Meat Replacements I Love and reviewed

This page was updated on: 02/25/2009

This in an ongoing list. I can't make it complete all at once. I will update it as I find more good stuff! :) Oh! And I must apologize for this list not being in any particular order. When I started it, I only had a few products to put up. So, do scroll down because there are probably more products from any particular company further down! I will get it organized by either company or product soon!
If anyone has a product I should try for inclusion in this list or thinks there is something more "genuine" tasting than the products I mentioned, please feel free to email me! I would love to try them and have the opportunity to add them to my list. I'd weigh 600 lbs if I tried everything on the market myself. :) Hopefully This will become a group effort.

Oh, by the way, there are a couple of items I would REALLY love suggestions on right now!! I am looking for a ham replacement! I've heard of vegetarian ham but have never seen it or tried it.
Also looking for suggestions on "realistic" tasting lunch meats. Please email me with any suggestions you have!!

Ok, I have run across at least 2 websites that mention my favorite meat replacement brand, Quorn, in a negative way. They suggest that 5% of people who eat get violently ill and are attempting to get these wonderful products banned from the states. I have several things to say regarding this:
1) Quorn products are made from a fungus. So, no matter how it's made (and I've heard that it's grown in a vat more like a mold) if you have an allergy to fungus you probably shouldn't eat this. However, blue cheese is also a mold and no one seems to complain about that! Except me because I hate blue cheese. And, subsequently, you probably shouldn't be eating anything mushroom-like either.
2) Any negative reactions seem to be allergy based. Again, I say, well...then don't eat it. Some people reported flue like symptoms or their throats closing up. This sounds to me like the same reaction that some get to seafood....and yet some people continue to eat it. This is not Quorn's fault.
3) Also, there were complaints of loose stools and or diarrhea and excess gas. I would like to state here and now that if you're going to do the meat replacement thing you will probably have some of these problems...no matter what brand you choose! I get these symptoms from most brands I use, from Morningstar Farms to Boca brand and etc. It just goes with the territory. Get some Gas X and be done with it. :)

Again I will state that my family has had no problems with Quorn products. I would urge you, if you have tried them and liked them, to write to the UK branch and request more of their products over in the states!! The UK website shows many more potentially wonderful products than are found here. I found them to be THE BEST chicken and turkey replacements out there and I am looking forward to trying any of the products I can get them to bring here! However, do heed the warnings if you have food allergies.

Also, if you love Quorn Brand as much as I do please do go to this page and fill out a comment to them! I would love to see more of the UK Quorn products here in the states.

That said, here are the "meaty" things that I have found to be quite good:

1) Quorn Meat-Free Roast (turkey roast)

16 ounces. Serving Size 1/5 roast, Calories 80, Total Fat 1.5g, Saturated Fat 0.5g, Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5g, Monounsaturated Fat 0.5g, Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 10mg, Sodium 470 mg, Total Carbohydrate 9g, Dietary Fiber 6g, Sugars 0g, Protein 14g, Vitamin A 0%, Vitamin C 0%, Calcium 3%, Iron 4%

This is my favorite "roast" for a lot of reasons. Quorn has become one of my favorite brands. All of their products are very good, but not all products are good for recipes they aren't meant for. However, this roast is one of my most used Quorn products.
The Quorn roast is a perfect turkey replacement at Thanksgiving. I think it is much better than the widely accepted tofu turkey out there. Slice it into medallions and serve with all the standard Thanksgiving fixin's. Yum. This roast reminds me of the turkey roll roasts a lot of people get at the grocery store.
I use it as it is, served with mashed potatoes and vegan gravy (more on the gravy in a minute). I've also used it in "chicken and dumplings". This roast holds up very well in liquid and will not break down over time.
The Quorn roast is made out of mycoprotein, a sort of fungus. Now, when I think of fungus, I think of mushrooms but when it comes to this roast that couldn't be further from the truth! As I stated before, this roast tastes just like or very similar to a turkey roll roast. It does NOT taste like ground up mushrooms at all. The texture is very convincing too. Almost exactly like a turkey roll roast. Quite a few of the recipes I make use a Quorn roast as a substitute for chicken or turkey. They are so convincing that my husband didn't notice the difference.
I found this roast at my local Whole Foods Market. There might be more places they are available. A trip to the website will probably let you know.
I pay somewhere around US 5.50 for 1 roast.

