As the commercial market begins to realize that there are people out there that really are looking for healthy foods and alternatives to meat and dairy, more products are being made available that make it easier for those who really don't want to give up their favorite foods to become plant based.  I tell people that eating vegan is not the sacrifice that most people think it is.  I have discovered many substitutes that fill in for my old favorites and I have made some recipes with these items and served them to guests who can't even tell the difference!

This is an article that I found that lists numerous substitutes for meat, eggs and dairy.  Some of these items may not be the healthy substitute you are looking for, so be careful to read the label for fat and oils of any kind.  These are vegan products, but even some of the vegan products contain unacceptable levels of fat for those trying to reverse their heart disease.

Remember, the best option is to stay with whole foods. 
 

Try a few and incorporate some of these items into the recipes you use now.  As you discover there isn't much of a sacrifice, you will find yourself using more and more of them.



Meat, Egg, and Dairy Substitutes

 

From:  www.veganoutreach.com

Meat Substitutes

Below are just some of the faux meat products available at many supermarkets, health food stores, and co-ops. Some grocery chains, such as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods Market, also offer store-brand options.

Hot Dogs

Cedar Lake Deli-Franks, Tofu Links, Tofu Franks
Field Roast Frankfurters (click here for The Cincinnati Chili Dog recipe, shown at right)
Lightlife Smart Dogs, Smart Dogs Jumbo, Tofu Pups
SoyBoy Not Dogs, Vegetarian Franks
Tofurky Hot Dogs, Jumbo Hot Dogs
Yves Meatless Hot Dog, Meatless Jumbo Dog, Good Dog, Tofu Dog

Hamburgers

Amy’s Kitchen All American Burger, Bistro Burger, California Veggie Burger, Quarter Pound Veggie Burger, Texas Burger, Sonoma Veggie Burger

Boca Original Vegan Burgers
Gardein The Ultimate Beefless Burger (click here for Teriyaki & Grilled Pineapple Burger recipe, shown at left) and Sliders

Gardenburger Black Bean Chipotle Veggie Burgers, Veggie Medley Veggie Burgers

MorningStar Farms Grillers Vegan Burgers
Quorn Vegan Burgers
Sol Cuisine Burger and Sliders
Yves Meatless Beef Burgers

Cold Cuts

Field Roast Thin Deli Sliced Field Roast (Lentil Sage, Wild Mushroom, Smoked Tomato)
Lightlife Smart Deli (Baked Ham, Pepperoni, Roast Turkey, Bologna)
Tofurky Deli Slices (Oven Roasted, Peppered, Hickory Smoked, Bologna, Italian Deli, Roast Beef Style [shown at right], Pepperoni)
Yves The Good Slice (Ham, Turkey, Salami)

Bacon

Frontier Bac’Uns Vegetarian Bits
Lightlife Smart Bacon, Fakin’ Bacon Organic Smoky Tempeh Strips
Phoney Baloney’s Coconut Bacon
Turtle Island Smoky Maple Bacon Marinated Tempeh (shown at left)
WayFare Pig Out Whole Grain Bacony Bits
Yves Meatless Canadian Bacon

Sausage

El Burrito SoyRizo
Field Roast Sausages (Mexican Chipotle, Smoked Apple Sage, Italian [click here for Skillet Pizza recipe, shown at right])
Gardein Breakfast Patties
Lightlife Gimme Lean Ground Sausage
Sol Cuisine Veggie Breakfast Patties
SoyBoy Tofu Breakfast Links
Tofurky Beer Brats, Italian Sausage, Kielbasa, Artisan Sausage (Spinach Pesto, Chick’n & Apple, Andouille), Breakfast Links, Chorizo Style Ground
Yves Veggie Chorizo, Meatless Breakfast Patties, Veggie Brats (Classic, Zesty Italian)

Beef

Amy’s Veggie Meatballs
Boca Ground Crumbles
Field Roast Classic Meatloaf
Gardein Home Style Beefless Tips, Classic Meatless Meatballs, Southern BBQ Riblets, Sizzling Szechuan Beefless Strips, Meatless Ground (Original, Sloppy Joes)
Lightlife Gimme Lean Ground Beef, Smart Ground (Original, Mexican), Smart Strips Steak Style
MorningStar Farms Hickory BBQ Riblets
Nate’s Meatless Meatballs (Classic, Savory Mushroom [shown at left], Zesty Italian)
Sol Cuisine Veggie Crumbles, BBQ Tofu Ribs
Tofurky Ground Beef Style
Yves Meatless Ground (Original, Taco Stuffers), Classic Veggie Meatballs

Chicken and Turkey

Beyond Meat Chicken-Free Strips (Grilled [shown at right], Lightly Seasoned, Southwest Style)
Boca Chik’n Patties (Original, Spicy), Original Chik’n Nuggets
Butler Foods Soy Curls
Field Roast Celebration Roast, Hazelnut Cranberry Roast En Croute

