Reddit mentions: The best meat substitutes
We found 66 Reddit comments discussing the best meat substitutes. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 30 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.
1. Textured Vegetable Protein Chunks, 1 lb.
- 1 pound bag
- TVP Chunks 3/4 inch cubes
- Use for soups and stews
- Flavor with meat broth if desired
- Save money with combined shipping by ordering several items from Barry Farm.
Features:
Specs:
Weight | 1 Pounds |
Size | 1 Pound (Pack of 1) |
Number of items | 1 |
2. Companion - Peking Vegetarian Roast Duck, 10 oz. Can (Pack of 6)
Vegan / Vegetarian meat substituteFree from animal productsNon-GMO GlutenCholesterol FreeAuthentic Taste & Texture!
Specs:
Size | 10 Ounce (Pack of 6) |
Number of items | 6 |
3. MorningStar Farms, Veggie Breakfast Bacon Strips, 5.25 oz (Frozen)
- Mouthwatering and meatless, Morningstar Farms' plant-based Veggie Bacon Strips are a delicious, meat-free addition to any balanced diet With an inviting taste and irresistible texture, Morningstar Farms Veggie Bacon Strips cook up crisp and crunchy
- Enjoy with breakfast scrambles, waffles, pancakes, biscuits, and more
- 100% vegetarian; Low saturated fat; 40 calories per serving; Cholesterol free (contains 4.5g total fat per serving; see nutrition information for sodium content)
- A quick, convenient meat-free breakfast side; To prepare, heat in the skillet (recommended) or microwave
- Makes a tasty snack at work, afternoon pick-me-up, or late night treat Includes 1, 5.25-ounce box containing frozen Morningstar Farms Veggie Bacon Strips; Store in the freezer to enjoy anytime; Packaged for great taste
Features:
Specs:
Color | Meat-substitutes |
Height | 7.5 Inches |
Length | 5.875 Inches |
Weight | 0.33 Pounds |
Width | 0.75 Inches |
Size | 5.25 Ounce |
4. Fantastic World Foods Taco Filling, Quick Vegetarian Mix, Vegan, 4.4-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 12)
Case of 12 4.4-ounce packages (total of 52.8 ounces)Quick and hearty taco filling mix made with soy, onions, and tomatoesAll natural, low fat, and vegan; contains no artificial flavors or preservatives9 grams of soy protein per serving; just add water and oilShips in Certified Frustration-Free Packa...
Specs:
Weight | 3.795 Pounds |
Release date | August 2006 |
Size | 4.4 Ounce (Pack of 12) |
Number of items | 12 |
5. Beyond Burger, 8 Ounce
- EVEN-BETTER BEYOND BURGER: goes well (above and) beyond any other plant-based burger. For your health, for your planet, for your BBQ
- EXCELLENT SOURCE OF PROTEIN: 20 grams of plant-based protein per serving from peas and brown rice. See nutrition panel for fat, sat fat and sodium content.
- BETTER-FOR-YOU: each serving has 35% less saturated fat than 80/20 ground beef and no cholesterol
- LESS IS MORE: made with simple, plant-based ingredients with no GMOs, soy or gluten. All of Beyond Meat products are vegan, kosher and have no antibiotics or hormones
- 2 PLANT-BASED PATTIES PER PACK: we skipped the cow part, not the burger part
Features:
Specs:
Height | 8.75 Inches |
Length | 7 Inches |
Weight | 0.5 Pounds |
Width | 1.5 Inches |
Release date | August 2017 |
Size | 4 Ounce |
Number of items | 1 |
6. Bob's Red Mill Organic Textured Soy Protein (TSP), 6-ounce (Pack of 4)
Case of Four, 6 oz. bags (1.5 lbs. total)USDA Certified Organic; Vegan; Vegetarian; Kosher PareveManufactured in a dedicated gluten free facility; R5-ELISA tested gluten freeVegan meat alternative9g protein per serving; good source of dietary fiber
Specs:
Weight | 1.543235834 Pounds |
Number of items | 4 |
7. Dixie Diners' Club - Beef (Not!) Ground, 1 lb bag (Pack of 2)
- Beard trimmer with five-position guide lets you create precise trims and looks
- High-carbon steel maintains sharpness
- Bonus personal trimmer included for ear, nose, and brow
- 3-Year warranty
Features:
Specs:
Size | 1 Pound (Pack of 2) |
Number of items | 2 |
8. Tofurky, Deli Slices, Roast Beef, 5.5 oz
- Deli Slices, Roast Beef Style
- Gourmet, meatless and delicious
- Vegan.
