Connecting with healthy vegan meats

Not all vegan foods are healthy! (public domain photo)

If it's vegan, it has to be good for you, right? Not when it comes to vegan meats. They can be just as unhealthy as the “real” thing. So, what are the healthiest vegan meats made of? Where do you find them? Can you make them yourself? That's a lot of questions. Here's some answers.

What are the healthiest vegan meats made of?

The healthiest vegan meats have just a few, simple organic, GMO free ingredients. They don't have the same nasty processing chemicals found in conventional processed meats. Look for ingredients like black beans, vegetables, oats and quinoa. You know, things that don't leave you guessing about whether they're good for you or not.

Where do you find healthy vegan meats?

You can usually find healthy vegan meats wherever health food is sold. Still, not all of the vegan meats at these places are healthy, despite their reputation. You really do have to check the label. Read the nutrition facts, not just the ingredient list. Never assume.

Can you make healthy vegan meats yourself?

Absolutely. There are tons of recipes for vegan burgers and such. Just do an online search. Now, they won't all be totally tasty. Of course, that's true of store-bought vegan meats too. Either way, you'll likely have to do some experimenting to find the ones you like. So, why not add to the adventure by mixing it up in the kitchen?

What's my favorite vegan meat?

I have three. One is all the vegan apple sausages made by Field Roast. Second is my own homemade black bean burgers. Last are the black bean burgers made by The Engine 2 Diet folks. They're found in the freezer section at most major health food stores.

I'm not a big supporter of “fake” meat.

Burger King can keep their vegan burger, which is likely grilled right along with their other meat. Eew! The vegan meats I eat aren't really a meat substitute, so much as a whole other adventure in eating. In fact, they're so unique and tasty that they stand on their own merit. They're not fake meat. They're real food.