Gardein BBQ Pulled Shreds, Chick’n Filets, Lightly Seasoned Chick’n Scallopini (shown below, sliced on sandwich), Chick’n Strips (Original, Teriyaki), Seven Grain Crispy Tenders, Breasts (Tuscan, Herb Dijon), Chick’n Marsala, Wings (Classic Style Buffalo, Sweet and Tangy Barbecue), Chipotle Lime Crispy Fingers, Mandarin Orange Crispy Chick’n (shown at left), Savory Stuffed Turk’y with Gravy, Lightly Breaded Turk’y Cutlet with Homestyle Gravy, Zesty Marinara Crispy Chick’n Filets, Crispy Chick’n Patty and Sliders, Holiday Roast (Seasonal)

Health is Wealth Chicken-Free Patties, Chicken-Free Nuggets, Chicken-Free Buffalo Wings
Lightlife Smart Strips Chick’n
MorningStar Farms Grillers Chik’n Patties
Tofurky Roast & Gravy
WestSoy Chicken Style Seitan
Yves Meatless Chicken Burgers, Meatless Ground Turkey, Veggie Breast in Vindaloo Sauce

Seafood

Cedar Lake Vegi-Scallops
May Wah Vegan Tuna, Vegan Squid, Vegan Crab Steak, Vegan Shrimp Roll, Vegan Fish Cake Tempura, Vegan Belt Fish, Vegan Fish Ball

Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Crab Cakes, Breaded Vegan Scallops, Breaded Vegan Fish Fillets, Breaded Vegan Calamari, Breaded Vegan Shrimp, Vegan Prawns, Breaded Vegan Fishless Sticks, Breaded Vegan Coconut Shrimp, Vegan Smoked Salmon
Worthington Vegetable Skallops

Egg and Dairy Substitutes

Here are some popular alternatives to egg and dairy products.

Eggs

Ener-G Egg Replacer (for baking only)
Vegg Vegan Egg Yolk
(Our cooking section contains more tips on baking without eggs, and our foods glossary has additional info on egg substitutes.)

Milk

Earth Balance Soymilk (Original, Chocolate, Unsweetened, Vanilla)
Eden Edensoy Soymilk (Original, Vanilla, Chocolate, Carob, Unsweetened)
Good Karma Whole Grain Ricemilk (Original, Unsweetened, Vanilla, Chocolate), Flax Milk (Original, Unsweetened, Vanilla), Protein+ Flax Milk (Original Unsweetened, Vanilla Unsweetened)

Silk Soymilk (Original, Vanilla, Chocolate, Very Vanilla, DHA Omega-3), Organic Soymilk (Original, Vanilla, Unsweetened), Light Soymilk (Original, Vanilla, Chocolate), Pure Almond Almondmilk (Original, Dark Chocolate, Vanilla, Original Unsweetened, Vanilla Unsweetened), Pure Almond Light Almondmilk (Original, Vanilla), Pure Coconut Coconutmilk (Original, Vanilla, Unsweetened), Fruit & Protein (Mango Peach, Mixed Berry, Strawberry Banana)
So Delicious Cashew Milk Beverage (Original, Vanilla), Coconut Milk Beverage (Original, Vanilla, Unsweetened, Chocolate, Mint Chocolate, Nog, Pumpkin Spice, Sugar Free Original, Sugar Free Vanilla), Cultured Coconut Milk Beverage (Original, Vanilla, Strawberry), Almond Plus 5X Almond Milk (Original, Vanilla, Unsweetened)

Taste the Dream Rice Dream Classic Rice Drink (Original, Vanilla, Carob), Rice Dream Enriched (Original, Vanilla, Chocolate, Unsweetened Organic Original), Rice Dream Horchata, Soy Dream Classic Soymilk (Original, Vanilla), Soy Dream Enriched (Original, Vanilla, Chocolate), Coconut Dream Coconut Drink (Original, Vanilla, Unsweetened), Almond Dream Almond Drink (Original, Unsweetened Original, Vanilla, Unsweetened Vanilla), Dream Blends Almond, Cashew and Hazelnut Drink (Original Enriched, Unsweetened Enriched), Dream Blends Almond, Coconut Almond & Chia Drink (Original Enriched, Unsweetened Enriched), Dream Blends Rice & Quinoa Drink (Original Enriched, Unsweetened Enriched), Sunflower Dream Sunflower Drink (Original Enriched, Unsweetened Enriched)
WestSoy Organic Soymilk (Original, Unsweetened Original, Unsweetened Chocolate, Unsweetened Vanilla, Unsweetened Almond), Soymilk Plus (Plain, Vanilla), Low Fat Soymilk (Plain, Vanilla), Non Fat Soymilk (Plain, Vanilla), Soy Slender Soymilk (Vanilla, Chocolate, Cappuccino), Rice Beverage (Plain, Vanilla)
ZenSoy Soymilk (Plain, Vanilla, Chocolate, Cappuccino)