2) Hain Brand Chicken and Brown Flavored Gravy Mix (Vegan I think. Please correct me if I'm wrong!)

Makes 1 cup. Serving Size 2 tsp dry mix, Calories 25, Total Fat 0g, Saturated Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 360mg, Total Carbohydrates 6g, Sugars-less than 1g, Protein-less than 1g

I found this only a couple of months ago. I found it so convincing that I had to keep reading the ingredients to make sure it didn't have any meat in it!! As far as mixes go for meat flavored gravy, these are at the top of my list! Made as the instructions say, this is by far the best gravy I've tried. The chicken flavored is superb served over the Quorn turkey style roast and/or mashed potatoes. This fall I'm going to try the mix in my green chile in place of some thickener and the chicken broth. I will report in the recipe section as to what happens with that. :)
I haven't been able to find a website for Hain. If anyone knows if they have a website, please let me know. I have some of the brown gravy but I haven't tried it yet so I can't say if it's good or not. The Chicken style is excellent, in my opinion.
I got the Chicken Style and Brown versions, once again, at Whole Foods Market. I honestly don't know where else it might be offered but I'm trying to find out.

3) Boca Sausages-Bratwurst
(I just found out through this really great website (http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.net) that: In 2000, Kraft Foods who is owned by tobacco giant Philip Morris purchased the vegetarian Boca Burger line. Kraft also sells Oscar Meyer hot dogs. This may or may not make a difference in whether you choose to buy Boca brand. I found this information very interesting! You should visit their website to learn more about who bought out who and what's out there to eat for vegetarians and vegans as far as fast food and restaurants).

Serving Size 1 Sausage, Calories 140, Calories from Fat 60, Total Fat 7g, Saturated Fat 0.5g, Trans Fat 0g, Polyunsaturated Fat 2g, Monounsaturated Fat 4.5g, Cholesterol 0g, Sodium 760mg, Total Carbohydrates 6g, Dierary Fiber 1g, Sugars 2g, Protein 14g

My mother used to buy Boca products a long time ago and I never liked them. When I heard about these sausages I just had to try them. I cooked them on the grill for the first time a month or so ago and they were wonderful! I wasn't expecting anything great but they were juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. The next week I cooked a couple in the frying pan with similar results. They were a little dryer when I cooked them in the frying pan but they were still great on a bun with mustard and maybe a little kraut, if you like that sort of thing. :)
The best and maybe the only bratwurst replacement I've found. Great for summer grilling. Some Boca products have sure come a long way in the taste department.

4) Yves Veggie Cuisine-Veggie Pizza Pepperoni
This is by far my favorite veggie pepperoni! I found this at Whole Foods and also at Albertsons.
If you're going to use it on a pizza, you should really follow the tips on the back of the package: For juicy pepperoni, layer the cheese on top of the pepperoni. For crispy pepperoni, place Veggie Pepperoni on top of cheese. It works just like they say it will either way.
I love this pepperoni! The texture is very close to meat pepperoni and it tastes just like the real thing to me. I eat it on cold sandwiches all the time. Great source of protein and no fat! Simply brilliant.

Serving Size 16 slices, Calories 70, Calories from Fat 0, Total Fat 0g, Saturated Fat 0g, Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 390mg, Potassium 140mg, Total Carbohydrates 4g, Dietary Fiber 3g, Sugars 0g, Protein 14g

Also their website mentions what their "natural flavorings" mean. That is a good thing because, as all us vegetarians know, the use of the term "natural flavorings" could mean a lot of things (and a lot of the time it's not a good thing; meaning meat juice and such...) The "natural flavoring" in Yves brand products are of a vegetarian origin. I also believe the website said that all but 3 of their products are certified Vegan, with 2 of the burgers and one of the hot dogs having dairy and/or eggs added to enhance flavor.

