8 Non-veg Alternatives That Will Make You Forget Non-Veg Food

Let’s explore top eight non-veg alternatives that offer the perfect blend of taste and nutrients to their consumers.

Be it religion, health, or kindness towards animals, a large population in the United States still eats a vegetarian diet. According to a 2022 survey of Food Manufacturing, one in every ten US residents is vegetarian or vegan.

The number of plant-based food consumers is continuously increasing around the world. This is because of people’s love for animals, religious sayings, and health problems caused by mutton, chicken, beef, pork, etc. 

However, people who have converted from non-vegetarian to vegetarian often miss the taste of animal meat. In addition, people who eat non-veg usually taunt vegetarians, saying what would you do if you did not eat non-veg in your life?

Now, don’t worry. We have come up with the top non-veg alternatives that taste exactly like non-vegetarian ones. Eating these foods will give you the taste of non-veg without harming nature, animals, or religion.

So, without any further delay, let’s start the list of the top 8 vegetarian foods that give a meat-like experience.

Non-veg alternatives

Soybean 

The term “soybean” may seem unfamiliar to some people, especially those in the United States. Soybeans are an Asian food that is used as a perfect substitute for chicken, mutton, and some other non-vegetarian foods. 

In the Asian region, it is used to prepare soya chaap, veg biryani and various other dishes. However, these dishes are not as popular in European countries. Still, you can cook a non-veg-like dish using YouTube tutorials once in a lifetime. 

In addition to taste, soybeans also offer a good amount of nutrients that make them even more preferable. 

100 Grams of Soybean contains; 

• Protein: Approximately 17 grams
• Fiber: Roughly 6 grams
• Healthy Fats: About 9 grams
• Calcium: Approximately 102 milligrams
• Iron: Around 3.5 milligrams

Mushrooms 

Mushrooms are the second best option for replacing non-veg meals. Mushrooms, especially portobello mushrooms, provide the best non-veg-like experience with bread. They are also used as the perfect non-veg alternatives in sandwiches and burgers. 

Some mushroom lovers believe that if cooked well, mushrooms can taste better than any non-veg. However, in terms of cost, mushrooms are more expensive than soybeans. Fortunately, mushrooms are easily available in most countries around the world.

Taste is not the only thing for which people like mushrooms and consider it as a non-veg alternatives. They also contain a good amount of beneficial nutrients. 

100 Grams of Mushroom contains; 

• Protein: About 3 grams
• Fiber: Roughly 1-2 grams
• Potassium: Approximately 300-400 milligrams
• Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Approximately 0.45 milligrams
• Vitamin B3 (Niacin): Around 3.5 milligrams

Tofu

Don’t be confused by its short name; Tofu is a great alternative to non-veg foods. It is widely consumed as a healthy and tasty alternative to chicken. Tofu is a cheese-like food originally made from soybeans. 

In the United States and other European countries Tofu is easily available at most grocery stores and health food stores. You can make different dishes with Tofu and still have the taste of chicken without the guilt of hurting an animal. Stir fried, tofu scramble, tofu wraps etc. are some of the most popular tofu foods.

Additionally, tofu has some health-beneficial nutrients that help your overall well-being and made it one of the best in the list of top 8 non-veg alternatives. 

100 Grams of Tofu contains; 

• Protein: Approximately 8-10 grams.
• Fat: About 4-6 grams, primarily unsaturated fats.
• Calcium: Around 130-150 milligrams.
• Iron: Approximately 1-2 milligrams.
• Magnesium: Roughly 30-40 milligrams.

Lentils

Lentils are also known as the perfect alternative for non-veg foods, especially beef. These small, lens-shaped legumes are available in different colors like red, brown, green, black, etc. People who love to eat beef should try it at least once in their lives; they will become fans for sure. 

Lentils are mainly used in Asian countries in the form of a normal “Dal” that doesn’t usually offer a beef-like taste. However, their other dishes, like Lentil Stew, Lentil Burgers, etc., offer even better taste than beef. 

Lentils are also known for their health-friendly nutrients. They offer enough nutrients without damaging your health. 

100 Grams of Lentils contains;

• Protein: Approximately 8-9 grams.
• Fiber: Approximately 8-9 grams.
• Carbohydrates: Roughly 18-20 grams.
• Iron: Around 2-3 milligrams.
• Potassium: Approximately 300-350 milligrams.

Seitan 

Seitan, also known as Sheitan, is a popular meat substitute in vegan and vegetarian cuisine. It is made from gluten, a special protein found in wheat. This is a mouth-watering breakfast for vegetarians. However, people switching from non-veg to veg can also eat its products to experience the taste of meat.

Seitan deli slices, Seitan burgers, and Seitan nuggets are the best food products of this gluten-made food. 

Like other non-veg alternatives mentioned in this list, Seitan also contains some health-friendly elements. 

100 Grams of Seitan contains;

• Protein: Approximately 20-25 grams.
• Calories: Around 100-150 calories.
• Carbohydrates: Roughly 4-8 grams.
• Fat: About 1-3 grams.
• Iron: Around 1-3 milligrams.

Also read: Clinical trial suggests avoiding meat may help liver disease patients

Legumes

Taste-wise, legumes may be behind non-veg foods like mutton, chicken, beef, etc. However, in terms of nutrients, beans and chickpeas are the best alternatives for animal meat. 

Bean chili, falafel, hummus, etc., are some of the best   Legumes dishes. 

100 Grams of Legumes contains;

• Protein: Approximately 6-9 grams.
• Fiber: Approximately 6-8 grams.
• Calories: Around 100-150 calories.
• Carbohydrates: Roughly 15-20 grams.
• Iron: Around 1-2 milligrams.

Jackfruit 

Jackfruit is another nutrient-loaded vegetarian food that can be a good choice for people looking for a meat-like taste. It can be used in barbecue sandwiches instead of chicken, beef or pork. It a highly consumed food in the list of non-veg alternatives.

100 Grams of Jackfruit contains;

• Calories: Around 95 calories.
• Carbohydrates: Approximately 23 grams.
• Fiber: Roughly 2 grams.
• Protein: About 2 grams.
• Vitamin C: Around 13 milligrams.

Cheese 

The last product on the list, cheese, is also one of the best options for non-veg foods. It is the most used product in Indian Hindu parties. It is used as an alternative to meat in most Indian dishes. 

From burgers to sandwiches, Cheese is used in every single food that is made to replace the non-veg. 

100 Grams of Cheese contains;

• Calories: Around 400 calories.
• Protein: Approximately 25 grams.
• Fat: About 33 grams.
• Calcium: Around 700 milligrams.
• Saturated Fat: Around 21 grams.

Please note, we have mentioned only the top five nutrients of each food, there may be more. Also, the quantity of particular nutrients may vary based on product quality. 

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