Anyone who follows any type of diet is going to be hungry from time to time. At this point, when your stomach rumbles and searches for food, most people are at their weakest. This is especially true when it is time for a big meal like lunch or dinner. These meals generally consist of a sizeable serving of meat for most people. For vegetarians, there is a wide variety of delicious foods for you to eat when you experience these hunger pangs. These include grains, vegetables, legumes, fruits, and meat substitutes.
Now before we jump right in and talk about meat substitutes, it would be helpful for us to define the term in a simple way. Meat substitutes are grains and vegetables that are formed to look and taste like different types of meat. There are meat substitutes for everything from turkey to breakfast sausage, but soy burgers and tofu are the most commonly recognized meat substitutes.
With soy and tofu it is possible to obtain the same nutritional value as a serving of real meat of similar size (this includes protein). They are by far the easiest to find and cook. Most grocery stores and supermarkets have at least one of these items available. But the best thing about vegetarian diets is that they are very flexible and easy to manipulate. If you are looking for a meat substitute, it is possible to make your own patties using many different types of vegetables.
The easiest homemade patties can be made with lentils and chickpeas. These are moistened, combined with any other desired veggie, and then shaped as desired. There are also meat substitutes that you can buy to add to your homemade patties. One of these products is surimi. This is a mixture of aromas that you can add to your empanadas that will give it an interesting fishy flavor. It’s a great flavor substitute for crab meat!
While soybeans and tofu are by far the most popular store-bought meat substitutes, and lentils and chickpeas make great homemade patties, it’s important to remember that in order for your “meat” to taste good, You will need to prepare it with different marinades and spices. This is a very important step in finding out how tasty these products can be. It’s a big jump from real beef or chicken to soy and tofu, so take a smaller step with the right seasonings. The best method here is to season your meat alternate the same way you would season your real meat. If you like garlic, salt, and pepper on your meat, try it with your substitute. If you prefer a certain marinade, use it!
Meat cravings are absolutely the most common feelings for both new vegetarians and lifelong vegetarians. It is true that meat provides us with high levels of protein, but a whole food, plant-based diet can help us with all the protein we need. Then if you have a meat craving, consider some of the many commercially available meat substitutes or try making your own. It’s not exactly the same as real meat, but if you prepare it the right way, it can get really close!