5) Pacific-Organic Mushroom Broth
I just used this in one of my recipes and it was very tasty. Now, I know these people don't just do vegetarian or vegan foods. They do organic foods. However, this mushroom broth is vegan according to their website.
I used this mushroom broth to cook my rice in for my Quorn Roast and creamy rice (lovingly called Fungus and Rice by my husband). Very Tasty stuff!

Serving Size 1 cup (8 fl. oz.), Servings per container 4, Calories 5, Calories from Fat 0, Total Fat 0g, Sodium 530mg, Total Carbohydrate 1g, Protein 0g

6) Boca-Meatless Lasagna (Chunky Tomato and Herb Sauce with Boca Ground Burger)
This has been my favorite Veggie Lasagna so far. The tomato sauce is light, the ricotta is fat free and the Boca Grounds give it that "meaty" texture that is so great in some lasagnas.
As far as quick frozen foods go, this lasagna tops my list. It's easy to prepare; just poke a few holes in the wrapper and put it in the microwave for a few minutes. A great quick italian veggie meal! For me, it's terribly addictive. :) Not the healthiest but I love the taste.

Serving Size 1 package, Calories 270, Calories from Fat 45, Total Fat 5g, Saturated Fat 2.5g, Trans Fat 0g, Polyunsaturated Fat 1g, Monounsaturated Fat 2g, Cholesterol 20mg, Sodium 880mg, Total Carbohydrates 41g, Dietary Fiber 5g, Sugars 10g, Proteins 20g

7) Quorn-Meat Free Nuggets
Great chicken nugget replacement. I get these at Whole Foods. Don't know if they're available anywhere else.
These are great tasting and the texture is reminiscent of nuggets you'll find at some of the popular fast food places. Great to heat and eat as is (I use the toaster oven for a quicker, crispier crust) with dipping sauce. We also use them in a "fish taco" sort of recipe.

Serving Size 3-4 nuggets, Calories 190, Calories from Fat 90, Total Fat 10g, Saturated Fat 1.5g, Polyunsaturated Fat 6g, Monounsaturated Fat 2.5g, Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 540mg, Total Carbohydrates 17g, Dietary Fiber 3g, Sugars 2g, Protein 11g

8) LightLife-Smart BBQ
This is absolutely fabulous BBQ! I get this at Whole Foods and also at Albertson's. This is Kosher Pareve certified vegan shredded veggie protein in BBQ sauce. The sauce is sweet so I usually add a dash of hot sauce to mine. :)
It is very easy to prepare. Just rip the pouch open and place it in the microwave for 1.5 minutes or until hot and serve. Doesn't get much easier or tastier than that.

Serving Size 1/4 Cup, Calories 70, Calories fromFat 0, Total Fat 0g, Saturated Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 380mg, Potassium 80mg, Total Cars. 13g, Dietary Fiber 1g, Sugars 10g, Protein 6g

This BBQ has a very authentic taste. It's chewy and stringy just like a real shredded pork product. It even gets stuck in your teeth like the real thing. Only Smart BBQ tastes better because to me because I can eat it with a clear conscience, knowing it's totally vegan.

9) Morningstar Farms-Veggie Breakfast Sausage Patties
I have tried a few breakfast sausage replacements and so far, this is my favorite. Browned in a skillet with a little olive oil (or other oil) it tastes just like the real thing. I have never been very into sausage but there are some of my recipes that call for it.
I use it in my sausage apple stuffing during the holiday's (with a Quorn turkey roast and Hain Gravy). I also use it in sausage breakfast sandwiches and diced up in a vegetarian biscuits and gravy. It's satisfying and "sausagy" without the fat, grease or any animals!

