Recommended Meat Alternatives

by Michelle
(Anaheim, CA)

I am going vegan-ish, although I am not even a vegetarian. In the process of taking this step, I am finding it hard to enjoy meat alternatives besides the Boca and Morningstar burgers, which get old after awhile.

I checked your FAQ section and didn't see anything that jumped out at me on this subject. Thanks for any help you can provide!

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Sassy Sez: Hi Michelle! Firstly, congrats on your decision to check out the vegan options out there. I have found that once most folks get familiar with what is available, they'll begin to prefer certain brands over others. It isn't long after that we find the meat alternatives actually taste better than the meat we are trying to replace. But it might take just a little time to appreciate the flavors and textures. :O)

Meat alternatives can be amazingly good, and also superbly bad, as you seem to have noticed.

On the whole, meat alternatives are fine to add to your diet as you gravitate from non-veg to vegetarian or vegan. Always keep in mind that while they may be healthier than meat, they are not a "health food". They are still processed foods and most likely contain more sodium than a truly healthy diet should have.

That said...

Faux meats are fun to toss on the occasional pizza such as (Yves Veggie Pepperoni and Soy Chorizo), or to have with a Sunday brunch here and there (such as Lightlife's Gimme Lean Ground Sausage or Fakin' Bacon Smoky Tempeh Strips).

And remember, if you buy a faux meat (or cheese, etc.) that you just can't stand, most grocers will refund you. Sometimes when delving into a whole new world, it takes a little trial and error to get things right.

Here in our home, I prefer to cook with whole food options, such as organic tempeh and organic tofu, once or twice per week. The rest of our diet is vegetables, beans, grains, fruits, nuts and seeds. You may find as you become more familiar with creating your own whole foods, that your tastes will begin to prefer that over trying to pretend you are still eating how you used to.

By the way, be sure to check out my Top 10 Vegan Nutrition Tips, for future reference.

Hope this helps, Michelle.
Happy cooking! xo