Plant based tuna?

[Raxel7851]

We were at POFQ last week and one of the sandwich options was plant based tuna. Ok we’ll give it a try. Well that was a BIG mistake. There was little to no taste of tuna and what little of it there was spread between the slices of bread was disheartening. We went to lunch at Roaring Forks over at WL one afternoon and they were offering the REAL tuna sandwich which was large enough for 2 people to share.

 

[KeithVH]

I'm still stuck on the concept of "plant-based" seafood. You would think just from such a title you'd know what to expect. Even the fake crab meat stuff doesn't go that far. I do feel bad for the crappy experience you had but, dang, the whole clue was in the name . . .

 

[Ricky Spanish]

 

[Screamface]

This current plant-based "meat/seafood" seems like a con to me. It's investors seeing the potential for the space in the future. People virtue signally for it. Yet it almost entirely sucks. People just lie for the virtue signal.

I would not be surprised if the entire industry is making giant loses and it's about owning the space in the future. Where all the restaurants offering "plant-based" alternatives are doing so because it is provided at extremely low to no costs, or they are being paid to have it on their menus. There's always a fake meat brand attached now.

Much better to just get proper vegetarian/vegan food. It's much healthier and tastes much better because people aren't lying because they like the idea. "The impossible burger is just like a real burger, can't tell the difference!!!" Then a little while later, "OMG this new fake meat is even more like a real burger."

 

[NelleBelle]

This current plant-based "meat/seafood" seems like a con to me. It's investors seeing the potential for the space in the future. People virtue signally for it. Yet it almost entirely sucks. People just lie for the virtue signal.

I would not be surprised if the entire industry is making giant loses and it's about owning the space in the future. Where all the restaurants offering "plant-based" alternatives are doing so because it is provided at extremely low to no costs, or they are being paid to have it on their menus. There's always a fake meat brand attached now.

Much better to just get proper vegetarian/vegan food. It's much healthier and tastes much better because people aren't lying because they like the idea. "The impossible burger is just like a real burger, can't tell the difference!!!" Then a little while later, "OMG this new fake meat is even more like a real burger."

I personally find the texture and some of the "meat" taste very disturbing the more realistic they make it . When my DH makes Impossible burgers at home, he has to really cook mine an thin it out. I really like the more "fake" meat-alternatives, like Morning Star Foods. But that's because my meat eating is extremely limited. I've had ground beef a few times in my life in the form of tacos, a real burger from McDonalds's once, and had chicken (only white meat) a few times. Never had a pork or shellfish product (for religious reasons) in my life (actually have a severe shellfish allergy).

So as someone who was raised vegetarian from birth (my parents were vegan until I was 4), it is actually nice to have something on the menu at TS restaurants besides pasta or some dish made with mushrooms as the "star of the dish" (I have a huge allergy to mushrooms). For years, DH and I would go to theme parks and eat nothing but junk because there were just the standard foul bean burger that tasted like paste at QS and some over cooked pasta dish at TS. And being a T1 diabetic who needs some protein, it a nice option to have.

I've grown up with Morning Star Farms foods (and their parent company, Worthington/Loma Linda Foods) as a source of "plant-based" protein before it was even this new "term"! We just called it "veggie-meat". We also ate tofu, seitan, legumes, and other dishes with complex carbs that formed a complete protein.

I feel like it's great to have so many more offerings. Not all of them are a hit, but they certainly are way better than what little vegetarians had to choose from in the past. I agree that it'd be really lovely if all QS places would offer things on the menu like Satuli Canteen does with their tofu bowl! But for once, I can actually get something at Casey's Corner! I can eat something at Le Cellier besides just side-dishes when my DH's "steak-loving" family comes with us. I can actually partake in more than one dish in the Epcot festivals. Overall, I'm glad there are way more plant-based/meat-substitute options at WDW.

OP, having had "tuna" that you've described before (I think it's called Tuno), I find it disgusting as well. It's been made for decades and my mom and grandmother adore(d) that crap! It's a total pass for me. Real tuna is off-putting for me (sorry for those who love it) and I have not desire to eat this slop either!

 

[LittleBuford]

This current plant-based "meat/seafood" seems like a con to me. It's investors seeing the potential for the space in the future. People virtue signally for it. Yet it almost entirely sucks. People just lie for the virtue signal.

I would not be surprised if the entire industry is making giant loses and it's about owning the space in the future. Where all the restaurants offering "plant-based" alternatives are doing so because it is provided at extremely low to no costs, or they are being paid to have it on their menus. There's always a fake meat brand attached now.

Much better to just get proper vegetarian/vegan food. It's much healthier and tastes much better because people aren't lying because they like the idea. "The impossible burger is just like a real burger, can't tell the difference!!!" Then a little while later, "OMG this new fake meat is even more like a real burger."

There are people who like the taste of meat but don’t like to eat animals. I happen to be one of them. Plant-based meat alternatives have been a godsend for me. Why mock those of us who enjoy them?

 

[Raxel7851]

@NelleBelle I really enjoyed your post! I think I would have liked the plant based tuna offering if they would have put more on the sandwich. I’ve had butter thicker than what they put on it. It was actually 3 slices of bread. They did have cucumbers, radishes, and possibly pickled onions on it.

 

[NelleBelle]

@NelleBelle I really enjoyed your post! I think I would have liked the plant based tuna offering if they would have put more on the sandwich. I’ve had butter thicker than what they put on it. It was actually 3 slices of bread. They did have cucumbers, radishes, and possibly pickled onions on it.