Serving Size 1 Pattie, Calories, 80, Calories from Fat 25, Total Fat 3g, Saturated Fat 0.5g, Trans Fat 0g, Polyunsaturated Fat 2g, Monounsaturated Fat 0.5g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 270mg, Potassium 110mg, Total Carbs. 3g, Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars <1g, Protein 10g

The package lists this sausage as 100% Vegetarian and Kosher Dairy (because of the lactose and lactid acid...and probably other things I can't understand)

10) Fantastic-Taco Filling
If you're in a hurry and want a quick taco or burrito, you just can't beat this stuff! I use it as a burrito filling and it has convinced every meat eater I've given it to. It's a textured soy protein. Boil 1 3/4 C water (or use vegetable broth for even more flavor), add the mix and stir till all the liquid is absorbed. Right after putting the mix into the liquid, I add extra spices or hot sauce for an extra kick. The mix will absorb all the spices as it fluffs up. See my burrito casserole recipe for more on this.

Serving Size 1/4 Cup, Calories 80, Calories from Fat, 10, Total Fat 1g, Saturated Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 430mg, Total Carbs 10g, Dietary Fiber 4g, Sugars 1g, Protein 11g

11) Melissa's-Soy Taco
Ok, I thought nothing could beat the Fantastic brand taco filling but I was wrong. I picked up Melisa's brand out of desperation because Fantastic brand wasn't available where I was. The Melisa's brand taco filling is absolutely fabulous! Unlike the Fantastic brand, which is dehydrated, Melisa's is a simple heat and eat. I heated it in the frying pan because it was my first time using it. However, I would suggest just emptying the package into a bowl and putting it in the microwave until just heated. The texture and seasoning are just perfect! I didn't have to add anything to it. It is vegan and KSA Kosher. I am looking forward to trying more from this company!

Serving Size (For Tacos) 1.05 oz., Calories 54, Calories from Fat 30, Total Fat 3g, Saturated Fat 0g, Trans. Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 190mg, Total Carbs 3g, Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 0g, Protein 5g

12) Morningstar Farms-Corn Dogs
Brilliant corn dog replacement. I'm thinking these are the only veggie corn dogs I've seen so I don't have anything to compare them to. However, they are incredibly tasty. The texture is fabulous too! I'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between these and the regular meat variety. Makes a great snack!

Serving Size 1 Corn Dog, Calories 170, Calories from Fat 50, Total Fat 6g, Saturated Fat 1g, Trans Gat 0g, Polyunsaturated Fat 3.5g, Monounsaturated Fat 1.5g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 533mg, Potassium 60mg, Total Carbs 22g, Dietary Fiber 3g, Sugars 5g, Protein 8g

13) Morningstar Farms-Meal Starters (Steak Strips and Chick'n Strips)
I believe these are brand new. I really do like these strips. They were great in the fajitas I made with them the other night. There are a few things I'd like to mention about them, though.
1) After looking at the ingredients, comparing the steak and the chick'n strips, they both appear to be the same flavor. The only things I see that are different are the ingredients used for coloring. All the other ingredients are the same. They both taste the same to me.
2) You have to pay V E R Y close attention to how you cook these!! I think I have yet to cook them right. The cooking instructions state that you should: "Brown in a lightly oiled pan over medium high heat for no more than 2-3 minutes, then remove them and cook your other ingredients and recombine just before serving".
I had a hard time with getting the correct consistency out of these. You can not just walk away and let these cook. They need to be turned often. They will be soggy for a while but can turn burned and too crunchy very quickly! So be sure and watch them no matter what recipe you're going to put them in. I do agree that they should be cooked (or browned) first. I am not sure yet how they hold up in liquid although I did see a recipe on Morningstar Farms website using the Chick'n strips in a soup.
3) The flavor is nice, but I wouldn't call it wonderful. I think both varieties of these strips are a little bland. Although, they could be spiced up, I'm sure, and be very tasty.
So, in closing, I would buy these again, if only because they are the only fake meat strips I have found. They do add a good texture if cooked properly. They are 100% vegan.