Features:
Specs:
Color | Tofurkey |
Height | 0.1 Inches |
Length | 5 Inches |
Weight | 0.35 Pounds |
Width | 4.6 Inches |
Size | 5.5 Ounce |
Number of items | 6 |
9. Harmony House Foods TVP Sampler (8 Count, ZIP Pouches) for Cooking, Camping, Emergency Supply, and More
Meat-free, dairy-free, excellent meat substitute.Use directly in soups, stews, or other dishes.Meatless protein provides a meaty flavor without the fat and cholesterol.Product of the USA. FREE SHIPPING on $99+ orders from Harmony House Foods.Food you can trust from a nationally recognized leader!
Specs:
Size | 8 Piece Assortment |
10. Vsoy Natural Meatless Vegan Soy slice Textured Soy Protein Vegetarian Meat Substitute Unflavored 8 oz.
- Great for Soups, Stews, Stiry Fry and BBQ
- Vegan Soy Slice
- Vegetarian Meat Substitute
- Now, you can transform your favorite meat receipe into a vegan dish that's healthy, delicious and completely meatless!
- 8 oz
Features:
Specs:
Weight | 0.5 Pounds |
Size | 8 Ounce (Pack of 1) |
11. Loma Linda - Plant-Based - Sloppy Joe (15 oz.) - Non-GMO, Gluten Free, Kosher
- Safety Warning: Contains Soy (Non-Gmo).This Product Is Labelled To United States Standards And May Differ From Similar Products Sold Elsewhere In Its Ingredients, Labeling And Allergen Warnings
Features:
Specs:
Release date | June 2017 |
Size | 15 Ounce (Pack of 1) |
Number of items | 1 |
12. Sam's Harvest Jerky - Original Recipe, 4 oz. Bag (Pack of 4)
- Vegan, Gluten Free
- Certified Kosher
- Made in Oregon
- Made with whole Non-GMO soy
- Featuring organic wheat-free tamari
Features:
Specs:
Weight | 1 Pounds |
Size | 4 Ounce (Pack of 4) |
Number of items | 4 |
13. Loma Linda Vegetarian Taco Filling (20 oz.)
- Kosher; Vegan; Vegetarian
- Meatless alternative for vegan or vegetarians
- Canned vegetarian foods crafted from natural ingredients with balanced sodium
- Excellent source of protein that is naturally low in fat and no cholesterol
- Unique product for reducing meat consumption
Features:
14. Companion - Peking Vegetarian Roast Duck, 10 oz. Can (Pack of 12)
- Vegan / Vegetarian meat substitute
- Free from animal products
- Non-GMO Gluten
- Cholesterol Free
- Authentic Taste & Texture!
Features:
Specs:
Size | 10 Ounce (Pack of 12) |
15. El Burrito, Organic Soyrizo Meatless Soy Chorizo, 12 oz
- Quick fry - High heat.
- Perishable. Keep refrigerated.
- Remove casing before cooking
Features:
Specs:
Color | Soy Meat |
Height | 0.7 Inches |
Length | 8.1 Inches |
Weight | 0.7 Pounds |
Width | 2.4 Inches |
Release date | January 1995 |
Size | 12 Ounce |
Number of items | 1 |
16. Bacon Flavored Textured Vegetable Protein TVP - 2 Pound Can
100% vegetable product.Similar in texture and taste to real meat.Widely used by the food service industry.Made for complete or partial replacement of bacon.
Specs:
Weight | 2 Pounds |
17. Gardein Classic Meatless Meatballs, Protein Packed Goodness, Ready in 8 Minutes, 12.7 Ounces (Frozen)
- Contains one 12.7-ounce bag of Gardein Classic Meatless Meatballs
- An authentic blend of aromatic herbs brings an Italian accent to every meal
- With 14 grams of vegetarian protein per serving, these vegan meatballs have the taste and texture you'll love
- Ready in 15 minutes, these easy vegan meatballs are great on spaghetti, on meatball subs or crumbled in sauce
- These frozen meatless meatballs are dairy free, certified vegan and Non-GMO Project Verified
Features:
Specs:
Color | Vegan |
Height | 7.63 Inches |
Length | 3.5 Inches |
Weight | 0.7936641432 Pounds |
Width | 7.5 Inches |
Size | 12.7 Ounce |
Number of items | 1 |
18. Beyond Meat, Grilled Chicken-Free Strips, 9 oz (Frozen)
- Grilled over a mesquite fire with a sweet hint of molasses
- Made from non-GMO soybeans, peas and carrots
- Tastes, shreds and satisfies like chicken - without the cluck
- 20 grams of protein per serving
- Cholesterol free, gluten free
Features:
Specs:
Color | Vegan |
Height | 6.5 Inches |
Length | 11 Inches |
Weight | 0.56 Pounds |
Width | 6.25 Inches |
Size | 9 Ounce |
Number of items | 1 |
19. Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP), Vegan Meat Substitute, 100% Hexane Free, Made with #1 Graded Yellow Soybeans, 100% Vegan, Made in US, Imitation Beef, Gluten Free, Just Like Beef, Unflavored (1 Pack)
Made with #1 Graded Yellow Soybeans. Made in USA and 100% Hexane free. All natural and premium grade. 16 oz. package will yield 3.4 pounds when reconstituted.100% Vegan, Keto-Friendly, and low carb. Animal Free, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, and MSG Free.High in Protein (25g), low in Carbs (6g net carbs)...
