8 Plant-Based Meat Alternatives That Are Actually Worth Buying
Everything from nuggets and burgers to breakfast sausage and "toona"!
When it comes to cutting back on meat consumption, it might seem unattainable to transition from beef and chicken to plant-based options. But thanks to the popularity of plant-based trailblazers like the Impossible Burger and Beyond Burger, there are more options on grocery store shelves that make the transition easy and, according to many reviewers, pretty delicious. Whether your motivation to cut back on meat is health-related (according to the Mayo Clinic, opting for plant-based meals rather than red meat some of the time may reduce your risk of heart disease and other chronic conditions), or you are just looking to switch things up in the kitchen, we've rounded up some great options that make plant-based alternatives an easy go-to.
If you’re getting into plant-based meats, there is no better place to start than Beyond Meat’s convincing Beyond Burger patties. They’ll give you all the real feel of biting into a juicy burger while remaining completely vegan.
Sophie’s Kitchen recently launched a new and improved version of its canned, plant-based tuna, which is completely vegan and a convincing substitute. The canned "toona" is made with pea protein and is created to replicate the taste, texture, smell and look of regular cans of tuna. Try it in either the Sea Salt or Black Pepper flavor and enjoy a soy-, gluten- and GMO-free product whenever you’d normally opt for tuna.
Love chicken nuggets but want to cut down on your meat intake? These nuggets, which now come in a spicy flavor, are the perfect substitution. They are made from soy protein and claim to have 36% more protein and 50% less fat than animal-based nuggets. So you can still enjoy your favorite nostalgic bite without the guilt.
Dr. Praeger’s offers more than just a simple vegan patty. They also have a large variety of flavored plant-based patties, including California Veggie Burgers, Korean Veggie Burgers, Tex Mex Veggie Burgers and more. If you’re looking to upgrade your burger night with a bunch of delicious flavors (and keep it meatless) these options from Dr. Praeger’s will keep you coming back for more.
Add a little kick of spice and flavor to your plant-based chicken with these Cajun bites from Daring. They are made with only five ingredients and have the same texture and taste to real chicken — with 13 grams of protein per serving!
No matter what time of day you’re craving meat, Meatless Farm has you covered with a plant-based option. In this explore pack alone, you’ll get the opportunity to try breakfast sausage links, sausage patties, burger patties and meat-free ground. They are all gluten-free and made with non-GMO ingredients, according to the company. Plus, they have 17 to 21 grams of protein per serving.
These nuggets combine a mixture of pea protein, bamboo fiber, egg whites and golden flaxseed to create a delicious bite fit for an afternoon snack or filling dinner. According to the company, you’ll get 30% less fat in each serving plus nine grams of protein and five grams of fiber.
According to Morningstar Farms, these 100% plant protein burgers have 32% less fat than ground beef per serving while offering 20 grams of protein. They’re the perfect substitute when throwing patties on the grill or cooking up for a quick dinner — you’ll get all the flavor and texture without any of the actual meat.
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