Vegetarian foods, whether Chinese or Indian, are the most expensive dollar-to-dollar for value here in Singapore. Right down to a hawker centre natural meat mixed beehoon at S$3 versus vegetarian fake meat mixed beehoon at S$5 for a similar portioned plate. Many years ago, I was half pissed and half cheeky enough to ask the vegetarian stallholder, why fake meat's more expensive then real meat. The auntie replied as-a-matter-of-factly, real meal is naturally fragrant and easier to cook, fake meat requires more condiments, skills and works to make it taste like meat. Aunties have answers to evetything, don't they?
But Drifter question is valid, why be a vegetarian when you crave for the taste of meat and eat more expensive fake meat instead of cheaper real meat. No only the value for money and your religious state of mind but the nutritional value of the food intake too. Most fake meats are flour loaded and processed with condiments.