20. Loma Linda - Plant-Based - Choplets (20 oz.) (Pack of 12) - Kosher
Low Fat Choplets are flavorful & full of tasty plant-based proteinHealthy alternative to traditional pork that's even lower in fat than regular Loma Linda & perfect for vegetarians & vegansSimply heat & eat, ideal for cooking anytime of the yearRequires no refrigeration or freezing, up to 36-months ...
Specs:
Weight | 1.25 Pounds |
Size | 1.25 Pound (Pack of 12) |
Number of items | 12 |
🎓 Reddit experts on meat substitutes
The comments and opinions expressed on this page are written exclusively by redditors. To provide you with the most relevant data, we sourced opinions from the most knowledgeable Reddit users based the total number of upvotes and downvotes received across comments on subreddits where meat substitutes are discussed. For your reference and for the sake of transparency, here are the specialists whose opinions mattered the most in our ranking.
Japanese Soba Noodles... you can put as much effort into as you want.
Easiest way is just boil noodles 5 minutes, rinse to cool, and then dip in a noodle sauce like hon tsuyu... it all hinges upon the noodle sauce and in my experience they are hit or miss so really find one you like.
But here is a recipe for a more involved Soba recipe,
https://damndelicious.net/2013/06/17/sesame-soba-noodles/
​
It's a filling meal, and an easy staple to store in the pantry (dried buckwheat noodles similar to dry pasta).
A good noodle sauce will be chock full of Umami and it will satisfy meat cravings in my experience, and I'm not even vegetarian.
​
I really don't know why they haven't caught on in the US... It takes like 1 or 2 minutes longer to boil than a top ramen... but the noodles are much more healthier for you as they are dry noodles, not fried like top ramen noodles.
​
Oh also here's another one I could eat for like 10 days in a row np.
https://www.tablespoon.com/recipes/stacked-caprese-salad-with-balsamic-vinegar/6a74ed4b-bad6-40bc-8622-52fd757326d0
​
Oh one more just for fun... while I always been a meat eater... for some reason growing up my mom always had these and I love them.
https://www.amazon.com/Morningstar-Farms-Veggie-Breakfast-Vegetarian/dp/B000SKP4OE
Don't get me wrong, I love bacon... and to a bacon eater this seems blasphemous... but the thing is you just gotta approach it not expecting bacon, because it isn't bacon and it won't taste like bacon or have the texture of bacon or anything... but it's really salty and tasty and if you were to put these in a BLT sandwich instead of bacon, it totally works I've done it. I love these things and I love real bacon, they are both good.
You can absolutely cook ramen noodles in the microwave; I've done it tons at work. Put the noodles in the water, nuke for 5 minutes or more until done. Then either drain the water and just use the sauce packets to make flavored noodles, or leave some of the water and add the stuff you want.
Things you can add: amazon has dried veggies - you probably don't need the 120 servings package unless you're trying to make ramen for your whole unit, but there's other smaller packages like this sampler or you can get the stuff you like in individual packages (mushrooms, corn, carrots, etc). I found I like the cabbage because it ends up being a little bit sweet.
I don't know where you're gonna get eggs in the desert, but maybe your chow folks could hook you up? Hard boiled are good but if you can get raw, you can microwave them too - stir them up in a small bowl with whatever spices you like in your eggs (I have a sweet tooth so I add half a spoonful of sugar and some garlic and basil). Then nuke for 45 seconds, stir, nuke again for 35 seconds, stir, make sure they're cooked. You can dump them in the soup or have them as a side.
The other thing might be - do you guys have a chow hall that does a salad bar? Maybe ask the cook if you can have a spare carrot, or something. Chopped carrots in ramen are delicious and colorful. Never underestimate the delight a nice colorful meal can bring you on a miserable shift. It only lasts about 5 minutes, but damn, that's 5 minutes life isn't boring.
They do dried textured vegetable protein, or you can add jerky to your ramen for some meat flavor. Jerky was the first thing I learned to drop into ramen after cheese. Speaking of cheese, you can get one of those bottles of shelf-stable cheese and melt that into the ramen if you want it creamy. You can make a nice version of cream of mushroom soup that way. There's a whole section on mushroom powder if you don't feel like soaking whole mushrooms. Alternately, cheese powder. Be careful though; it can be wicked salty.
