Processed Vegan Meats: Faux or Friend?

By Chef Alex Bury, Vice-President of Development

I went vegan in 1995 while living in Anchorage, Alaska. We didn’t have many vegan options back then! And I made all the newbie mistakes.

For a few years, I tried not to eat processed foods or vegan meats (also known as “faux” meats). It didn’t work well for me. I was often hungry and sometimes had low energy.

A friend of mine had a similar experience and wrote about it (see Story from a Once-Failing, Now-Thriving Vegan).

There’s some scary information floating around about vegan meats. But here at Vegan Outreach, we’re big fans!

Vegan meats can make the transition to a vegan diet easier. They provide the familiar and satisfying meal experiences you’re used to without hurting animals. You can use your favorite traditional recipes by replacing the meat with vegan meat. It’s convenient. It’s fast. It’s delicious.

These days, you can choose from so many different vegan meats it’s almost ridiculous! Here are some of my favorites:

• Lunchtime sandwiches with Tofurky deli slices, mustard, mayo, and lettuce
• Gardein fish filets with coleslaw
• Burgers or hot dogs with tater tots and a side salad

I love almost all the burgers in the freezer section, from Beyond to Gardein to Impossible to Field Roast.

Another important reason to eat vegan meat is that it might be a convenient way to get protein. While there are other high-protein vegan foods, such as tofu and beans, most vegan meats made from soy or wheat gluten contain more protein than any other plant foods.

Many new vegans are nervous about eating vegan meats. Diets consisting of vegetables, but not enough protein or calories can make you tired. You might only feel energetic if you eat higher amounts of protein.

Vegan meats can help you feel full, satiated, and emotionally comforted. They prevent animals from suffering and help show your non-veg friends that vegan food is familiar.​​ They can help you meet your protein needs and feel more energetic.

While vegan meats may not be for every vegan, we hope you’ll try adding them to your diet for a few weeks to see how you like them!