Creamer

MimicCreme Almond & Cashew Cream for Coffee (Original Unsweetened, French Vanilla, Hazelnut Biscotti)
Silk Creamer (Original, French Vanilla, Hazelnut)
So Delicious Coconut Milk Creamer (Original, French Vanilla, Hazelnut, Barista-Style Original, Barista-Style French Vanilla)

Butter

Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread (Original, Soy Garden, Olive Oil, Soy Free), Organic Buttery Spread (Original Whipped), Vegan Buttery Sticks, Organic Coconut Spread, Organic Culinary Spread (Sweet Cinnamon, Garlic & Herbs)
Smart Balance Organic Whipped Buttery Spread
Spectrum Organic All Vegetable Shortening (Original, Butter Flavor)

Cheese

Daiya Foods Shreds (Cheddar, Mozzarella, Pepperjack), Wedges (Cheddar, Jack, Jalapeno Garlic Havarti), Slices (Cheddar, Swiss, Provolone), Cream Cheese Style Spread (Plain, Chive & Onlion, Strawberry)
GO Veggie! Rice Vegan Slices (American, Cheddar, Pepper Jack, Mozzarella), Vegan Blocks (Cheddar, Mozzarella), Vegan Shreds (Mexican, Mozzarella), Parmesan Flavor Vegan Grated Topping, Vegan Cream Cheese Alternative (Classic Plain, Chive & Garlic, Strawberry)

Teese Vegan Cheese Alternative (Mozzarella, Cheddar, Creamy Cheddar Sauce, Nacho Sauce)
Tofutti Soy-Cheese Slices (American, Mozzarella), Better than Cream Cheese (Plain, Nonhydrogenated Plain, French Onion, Herbs & Chives, Garlic & Herb), Better than Ricotta Cheese
Vegan Gourmet Cheese Alternative Block (Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Nacho, Mozzarella), Cheese Alternative Shreds (Cheddar, Fiesta Blend, Mozzarella), Cream Cheese Alternative
WayFare We Can’t Say It’s Cheese Spread (Cheddar, Hickory Cheddar, Mexi Cheddar)

Mayonnaise

Earth Balance MindfulMayo Dressing and Sandwich Spread (Original, Organic, Olive Oil)
Follow Your Heart Vegenaise (Original, Grapeseed Oil, Organic, Reduced Fat, Soy Free)
Nasoya Nayonaise (Original, Light, Whipped)
Spectrum Light Canola Mayo

Sour Cream

Tofutti Better than Sour Cream (Sour Supreme, Nonhydrogenated)
Vegan Gourmet Sour Cream Alternative
WayFare We Can’t Say It’s Sour Cream

Yogurt

Almond Dream Almond Non-Dairy Yogurt
Amande Cultured Almondmilk
Nancy’s Organic Cultured Soy
Nogürt Fruit Snack

Silk Fruity & Creamy Cultured Soymilk
So Delicious Cultured Coconut Milk, Greek Style Cultured Coconut Milk, Greek Style Cultured Almond Milk
WholeSoy Soy Yogurt
Wildwood Probiotic Soyogurt

Vegan yogurts and ice creams come in too many flavors to list!

Ice Cream

Double Rainbow Soy Cream Pints
Luna & Larry’s Organic Coconut Bliss (Pints, Bars)
Taste the Dream Rice Dream (Pints, Quarts, Bites, Frozen Pies, Bars, Nutty Bars), Soy Dream Pints, Quarts, Lil’ Dreamers), Almond Dream (Pints, Quarts, Bites, Bars)
Temptation Vegan Ice Cream (Soymilk Base, Coconut-Milk Base)
Tofutti Cuties Sandwiches, Bars, Premium Frozen Dessert Pints, Yours Truly Cones

Turtle Mountain So Delicious Coconut Milk (Pints, Minis Sandwiches, Minis Bars), So Delicious Almond Milk (Pints, Minis Sandwiches, Minis Bars [shown at right, Minis Mocha Almond Fudge Bar]), Purely Decadent Soymilk Pints, So Delicious Soymilk (Quarts, Minis Sandwiches, Minis Bars)
WayFare We Can’t Say It’s Ice Cream

Whipped Cream

MimicCreme Healthy Top Whipping Cream
Soyatoo! Soy Whip Whippable Soy Topping, Soy Whip Whipped Soy Topping, Rice Whip Whipped Rice Topping

Other Substitutes

Gelatin

Agar-agar and carrageen (Irish moss) can be used in recipes that call for gelatin. Vegan gelatin mixes are also available, in both flavored and unflavored varieties.

Sweets and Snacks

Vegan retailers carry an assortment of candies, baked goods, and other snacks – though you may find that some of your current favorites just happen to be vegan, too!