That's terrible!! If it had enough on it, my mom would jump all over that! I'll have to tell her about it! Just an aside, we'd buy this stuff in a can probably half the size of a regular tuna can and pay 3x the amount! Although I'm sure Disney gets in bulk (although from the sounds of it, maybe not )

 

[Screamface]

There are people who like the taste of meat but don’t like to eat animals. I happen to be one of them. Plant-based meat alternatives have been a godsend for me. Why mock those of us who enjoy them?

I wasn't mocking you at all. I'm not even against it, but I just find it interesting how the push for often not-very-good products is about owning the space over the demand or quality of the product. It's a very unreliable category at this stage because it's about building brands and getting a market share for the day they can follow through on what they claim to already do.

If you like it, good for you.

For most people who eat animals, it's no substitute. As someone who used to work in the food industry. I just find the whole thing interesting.

 

[LittleBuford]

I wasn't mocking you at all.

You wrote, "People just lie for the virtue signal." Perhaps mockery isn't the right word for it, but it's certainly scathing, which is hardly better, and may even be worse.

If you like it, good for you.

I do indeed like it. It fulfils an important need for me.

For most people who eat animals, it's no substitute.

Which is not a problem from the perspective of most people who choose plant-based alternatives. They're not the ones who fill these threads with anger and judgement whenever the topic comes up.

 

[NelleBelle]

I wasn't mocking you at all. I'm not even against it, but I just find it interesting how the push for often not-very-good products is about owning the space over the demand or quality of the product.. It's a very unreliable category at this stage because it's about building brands and getting a market share for the day they can follow through on what they claim to already do.

If you like it, good for you.

For most people who eat animals, it's no substitute. As someone who used to work in the food industry. I just find the whole thing interesting.

Growing up in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, which has a very big focus on health, plant-based foods is is nothing new. My grandparents were eating it back in the 60’s. Here is an article I found interesting

https://www.soyinfocenter.com/HSS/loma_linda_foods.php

 

[Hockey89]

You wrote, "People just lie for the virtue signal." Perhaps mockery isn't the right word for it, but it's certainly scathing, which is hardly better, and may even be worse.


I do indeed like it. It fulfils an important need for me.


Which is not a problem from the perspective of most people who choose plant-based alternatives. They're not the ones who fill these threads with anger and judgement whenever the topic comes up.

Because honestly, it usually comes with the attitude that vegans are at a higher level because they don't eat meat.... Heard it a trillion times and it's painful beyond words. .... A vegan, like an athetist, will tell you. Of course, not everybody is like that, but so many are and it's PAINFUL to read and listen too.

 

[Santa Raccoon 77]

Because honestly, it usually comes with the attitude that vegans are at a higher level because they don't eat meat.... Heard it a trillion times and it's painful beyond words. .... A vegan, like an athetist, will tell you. Of course, not everybody is like that, but so many are and it's PAINFUL to read and listen too.

Well don't participate in a thread Titled "plant based tuna" .

 

[LittleBuford]

Because honestly, it usually comes with the attitude that vegans are at a higher level because they don't eat meat.... Heard it a trillion times and it's painful beyond words. .... A vegan, like an athetist, will tell you. Of course, not everybody is like that, but so many are and it's PAINFUL to read and listen too.

I can honestly say that I’ve never encountered that attitude in this forum. The only people here who judge and deride others for what they eat are those with a virulent dislike of plant-based products.

 

[LittleBuford]

Well don't participate in a thread Titled "plant based tuna" .

I’m actually glad he’s participating, because he can see for himself that the vegans he’s describing simply can’t be found here.

 

[Figgy1]

Because honestly, it usually comes with the attitude that vegans are at a higher level because they don't eat meat.... Heard it a trillion times and it's painful beyond words. .... A vegan, like an athetist, will tell you. Of course, not everybody is like that, but so many are and it's PAINFUL to read and listen too.

Do you know there are people on a plant based diet for health reasons/allergies/religious reasons? or gasp some people just don't like meat/heavy food in 95 degree weather with 98%humidity I live with a confirmed carnivore who will choose the plant based option because they don't want something heavy in Florida, more so in Florida during summer

 

[NelleBelle]

I have to say that usually I’m the one who’s run into problems of being ridiculed (not this forum but maybe by reading the responses? J/k). I’ve been called a tree-hugger, granola-eater, bird-seed eater, and had many eyes rolled when I say I don’t eat meat. At least when I lived in Seattle, there were many places that catered to this lifestyle. When we were looking at moving to SC, we soon realized eating out would be somewhat difficult!

 

[Santa Raccoon 77]

I understand people not eating meat for whatever reason. But why try and make everything meat like ?
If I go to a restaurant and see a "faux meat" burger or a vegetarian dish I am more likely to pick the second one.

 

[Figgy1]

I understand people not eating meat for whatever reason. But why try and make everything meat like ?
If I go to a restaurant and see a "faux meat" burger or a vegetarian dish I am more likely to pick the second one.

My kids get one of each

 

[LittleBuford]

I understand people not eating meat for whatever reason. But why try and make everything meat like ?
If I go to a restaurant and see a "faux meat" burger or a vegetarian dish I am more likely to pick the second one.

I don’t think everything should be made meat-like, but I’m glad a lot of things are. I personally dislike the classic bean-based veggie burger and would much rather eat one that tastes more like real meat. That doesn’t mean that the more traditional veggie options should be phased out, of course.