Mumsnet users share their thoughts on meat free options

[JustineBMumsnet]

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Whether you’re thinking of reducing your meat consumption for environmental or health reasons, or if you or a member of your family is vegetarian or vegan, the use of meat free options is on the rise. With this in mind, The Meatless Farm would like to hear your thoughts on reducing meat intake and meat-free options.

Here’s what The Meatless Farm has to say: “With an estimated 22m flexitarians in the UK seeking to reduce their meat consumption, there is an increased appetite for healthy, protein-rich alternatives. After years of research, the team behind Meatless Farm have created a range of products that not only deliver on nutrition, they also taste delicious.”

Are you considering reducing your family’s meat intake? What do you think about meat-free products? Perhaps you’re already including meat free products in your family meals? What influences your choice when it comes to meat free options?

All who post on the thread below will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight Terms and Conditions apply

I'm a meat eater and am not really inclined to reduce my meat consumption at the moment.

I prefer to avoid quorn and other substitutes, just stick to vegetables.

we already use quorn better for you and tastes great

We don’t have meat everyday. Happy with cheese sauce with pasta and veg or a nice risotto

i dont like the taste of meat free products. unfortunately our whole household loves meat so i dont think we will change any time soon

We eat very little meat but I am reducing it even further and its great with all the new products that are in the shops atm!

Knowing the Science behind a balanced diet i try to give my children a mix of meat for protien and vegetarian meals for vits and mins. They only like quorn mince but wont touch anything else

There are just so many fantastic vegetarian recipes these days there's just no excuse for not eating less meat.

I eat meat and probably always will, but we are trying to cut down at the moment. Meat free Monday works well in our house. It's a start at least!

Are you considering reducing your family’s meat intake?

In the last 5 years we have actively reduced the amount of meat we eat as a family and now eat meat 3-4 times a week.

What do you think about meat-free products?
I am not sure but try them as my daughter is vegetarian

Perhaps you’re already including meat free products in your family meals? What influences your choice when it comes to meat free options?
My daughter knows what she likes and will ask for her choice. otherwise it is a combimation of cost, choice and 'kerb' appeal in the supermarket.

We regularly have meat free days in our house - there are some fantastic meat alternatives out there now, such as veggie pulled pork, veggie sausages, veggie crispy aromatic duck and veggie chorizo. They're great for those looking to eat less meat for either health or environmental reasons but are worried about losing taste. Price can be a deciding factor for us, and we tend to buy items when they're on promotion. I find it difficult to comprehend that meat free products cost so much more than meat sometimes!

I’ve been a vegetarian since primary school and I’m now 30! I eat huge amounts of quorn and other meat free brand products. What I’d like to see more of is healthy meat free convenience food - stuff you can just grab! If I want cold pizza I have to cook it and then use the next day. I wish supermarkets would start doing meat free salads in partnership with brands such as quorn. I’d kill for a pasta salad with quorn meat I could buy and eat on the go! Sausage rolls, pizza, that sort of thing.

Are you considering reducing your family’s meat intake?
I don’t eat that much meat but DH and DC do. We currently do 2 meat free evening meals a week and I’d like to up it to 3.
What do you think about meat-free products?
Quinn is okay, have enjoyed some of Iceland’s products recently!
Perhaps you’re already including meat free products in your family meals? What influences your choice when it comes to meat free options?
Availability, variety and price! Ideally meat free should work out cheaper, but it often doesn’t, if buying fresh Quorn products especially.

I'm vegetarian but also coeliac so am quite limited in the meat-free substitutes I can use...though there is an awful lot of choice out there these days compared to when I first went vegetarian over 20 years ago.
it's great to see the vegan movement taking off so much in the UK....and anything that encourages people to think more about what they are eating and the impact on the planet is definitely a great thing!

Whilst meat is the basis of most dinners I cook leaner cuts on a health grill and mostly white rather than red meat. (tend to avoid bacon)

Home cooked Meat free products are not very appetising. A veg lasagne is bearable and have eaten Vegetarian Indian / Chinese food from outside the home though not so healthy eating out.

I have a cat who looks forward to cooked chicken so have to buy meat anyway!

im looking to be healthier in everything this year

Yes, definitely! I was a vegetarian for 6 years, and a vegan for 1. We went vegan for lent last year, and really felt better for it.

I'm currently going through fertility treatment, and my doctor advised me to up my protein intake and eat lots of lean meat and fish. If it wasn't for this, I would seriously consider going vegan, and once we've had a baby (fingers crossed) I definitely will revisit the idea.

We aren't a meat free home but we have been reducing the amount of meat we eat purely because we are trying to eat healthier and reduce our fat, and part of this has been comparing fat levels and additives in meat products so we are in turn buying more expensive cuts and therefore not as much.
But I really don't quite understand buying meat free items that resemble meat, for me reducing my intake means eating more pasta,rice,vegetables.

yes! northern Ireland seems to be so behind with the times. I would love to become a vegetarian but the supermarkets and restaurants here don't cater very well for them at all (never mind vegans!). If there were more options in shops I would definitely try. I don't eat red meat but do eat chicken and fish. would love to give no meat a go!

I've been a vegetarian for 20 years, so I'm very familiar with meat free options. We love tofu, Quorn, and Tesco's own meat free alternatives in our house, as well as good old fashioned vegetables. A meal doesn't need to have meat or a meat alternative in it to be delicious in my opinion.

Yes- I think the products have improved vastly over the years

I try and plan at least 2 meat-free meals/days each week for our family! I don't really care for meat and it doesn't have to be the main part of my meal! My husband loves meat, so it's more of a challenge to change his habits! I'd be open to trying more meat-free products but dislike when it's marketed as a meat item e.g. cauliflower steak! ALso the price for some veg that has been given a name such as the above is ridiculous! Just buy a cauliflower and cut it!

I'm happy for us to eat less meat but don't want to eat "substitutes", I prefer to find other natural non-meat foods I love

Over a year ago i made the decision with my husband to greatly reduce the amount of meat we eat as a family. We decided that we would switch to vegetarian meals at home. We do have meat every now and then (maybe once a month at most) but when we do try to purchase pasture fed meat instead of the cheap meat we used to buy.

We've had no complaints from the kids, they still get the choice to have meat in their school dinners, my 5 year old though will quite often choose vegetarian as she understands the impact of excessive meat consumption has on the planet :)

I've been vegetarian since my teens so fake meat products don't do much for me. DD is OK to try them, but isn't fussed by meat anyway. DS will try them but previous attempts haven't been very positive. DH - no chance!