What Are Some Good Alternatives to Meat and Eggs?

There's no denying that there are some excellent vegan-friendly options for meals that don't necessarily require a substitution. For instance, grains such as quinoa or amaranth flour can replace flour in pasta sauces, creating hearty and flavorful dishes without sacrificing the flavor. In addition, nuts such as walnuts or almonds offer a wide variety of health benefits, with some delicious recipes using them as an ingredient (such as chocolate cake). But sometimes, vegan cooking requires something more than these well-known plant-based foods. Here are some vegan-friendly alternatives to traditional animal products that can add variety and flavor to vegan cooking.

Fruits and Vegetables: As someone who eats mostly plant-based foods, I can tell you that I often need a good source of protein. Fortunately, there are many delicious vegan options for foods that feature good sources of protein - including rice, nuts, seeds, and other legumes, nuts, and seeds, and even sweet potatoes and some fruits that offer a high nutritional value. To round out the list, here are some more plant-based treats that are great as vegan meat substitutes:

Beans and Legumes: If you're looking for some healthy alternatives to beef or chicken, consider getting your protein from beans! Beans come in many forms, including pinto, kidney, garbanzo, black, and green. If you're going to cook beans, try cooking them with some legumes (like peas or lentils) to round out the nutrition. In addition to being a great source of protein, beans are low in fat, provide enzymes, vitamins, and minerals, and are generally inexpensive. You should easily be able to find a variety of beans at your local grocery store or supermarket.

Meat. One of the most common vegan burgers offered at restaurants and other establishments these days is vegan meat. While there are many different varieties, the most common is ground beef. If you can't stomach the smell of cholesterol or the taste of natural ingredients, there are a variety of other options available, including soy burgers (which aren't exactly burgers, but are almost close), barbecue, tofu, and even jerk. You can usually find these at chain supermarkets, like Safeway or Denny's, and they are usually on the lower end of pricing. Be sure to check labels carefully, though, because even "organic" (natural) meat may still use antibiotics or pesticides.

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Nuts: There are dozens of different nuts that offer health benefits of some kind to those who eat a vegan diet. Peanuts are probably the most popular, but there are also almonds, walnuts, cashews, hazelnuts, and other types of nuts. The great thing about plant-based burgers is that there are so many delicious varieties available. Walnuts, cashews, almonds, pecans, and hemp seeds are all excellent choices, as are sunflower seeds. You can order peanut or almond butter at your local co-op or drive-in market, and many people have started buying products like soy cashew sauce and hemp tofu to add to their pantry. As with all of these options, make sure that you read labels carefully.

Protein: You can also find a wide range of protein sources in a number of plant-based foods, including tofu, hemp seeds, hemp hearts, and soy milk. For those who don't feel like adding meat to their diet, there are plenty of excellent vegan substitute meals that will allow you to get the vitamins and nutrients that your body needs. Many of these are also healthier and cheaper than meat and dairy products.

These alternatives do not have to replace meat and eggs. If a vegan doesn't want to eat eggs, he or she can choose to make an egg sandwich for lunch or dinner instead. Similarly, there are plenty of delicious vegan desserts that vegans and vegetarians can enjoy. It's important to remember, though, that while veganism is generally accepted and embraced by people of all ages and cultures, not everyone will see veganism the same way. Some people may react strongly to veganism and consider it far too restrictive or unnatural.

Vegans who are open to new and creative ways to incorporate animal products into their diets may be surprised at the wide variety of vegan products that they can buy and cook with. Some of these products include vegan cheese, peanut butter, and nutritional yeast and tempeh, which can be used in a wide variety of cuisines. There are even some excellent cookbooks out there that provide an extensive listing of vegan recipes and food alternatives. And many vegans who are trying to eat healthier and lose weight also turn to vegan-friendly alternatives to meat and dairy to satisfy their taste buds and help them drop the pounds.