There's also a whole section of powdered soups that includes some wild stuff - you can make a nice curried pumpkin soup out of the pumpkin powder, if you want. It would probably be good on noodles too.
I know liquids are more expensive to ship, but a bottle of shrichana or some hoisen sauce make good flavors for the noodles for when you get solidly tired of the crap in the packets. I love hoisen sauce on my noodles.
Anyways, I don't know if those ones I linked are the cheapest ones - shop around on Amazon, or contact individual sellers and ask if you can get a military discount, maybe?
Good luck!
Seitan/Vital Wheat Gluten is bad because there's a trending subject of "Gluten Intolerance" . While it's not something to dismiss... Science doesn't recognize more than about 2% of the population of 1st World Countries as to having a reason to avoid Gluten. There are other claims made about VWG, but it's basically a broken record. VWG is a great protein source for anyone who does not have an intolerance. I would just be rational about the amount of gluten intake you're getting in a day, given the snowball-effect that can occur. That's pretty much anything, though, regardless of if it's healthy or not.
https://nutritionfacts.org/video/is-gluten-bad-for-you/
Soy is safe in feasibly possible consumption levels. The only unsafe Soy is raw. Fermented is considered safest, so go for Tempeh if you're still concerned.
https://nutritionfacts.org/topics/soy/
Avoid TVP and TSP if they are not Water-based. Bobs Red Mill TSP is a water-based production process, and is safe.
https://smile.amazon.com/Bobs-Red-Mill-Organic-Textured/dp/B002YR97SS?sa-no-redirect=1
Oatmeal is a great source of protein. Go with "Old Fashioned Oats" at least, if not Steel-Cut, etc. The less processing the better. "Quick Oats" lose a lot of the 'whole" oat which makes it such a great nutritional package.
Pea Protein Powders are good if you are hyper-concerned about protein. They tend to be "meal-replacement" shakes, though... So maybe not the best idea.
There's Beyond Meat Beyond Burger, and other "healthy" processed burgers.
Nut Butters, without/low salt, no sugar, no oil added are great. Healthy fats, high protein.
I hope this helps.
The reason they found it expensive is because they looked for easy replacements for their Standard American Diet Foods.
If you get a box of corndogs for $6 every month, then find it's the same price for half as many vegan corn dogs, you're gonna have a hard time. If you want junk food, think onion rings or tater tots instead, which are $2-3 for a huge bag.
If you are used to getting a Krispy Creme dozen for $10, finding a single vegan donut costing $3.50 is going to shock you. Instead, buy a box of Oreos for $3.
A lot of vegans will just be like "expensive? lolol rice and beans." But no one (or most people) don't want to eat bland sadness every day. As a new vegan, you just don't understand the "accidentally" vegan foods. You don't know the cheap vegan. You just know that Daiya Cheese costs more than regular cheese- I totally get that.
junk food that is vegan:
https://www.peta.org/living/food/accidentally-vegan/
https://www.peta.org/living/food/top-accidentally-vegan-foods/
https://vegnews.com/2018/7/25-accidentally-vegan-snacks-that-you-can-find-at-a-convenience-store
https://www.buzzfeed.com/whitneyjefferson/foods-you-wont-believe-are-actually-vegan?utm_term=.itjGe7dB4#.yyP47Xb9G
Some (kinda expensive but lasts a LONG time) vegan staples:
https://www.amazon.com/Dixie-Diners-Club-Beef-Ground/dp/B00T3LW20I/ref=sr_1_8_s_it?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1535965270&sr=1-8&keywords=dixie+diner (rehydrates to 3.4lbs of ground 'beef' for $10. Add to pasta sauce, or a packet of taco seasoning and use in taco/burrito/etc.)
https://www.amazon.com/Anthonys-Premium-Nutritional-Flakes-Verified/dp/B06Y1JPZ4F/ref=sr_1_5_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1535964474&sr=8-5&keywords=vegan+nutritional+yeast (Used in TONS of vegan recipes to make cheesy sauce, eggs, sour cream, cream cheese, etc., or to add a cheesy-nutty nuance to many dishes. Top popcorn or pasta with it. $13 for MONTHS worth of servings.)
https://www.amazon.com/Planters-Fancy-Whole-Cashews-Salted/dp/B00ADX5WZ2/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1535964626&sr=1-2-spons&keywords=cashews&psc=1 (you'll find the bulk of vegan pasta sauces, dips, sour cream, cream cheese, lasagna, and tons of other shit require soaked cashews. $16 is again, months worth.)
https://www.amazon.com/DEEP-Black-Salt-3-5-oz/dp/B003WLZXBU/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_lp_img_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=YPJCRC11RX5ZJBTKHCEP&dpID=51EigfPKPIL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=detail Kala Namak/black salt. It adds a sulfur-eggy flavor to anything (i.e., tofu egg scrambles, ramen.) It's a giant bag of salt for $4. Almost as cheap as regular salt.
