Vegan Seafood Is About To Become Big Business--And Not A Moment Too Soon

[Croney]

24. I am naive enough to think I might have an answer

to the question, "Why do non-meat dishes need to look like meat?" I don't eat much meat, mostly fish and chicken, but I'd like to be vegetarian and I'm striving toward it. I don't eat beef or pork.

I think having non-meat versions of hot dogs, shrimp, burgers, etc. is a legitimate proselytizing initiative when proffered in a micro-setting like a family. For example, my husband grew up on a farm and for our first 15 years, he had to have red meat every day. At some point, I started experimenting with imitation ground beef.

I hate to call it imitation anything, because it was real soy protein, but to him, it was imitation hamburger. I found a brand we like, and now we love our "faux-meat spaghetti sauce."

If kids will try non-meat hot dogs and start liking the taste, they might be receptive to eliminating other meats and maybe all meats.

Just my two cents, and I'm no expert on anyone's relationship with food but my own.