Vegan substitutes for old favorites

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Vegan-substitutes-for-old-favorites

What do you do if, say, you want to make spaghetti for your next

dinner party and you've just recently let go of meat and dairy

products in your life? Many alternatives are available today, and

some of them are even available in traditional grocery stores. If you

are new to the vegan way of life, the idea of trying to identify and

find suitable alternatives can be daunting.

 

 

 

Sometimes, it helps to begin by taking stock of where you are along

the path to veganism. For example, if you've been a vegetarian for a

few years, you likely know how and where to find meat substitutes.

You have probably tried several of them and know which ones you like

for which dishes and so forth. I know that, for me, I can't eat some

of them because the smell, texture, and/or taste are so much like

meat that I can't stand them. They are, however, wonderful for people

who may have recently been told by a medical practitioner to change

their ways or else. Becoming vegan is much harder for people who say

things like " I had to give up meat. " It's much easier for those of us

who refer to becoming vegan as " having a great weight lifted off our

shoulders. " If you are a newly minted vegan, sometimes having

transition foods helps, foods that are almost like what you were

eating last week, for example.

 

 

 

Not all meat substitutes are vegan, however, so reading labels is

important. As I write this posting, I am eating an original vegan

Boca Burger, which I bought at a traditional grocery store across the

street in Oak Park. Not all Boca burgers are vegan, however, so

always read the ingredients. Also, some Boca crumbles are vegan, and

some are not. I also enjoy LightLife Original Smart Ground for

spaghetti sauce, chili, and sloppy Joe's. I usually find LightLife

products only at Whole Foods or Trader Joe's. I also recommend Yves

Meatless Breakfast Patties and Nate's Meatless Meatballs, both of

which I usually find at Whole Foods. No, I wouldn't call them

inexpensive, but at least there's usually no waste, such as bones and

so forth.

 

 

 

A future posting will discuss what to do about dairy substitutes. So

stay tuned.