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Original poster

Best vegetarian mince

90 replies

Gudinne · 29/08/2026 13:14

Please tell me what vegetarian mince your family prefers and any that you would avoid. Asking as my family want to reduce the amount of meat we eat. Thanks

OP posts:
IckyIck · 09/09/2026 14:02

halfaraft · 09/09/2026 13:43

Yes but the good kind of fat: they also contain omega 3 (brilliant for brain health) and tons of other benefits.

ChatGPT estimates that one portion of the walnut / carrot / mushrooms estimate around 20g of protein. That's aroun half our daily recommended intake of protein.

Assuming you eat another meal to get the rest elsewhere, it's pretty good!

Edited
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I don't care what ChatGPT says and as good as the fat might be, it's not protein.

I struggle with digesting oil, mushrooms and nuts and it would probably make me sick, and I only eat one meal a day normally.

RampantIvy · 09/09/2026 14:08

IckyIck · 09/09/2026 14:02

I don't care what ChatGPT says and as good as the fat might be, it's not protein.

I struggle with digesting oil, mushrooms and nuts and it would probably make me sick, and I only eat one meal a day normally.

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Do you have a health condition that precludes you from eating more than one meal a day?

IckyIck · 09/09/2026 14:23

RampantIvy · 09/09/2026 14:08

Do you have a health condition that precludes you from eating more than one meal a day?

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No. One meal is enough. The food hits the satiety spot. and I'm not really hungry until the next morning.

If I eat high-GI food, then it goes awry. It sets off false hunger.
I don't know why I am averse to oily food but my siblings and a parent are the same.

Hayley1256 · 09/09/2026 14:31

IckyIck · 09/09/2026 13:35

@halfaraft , yes but not a huge amount. They are high in fat, moderate in protein.

@Hayley1256 , probably best to not mention beef stock on a vegetarian mince thread.

@DrEmilyCrabtree , I find green or brown lentils give a meatier density. The quorn mince tastes quite meaty but lacks the density. I don't want fake meat either.

OPs not vegetarian though, just wants to eat less meat.

halfaraft · 09/09/2026 14:38

IckyIck · 09/09/2026 14:02

I don't care what ChatGPT says and as good as the fat might be, it's not protein.

I struggle with digesting oil, mushrooms and nuts and it would probably make me sick, and I only eat one meal a day normally.

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It IS protein though. Weird, and false, to pretend its not, whether or not you personally can eat oily food or one meal a day is completely irrelevant.

20g is a perfectly respectable amount of protein in a meal (and considered a good amount).

IckyIck · 09/09/2026 14:53

@Hayley1256 , most of us probably are and some of us fear eating food prepared by people who will flavour food with beef or chicken stock. That doesn't make what you said a bad suggestion.

@halfaraft , not weird or false.

MotherOfSoManyCats · 09/09/2026 14:54

I use the "This Isn't..." range but anything made by Richmond is also really good

Hayley1256 · 09/09/2026 15:05

IckyIck · 09/09/2026 14:53

@Hayley1256 , most of us probably are and some of us fear eating food prepared by people who will flavour food with beef or chicken stock. That doesn't make what you said a bad suggestion.

@halfaraft , not weird or false.

I would never use beef stock etc when making food for a vegetarian or vegan. I know people that probs would though!

IckyIck · 09/09/2026 15:10

I've been the vegetarian in question. Shock

According to the internet, a walnut contains 0.3 grams of protein. Weirdly and falsely, the 20g of protein per portion doesn't ring true.

LethargeMarg · 09/09/2026 15:13

i like linda mccartney mince best.
hate quorn mince find it completely tasteless

thestudio · 09/09/2026 16:14

@lumpyarse and @Moros yes sorry you're right, it's not NO protein (sorry was rushing) - but walnuts have about 30% of TVP.

We're fully vegan and I'm in my 50s - I've recently realised that I need much more protein than I'd thought (1g at least per kg of your weight!) so I'm a bit obsessive about it now.

I get that this is less of a problem for carnivores who are just trying to eat less meat though.

(Although it does annoy me when vegan influencers post recipes that have about 5g of protein - we can all make a delicious veggie side dish bro, and a lion's mane mushroom doth not a nutritional main course make...)

DrEmilyCrabtree · 09/09/2026 16:25

RampantIvy · 09/09/2026 13:52

What brand is this? And where would I find it? I grate and bake the grated tofu to get the meaty texture.

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I'm really sorry, I can't remember. Possibly Tofoo. It was from asda and I think it was £1 for the pack (which did 3 of us)

IckyIck · 09/09/2026 16:31

@thestudio , it's my main argument against eating out. You get veg and two veg or a mushroom in pastry and two veg.

@RampantIvy ,Tofu & Tempeh - ASDA Groceries
Looks like a good selection. Not sure which one @DrEmilyCrabtree used.

DrEmilyCrabtree · 09/09/2026 16:34

IckyIck · 09/09/2026 16:31

@thestudio , it's my main argument against eating out. You get veg and two veg or a mushroom in pastry and two veg.

@RampantIvy ,Tofu & Tempeh - ASDA Groceries
Looks like a good selection. Not sure which one @DrEmilyCrabtree used.

It was the own brand one (out of stock on there though). Says its 2.27, so it must have been on offer

RampantIvy · 09/09/2026 16:35

I like Tofoo brand. I buy the blocks. I have never seen it as mince though. I'll have a look.

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