Removing meat from your diet is easier than ever, thanks to delicious plant-based alternatives that fit every need.
Traditional Meat Replacements
I could just give you a list of vegan meat products available from natural food stores, but let’s instead begin by taking a step back to consider what you’re actually looking for. If you’re going to cut meat from your diet, replacing it with peaches and berries isn’t going to cut it. You’ll want to find savory, satisfying, protein-rich foods that will fill you up. Here are some foods delivering all these qualities, that vegetarians have relied on for centuries:
All of these foods are cruelty-free and rich in protein. What’s more, these foods are not only highly nutritious but also remarkably cheap.
Of course, none of these foods (except perhaps seitan) will fool anyone into thinking they’re eating meat. So let’s now look at foods capable of satisfying the most skeptical of meat eaters.
Finally, when properly seasoned, shredded, and sautéed, unripe jackfruit is an astonishingly convincing meat replacement. It’s especially good seasoned with Mexican spices as a taco or burrito filling. But know that, unlike everything else we just covered, jackfruit contains very little protein. It’s also hard to find in temperate climates, but keep your eyes open for it at vegetarian restaurants if you visit Mexico or Asia.
Packaged Vegan Meats
Vegan meats are everywhere. Even the most mainstream supermarket carries brands that satisfy every palate and fit every recipe. And any decent natural foods store offers a diverse selection of incredible vegan meat products. Just visit the refrigerated and frozen sections of your favorite market.
For detailed coverage, see these pages:
Your meaty-yet-meatless options are ever-expanding. Just be sure to read the ingredients since not all vegetarian meat products are vegan—a few brands contain dairy products or eggs.
Vegan Meat Brands
When it comes to vegan meats, your options are enormous and constantly improving. Check out all these sensational brands:
- Abbot’s Butcher (all products vegan)
- Alpha Foods (all products vegan)
- Beyond Meat (all products vegan)
- Butler Foods (all products vegan)
- Boca (some products not vegan)
- Field Roast (all products vegan)
- Gardein (all products vegan)
- The Herbivorous Butcher (all products vegan)
- Impossible Foods (all products vegan)
- Louisville Vegan Jerky Co. (all products vegan)
- MorningStar Farms (some products not vegan)
- Primal Spirit Foods (all products vegan)
- Tofurky (vegan deli meats & sausages)
- Unreal Deli (Turk’y, Corn’d Beef, Steak)
- Upside Foods (Cell-Cultured Chicken)
- Upton’s Naturals (all products vegan)
Final Thoughts
If you’ve eaten meat your whole life, the products listed above will provide familiar textures and flavors that can ease your transition to plant-based eating. But I hope you’ll also experiment with tofu, tempeh, beans, and mushrooms—foods that are much cheaper and often even more nutritious.
If you want comprehensive advice on going meat-free, please see my guide to meat-free eating.
