alternatives… sorry if it is off topic but would like to read your thoughts on my thoughts!
Is the need to ‘find a replacement for meat’ is in some way connected with deciding to consume animal meat again? If one is in a mindset to ‘replace’ something that would suggest to me that there is a bigger issue going on….
I guess my feeling (and bear in mind I am not vegan) when there are so many wonderful vegan whole foods out there why oh why is there a need to find meaty replacements?
I think that most vegans grew up consuming animal products, therefore cravings a “meaty replacement” is more likely to be about flavor and texture then about wanting to eat an animal. I don’t think that’s an issue at all.
Many people also have switched to veganism for health purposes. They may still enjoy the flavor of animal products, but want to reduce their cancer risk, heart disease risk, diabetes risk, etc.
I mostly eat whole foods, but I also grew up eating animal products. I only went vegan last year. My diet is far more varied than it ever has been. But YES, I enjoy creating tacos with lentils that make it taste sorta meaty. The BBQ Soy Curl sandwich I made above was incredibly delicious. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. I think you should read the post I mentioned above by my friend Cadry. She explains it far better than I can. But mostly I heartily disagree that a vegan who wants a meat replacement has any kind of a bigger issue going on… We might just enjoy creamy, chewy, tasty sort of textures that meat and dairy replacements offer.
http://cadryskitchen.com/2013/03/13/if-vegans-dont-want-to-eat-animals-why-would-they-eat-something-that-tastes-like-meat/
Thanks Somer,
I read Cadry’s post and found it insightful. Thanks for pointing me in that direction.
You both have made valid points and I appreciate reading such honesty. I guess I have never thought about the flavours associated with meat other than the ‘meaty’ taste.
Thanks!
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I was recently reading something interesting. The article said that people who are deficient spiritually are more apt to eat unhealthily..(is that a word?) than folks who are intact spiritually…I think there is some merit to that thought….there was a time when I couldn’t think of not eating meat…I spent quite a lot of time working on my spirituality, and now..I don’t miss meat…in fact, just the opposite. The thought of eating meat is disgusting…but your recipes for meat alternatives sound GREAT…gonna make those mini “meat” loaves today….
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