Meat, Dairy and Egg Substitutes Reviewed

As vegetarianism continues to make its way into the mainstream, many companies are entering the meat, dairy and egg substitutes markets to satisfy the growing demand for animal product alternatives. Read these reviews of the best substitutes out there that will make the transition to vegetarianism as painless as possible.

For plain meat-free burgers, vegetarians may choose Boca's Original meatless burgers or Morningstar Farms' Grillers veggie burgers. For veggie burgers with more flavor, Boca and Morningstar Farms offer flavored varieties such as Boca's Grilled Vegetable, Roasted Garlic and Roasted Onion burgers or Morningstar Farms' Mushroom Lover's, Philly Cheese Steak and Spicy Black Bean veggie burgers.

Meat Casseroles

Boca and Morningstar Farms also sell other meat alternatives. Boca's other products include meatless ground burger, pizza and Chik'n Nuggets. Morningstar Farms also carries meatless corn dogs, Veggie Breakfast Bacon Strips and meatless buffalo wings.

Several companies offer cheese alternatives. Note to vegans: many cheese products advertised as "soy cheese" or "lactose-free" often contain an ingredient called casein, which is derived from milk but is not lactose. Those who wish to avoid dairy products of all kinds should be sure to read ingredient labels and be aware of casein.

For truly dairy-free grated parmesan cheese, Vegan brand is a good option. Vegan brand also offers cheese slices in mozzarella and American flavors. These slices are great when used cold in sandwiches. Vegan cheese, however, is typically not great for melting.

But there is one dairy-free cheese brand that melts extremely well and is delicious: Follow Your Heart brand cheese. This cheese comes in mozzarella, cheddar, nacho and monterey jack varieties. It can be used in anything from pizza to cheese fries to tacos and quesadillas.

For egg substitutes in baked goods, many health food stores sell powdered Ener-G Egg Replacer that can be mixed with warm water to use in place of eggs in baked goods. If Ener-G Egg Replacer is not available, 1 tablespoon cornstarch plus 3 tablespoons water can be used as a substitute for one egg in baked goods.

For a scrambled egg alternative or an egg salad alternative, tofu is a great option. For scrambled tofu, break up a block of tofu and add turmeric, salt and pepper to taste, along with sauteed veggies like onions, garlic and sundried tomatoes.

For a tofu mock egg salad, mix a broken up block of tofu with 1/3 cup Vegenaise (a mayonaise substitute also made by Follow Your Heart brand) and 1 tablespoon of mustard. Add to this celery, green onions, thyme and salt and pepper to taste.

For those who forego dairy, there are many alternatives to cow's milk. Silk sells an organic soymilk that can be drank alone or put in cereal or "Silkshakes". Silk also sells a delicious chocolate soymilk beverage. For a creamier chocolate soy milk, though, you may opt for the 8th Continent brand soy milk.

For those who do not enjoy the taste of soy milk, most grocery stores sell rice milk, which is a lighter beverage than soy milk, or almond milk, which has a pleasant, nutty taste.

Finally, vegans and those who avoid dairy can enjoy dairy-free ice cream that tastes just like the real thing. The most accessible non-dairy ice creams are Tofutti brand and Soy Delicious brand. Some grocery stores also supply rice ice cream.

Being vegetarian or vegan is a lot easier today because of these meat, dairy and egg alternatives. Luckily, most of the above mentioned brands are available in most grocery stores. If you cannot find a product that you want, though, be sure to talk to grocery store managers, who in most cases will be happy to order products for customers.

Meat, Dairy and Egg Substitutes Reviewed

Michael Russell Your Independent Vegetarian guide.

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Best Meat Substitutes For New Vegetarians Who Miss the Flavor

If you are new to a vegetarian lifestyle, you might find yourself missing meat. Keeping those cravings at bay are key to sticking to your new meatless habits. So how can you satisfy your longings? Here are some of the best meat substitutes.

When I became a vegetarian over 25 years ago, it was difficult to find meat analogs, or fake meats. You couldn't buy veggie hot dogs or meatless burgers anywhere, much less at any grocery store. I had to come up with my own recipes to get the flavor of the meat I was missing.

Meat Casseroles

Get Spicy

One of the first recipes I developed was a meatless Portuguese bean soup recipe. I realized much of the flavor was from the spices in the Portuguese sausage. So I incorporated those into the soup, and voila, a lovely vegetarian rendition.

If you have a favorite recipe with lots of spices, see if you can't use just the spices and leave the meat out. Chances are good that the flavor you are looking for comes more from the spices than the meat itself.

But this won't work if the base flavor is meat. So how to substitute for that?

Fake Burgers

Today you can find a wide selection of meatless burgers in the frozen section of any grocery store. If not, take a trip to your local health food or natural products store. You'll be overwhelmed with the selection there.

Meatless burgers usually are flavored either with various oils and extracts (from soy, mushroom, and yeasts), or with vegetables and grains. They tend to be mostly vegetable flavored, or made to taste similar to meat. Try the "meaty" ones.

If you grill the burgers or fry them in a pan with a little oil, to get a crispy outside, you might be surprised at how satisfying they can be. Add all the trimmings you normally do: cheese (or an alternative), mustard, pickles, mayo, whatever, and I bet you'll be pretty happy.

If not, try other varieties and brands. The flavors and textures very hugely, from chewy and smoky, to mushy and bland. Don't give up after just a few. There are so many to try, I'm sure you'll find something you like.

Meat Analogs

Several companies also make fake meat products, such as chicken strips or chunks, luncheon meats, pepperoni, and hot dogs. Again, the tastes vary quite a bit from brand to brand. But they can be very satisfying. Look for them in the freezer or deli section, as dried bits to be rehydrated, or canned.

I love veggie pepperoni, chopped up and added to a pizza. Or veggie hot dogs added to baked beans.

Being a vegetarian doesn't mean you have to give up the foods you love. With a little trial and error, you can re-create those comfort foods, including meat. It takes some persistence and willingness to experiment. But you are likely to find decent meat substitutes when you miss that meaty flavor.

Best Meat Substitutes For New Vegetarians Who Miss the Flavor

Find award-winning vegetarian and vegan recipes at my blog: http://almostveganinparadise.wordpress.com/

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