Chick'n Strips: Serving Size 12 strips, Calories 130, Calories from Fat 25, Total Fat 3g, Saturated Fat 0.5g, Trans Fat 0g, Polyunsaturated Fat 1.5g, Monounsaturated Fat 1g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 680mg, Potassium 460mg, Total Carbs 5g, Dietary Fiber 1g, Sugars 1g, Protein 21g

Steak Strips: Serving Size 12 strips, Calories 140, Calories from Fat 25, Total Fat 3g, Saturated Fat 0.5g, Trans Fat 0g, Polyunsaturated Fat 1g, Monounsaturated Fat 1.5g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 720mg, Potassium 460mg, Total Carbs 5g, Dietary Fiber 1g, Sugars 1g, Protein 23g

14) Quorn-Garlic and Herb Cutlets
These are one of the only breaded cutlets I really really like. Not the healthiest but what do you expect from anything breaded and cooked until golden brown and delicious? :)
The garlic and herb coating on these is really great! Very tasty. I would suggest cooking them as Quorn suggests, in the regular oven. Cooking them in the toaster oven will make them crispier but they will dry out faster and the texture just isn't the same when the whole thing has the consistency of "jerky". Cooking them in the microwave will keep the flavor and "gentle" texture but the coating won't crisp up at all and that really is a big part of these cutlets.
These cutlets made fabulous wraps! I'm sure they would be wonderful just as is along side some mashed potatoes as well. I really love the taste and texture of these!

Serving Size 1 cutlet, Calories 200, Calories from Fat 70, Total Fat 8g, Saturated Fat 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat 2g, Monounsaturated Fat 6g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 610mg, Total Carbs 20g, Dietary Fiber 4g, Sugars 2g, Protein 10g

14) LightLife-Smart Menu Chick'n Strips
These are, or were, my favorite chicken strips. It seems they changed their recipe and now they are a lot saltier than they used to be. However, I still love these! They hold up excellent in liquids so they won't break down in recipes like pot pies and soups. Just make sure to alter the salt in your recipe to account for the extra salt in the strips. They have a wonderful texture and flavor that could pass for chicken in any recipe. Plus they seem to be very healthy!
The nutritional info is taken from the old box before they changed their recipe. I'll update it as soon as I get a new box. Or it might be available from their website.

Serving Size 3 oz, Servings per container 2, Calories 80, Calories from Fat 0, Total Fat 0g, Saturated Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 530mg, Potassium 470mg, Total Carbs 5g, Dietary Fiber 3g, Sugars 0g, Protein 15g

15) Tofurky-Cranberry and Stuffing Deli Slices
I have been wanting to try these ever since seeing them on their web site. However, they were hard to find! My local Whole Foods doesn't carry them but I did find them at Wild Oats. It's well known that I don't like the actual "Tofurky" but I have fallen in love with some of their deli slices.
These are the ultra thin sliced so they are about half as thick as what is shown on the package. These are very tasty! Even considering how thin they are, you can taste the cranberry. I wish I had some cranberry sauce to put on the sandwich as they suggested.
I don't really know where the "stuffing" part of this comes into play. I couldn't detect stuffing in there at all but they made a yummy sandwich non the less! I highly recommend these for the texture if nothing else.

Serving Size 5 slices, Servings per container about 3, Calories 100, Calories from fat 25, Total fat 3g, Saturated fat 0g, Trans fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 370mg, Total carbs 8g, Dietary fiber 3g, Sugars 2g, Protein 11g

16) Lightlife-Smart Deli-Santa Fe Chick'n Style
Veggie protein slices with sundried tomatoes. I love these! They have a lot of flavor. They are not the thin sliced of some of the other brands but they have become one of my favorite lunch "meats".
With the Lightlife brand it's hit and miss. Some of their deli slices are great and others taste like cat food. LOL
I found these at Wild Oats. My local Whole Foods doesn't carry them. Meat free and vegan. They make an excellent sandwich!

