Veggie Corporate Crusader

Posted on October 31st, 2004 in Culinary Crusades.

Just when I’m about to give up on the idea of a socially responsible corporation, along comes news that someone in power is actually trying to influence positive social change. Vegan CEO, Norm Mason, of Cat Communications Inc. has taken it upon himself to introduce his 200 some employees to a diet that does not include any animal products. Way to go Norm (a Norm that is definitely not the norm)! Dare I dream that he’ll influence other companies to open their own Vegetaria?

 

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3 responses

  1. Lady Claudia says:

    Added on November 1st, 2004 at 7:57 am

    Go, Norm! I know how tough it is to convince those carnivores of the scrumptious benefits of flesh-free food. I have to wonder, though, will Norm’s ultimate goal of curing people of their desire for meat be a more difficult struggle by offering them veg. products disguised as meat and cheese? They may believe that it’s all the same to just go for the “genuine”. I personally have never been a fan of “fake” meat products. It just brings to mind the world of processed foods and therefore a defeat to my pursuit of healthy eating. The list of ingredients in, say, soy cheeses or “schroommeat” patties can be just as long and mysterious as many atrocities in conventional frozen convenience foods. Keep it simple, man. Although I may expose myself to possible criticisms by my embrace of eggs and dairy. I guess I still ask those cows and chickens to work for a living (while supporting free-range - who wouldn’t rather work in the open fresh air?). Norm’s use of veggie butter caused me to frown, thinking of it replacing real butter in my own kitchen. Real butter…mmmm, butter!

  2. Scott says:

    Added on November 1st, 2004 at 9:09 pm

    Lady C, I am with you when it comes to fake meat products. I don’t want to put anything in my mouth that reminds me of the animal flesh that once passed my lips long ago. Facon bacon? Tofurky?? Please! To me it would be just as appetizing to make a tofu loaf shaped in the likes of dear Grandma. Imagine how well that would sell: “Its tofu, but it looks and tastes just like human flesh. Mmmmm!”

    Now in all fairness, I do realize that these products actually serve a useful purpose. It can very challenging for a life-long carnivore to switch to a vegetarian (not to mention vegan!) diet. Suddenly, all the foods that they are so familiar and comfortable with are off-limits. Add to this the social stress of sitting in on meals with friends and family where you must now pass on the 95% or more of the dishes being served, and its very easy to see how a well-meaning switcher could easily give up. So I see fake meat products as a good way to ease the transition for new vegetarians. They can be products to fall back on while one learns more about the huge variety of meals that can be prepared without animals. More importantly, they can help mitigate any social awkwardness during barbeques and family gatherings. Its sometimes easier just to eat a disgusting tofu-dog than to explain to 20 different people why it is that you’re only eating carrot and celery sticks.

    Once someone becomes truly comfortable with their new lifestyle, then I would hope that they would no longer need or even desire these fake meat food stuffs.

  3. L. Claude says:

    Added on November 2nd, 2004 at 7:06 am

    I admit that I purchase a couple of packs of soy dogs throughout the summer cookout season. In doing so, I have discovered that it wasn’t necessarily the hot dog itself that I enjoyed all those years; it was the condiments that seemed to make the dog. The same has proved true for me when I make veggie burgers or egg sandwiches. Lettuce, tomato, onion, relish, MUTHTARD, mayo, etc. all seem to create the flavor of what I call a sandwich. Insert protein of choice.

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