ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Meat analog

Hey kiddo, have you ever heard of meat analog? It’s a type of food that looks and tastes like meat, but it’s actually made from other things, like plants.

So, have you ever eaten a hot dog or a burger? Those are meat products, right? Well, meat analog is like a pretend version of those things. Imagine if someone made a hot dog or burger out of vegetables instead of meat. That’s what meat analog is like!

Meat analogs are made from all sorts of things like soybeans, mushrooms, lentils, or even wheat. These ingredients are mashed up, mixed together with some other ingredients like spices and oils, and then cooked to make them taste good.

One really cool thing about meat analog is that it can be made to look and taste like different types of meat. For example, there are some meat analogs that taste like chicken, others that taste like beef, and even some that taste like fish!

So, why would someone want to eat meat analog instead of real meat? There are lots of reasons! Some people don’t eat meat for religious or cultural reasons, while others might be trying to eat a healthier diet. Meat analog can be a great way to enjoy some of your favorite meat dishes without actually eating meat!