Easy cheap vegan meals:
Biscuits and gravy (Bisquick is vegan.)
Pancakes (Again, Bisquick. Also maple syrup and margarine.)
Burrito (rice, beans, the vegan beef I mentioned above, gauc/salsa/fake sour cream/corn/onions or wtf ever you like on burrito.)
Spaghetti + garlic bread (use margarine instead of butter, that's it.)
PB+J
Grain bowls (they are super easy and cheap and have a million varieties, you'll find one to your taste.)
Curries (use tofu instead of chicken. Simply Balanced by Target has a few different good, cheap vegan curry sauces if you don't like to make your own.)
Tofu scramble (tons of different varieties if you google for recipes.)
Falafel (almost all falafel mixes are vegan.)
Salad (Italian dressing is usually vegan. Bac'n Pieces are vegan.)
Veggie stir fries
Pesto pasta
Oatmeal (top with nuts, PB, fruit, cinnamon, maple syrup, raisins, whatever.)
Pasta salad, omit the salami/pepperoni.
potato salad, vegannaise instead of mayo.
Anything you can imagine with potatoes + sweet potatoes - grilled, hashbrowns, fries, hassleback, baked, tots, mashed.
Smoothies (vegan flavored protein powder is more expensive than whey, I know. But soy and pea protein isolate are very cheap. Add plain protein, banana, ice, plant milk, peanut butter, cocoa powder and sweetener/sugar.)
Chili
Caramel rice cakes topped with coconut/almond reddi-whip and nuts.
Here's some more outside of the box but cheap meals:
Jackfruit pulled pork (I just use slowcooked jackfruit and storebought BBQ sauce.)
Fried plantains
Fried zucchini
Tempura veggies
Baked acorn or butternut squash with margarine + brown sugar
Zucchini fritters (there's recipes everywhere and they're amazing.)
Chow mein
Pan fried bean sprouts
Chia pudding
Ceviche omit the shrimp/fish
Roasted eggplant
Mujaddara
Mushroom shawarma
Plant milk is more expensive than cow's milk, but you can make cheap-ass oatmillk at home*. There's tons of baking egg replacers (banana, applesauce, etc,) but I highly recommend flax egg** for some easy omega-3s.
Some life-saving cheap recipes:
https://avirtualvegan.com/oat-milk/ *
https://lovingitvegan.com/how-to-make-a-flax-egg/ **
https://ohsheglows.com/2017/11/08/all-purpose-vegan-cheese-sauce/
https://cookieandkate.com/2018/vegan-sour-cream-recipe/
https://www.connoisseurusveg.com/cashew-cream-cheese/
https://www.cearaskitchen.com/vegan-yogurt/
https://www.joyfulhealthyeats.com/vegan-chickpea-cookie-dough/ (the semi-sweet chocochips at Trader Joes are vegan, so are their marshmallows. I recommend adding both.)
I realize how big my post is now that I'm finished.. Hope you find it helpful haha.
Yeah dairy was hard for me to give up too, mostly because of ice cream but I have since found some that tastes like regular ice cream but has no dairy :) You might like something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Loma-Linda-Vegetarian-Substitutes-Filling/dp/B012F2T0MO?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0
This brand I can only find on Amazon but they make vegetarian and vegan canned foods and all of the ones I have tried so far were really good imo. The nice part too is that since they are canned they don't fill up freezer, they have a long shelf life and easy to make for people who don't like to cook or don't have time. The taco filling is my favorite but they make all kinds of stuff.
I call them phoenix wings, and, as a meat eater, it's one of the few meat-alikes I find just as satisfying as the real thing.
* My favorite wing sauces, phoenix or otherwise.
A roux can be made with flour and any fat source, it doesn't have to be butter. You can do it with vegan butter or even any (high smoke point, if you're going to brown it) vegetable oil. Any kind of non-dairy milk will work (even water in a pinch), but cashew has a pretty neutral flavor. Almond and rice milk tend to be lighter and sweeter, but this is basically just due to the amount of sweetener added to them, and you can add sugar to any plant milk or mixture to sweeten it just the same.
For even more added richness, there are vegan versions of cream, and homemade recipes for it, like cashew cream.
> Chipped beef
Unfortunately chipped beef is actually usually harder to make than a roux. For the closest taste and texture, you'd make a homemade seitan recipe for roast or corned beef, and shave it into thin slices when done.
There are also various commercial options which can save time, though they'll be more expensive, sometimes hard to find, or less realistic or flavorful than you can make yourself:
> Kielbasa
Make a seitan recipe for sausage, and add the flavorings used in Kielbasa: Garlic cloves, garlic powder, marjoram (optional), black pepper, and Cure #1 (Prague Powder #1, pink salt, curing salt).
