3 ms·

> It’s not a cultural thing, some people just like the taste of meat. Can you explain why 20-39% of Indians, or 276 million Indians, are vegetarian while in Ch

> It’s not a cultural thing, some people just like the taste of meat. Can you explain why 20-39% of Indians, or 276 million Indians, are vegetarian while in China, Chile, Colombia, and France (to pick a few) it is 5%? [1] Because it is either cultural, or it is genetic. And I doubt Indians have a genetic mutation that makes them vegetarian, I think it is cultural. If a good curry is what makes more people vegetarian, then we can cook good curries anywhere. In a meat-heavy culture, a lot of people might not realize how much they would like vegetarian meals! > I like some vegetarian and vegan dishes but they have to be meals where meat isn’t the “hero” of that dish. Not to be snarky, but that is the definition of a vegetarian dish. But I know what you mean, and you are right, meat substitutes do not make for very good vegan meals. A good vegan meal is one where it's not just trying to emulate meat based foods, but building a flavor profile that celebrates the actual vegetables and other ingredients in harmony. Go to any of these Michelin rated vegan restaurants [2] for example, and you will find absolutely incredible tasting vegan meals. It takes culture to spread this kind of thing to chefs and patrons, and that is something we have influence over. I have been to Millennium [3], and it is incredible. If more meals like this were available, people "liking the taste of meat" would not really matter that much, because they would LOVE the taste of this stuff. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarianism_by_country https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarianism_by_country [2] https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/california/san-francisco/restaurants/vegan-90?sort=distance https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/california/san-francisco/re... [3] https://www.millenniumrestaurant.com/ https://www.millenniumrestaurant.com/

xyproto 2y ago
Is there any data indicating that a preference for meat is not genetic?
hnlmorg 2y ago
> Because it is either cultural, or it is genetic. And I doubt Indians have a genetic mutation that makes them vegetarian, I think it is cultural. If a good curry is what makes more people vegetarian, then we can cook good curries anywhere. You’ve completely ignored what I said. 1. Some people like the taste of meat. Saying they shouldn’t and it’s just a cultural thing misses the point that the flavour is desirable. This is why I suggested other means of sourcing that protein which is ethical is a better path forward than simply saying we need to change culture. 2. I’d already said in curries the meat isn’t the hero of the dish. > In a meat-heavy culture, a lot of people might not realize how much they would like vegetarian meals! “You shouldn’t like X, you should learn to love a completely different thing instead” is, frankly, a silly argument. What needs to happen instead is X is replaced with an ethical alternative. In this case, lab grown meat. As I’ve said already, most meat eaters will enjoy a lot of vegetarian meals too. The problem is they also like the taste of meat. So there needs to be an ethical alternative and soybeans sadly isn’t it. > Not to be snarky, but that is the definition of a vegetarian dish. The fact you’ve commented saying that proves you’ve not been reading my comment properly. > A good vegan meal is one where it's not just trying to emulate meat based foods, but building a flavor profile that celebrates the actual vegetables and other ingredients in harmony. That’s literally the point I was making that you knee jerk argued against!

xyproto 2y ago

Is there any data indicating that a preference for meat is not genetic?

hnlmorg 2y ago

> Because it is either cultural, or it is genetic. And I doubt Indians have a genetic mutation that makes them vegetarian, I think it is cultural. If a good curry is what makes more people vegetarian, then we can cook good curries anywhere. You’ve completely ignored what I said. 1. Some people like the taste of meat. Saying they shouldn’t and it’s just a cultural thing misses the point that the flavour is desirable. This is why I suggested other means of sourcing that protein which is ethical is a better path forward than simply saying we need to change culture. 2. I’d already said in curries the meat isn’t the hero of the dish. > In a meat-heavy culture, a lot of people might not realize how much they would like vegetarian meals! “You shouldn’t like X, you should learn to love a completely different thing instead” is, frankly, a silly argument. What needs to happen instead is X is replaced with an ethical alternative. In this case, lab grown meat. As I’ve said already, most meat eaters will enjoy a lot of vegetarian meals too. The problem is they also like the taste of meat. So there needs to be an ethical alternative and soybeans sadly isn’t it. > Not to be snarky, but that is the definition of a vegetarian dish. The fact you’ve commented saying that proves you’ve not been reading my comment properly. > A good vegan meal is one where it's not just trying to emulate meat based foods, but building a flavor profile that celebrates the actual vegetables and other ingredients in harmony. That’s literally the point I was making that you knee jerk argued against!