Serving size 5 slices, Servings per package about 3, Calories 80, Fat cal. 0, Total fat 0g, Saturated fat 0g, Trans fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 350mg, Potassium 110mg, Total carbs 6g, Dietary Fiber 1g, Sugars <1g, Protein 14g

17) Health is Wealth-Jalapeņo Munchees
These are a vegetarian style pizza roll. This is a new brand to me. I had never heard of Health is Wealth before. Once again I found this brand at Wild Oats. These are excellent! Just like the pizza rolls I remember but in different styles that are either vegetarian or vegan. Some even have fake pepperoni or fake ham. This kind is a cheddar and jalapeno version. Very tasty. Lots of flavor. These make a great snack without all the fat and meat in the regular variety. I'm looking forward to trying some of their other products!

Serving size 6, Servings per container 2, Calories 170, Calories from fat 35, Total fat 4g, Trans fat 0g, Polyunsaturated fat 1g, Monounsaturated fat 2g, Cholesterol 5mg, Sodium 570mg, Total carbs 28g, Dietary fiber 2g, Sugars 4g, Protein 6g

18) Yves - Sandwich "meats"
I have tried these varieties: They list that they are Vegan but are made in a plant with eggs and milk so you decide....

Deli Salami-
WONDERFUL taste! Texture is all wrong, for salami, but the taste is great.
Nutritional Facts:
Serving size 4 slices, Calories 80, Total Fat 0g, Saturated fat 0g, Polyunsaturated fat 0g, Monounsaturated fat 0g, Cholesterol 0g, Sodium, 480mg, Potassium 200mg, Total Carbs 4g, Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars <1g., Protein 15g.

Deli Bologna-
JUST like the real thing, in my opinion. Bologna is already a "processed food", I think, so a fake version of it with the right seasonings could be just as good and this IS just as good. I was never really big on bologna but I know enough about it to know that this tastes very close to the real thing.
Nutritional Facts:
Serving size 4 Slices, Calories 80, Total Fat 2.5g, Saturated Fat 0g, Trans Fat 0g, Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5, Monounsaturated Fat 1g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 480mg, Potassium 200mg, Total Carbs 2g,, Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars <1g, Protein 14g.

Deli Turkey-
I need to eat this one more time before I decide. At first taste, it doesn't taste like much. It smells like cat food and that is one of the things that turns me against meat alternatives. The texture is just like any of the other Yves "meats". In fairness, I did eat it with Tofurky Peppered deli lunch meat so it's not a good review.....yet. I still have some left so I will put a real review here when I have it. Until then, here is the nutritional info:
Serving Size 4 slices, Calories 100, Total Fat 1.5g, Saturated Fat 0g, Trans fat 0g, Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5g. Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 0g, Sodium 340mg, Potassium 230mg, Total Carbs 5g, Protein 16g.

19) Lightlife Smart Strips -
Steak-Style Strips
I have had the chicken ones for a long time now and I thought that the steak ones would be exactly the same. I have had the Morningstar Farms Steak and Chicken style meal starter strips and I don't notice any difference between the Chicken and Steak, except color. So, I figured the Lightlife Smart Strips would be the same. They are NOT!
The Steak strips are juicier and "beefier". I am planning on using them in my next stroganoff recipe. I will post that to my recipe section. It will be this week sometime. Until then, here are the nutritional facts:
Serving Size 3 oz., Calories 80, Total Fat 0g, Saturated Fat 0g, Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium, 570mg, Potassium 560mg, Total Carbs 5g, Dietary Fiber 5g, Sugars 0g, Protein 14g.

20) I just got my Vegan Dream Jerky!

I got the sample pack which is 2 of each of the 3 flavors. Since there are no good pictures on their website I have *hopefully* included what this stuff really looks like.

What first comes to mind is that this feels like that processed pressed jerky that you find at the front of most gas stations and convenience stores. It's nothing like Primal Strips.
On first impression of tasting all 3:
The original Hickory Pepper is ok.
The Hot Chili Pepper is pretty tasty but not hot to me since I like everything in the category of "stupid hot" :)
The Cow Girl is sweet and a little spicy and that is my favorite.

