When you decide to be vegan, one of the first things you will hear is “how will you get protein?” or “what will you replace the meat with?”
It’s a good thing that there are so many vegan brands that offer meat substitutes such as faux barbecued “chicken”, burgers, sausages, chorizo, and so on; but even if it were not so, meat is not the sole protein source. There is a lot of healthy plant protein out there in the plant world. Therefore, meat does not necessarily need to be substituted. With a healthy and balanced diet you will have all the nutrients you need.
What Are Some Of The Best Brands?
Daiya, Gardein, and Field Roast are high on my list, and Lightlife, Tofurkey, Yves Veggie Cuisine, and Morningstar Farms are also very good. Then there is Sweet Earth Natural Foods, Trader Joe’s, and the award-winning Beyond Burger from the Beyond Meat company.
These vegan meat substitutes have been getting better in time, and they taste incredible. Beyond Meat products taste a lot like meat, a non-vegan friend once told me. For me, these substitutes don’t necessarily have to have a meaty taste. If you give me a nut burger, I will salivate over its delicious flavor. I once had a homemade nut burger at our local organic market and it was mouthwatering good!.
Meat is not the only thing that is replaced. Daiya offers delicious vegan pizzas, cakes, and many other delicacies. Tofurkey has great cold “meats”. Gardein brings us delectable vegan “chicken”, barbecue, and holiday roasts. There’s just so much on the list.
I’ve made black bean and soy chorizo patties (which were a big hit with my non-vegan colleagues), lentil patties, portobello burgers, vegan “lamb” burger (that’s a longer recipe, but it’s worth making the time for it), bean patties, and veggie patties; vegan pizza, lasagna, stroganoff, enchiladas, nachos, and much more. I enjoyed every single meal and was always happy to share and let friends and colleagues indulge 🙂 . But enough about me, let’s talk about the best vegan brands.
In a previous article I already mentioned Field Roast, Tofurkey, Morningstar Farms, Lightlife, Beyond Meat, and a few other brands. Daiya, Gardein, Yves Veggie Cuisine, Sweet Earth Natural Foods, and Trader Joe’s definitely belong on that list too, so, I’ll explain more about them in this post 🙂
Let’s Start With Daiya
They offer many delightful options, and it’s also important to mention that Daiya contains no allergens such as soy, gluten, peanuts, tree nuts, and dairy.
- Pizza
- A long list of cheeses (shredded, sliced, or in blocks)
- Cream cheese
- Deluxe cheeze sticks
- Mozzarella
- Cheddar
- Pepper Jack
- Smoked Gouda
- Cheezy Mac
- Sauce
- Dairy-free dressings
- Burritos
- Duets
- Coconut yogurt alternatives
- Cheezecake
- Dessert bars
Gardein – Another Favorite
This vegan food brand also offers delicious products. Let’s make another list and see what they have.
- Lightly breaded turk’y cutlets
- Beefless burger
- Meatless meatballs
- Seven grain Crispy Tender
- Golden fishless fillet
- Mini crabless cakes
- Gluten free:
- Chick’n scallopini
- Beefless ground
- Garden veggie burger
- Black bean burger
- Holiday roasts
- Pocket meals
- Skillet meals
- Meatless meals
- Sausage, potato, and kale
- Stea’k and e’ggs breakfast bowl
- Chick’n fajita bowl
- Teriyaki chick’n bowl
- And so much more, for more details, check out the below mouthwatering photo 😉
Let’s Move On to Yves Veggie Cuisine
This is another great one. Let’s take a look at another list 🙂
- Appetizers
- Falafel balls
- Broccoli bites
- Sweet potato and chickpea bites
- Burgers
- Gluten-free veggie burger
- Kale and root vegetable pattie
- Ground round
- Garden Veggie crumble
- Dogs and sausages (options are in the photo below)
- Deli slices
- Veggie Bologna
- Veggie ham
- Veggie turkey
- Veggie salami
- Veggie pepperoni
- Breakfast
- Veggie bacon
- Veggie breakfast patties
Sweet Earth Natural Foods
Here’s another great brand with a variety of yummy products.
- Pizzas (just look at the above selection 🙂 )
- Artisan bowls
- This one has an extensive list of delicious options. I will list a few, but there are many more. I suggest you check out Sweet Earth Foods website for more information.
