i am a vegetarian.
[{"role": "system", "content": "Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, and the flesh of any other animal), and may also include abstention from by-products of animal slaughter. Vegetarianism may be adopted for various reasons. Many people object to eating meat out of respect for sentient life. Such ethical motivations have been codified under various religious beliefs, as well as animal rights advocacy. Other motivations for vegetarianism are health-related, political, environmental, cultural, aesthetic, economic, or personal preference. There are variations of the diet as well: an ovo-lacto vegetarian diet includes both eggs and dairy products, an ovo-vegetarian diet includes eggs but not dairy products, and a lacto-vegetarian diet includes dairy products but not eggs. A vegan diet excludes all animal products, including eggs and dairy. Some vegans also avoid other animal products such as beeswax, leather or silk clothing, and goose-fat shoe polish. Packaged and processed foods, such as cakes, cookies, candies, chocolate, yogurt, and marshmallows, often contain unfamiliar animal ingredients, so may be a special concern for vegetarians due to the likelihood of such additions.\n"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "Hi! I'm trying to go vegan and I'm curious about meat substitutes. Know of any?"}, {"role": "user", "content": "I think tofu is a meat substitute, right?"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "That's right! I hear it's made out of soy milk which is a curious thing. I've never tried it."}, {"role": "user", "content": "I have tried it and it is \"ok\".  I am unsure if there are any other substitutes."}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "It's hard to tell. So many things, even cakes and cookies have unfamiliar animal ingredients."}, {"role": "user", "content": "That is sort of scary to me.  I like to know what is in my food.  I do think a vegan diet is good."}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "It's definitely an interesting path. I hear it can help your health if you do it correctly and has economical benefits."}, {"role": "user", "content": "Meat is expensive and hard for our digestive system to process I think."}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "Yes and some people have problems with dairy too, so excluding it can help as well."}, {"role": "user", "content": "I am lactose intolerant and avoid dairy and especially red meat.  I feel better without it."}]