# "Good for you" versions of food that actually taste better than the original **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 19, 2006, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156 "2006-02-19T02:53:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/41 "2006-02-21T16:36:45Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > There’s no such thing as soy milk. > It’s soy juice. > Know how come I know there’s no such thing as soy milk? > Because there’s no soy titty, is there? Ha ha. It’s all nourishment from the breast of Mother Earth. Technically speaking, soymilk is an **aqueous extract** of soybean protein, similar to _latte di mandorla_ (almond milk), coconut cream, and coffee. Silk even makes special soy “creamer” for coffee. Their soymilk packages are printed with fun trivia and haiku. Like… _soy cows do not moo they are udderly silent unless they stampede_ After getting used to soymilk, I felt I had grown accustomed to its distillation of the pure white sweet smooth essence of the best notes of milk flavor. After that, drinking cow milk had a definite whiff of the beast in it, the kingdom _Animalia_, the smell of cow hides. The history of cow ranching from its mythology in the American West back to its mythology involving Krsna, Radha, and the other cowgirls (_gopis_). ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/42 "2006-02-21T16:39:24Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > There is nothing fouler than taking a nice big gulp of milk and it turning out to be that chalkly crap they try to pass off as a milk substitute. Well, if you expect one thing and get something else, it almost always tastes foul. But soy milk is not milk _substitute_ - it’s just a different food item. You don’t refer to pork as a _beef substitute_, do you? ---
**Author:** ![NailBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@NailBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NailBunny)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/43 "2006-02-21T16:46:16Z")
I enjoy all the “fake meats” much more than real meat (particularly Morningstar Farms…mmmm). Also, any recipe made with ground beef is infinitely better made with crumbled tempeh instead! ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/44 "2006-02-21T20:10:15Z")
> [@Patty O'Furniture](#): > > I liked Fresca long before I knew it was a diet soda. Then somebody broke the news to me. “You’re drinking Fresca? That’s _diet_ soda!” > > “Eww”, I said as I held the bottle out at arm’s length and looked at it disapprovingly. Then I thought about it, brought the bottle close and did the sniff test as if I was re-discovering the product for the first time, and went right back to drinking it. 🙂 I’ve been drinking diet soda for so long it’s what soda is, to me. I actually don’t like the full-sugared sodas due to the way they make my lips all sticky. But I’m not much of a soda drinker anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/45 "2006-02-21T21:12:59Z")
Lean Pockets taste better than normal Hot Pockets. The bread is flakier and tastier and the contents aren’t any different. Of course, this might only apply to the barbecue Pockets, as I refuse to eat any Hot Pockets that have cheese sauce in them. Add me in as preferring diet to regular soda. Regular’s far too sweet, while diet’s a better palate cleanser. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/46 "2006-02-22T01:28:25Z")
Count me as another who prefers diet soda to regular. Diet soda is my default soda- I only drink regular when my stomach is upset and I’m trying to settle it. I prefer skim milk to any other kind of milk. I prefer Morningstar Farms veggie sausage patties and veggie bacon to real sausage patties and bacon (good thing now that I keep kosher). I’ve preferred whole wheat bread to white bread from age 8 or so. I like whipped cream cheese much better than regular cream cheese. Whipped cream cheese is a lot closer in calories to light than to regular. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/47 "2006-02-23T20:33:27Z")
Anyone a fan of Morningstar Farms **Tomato Pizza Burgers**? Those are so tasty, my mouth is watering right now. I could live off Cheeseburger Lean Pockets…wait, I think I do! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/48 "2006-02-23T20:50:04Z")
As you can see, we have a large dispute over whther Diet soda “tastes great- tastes terrible”. The answer is both. You have to get used to either. For those of you drinking a lot of Sugared soda and who want to cut out a few calories, I suggest the following. For 1-4 weeks, drink ONLY diet soda (and Cyrstal lite and such). NO SUGARED SODAS AT ALL, NOT EVEN A TINY TASTE. Try not to use platic straws (drink straight from the cup!) and try to add some lime or lemon slices if you can. I can personally guarantee you that after 1-4 weeks, Diet soda will taste “normal” and sugar soda will taste syrupy and nasty. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/49 "2006-02-23T21:52:57Z")
Not really. I drink nothing but diet drinks and have for over a year but regular varities taste fine when I have occassion to drink them. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/50 "2006-02-23T23:52:04Z")
Off to our food forum. Moved from IMHO to CS. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/51 "2006-02-24T00:33:33Z")
First off, some of you people are just plain nasty. I won’t mention any names. The only one of these I agree with is diet pop. When I found out I was diabetic, I switched and now I can’t stand regular pop (not supposed to have it anyway, but every once in a while i get a sip). Someone mentioned thin crust pizza which I prefer, but I never thought of it as healthier. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/52 "2006-02-24T02:20:08Z")
Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper kicks ass. Even the original Dr. Pepper’s ass. > [@Podkayne](#): > > Along the same lines, natural peanut butter (Ingredients: Peanuts, salt.) kicks the ass of homogenized, chemically enhanced Jif, Skippy, et. all. I’ll second that! I’ll even take it a step further, since my preferred variety of natural is Trader Joe’s crunchy unsalted. Nothin’ but ground-up peanuts. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/53 "2006-02-24T02:24:28Z")
Heresy for Southerners, I know, but I like my sweet tea sweetened with Splenda better than I like it sweetened with sugar. ---
**Author:** ![abbeytxs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@abbeytxs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abbeytxs)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/54 "2006-02-24T04:02:37Z")
> [@Speaker for the Dead](#): > > A lot of people really prefer dark chocolate to fattier, sweeter milk chocolates. I’m not sure that counts–dark chocolate wasn’t designed as a “healthy alternative.” Hey Hey Hey! Dark chocolate is full of anti-oxidants and therefore should be considered healty and eaten guilt free!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/55 "2006-02-24T04:28:30Z")
For veggie meats, my favorite thing to do is to buy Gimme Lean (the TVP stuff in a tube like Jimmy Dean is sold), smush it into a mixing bowl, and add lots and lots of herbs, spices, and olive oil. You end up with a greasy proteiny mixture that actually has some of the good mouthfeel and heat of sausage instead of the dry bland stuff that usually gets passed off as meat analog. It’s not better than great sausage ( **burundi** gets, as one of her job benefits, cheap sausage from an organic farm, and that stuff is damn tasty), but it’s much better than the cheap crap you’ll get at a diner. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![nevermore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a587f6/32.png) [@nevermore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevermore)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/56 "2006-02-24T07:41:12Z")
how weird; I came in here to post that Reduced Fat Jif peanut butter is better than regular, and it’s already been posted twice. @\_@ well, Reduced Fat Skippy is also better than regular, so there. I prefer the taste of Sweet N’ Low in my tea to sugar, and Equal in my coffee. they’re more efficient, too-- takes about half as much artificial as it does plain sugar. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156.md?page=2)