If you want their texture, you can put it in a "vegetarian sausage casing" (they're made from plants, and are vegan). A seitan Kielbasa can be simmered, steamed or smoked (or if you want a quicker way to add smokey flavor directly to the seitan mix rather than the outside, add a small amount of liquid smoke to it instead) as sausage would be.
I was in the same boat coming into veganism. Lots of slow-cooked meats, lots of whatever.
I gotta say, discovering making my own seitan has been wonderful. Just a great texture when pressed and seared right, and picks up all the rich, smokey flavour. And the protein value, good god. I'm a huge fan now, and I never knew about it before going vegan.
If there's anyone in a similar boat, but doesn't have the patience to make your own, I actually really enjoy this brand of canned stuff: https://www.amazon.com/Companion-Peking-Vegetarian-Roast-Duck/dp/B01EM79OJY/
Obviously there's better out there, but that's what introduced me to the world of seitan.
For those unfamiliar, you prepare this by mixing with boiled water and seasonings of your choice. The consistency ends up much like ground turkey, and we use it the same in recipes. It's great as a taco filling, in hamburger-helper type dishes, and any others. There is also a chunk version that is very much like chicken chunks and is great in enchiladas, salad, dips, etc. Both are dry and easy to store, and inexpensive compared to meat.
I reckon you mean TVP, tofu, soy chunks, and seitan. Those are probably not available at most Wal*Marts. TVP and soy chunks are dry and non-perishable, you can order those online from Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Textured-Vegetable-Protein-Barry-Farm/dp/B00015YTS8/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=tvp&qid=1568488007&sr=8-5
https://www.amazon.com/Textured-Vegetable-Hoosier-Hill-Farm/dp/B06XP68NLH/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=tvp&qid=1568488038&sr=8-3
If you live near a health food store like Whole Foods, they will have all the foods I mentioned. But it will be more expensive than ordering online or shopping at an Asian market. If you live anywhere close to an Asian market, as a vegetarian that will be your best source for buying cheap foods in bulk. Even if it’s a 2 hour drive, it’s probably worth it, you can go once a month and get a month’s worth of food.
I live in India. Here, everybody buys their dry foods in bulk once a month. Rice, flour, beans, lentils, soy chunks, cooking oil, spice mix, etc. That’s the most economical option and you’ll know that you always have plenty of food at home.
>what do you usually snack on
I was raised not to snack, so I don’t feel the urge outside of meal times. If I do feel peckish mid-day, I drink a few glasses of water. If you are prone to snacking, sugary drinks and salty snacks are your enemy.
Instead, try some fresh vegetables. Like long slices of cucumber, carrot, celery, daikon, radish, or broccoli – which you can combine with yogurt dip, hummus, cheese cream, dijon mustard, salsa, etc. Another option is unsalted popcorn with nutritional yeast. Or have some 0% fat FAGE Greek yogurt, mixed with equal parts of water. It’s delicious on its own and doesn’t need any sugar.
Have you considered TVP?
It is Textured Vegetable Protein. It takes the place of meat in most dishes, but I would not consider it a meat substitute as it is truly "its own animal" and doesn't mimic any meat very well IMHO. Great in sauce based dishes.
For the “chik’n” I used “Verisoy soy slices” This is what the package looks like I find that they're cheaper if you can find them in a local asian market. I simmered them in a vegan chicken style broth then marinated them overnight. I had leftover vegan gravy already which made this really fast to assemble. Just saute whatever veggies you want (I used onion, celery, carrot, peas) and cut your soy slices into small strips and saute with the rest of your veggies with some salt pepper and sage. When the flavor and texture of your vegetables is to your liking add your gravy and thin it out a little with some stock or water, then add to your roasting pan and top with your biscuits. This was out of this world in flavor and similarity to the real deal. The biscuit recipe I used was posted Here by u/shugamag and they were so good! I didn't get as much lift as hers but still check her recipe out. I made the biscuits ahead of time too for another recipe and froze the rest. This is a great recipe to have in your back pocket after the holidays if you're looking for a way to use up leftover gravy and biscuits as this would work with already cooked biscuits as well
Protein powders of course top the list, but here are some others:
Firm Tofu yields 64 grams/560 cals (with significantly more volume):
https://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/legumes-and-legume-products/4393/2
Textured vegetable protein chunks: 85.2 grams/564 cals
https://www.amazon.com/Textured-Vegetable-Protein-Barry-Farm/dp/B00015YTS8/ref=pd_sim_325_5?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00015YTS8&pd_rd_r=X4Z1STNFX8T4DR3XBWZF&pd_rd_w=BZgPE&pd_rd_wg=f1Kwl&psc=1&refRID=X4Z1STNFX8T4DR3XBWZF
Vegan sloppy joes at almost 45g/560 cals:
https://www.amazon.com/Loma-Linda-Blue-Sloppy-Non-GMO/dp/B071S8K8V7/ref=sr_1_27_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1520098124&sr=8-27&keywords=vegan+meat
More textured vegetable protein at 112g/560 cals:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XP68NLH/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp_2_a_it?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=3341940462&pd_rd_wg=hfnHE&pf_rd_r=SR93H57DSYMHXQBTHM15&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-bottom-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B06XP68NLH&pd_rd_w=8y66L&pf_rd_i=seitan&pd_rd_r=4d3c7461-fb1f-4864-b96a-bf62bd298b2b&ie=UTF8&qid=1520098283&sr=2
And there's plenty more. Can't remember where I found another one aswell but there's vegan scrambled eggs that has almost all of it's calories come from protein, I think it's like 26g/110 cals? Can't remember though. Just need to do a bit of research and it's pretty easy to find.
