Whether you’re going full in on Veganuary, or you’d just like to swap out your meats to take part in Meatless Mondays, there is an endless list of meat alternatives to choose from.
The meat-free market includes everything from stand-alone burgers and sausages to fully prepared plant-based meals, so you can duplicate practically any dish without harming animals.
Read on to discover the best vegan meat alternatives to try this Veganuary.
Supermarket Own-Brands
If you’re a fan of supermarket own-brands, there are plenty of vegan options in almost every supermarket, from Tesco’s Plant Chef to the Co-op’s GRO.
USwitch ran a study on the best own-brand vegan ranges, which found Aldi’s Plant Menu the cheapest supermarket range, with ASDA’s vegan range close behind. On breadth of options, ASDA came out on top with 64 vegan products and Morrisons close behind at 63. For vegan desserts, Morrisons was the clear winner with 11 options.
The cheapest meat substitute at the supermarket? The Co-op’s Crunchy Vegetable Burgers at £1.10 for two. The perfect lazy vegan meal in our eyes. Prices move, so treat those as a snapshot rather than gospel.
Quorn
For vegetarians and vegans, Quorn is practically a household name. They want to encourage people to eat well by creating dishes packed with flavour and taste experiences from around the world.
They aim to reduce the amount of packaging they use and make sure as much of it as possible comes from renewable and recyclable sources. Quorn sells prepared meals such as lasagnes and pies, in addition to a large variety of meat-free options including buffalo dippers, fish sticks, patties, chicken pieces and steaks.
Beyond Meat
Beyond believe that switching from animal to plant-based meat will have a positive impact on four major global issues: human health, climate change, natural resource restrictions and animal welfare. By combining innovation with simple, non-GMO ingredients, they deliver the meaty experience you crave without compromise.
You'll find it hard to name a meal you can't imitate with their range, including the Beyond Burger, which seems to be the restaurant default for a vegan burger, plus meatballs, sausages, beef and beef crumbles. The burgers are also gluten and soy-free, produced from pea protein that has been heated, cooled and pressed to simulate meat.
THIS
THIS is a slightly newer brand on the block, launching in early 2019, with a range of plant-based meats made predominantly from soybean protein, water and pea protein. Many people have commented that their signature product, THIS Isn't Bacon, tastes remarkably like real bacon, with vibrant colour, a rich, smoky flavour and a good texture.
They also sell chick'n nuggets, chick'n pieces, sea salt chick'n, tikka pieces and pork-style cocktail sausages, which have had rave reviews such as “I had to double-check to make sure I wasn't eating chicken, this is good enough to pass off as chicken!” An excellent sign in our books.
VBites
VBites was founded in 1993 (as the Redwood Wholefood Company) by activist Heather Mills and has grown to become Europe's largest plant-based food maker. Mills said: “Although a practising vegan for many years, I realised that I missed the taste of burgers, pizzas and sausages and wished I could still have them. So I decided to begin developing and perfecting plant-based alternatives, and VBites was born. We now have over 140 products, and I’m so proud of what we have achieved.”
VBites' objective is to provide all of the flavour and texture of meat, fish and dairy products while avoiding the environmental, welfare and sustainability issues associated with pastoral agriculture and fisheries. At VBites you'll find an alternative to almost anything, from 'chkn' goujons to 'beeph' mince.
Meatless Farm
The Meatless Farm was founded in 2016 by Morten Toft Bech when he became concerned about health, the environment and animal welfare. He and his young family wanted to cut their meat consumption but found a shortage of tasty plant-based options.
Their team of chefs and nutritionists are passionate about creating good fresh plant-based alternatives. They're always experimenting with new flavours, and they work with farmers all over the world on ingredient quality. The plant-based beef collection from Meatless Farm covers burgers and mince, while the pork range includes sausages, hot dogs, patties and more.
The Tofoo Co
Tofu, made from soya beans, has grown in popularity in recent years thanks to how adaptable it is. It can be eaten straight from the fridge, but it shines when seasoned or marinated with bold flavours like garlic, ginger, chilli and lime. Unlike some tofu, The Tofoo Co's does not need pressing before you cook with it.
The company offers everything from tempeh to flavoured chunky pieces, but we're particularly fond of the smoked tofu, which is made only of water, soya beans, nigari and sea salt.
Whichever plant-based meat brand you choose, vegan meats have a fraction of the environmental effect of meat produced by animals. Good for you, and good for the environment.
If you're interested in taking supplements or trying a new brand, then try us out, we're Omvits. We're plant-based, ocean-friendly, with a sustainable ethos, and we're socially responsible. We're not perfect, but we are trusted by thousands of happy customers around the world.
