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

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I haven't eaten meat since I was 7 years old, so 19 years ago! I intend for my family to follow the same pattern.

I wouldn't go entirely meat free but I guess it is worth while looking at what we are eating and perhaps reducing it.

We're doing vegetarian January. I want to reduce our meat consumption because of the environmental impact of meat production. We buy free range/ high welfare standard meat for obvious things like a whole chicken, but sometimes forget to check things like sausages. I want to remember for all the food we buy. This does push the cost up, so this is also a cost thing - eat less but better.

I am trying to eat less meat for health reasons, but do struggle with substitutes. I think it is easier to just avoid meat than to find a substitute.

Good idea

I think it's easy to struggle to get some nutrients eating a vegan / vegetarian diet if you don't work really, really hard at it eg preformed vitamin A, choline, or e.g. limiting polyunsaturated fatty acids. I think you also have to work hard to reduce the effect of anti-nutrients like oxalate and phytate which make minerals from plant foods much less bioavailable than from animal foods. Oxalate has had a massive (negative) effect on my health, and the single best thing I've ever done in terms of my energy levels, brain function and not being freezing cold (ie thyroid function) has been to eat liver once a week. So I'm never going to go veggie.

I do, however, feel pretty strongly about wanting to avoid processed and conventionally-reared animal products, so I have a lot of sympathy with where a lot of vegetarians are coming from. I'd never want to eat meat substitute type products, though, as I prefer a wholefoods, home-cooked type diet, partly for health reasons, partly because I think the food is just nicer.

I think it's easy to struggle to get some nutrients eating a vegan / vegetarian diet if you don't work really, really hard at it eg preformed vitamin A, choline, or e.g. limiting polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Since you conflate vegan and vegetarian diets and since you can get all of the nutrients you list in a meat free diet, it might be worth doing some research @AngelDog before utterly conflating different dietary choices/nutrient accessibility

I grew up not being able to swallow/eat red meat, my parents were so worried and used to take me to the doctors, who always laughed and said i would be fine, there was no vegetarian options in restaraunts it really was quite terrible, so yes, I have no had any consequences of any negative type by not eating meat, although i do have fish and poultry, so my diet is really very healthy, good discussion many thanks....

Wow I’m so glad to see this post because I’ve never heard of the Meatless Farm!

Me and my partner are health conscious as well as recently being put off meat due to animal welfare concerns. We plan to switch to a veggie/vegan diet as much as possible but it has been a struggle as we still really want to include our regular “comfort foods”.

These products sound like a really good idea.

We are all very environmentally friendly and I would be happy to eat meat free most of the time, however of my three children two adore meat and don't consider it a proper meal without meat, despite understanding the environmental implications.
I can only get away with one or two meat free meals per week, but that is only main meals I am talking about, the other meals will all be meat free. (but not vegan)
I have tried a vegetarian pasta sauce style 'Bolognese, and that is tolerated!

We've cut down a bit but it tends to be things like roasted veg lasagne or veg curry rather than using meat substitute products. Quorn seems very processed and a lot of stuff relies on soya which I'm a bit wary of due to the estrogens. Small doses obv fine.

We're largely veggie, but do eat meat. I'd just rather eat it less often.

I tend not to use meat substitutes though as they're often soya based or contain egg and my son's allergic to both. That said, if safe I wouldn't be averse to giving them a go

We enjoy meat but do tend to have a couple of meat free meals a week. We have made a decision to cut out beef and are replacing it with lamb or quorn depending on what we are cooking.

In terms of meat replacements we have found several that we really like such as linda McCartney sausages and burgers, and quorn mince. We have also found some to be quite horrid such as the quorn pieces!

Where possible we try to just replace meat with veg or pulses, so a lentil pasta bake or veg curry, rather than replace with meat. It's really just the bbq foods we feel we need a replacement for!

In terms of what attracted us to meat free options, to start with it was the lower fat content of things like quorn mince but now its more the taste.

We have already started this this January. I've been trying to eat meat-free lunch all week at work by either taking in one of the bol veg pots in to heat up or buying a make-your salad from the salad bar at work. We are also having vegetable-based soup twice a week and another night of a meat-free pasta dish (or swapping with quorn).

Are you considering reducing your family’s meat intake?
I am not actively trying to reduce the meat intake but I am shopping more consciously when buying meat to ensure that it is free range and grass fed.

What do you think about meat-free products?
I was vegetarian for a year when younger and found Quorn fine for things like curries or pasta sauces. However, I found that I really missed things like Bacon as there did not appear to be a decent substitute.

Perhaps you’re already including meat free products in your family meals? What influences your choice when it comes to meat free options?
If we have meat free meals this is without meat substitutes either such as a vegetable curry or mushroom stroganoff. I am probably unlikely to use substitute products as I don't have an issue with meat. I am usually influenced by what will taste best over price.

I’ve certainly considered it but I don’t think I ever could, we all enjoy meat too much

Tried veg sausages and SW veg burgers, then vegan ready meals from Tesco. Since then I’ve got out recipe books and love the challenge of cooking vegetarian or vegan family meals.
My adult son was pleased when he visited- he hadn’t told me he was doing Veganuary this month!

I’m a former veggie of ten years ( vegan for six months of that) and I would do it again if I could get the whole family to join in. At the moment I have difficulty getting them to eat ‘fake meat’ products so I’m always interested in new ones because they vary so much. We only eat red meat once a fortnight though and eat a lot of beans, lentils etc.

I've been vegetarian for 22 years. My BF is a massive meat eater and is difficult when it comes to trying meat free foods. However as I am the main cook he eats more vegetarian foods than he probably realises. I do tell him what I have cooked but I'm not sure he realises it's a meat free alternative so we can both eat it.

I'm looking to cut down meat consumption rather than avoid it altogether but would be interested in nice burgers. Thesedon't have to be meat 'imitations', though I am intrigued by those and will give them a go, but so many vegetarian burgers now seem to be sweet potato-centred and I find that dull. Tesco used to do a lovely mushroom and chick pea vegetarian burger, which they just labelled 'mushroom burger' but haven't seen them for ages.

Veggie in-laws cooked us Linda McCartney McMuffins last weekend and I actually really enjoyed them!

Family of 2 - we are mostly vegan! although DS sometimes has pizza (cheese) on the whole we eat and buy vegan most of the time. I would say child-friendly vegan options are a great idea, for fussy kids. DS is particularly fussy! So catering to his palette in a vegan way important... if only he liked curry!! :)

We already try to have 2 or 3 vegan or vegetarian meals each week, although I tend to make them with all veg, beans & lentils.

It's many years since I tried meal alternatives, & I wasn't a massive fan, although I'm now wondering if things have moved on in the last decade!

I want to reduce our meat intake but my son was diagnosed anaemic last year and I worry about his iron getting low if I cut meat down too much. I wish there was a meat alternative with added iron.

You know what....even though I know it's healthier to reduce meat I always have a tantrum when my partner suggests we eat a pure veggie meal for tea...I love fish, I don't mind if it's fish, but just vegetarian meals don't seem to fill me up...HOWEVER .... If I could have meat substitutes and I liked them I would deffo be able to reduce my meat. I guess I'm a creature of habit.