I order many things from Amazon with free Prime shipping. My favorite is Textured Vegetable Protein Chunks which are fantastic in chili. They also have the crumbles from Barry Farm. Link below.
I also make vegan cheese with is easier than you think using the Miyoko book The Homemade Vegan Pantry: The Art of Making Your Own Staples. You can get supplies from Barry Farm too.
https://www.amazon.com/Textured-Vegetable-Protein-Chunks-lb/dp/B00015YTS8/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?srs=2582941011&ie=UTF8&qid=1467126626&sr=8-1&keywords=chunks
I love this jerky so much. I have to limit how often I can buy it. 😊
Sam's Harvest Jerky - Original Recipe, 4 oz. Bag (Pack of 4) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VKR3HWK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_eInhDbEXJVK0P
One of my favorite cooking items is TVP and TVP chunks. They don't taste like anything on their own, they take on the flavor of what they're cooked in. The granules are really good substitute for ground beef in taco filling, gravy, hamburger helper type recipes, anything. The chunks make a really good chicken substitute. Reconstitute some and add it to a crock pot of ranch dressing, buffalo wing sauce, and cream cheese and eat with Fritos. Holy shit it's good.
Also, of course, there's all kinds of beans, nuts, dairy if she eats that, eggs if she eats that, those sorts of things.
Iron is sometimes difficult for vegetarians too, one quick fix for that is to cook in cast iron, which increases iron content by a crazy amount.
Since I went vegetarian, my cholesterol dropped from 213 to 163 without any other changes in my diet or lifestyle. I don't get sick any more, I'm not deficient in any nutrient, I feel fantastic.
Also head over to /r/vegetarian, lots of good recipes there.
It looks like what I was seeing was this premade seitan. I did not refer to the cost of beans vs chicken.
How do they create vital wheat gluten in the first place? I'm sure it's some amount of processing seeing how anything in flour form is processed by definition.
I'll add that I have eaten seitan before in nicer restaurants and I did enjoy it. But really, this is moot as I would much rather eat pea or rice whey than seitan if I ever went vegan.
You didn't really address my reply to your chicken vs black bean comparison. It's not as simple as you're wanting it to be. To add to that, 6oz of black bean has 39g of prot while 6oz of chicken has 42g of prot, so even your initial comparison is wrong when using weight instead of volume for comparison...as I(and others typically) weigh my food, I don't look at volume. I didn't actually address quinoa or corn, both are not my definition of high in protein, requiring 6g of protein per oz of food. I think legumes are the only vegetarian option that meets my definition of high protein.
Lol @ the Hamburg Germany thing. Not sure why I think that is funny. But you'd think with all those hamburgers running around at least one of them would be impossible.
Joking aside, it's out of stock on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Meat-Burger-0-5/dp/B074YGZ77H
Maybe it will be available sometime soon. Regardless, I don't know that it is really necessary. The best options in the store are fresh fruit, vedge, beans, and grains. All cheap as fuck.
The Fantastic World filling that you can get at PCC or Whole Foods is good and super easy. Just add boiling water.
When I make my own I just make it up, but it is something like this:
Boiling water, enough tvp to absorb the water, onion diced very fine, splash of soy sauce or worcester to give it a beefy flavor, and one package taco seasoning mix.
best answer, I order this stuff, each can has 30g of protien, and tastes really great!
stuff like this: http://www.amazon.com/Textured-Vegetable-Protein-Chunks-lb/dp/B00015YTS8/ref=pd_bxgy_325_img_2/182-5418776-4325042?ie=UTF8&refRID=14WP3RQZ6SGPZ412Z8FN
it stores well, and to use, just add hot water, let it sit, and do anything you like, like adding to a stir fry,
Also, soyrizo tacos. Another thing you wouldn't expect to be good, but grill it in a pan and it's delicious.
