HaHa alert, stupid comments to follow . . .
I am a modified vegetarian. Cows eat plants which is like vegetables. I simply eat processed veggies.
I don't have a problem with vegans or vegetarians, it leaves more meat for us!
Now for the serious stuff. My niece's daughter has recently decided she is vegan. Her parents fixed some plant based sausage links for her. Her comment was 'they taste too much like the real thing.' They in fact did, I tried some. My niece also fixed some turkey corn chowder, lots of veggies and such, but before the meat and dairy was added some of the chowder was pulled off for her. She liked it but still commented it was missing something. My niece is going to try tofu and almond milk, should fill the bill.
I had a cook recommend some meat substitute made in his home town of Petaluma, CA. I bought some Nature's Burger, came out to be about the same price per pound as regular burger. It is a dried box mix so it's shelf life is stellar. Fixed as described, it was very good. It was even better when made into Sloppy Joe's.
I don't have a problem with vegetarian or vegan folks for their beliefs, kind of like folks who have different personal beliefs. This is America, personal liberty is a core ingredient to our national culture. I do have a problem with folks who are militant, non accepting of other's beliefs, and develop some sort of superiority complex. As Woodrow F. Call said, 'I hate rude behavior in a man, I won't tolerate it.' I think it is time to re-watch Lonesome Dove again.