Our Favorite Meat Alternatives
Looking for some meat alternatives to lower your carbon footprint and your cholesterol? We’ve got you covered. These new, innovative, “beyond soy” alternatives will satisfy your cravings in a jiffy.
Upton’s Naturals Jackfruit
A fabulous option for those making tacos, stir fry, or anything else that could use some diced chicken or meat, Upton’s Naturals Jackfruit is a welcome and innovative addition to the world of meat alternatives. Made entirely from jackfruit (so there’s no soy, dairy, or gluten), their Bar-B-Que Jackfruit and Thai Curry Jackfruit are excellent, oil-free, high fiber meat alternatives. We love the tender umami of these products, which bode well for texture freaks and those who are particular about seasoning. A delicious game changer!
The Beyond Burger
Made from pea protein rather than soy (a refreshing change!), the Beyond Burger is currently one of the most famous meat-free burgers on the market. We like it’s rich, dense texture and the fact that it’s pink on the inside before grilling to brown, just like real meat. While many vegetarians aren’t looking for a burger that approximates meat, this is a great burger for those who are.
Lightlife Veggie Meatballs
Lightlife makes great soy protein products that are a staple for most vegetarians and flex-tarians already, but the brand’s meatless meatballs really are a game changer. Douse them in marinara for a soft, delicious dose of power-packed protein, or throw over family-style pasta and see if the kids notice (they probably won’t). We also like that these meatballs can stand up to a grill and they have a nice flavor and texture already such that you can prepare them any style– in Swedish white sauce, Italian red sauce, etc.
Field Roast’s Apple Maple Breakfast Sausage
Field Roast’s Apple Maple Breakfast sausage is not just vegetarian, but vegan– made with a soy-free formulation of grains enhanced with apples, ginger, maple, and black pepper seasoning. FR makes a variety of vegetarian- and vegan-friendly meat alternatives, but these links cook up quick and offer 10 grams of protein per serving. The apple maple flavor, in particular, reminds us of much-less-healthy breakfast sausages from childhood diners. Flavor-wise, this is a good thing: we promise.
