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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We are trying to eat less meat in the week and would love to hear about more neat free options.

meat!

I’m vegan with a veggie husband, baby and a meat eating step daughter. Our house is a meat free house.

The biggest issue for us is finding meals that suit all of our tastes, I wouldn’t normally eat ‘fake’ meat due to it generally having so many ingredients and also I don’t want an alternative to meat as I don’t eat it.

For us things such as mushroom mince and Jack fruit are good alternatives that tick all the boxes. Tasty, satisfy the meat eater and don’t have 200 ingredients.

I think there are too many ‘fake’ meat products on the market and not enough emphasis on the ingredients and sustainability of the product. I want new products to make new meals with rather than something a bit similar to meat and is used as a replacement.

We are making more of an effort to have more meatfree meals. If we are out we will often opt for the vegetarian option.

We have had a vegetarian lead diet for the past 4-5 years now as my OH went full vegetarian. There is vegetarian every day, where we use the mince, gammen (better then the bacon option) and roast(for nicer/bigger meals). There has also been an introduction of a very nice kebab alternative which we have embraced. The most important part in the diet is to ensure that there is enough natural items that boost the meal so to keep a healthy balance. Lentils, beans, vegetables aso. For our dc, there is fish 2-3 times a week and white meat 1-2 times a week to maintain his needs.

I have been a vegetarian for over 40 years now, and I welcome all this new trends like veganuary. At last I can buy veggie options at supermarkets and restaurants, and fast food places, makes a change from salad and chips which was my only options over the past few decades. One of my children became veggie, and one is a complete carnivore. I did NOT impose my beliefs onto my kids. I felt it was up to them to make their own lifestyle choices. I absolutely cannot get my head around these meat-a-like veggie products like quorn, and some restaurants offering meat tasting burgers with pretend pulled pork (BBQ jackfruit) even the thought of eating them makes me feel sick. If I wanted to eat meat, I would eat meat, not a copycat. I can however see this would appeal to people who are embracing the new eco friendly , uber trendy, vegan lifestyle who actually enjoy eating meat and maybe miss it, but personally I prefer my veggie food to look vegetarian not look and taste like meat!

I eat about 95% plant-based - I've not actually eaten meat for a few years, but sometimes have fish or dairy if eating out and options are limited. I've found that meat substitutes are improving year on year - and have friends who tell me they now prefer the vegan/veggie sausages over meat ones. The rest of the family are omni but quite often will choose veggie mince, etc to cook with. I gave up meat due to ethical reasons and not because I didn't like the taste, if there's a product that tastes as good but without the cruelty aspect, why wouldn't I choose that on occasions. Most of my plant protein come from chickpeas, lentils, peas and mushrooms.

Not a vegetarian but love veg but think it wrong to remove meat from our diets as our body need the goodness from meat.

Personally I don’t like “fake meat” products. If I’m cooking meat, I want to use good, high welfare real meat. If I’m cooking veggie (and we eat veggie 3 or 4 nights a week, I use pulses, eggs or cheese for the protein.

Our most frequent veggie meals are Dahl & veg curry, a green lentil bolognese and a veggie chilli with red kidney beans and bulgar wheat.

Definitely reducing meat intake here- in the last two months both dh and one ds have become veggie, other ds doesn't eat much meat and I am happy to follow a mostly veggie diet.

However as it stands I am not keen on meat substitutes currently on offer- thankfully veggie Ds is quite positive about them- would be nice to see "meatier" options available. I have some of your products in our fridge today so looking forward to trying.

None of us are vegetarians, but I like to go meat free most days of the week.
I buy meat substitute products to use in traditional recipes - especially 'mince' to use in bolognese, chilli etc.

I feel this is certainly something I want to start doing but not being a keen cook im wondering what I could do to still make meals exciting and varied

I like my meat, simple as that, but even I'm am thinking of reducing certain meats and will be happy to try the meat alternatives.

Vegetarian here and don't often use meat alternatives - I have tried the mince pictures in the OP though and I was really impressed!

We already have. Generally the only meat we eat is either chicken or posk and always with more veg than meat. In the summer it's mostly salad with only small portions of meat :)

re you considering reducing your family’s meat intake?
We are a family of vegetarians. I've been veggie since I was a teenager _ I'm now in my mid 30s. I've brought my 3 kids up veggie.

What do you think about meat-free products?

I think there are a lot more of them now than when I went veggie in the 90s. They have improved a lot too _ it's come a long way since dalepak grills & bean feast!

Perhaps you’re already including meat free products in your family meals?

I like to cook from scratch & prefer to use veg than fake meat. I like tofu & things like butternut squash & Jack fruit. We do like fake meat burgers & sausages tho.

What influences your choice when it comes to meat free options?

Price, what's on special offer. If something is new I'll give it a go.

I was veggie for AGES but since lifting weights i need to ensure i eat enough protein. My partner lifts too so we can't afford to cut our meat consumption

I'm married to a confirmed meat eater, but do manage to sneak some veggie dishes in occasionally. I've never understood the attraction of fake meat - it just seems like a weird idea. What I'd like to do is increase my repertoire of veggie recipes, but that takes more time and energy than I have at the moment.

Pescetarian here, mostly eat vegetarian though. I have generally disliked brown food thats made to appear as meat but isn't discernible as to what it actually is. Meatless mince .. its not actually clear what food it is.

Our son made the decision (entirely independently!) to become vegetarian & he's maintained this since October! He was inspired by Beast Boy from Teen Titans Go!
His choice to follow a vegetarian diet has inspired us too - it's healthier & often cheaper - it was also easier to make one vegetarian dish than two dishes - a meat based one for us & a veggie one for our son!
I love to try something different - we opt for a lot of Quorn products & store own brand products. There's definitely more choice for veggies in the shops these days & I'll look forward to seeing what the the Meatless Farm has to offer!

Husband, 8 year old and i are all vegan, 12 year old is vegetarian. Both children really enjoy their diets and take pride in being animal loving, kind hearted people, but neither could have managed without faux meat and similar products to help them transition.
My daughter particularly now enjoys a wide range of non meat proteins and tells all her friends how easy it is to be vegan.

I would happily go vegan but when I suggested it hubby's face was a picture (of horror). We do have the occasional vegetarian meal and as long as it's full of flavour he is OK with that. Have cut back a lot on meat and with such a choice of veg & beans & pulses etc. it's much easier. We do have quoin which has improved immensely since we first tried it. My husband has a hereditary cholesterol condition so we have to watch our diet carefully anyway.

I don't really look at it this way, I eat what I want in moderation, there are days when I don't have any meat and days when I do, I may go a full week without any sometimes. I tend to think there is alot of overhype about veganism and it's becoming trendy instead of being done for a real reason.

We are vegetarian at home and hubby eats meat when go out. Looking for inspiration for good meat replacements. Quorn is good and I use the chicken pieces a lot, but could do with more variety to make sure we all get the right nutrient and flavour combos.

NO and YUCK..