Meat-free doesn’t have to be a Monday thing. These ready-made proteins taste great and make plant-based eating a no-brainer.
With the refresh of Canada’s Food Guide in early 2019, more and more families are now embracing plant-based meat alternatives—and why not? These vegetarian meats taste great and are kinder on the environment. While cooking without meat isn’t impossible, we get that it can be time-consuming. So, here are some great packaged options you can stash in the freezer for those pull-together-quickly weeknight meals.
Photo courtesy of President’s Choice
1. PC Chickenless Breaded Strips
Ready in 20 minutes, these breaded strips are tender and crispy, just like real chicken fingers. Pop them into taco shells with some avocado and pico de gallo and you’ve got a yummy Mexican-inspired dinner.
Photo courtesy of the The Meatless Farm Co.
2. The Meatless Farm Co. Meat Free Ground
Picture spaghetti bolognese with a fraction of the fat. The company claims this plant-based ground tastes better than beef.
Photo courtesy of Beyond Meat
3. Beyond Meat Beyond Burger
McDonalds, A&W, Subway, Tim Hortons! You’ll be hard-pressed to find a fast-food chain that isn’t serving up tasty plant-based meat alternatives from Beyond Meat. Grab some burgers to make at home and see if your family notices the difference.
Photo courtesy of Sunrise Soya Foods
4. Sunrise Tofu
Don’t roll your eyes at tofu. This soy-based protein is like a chameleon—it’s all in the sauce! Find a recipe that works for your family and this will be an affordable slam dunk dinner.
Photo courtesy of Sol Cuisine
5. Sol Cuisine Mushroom & Wild Rice Burgers
Portobello mushrooms give these soy protein-based burgers the perfect texture. Go classic by topping these with a tasty sauce, pickles, tomato, lettuce and onions.
Photo courtesy of Yves
6. Yves Veggie Cuisine Veggie Chick’n Nuggets
McDonald’s called and wants to know how these crispy chicken-free nuggets taste so darn good. This is the perfect cheat meal with a side of crudités and honey for dipping—yum!
Photo courtesy of Tofurky
7. Tofurky Oven Roasted Deli Slices
Not just a silly name, these meatless turkey slices are a great snack or sandwich topper.
Photo courtesy of Gardein
8. Gardein Golden Filets
Fish lovers rejoice. Switching to these fish-free filets won’t mean you have to sacrifice your Omega-3s.
Photo courtesy of Field Roast Company
9. Field Roast Company Smoked Apple Sage Simulated Sausage
Sometimes a meal calls for a smokey sausage and these links deliver. Made with Yukon Gold potatoes, apples and rubbed sage, they’re good in a bun or chopped up and thrown into a chili or pasta.
Photo courtesy of Noble Jerky
10. Noble Jerky Vegan Jerky
We’re not sure how they do it, but this non-GMO soy protein somehow manages to deliver the same chewy satisfaction as jerky made from meat.
Photo courtesy of Upton Naturals
11. Upton Naturals Jackfruit
Craving pulled pork? Give jackfruit a try. The nutrient-dense fruit mimics the texture of pulled meat and can be flavoured to suit whatever dish you’re making.
Photo courtesy of Wholly Veggie!
12. Wholly Veggie!
You won’t even miss the meat when you cook up these crispy cauliflower “wings”. Packed with flavour and veggies, choose from Ranch or Buffalo dipping sauces.
Read more:
The best plant-based food items at Costco
Raising my daughter vegan in an omnivorous world
