A few years ago a commercial for a meat product, I think it was for beef. Well, there were two families sitting together for dinner and it was at the end of the meal. A cake was bought out. A young smiling girl glowed as she eyed her cake. The fathers gathered around. The father who was depicted as eating vegetables could barely blow out the candles. The burly looking meat eating father came over to blow out the candle. And wouldn’t you know it, his mighty breath not only blew out the candles but blew a hole in the wall which also sucked out the “weakly veggie dad.”

The motto for men, eat meat be strong, gr-r-r-r. The commercials aim was to appeal to men to eat meat so they can stay strong. According to some recent finding out of the University of Chicago,“heavy meat eaters claim that they eat meat because it tastes better than other foods, such as meat substitutes.” But in a recent study male participants ate a vegetable substitute and deemed it acceptable in terms of taste because they thought it was meat.

The researchers concluded that one’s personal beliefs influence what one tastes.

Symbolically many men view meat as a source of power, strength and virility. Vegetables are not viewed as powerful. Whoever heard of ‘mighty carrot’! However all it took was to have the study participants think they were eating meat and then the veggie burger was well received.

The mind is powerful and thoughts do much to create one’s reality. Probably not every veggie burger would pass this taste. However since it is mainly the spices and seasonings that contribute to the taste and flavor of a burger, be it a meat or veggie burger, making healthy food taste good will make it easier for any recalcitrant eater.