- Filipino Adobo chick’n
- Chana masala
- Pad Thai
- Mushroom ravioli
- Morrocan tagine
- This one has an extensive list of delicious options. I will list a few, but there are many more. I suggest you check out Sweet Earth Foods website for more information.
- Mini meals
- Empanadas
- Quesadillas
- Globally inspired and breakfast burritos
- Breakfast sandwiches
- Breakfast meats
- Veggie burgers
- Seitan
- Salad meal kits
Trader Joe’s – A Long Time Favorite
This is a brand I have been anxious to try out for a long time. It’s based in the US, and I live in Mexico. I have heard so much about Trader Joe’s. Many of my friends and acquaintances tell me to go there and try out their products, since they offer many vegan meals. It’s time to order soon, thank God for the internet, right?
Anyway, I decided to include Trader Joe’s in this review, based on its popularity and on all the positive comments I have heard and read about this company. Let’s have a look at what they offer.
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- Kale, cashew, and basil pesto
- Miyoko’s kitchen un-lox your dreams cream cheese
- Miyoko’s cultured vegan butter
- Cashew fiesta dip
- Soy chorizo
- Coconut creamer
- Trader Joe’s jumbo cinnamon rolls
- Cultured coconut milk yogurt
- Hash browns
- Super spinach salad
- Shoug sauce
- Rainbow wrap (with roasted sweet potato, curried humus, beet, and spinach)
- Salad dressings (almond butter turmeric, green goddess, carrot ginger miso)
- Vegan ranch dip
- Sriracha baked tofu
- Super burrito
- Vegan ground beef
- Cauliflower gnocchi
- Yellow jackfruit curry with jasmine rice
- Mango and sticky rice spring rolls
- Tika masala
- Kung Pao Tempura cauliflower
- Veggie burgers
- Ice desserts
- And the list still goes on. I suggest you visit your local Trader Joe’s or order it online if there is no Trader Joe’s in your town. They do have an amazing selection of vegan foods.
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Are You Off to Stock Your Fridge?
There are so many vegan products out there. I feel like stuffing my freezer with them right now 🙂 For vegans there is a whole plethora of meat substitutes, plant-based pizzas, desserts, roasts, you name it, and this makes it easy for anyone who is considering taking up a vegan lifestyle. Even for non-vegans, these are great meals. When you’re having lunch or dinner and you don’t know what to cook for vegan friends and family members, get one of those meals, heat them up, and presto! They are really good. And why don’t you try them out as well?
I have had Daiya, Gardein, and Yves Veggie Cuisine products, and I loved them. I wholeheartedly recommend them. I included Sweet Earth Natural Foods and Trader Joe’s in this review, because they deserve to be mentioned. Sweet Earth Natural Foods and Trader Joe’s haven’t made it to my kitchen shelves yet, but they will soon. Which one of these products will you add to your shelves?
While I am not a Vegan myself I have friends that are Vegan and it is great to know there are healthy and flavorful alternatives to the sausages we cook for ourselves. Sure makes for a better dinner party when your guest doesn’t feel left out taking an alternate dinner option. Now if we can just get the courage up to try them ourselves, it may be a lifestyle to help with my diabetes, but not sure I could ever do entirely without my meat.
Hi Andy, why don’t you try the Beyond Sausage by Beyond Meat? The Beyond Meat products are very good and full of flavor. A friend of mine (she is not vegan) had a Beyond Burger and she told me that it tasted just like meat.
A vegan lifestyle will definitely help with your diabetes, and there are many excellent vegan cookbooks that can help you on your way 🙂
I heard the word “vegan” foods. They tasted good. I ate few of them which are surprisingly declious. Some of them refused to eat real meat instead of “vegan” foods. Vegans foods are very healthy foods. I also ate vegan hamburger which I cannot remember which meat was and I did not know that it was vegan. Good idea to buy more vegan foods.
Hi Carolyn, yes, they taste good and are healthier than the meat versions.
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Hello Christine,
From what I understand being vegan means not eating products and by-products of animal origin. Like meat, fish, chickens, milk, honey, eggs, butter, etc. For some time I have in my head changing my diet.
I know that one day in the future I will make it because my diet will be better than the traditional one.
I love animals it’s time to prove it. Thank you!
Hello Claudio,
That is true, a vegan does not eat or use any animal products or by-products. I hope that one day you can make your transition, vegan food is delicious, and there are so many wonderful vegan companies our there.