My second impression is that you have to chew a while to get the flavor but more importantly, all of them have a funny aftertaste. I can't quite make out why, must have something to do with the base ingredients.

No real final thought yet since I haven't had more than a few bites off any of them but the unofficial final thought is that if you ever liked the pressed stuff you might like it. It's a bit too expensive for me so in the future I'll probably stick with Primal Strips. They are cheaper and even if I have to wait a few days drying them out in the fridge, I can still get an immediate fix if I want one! :) Plus, I think they have a better texture than these. I used to eat the processed pressed jerky all the time before I went veg. but I just don't like that texture anymore.

Other Products and Replacements I Love

I just realized I needed this section. Although this is not the main goal of this page I started thinking that there are some other replacement and other vegetarian products I love, such as for cheese. This section will deal with those.

1) Soya Kaas-Natural Cheese Alternative-Jalapeno Mexi-Kass
According to the package it Melts and Slices Like Real Cheese. So far I only tried melting it once and it did melt well (more like a processed cheese slice than regular "stringy cheese". However, it did not break down and turn into icky slime like some cheese alternatives do. Also, this cheese is very very tasty cold! I normally don't eat cheese cold but this is very good. It reminds me of a mild Pepper Jack cheese.
It is a Tofu based cheese but isn't vegan because it contains caseinate (a milk protein).

Serving Size 1oz, Calories 65, Calories from Fat 35, Total Fat 4g, Saturated Fat 5g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 240mg, Total Carbs. <1g, Protein 6, Polyunsaturated Fat 2.5g, Monounsaturated Fat 1g

I got this at Whole Foods, once again. It isn't cheap. I paid around $4.50 for one 12oz brick. However, if you're dedicated to cutting out the majority of animal products of your diet, I think this might be a good cheese to try.

2) I am HUGE into Ramen noodles right now. I get cravings for them from time to time. Being cheap and easy, for the most part, they are a staple in a lot of houses. I was at my local Whole Foods the other day and saw Koyo brand Organic Ramen. I bought a couple packages because they were there and ramen is ramen, right? Well...not really. I tried the Garlic Pepper flavor and Mushroom Flavor.
The first thing I noticed was these are .89 cents a piece! Now, that might not seem like a lot, but if you eat Ramen...it's a fortune!
The second thing I noticed was the way the noodles cooked. They got very soggy and broke apart pretty easy and pretty fast.
Then there is the soup packet. The Koyo Organic Ramen appears to be low sodium. Also, there is no MSG in these. All of this is a good thing and these noodle packs are vegetarian and organic. If you lean towards these sorts of things, by all means give these a try. They were tasty.

However, if you're a vegetarian who has to have that "junky", MSG laden, high salt ramen for a quick meal, I found a great new flavor! Top Ramen has a Spicy Vegetable flavor that states right on the front of the package, "NO Animal Meat, NO Animal fat".
The noodles stay together better no matter how long you cook them, the soup is that same wonderful put-your-blood pressure-through-the-roof bit of goodness we all know and love and it's .19 cents a package!  Being a "Spicy" flavor just adds to the appeal, for me anyway. I find these to be cheap, easy and addictive (if you're a ramen fan).

3) 3 Soup Bases I can't do without!!!!!

1) OSEM Chicken Style Consomme-
This has MSG in it but other than that I *think* it is Vegan. Tastes so much like a salty standard chicken consomme that I had to keep checking the ingredients. If I want to actually drink it as is, I temper it with Streits Low Sodium "Chicken Flavor Soup Base".

2: Streits Low Sodium Chicken Flavor Soup base. I think this is also Vegan. It doesn't break up in dishes as well as the OSEM but if you treat it like a rue it will be as good as anything (or better) in dishes like pot pies.

3) Streits Vegetable Flavor Soup Base.
Excellent, fairly low sodium powdered base for almost......everything! All of these are wonderful. Combinations of any or all of these are wonderful additions to any meal, in my opinion.