Add whatever sliced tomatoes, cheese, salsa, or avocado you want.
Actually I will agree with you there, I grew up eating the Sunstrips veggie bacon, and It's still a flavor I love. But it doesn't really taste like bacon tbh... They are just good as a stand alone taste
https://www.amazon.com/MorningStar-Farms-Veggie-Breakfast-Strips/dp/B000SKP4OE
yum
The meatballs have a pretty good ratio of protein:fat/carbs I think, good amount of fiber too.
I also fucking love Field Roast hot dogs which have 21g of protein for only 200 calories/3 net grams carbs. Lots of sodium but damn they're good
The Beyond Meat Chicken Strips are wonderful. I do this stuff pepper recipe sometimes and I will use these when I want it to be like pre-vegan times.
http://www.amazon.com/Textured-Vegetable-Protein-Chunks-lb/dp/B00015YTS8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397774782&sr=8-1&keywords=quorn - They don't look amazing, but nutritionally they sound great.
No worries, it's hidden in the Chen's Corner tab. My guess is something like this would work well as a base. Figuring out the batter and sauce might be hard, but at that point, anything you fry and throw some sauce on would be absolutely delicious, even if it's not exactly P2000.
Take a look at some of the vegetarian meat replacements. Some of them are largely gluten. These, for instance. (If you can find them locally, try local health-food stores, you could try a single can instead of a 12-pack.)
Mostly gluten, 2 carbs and 90 calories for two patties - and I enjoy the taste. Fry them up in a little butter, yum. Very keto-friendly.
Some Morningstar Farms items are also largely wheat gluten, and generally easier to find in stores.
I may have to give that a shot! Another really good crumble if you're looking for taco-style is this stuff. It's a dry mix, so it's shelf stable and it's really tasty.
Go to an Indian foods store and buy a few of the foil packed heat and eat meals along with a bag of soya chunks.
I do this before I go on motocamping trips. They last forever, are cheap as can be, and taste great.
I don't have a recipe, but this stuff is really good.
beyond meat
I love these burgers. They have 20g protein and 6g of carbs with 3g of dietary fiber.
former meat eater here. came to give you some plant-based hope. these are the diggity dang diddly
The brands I found say "Companion" on them. I found them on amazon actually. If you have any local asian markets you could check there and I'd bet they have them.
Edit: Just saw the other comment, yeah I would not pay $25 for 6 cans. They were about $2 a can in the store I went to.
You aren't kidding, it's 23 bucks.
Companion - Peking Vegetarian Roast Duck, 10 oz. Can (Pack of 6) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EM79OJY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_aK1dBbCZ3F0XK
Even for six cans, that's kind of pricey.
I'm going to save it to my wishlist anyway, but I probably won't get around to it anytime soon:-(
Here’s one that I do a lot.
I get these instant mash potatoes: https://m.samsclub.com/ip/idahoan-real-premium-mashed-potatoes-3-24-lbs/130450
And then dehydrate canned chicken and some veggies( mushrooms, corn, carrots ect.) and spices and vacuum pack them all into single meal containers so I can just open a pouch dump it in with my potatoes and cook them all at the same time. You can do this with rice sides or quinoa or couscous.
It’s a really easy one pot recipe and really cuts down on weight and time prepackaging the single meals ahead of time.
Also for your vegetarian friend you can substitute the dehydrated chicken in the recipe for flavored textured vegetable protein.
Here’s some of that: https://www.amazon.com/Bacon-Flavored-Textured-Vegetable-Protein/dp/B00993C3ZO
It gets old but it fills you up, and with replacing the vegetables around or the mash potatoes for rice ect. It gets old a little slower.
Based on the criticism from Amazon ordersI think a number of people also agree with me
You can also check for "textured vegetable protein" chunks.
http://www.amazon.com/Textured-Vegetable-Protein-Chunks-lb/dp/B00015YTS8
I just found some on amazon so I could try this recipe out.
I assume its similar to this, which I've seen at my local grocery store: https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Meat-Burger-0-5/dp/B074YGZ77H
TVP and homemade seitan. Homemade seitan is water + wheat gluten flour + salt and spices to taste. Boil.
Seitan is basically pure protein at 4.9 calories per gram and TVP is 6.6.
(Edit: division!)
It's TVP. I found something similar on Amazon. In my country we don't have any mock-meats and this is the only thing we can use.
Do you know about Amazon?
My mistake. I missed the "soy protein" qualifier in OP's post. I suppose it could be large TVP chunks hydrated and then seared.
it is plant based you are right but it is available locally and online goes to shit if you over cook it and texture is off with the initial bite but it will pass.