Discussion
I'm not vegetarian or vegan and don't intend becoming on but if I'm eating a Chilli or a Curry or lasagne or something similar I probably don't care what's in it too much so long as it tastes nice.
Ocado has lots and it isn't always obvious what's plant/not-meat.
Any suggestions on what might be worth trying please?
Ocado has lots and it isn't always obvious what's plant/not-meat.
Any suggestions on what might be worth trying please?
Ouroboros said:
A natural products or something made in factories with 20+ different ingredients(McPlant)?
My OH works in the food industry as a spec writer, many of the vegan stuff has up to 80 ingredients in the product with many more that don't need declaring. The meat based are usually about 15. hoagypubdog said:
Ouroboros said:
A natural products or something made in factories with 20+ different ingredients(McPlant)?
My OH works in the food industry as a spec writer, many of the vegan stuff has up to 80 ingredients in the product with many more that don't need declaring. The meat based are usually about 15. We didnt sell a lot and now just sell fried haloumi instead.
hoagypubdog said:
My OH works in the food industry as a spec writer, many of the vegan stuff has up to 80 ingredients in the product with many more that don't need declaring. The meat based are usually about 15.
Indeed, these 'fake meat' products are so processed, and full of calories, they are no way a healthy alternative to actual fresh meat.(See also: a lot of the 'alcohol free' beers that have similar calories real beer)
In another thread I recommended The Vegetarian Butcher's Chickened Out burgers.
I tend to go for plant-based as something a bit different but usually if it's in the reduced aisle or there's an okay-ish deal.
Quorn mini cocktail sausages were okay until they noticeably changed the recipe.
However, things that put me off anything plant-based are the high salt and chemical/additive content that I've had no control over as opposed to buying some meat from the butcher, the fact that I'm effectively eating something developed and manufactured in a factory and therefore not really natural, and the price tag.
I can't justify on health or financial grounds eating more of a man-made laboratory product that works out far more expensive per weight unit than not only lamb, but some more fine and exotic types of meat. Plus I know I'm getting more natural proteins and other minerals from pure meat and not a frozen Linda McCartney sausage (again, they used to taste okay but nowadays they taste as though the recipe has been tinkered with for the worst).
I tend to go for plant-based as something a bit different but usually if it's in the reduced aisle or there's an okay-ish deal.
Quorn mini cocktail sausages were okay until they noticeably changed the recipe.
However, things that put me off anything plant-based are the high salt and chemical/additive content that I've had no control over as opposed to buying some meat from the butcher, the fact that I'm effectively eating something developed and manufactured in a factory and therefore not really natural, and the price tag.
I can't justify on health or financial grounds eating more of a man-made laboratory product that works out far more expensive per weight unit than not only lamb, but some more fine and exotic types of meat. Plus I know I'm getting more natural proteins and other minerals from pure meat and not a frozen Linda McCartney sausage (again, they used to taste okay but nowadays they taste as though the recipe has been tinkered with for the worst).
essayer said:
I just had a taste of McPlant burger and I couldn’t tell the difference
I think that speaks volumes about the poor quality of McDonalds food than anything else!I stepped inside my local one for the first time in this week after going veggie a few years back - thought it was the worst meat-alternative burger I've had, anywhere.
They use the beyond meat burger but so do many other places that manage to make a much better job of putting it together into something semi-edible - Brewdog for example.
As a veggie I have to agree though, many of the processed meat alternative products are utter garbage and contain a ridiculous amount of ingredients, and taste nothing like what they are trying to replicate. We tend to avoid 'cheeze', 'chickn', 'sosij' etc unless out and about with little other alternatives. When cooking at home and making chilli for example we'll substitute a variety of beans for protein and add a load of chopped mushrooms for texture, rather than use the processed mince alternatives.
For me these products defeat the purpose of why many go veggie - to try and eat a healthier diet.
sherman said:
If you dont plan on being veggie why bother?
Beyond meat products seem to get good reviews.
The only reasons I occasionally have a meat free alternative, is if we have guests round who are vegetarian, or for a lower environmental impact. Beyond meat products seem to get good reviews.
Beyond meat burgers are quite good. I don't mind the Richmond meat free sausages, which is surprising as the Richmond sausages that claim to actually have meat in aren't that nice! Both better for the environment.
Local wild deer also has a very low environmental impact and tastes much nicer though.
A plant based diet and plant based alternatives to meat are two different things. One can consume a veritable plethora of meals made with real plant based and natural ingredients, just as one can also delve into the quite astonishing array of plant based alternatives to satisfy meaty flavours, textures etc etc (with admittedly mixed results!).
OP - I've tended to find places like Aldi and Lidl are at the forefront of the current consumer market for veggie / vegan stuff - on price point, ingredients, and introduction of additional items. I am always interested in trying out the off-the-shelf plant based alternative meat things, but that probably accounts for 10-20% of my intake as opposed to cooking and preparing meals with established recipes and real, unprocessed foodstuffs.
Most high street chains now have a dedicated section for vegetarian and vegan bits. Won't lie to you - it is a bit hit and miss, I've found some brands can really help sooth any cravings (I quite like the 'This Isn't Bacon' stuff, for example - especially when reduced!) but there is a lot of crap out there too.
If you're looking at lasagne or chilli, and the only real meaty thing in a regular one is.. well the meat.. then a simple switch would be plant based mince, and maybe cheese if you want to go the vegan route. Linda McCartney Vegemince is bang on for price and taste / texture.
OP - I've tended to find places like Aldi and Lidl are at the forefront of the current consumer market for veggie / vegan stuff - on price point, ingredients, and introduction of additional items. I am always interested in trying out the off-the-shelf plant based alternative meat things, but that probably accounts for 10-20% of my intake as opposed to cooking and preparing meals with established recipes and real, unprocessed foodstuffs.
Most high street chains now have a dedicated section for vegetarian and vegan bits. Won't lie to you - it is a bit hit and miss, I've found some brands can really help sooth any cravings (I quite like the 'This Isn't Bacon' stuff, for example - especially when reduced!) but there is a lot of crap out there too.
If you're looking at lasagne or chilli, and the only real meaty thing in a regular one is.. well the meat.. then a simple switch would be plant based mince, and maybe cheese if you want to go the vegan route. Linda McCartney Vegemince is bang on for price and taste / texture.
Truckosaurus said:
hoagypubdog said:
My OH works in the food industry as a spec writer, many of the vegan stuff has up to 80 ingredients in the product with many more that don't need declaring. The meat based are usually about 15.
Indeed, these 'fake meat' products are so processed, and full of calories, they are no way a healthy alternative to actual fresh meat.(See also: a lot of the 'alcohol free' beers that have similar calories real beer)
As an example lets look at a Mcdonalds burgr comparison
Plant Based Burger
Water, Pea Protein (16%), Rapeseed Oil, Coconut Oil, Flavouring, Rice Protein, Stabiliser (Methyl Cellulose), Potato Starch, Apple Extract, Salt, Pomegranate Extract, Potassium Chloride, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Maize Vinegar, Yeast Extract, Carrot Powder, Emulsifier (Sunflower Lecithin), Colour (Beetroot Red), Maltodextrin
Beef Patty
100% Pure Beef.
No additives, fillers, binders, preservatives or flavour enhancers. Just pure forequarter and flank. A little salt and pepper is added to season after cooking
Can someone please tell me how the plant based burger is better for me or the environment?
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