Being vegan has become quite popular recently due to a vast number of things such as health-related problems due to eating lots of meat or animal cruelty, even because it damages our environment too. This is a nice range of various vegan foods that all look so delicious. Thanks for this article, I really appreciate it. I am looking forward to your next one.
Hi Alex,
Thank you! Yes, more and more people are becoming vegan now for the reasons you mentioned. I went vegan because of the animal cruelty. And becoming vegan nowadays is easier than it used to be, thanks to the many options that these companies such as Daiya, Gardein, and others offer.
Hi, Cristine and thanks for this educational article about vegan foods.
My wife and I like to eat vegan a couple of times a week and one of our concerns has been, “Are we getting enough Protein?”
the list of products that you have given here reminds me that I HAVE seen these in our local grocery store (Walmart sells some of these) from time to time but we haven’t been adventurous enough to try them.
Some are a little expensive but there are others that are quite reasonably priced so, I’m thinking that we may have to rethink our options and substitute some of our meals.
I don’t think we will ever become 100% vegan but I can see us getting closer. Everything in moderation, correct?
Thanks again for helping us out in making better choices,
Wayne
Hi Wayne,
Wonderful, try them out if your local Walmart has these products.
If you’re getting closer to getting vegan, that is great, step by step 🙂 Moderation is good.
I am actually looking for vegetarian burgers and am quite happy to have come across some of your recommendations here. Transitioning to vegan food hasn’t been easy because of all the cravings so I am looking for brands that are healthy yet yummy to the tastebuds. I always take a burger/sandwich kind of meal for lunch as they are light and easy to prepare. Never heard of Yves Veggie Cuisine though – they have gluten-free burgers too. That’s cool! Will check it out.
Hi Cathy,
I understand about the cravings. These brands are definitely yummy (and healthy). I’m glad that you got some inspiration here 🙂
Thank you for these great ideas! Vegan food has come a long way since flavorless tofu and rice cakes. These ideas almost, but not quite, make me want to try being vegan. I’ll have to try one of the pizzas, anyway. 🙂
Hi Cathy,
Thank you for your comment.
Almost, well, then I have hope that one day you’ll give vegan food a try 😉
Great information – I needed to have a better understanding of a vegan diet for several friends – my family have gluten free issues and now friends who choose a vegan diet only – knowledge is a strength – I sincerely appreciate your help 🙂
Hi Sandra,
I’m happy this article was of some help ?
Thanks for visiting my page!
Hi Christine,
We did not realize that there are so many vegan brands that offer meat substitutes. It is good to know that there is a lot of healthy plant protein available, confirming that meat is not the sole source of protein. Surely, it is not difficult to have a healthy and balanced diet, with all the vegan options available.
Thanks a lot for a very informative article.
Hello,
Very true, it is not hard to have a healthy and balanced diet with everything that’s available. Thanks for visiting my page! 🙂
An interesting discussion may have solved a few problems. I am a meat eater that mixes with both Vegetarians
and vegans so it is a difficult meal at times.
Who gives in, me off course because I can be either or all on a given day.
However, I shall look at some of the choices and include them in my meal planning.
Thanks for a good read
Peter H
Hi Peter, it’s all about compromise, isn’t it? 🙂 I’m glad you’re going to look at some of these choices, they are delicious 🙂
I do not feel bloated and have mental clarity every time I eat vegan. I found this about myself when I practice my religious practice. I always go to trader joe’s to stock up on some of my vegan favorite dishes. If I am lazy I just have a toast with almond butter from there. Have you ever tried Morning Star corn dog? I know it is not that healthy but it is soooo good. It is that good that I do not mind going to different stores just to hunt them down lol give it a try.
I am happy to see that all the brands that I am eating are the reputable ones. Daiya pizza looks good, I never tried it before but I will check it out! The truffle lover pizza from sweet earth natural foods looks yum!
Thanks again for recommending all these yummy foods!
Hello!
I had the Morningstar corn dog once and it was really good! I liked it. Our local stores don’t have them all the time, so I have to order them online.
Goodness, this post is very full of information and product. I am trying to learn about this way of eating because my son is Vegan and he cooks his own food because I do not know much about it. I have tried a few dishes and you are right. They are delicious. I will share it with him and maybe we can come up with more meals together. Thank you for your information.
Melissa
Hi Melissa,
I’m so happy this post could help. Cooking a meal together is fun. Here are some delicious choices, I think the pizzas look yummy 🙂