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 was veggie for years and now frequently opt to eat veggie, however now I have kids, I worry more about their protein intake. One will eat cheese, beans etc, but one will only eat sausages! I'm not keen on fake meat, but do love things like veggie burgers made with proper veg.

I could eat cheese with every meal so going vegan has never really appealed though I know for environmental reasons, that would be the better option.

I used to be veggie but now eat meat. I’m not interested in meat substitutes and my partner wouldn’t like them. I like to cook vegetarian dishes such as Spanish omelettes, jacket potatoes with cheese/beans or even egg and chips as they are cheaper and my partner who likes his food plain, will eat these. Another option is a low meat dish such as a vegetable hotpot with a little bacon. Not veggie but cheaper.

I enjoy meat free products but I think there’s a real need for vegetable ready meals which are healthy & not mushroom rissoto!

Husband a vegan and littlest daughter a veggie. Myself and other daughter eat meat.
I find it hard as I have to cook different meals for us as the girls aren't mad keen on lots of vegetables but equally not keen on the Quorn stuff. I'd love to find a meat free alternative which we all like.
It's all hit and miss though and I don't have money to waste trying stuff which we don't like.

I would happily be vegetarian all of the time. DH and DC like meat but we compromise by having 2-3 meat free meals per week. I am not keen on meat substitutes and prefer to use beans, lentils , nuts etc. And build our meals around that. I would find it hard to be vegan as I do like eggs and cheese.

I am consciously choosing my diet to be as plant based as I can with the exception of oily fish for my health. I have 3 growing DSs who I still cook meat for but more and more we are dropping read meat and option for fish or vegetarian options. I'm pleased that they are embracing it also and we talk about not just accepting meat in our diets just because people have eaten it for ages. Challenge the assumptions. We are going to a Vegan fest in our local town on Sunday! I love the challenge of providing them nutritional food without meat.

I would absolutely be interested in this. What currently puts me off the (very limited) meat free options is primarily the taste (have tried Quorn products for example and they taste simple disgusting, the texture is awful, very bland taste and doesnt blend well as a substitute in recipes, such as spag bol etc. Only their nuggets taste good I find), and secondarily is the cost, which is quite expensive next to meat options.

What I would be looking for is something that tastes as close to the substitute meat as possible - I would be willing to pay extra for this. I've already stopped using many mincemeat recipes because I'm trying to avoid buying meat, but currently they're no good substitutes that I've found. I've swapped a lot of other meats such as pork for prawns in curries. What id love to see is meat free burgers,nuggets, that kind of thing.

I've been a vegetarian since I was 15 (so for 18 years now) so have tried many of the current meat free alternatives. I do find them handy as if I'm doing the rest of the family sausages or mince or whatever (they all eat meat) it's nice to have a veggie alternative so I can eat the same meal as them and have the same side dishes rather than cook myself a completely different meal.

Some of the current meat free products can be a bit dry though. I've also yet to find a really decent vegetarian alternative to bacon or fish though.

I like the idea of eating less meat for both financial and health reasons.

I'm not keen on having lots of quorn though as I've heard it's grown in the old ICI chemical vats.

We've decided to go veggie three days a week, by increasing the vegetables and not using meat alternatives. For example making veggie chilli and vegetable lasagna.

I am vegetarian, and bordering vegan, always looking for more products which are tasty and fulfilling . I am leaving the choice of what my children want to eat up to them, but they generally will opt for my colourful vegetarian recipes, roasted peppers with vegetarian mince are a firm favourite, but they still love toad in then hole with pork sausages, I tried a vegetarian sausage and they noticed the difference, so that was a non-starter for me. I want to try more meat free vegan products, I use almond milk in my rice pudding, and custard recipes (thickened with cornflower and added vanilla). I find the internet a revelation for vegan and vegetarian recipes.

Yes, me and dh have been talking about this. Neither of us have a decent vegetarian recipe in our cooking repertoire. We have decided we need to start learning some vegetarian cooking. We are thinking of starting with some kind of Thai curry and maybe some recipe with mushrooms/garlic etc. This is to do with the environmental impact. I think everyone is more conscious of this now.

I'm vegetarian, but not keen on meat substitutes. I prefer to cook my own meals using vegetable, lentils and beans instead. I wouldn't buy the products pictures as they look too much like the real thing for me.

Are you considering reducing your family’s meat intake?

We don't eat meat, so no, we already do without.

What do you think about meat-free products?

It depends. Some quorn and linda maccartney products are OK and we enjoy them as a family, others are unappetising. What I look for is that the product is made with as natural and unprocessed a list of ingredients as possible. Ie I'd prefer to eat a burger or sausages made with vegetables than odd meat substitutes.

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

Yes, as said above we'll occasionally buy quorn or linda maccartney chicken style or sausages. I also like some of the real eat sausages and burgers. Always happy to try new products.

We are eating much less meat these days because we enjoy a lot of vegetarian meals such as lentil bolognese, vegetable pizzas, curries etc. We do still enjoy meat as well though so wouldn't really consider meat alternative products.

i’m vegetarian but have cut out milk & eggs (just cheese holding me back!), husband is vegan. we eat a range of meat-like substitutes and tofu, and are loving finding more and more options in supermarkets recently. he’s a great cook, i can barely cook at all!

I've been a veggie for over 30 years, and it's wonderful to see so many more veggie/vegan companies and options.

I think the 'fake meat' products can be really useful, and particularly like being able to make vegetarian versions of sausage casserole and shepherds pie for proper comfort food!

I'm a lifelong veggie and have a veggie husband and two veggie kids.

We don't eat an awful lot of meat substitutes TBH. But I do like a veggie sausage and a veggie burger now and then. I can't get on with Quorn at all-it makes me feel so ill.

Always a leased to see new veggie food available. We'll be trying these for sure!

I'm vegetarian and always looking for alternatives to Quorn as my family don't like it. The more subs the better!

I'm vegan but my two children are both omni, with no interest so far in going vegan! So it can be tricky to plan meals that we all like. Good meat substitutes are a bit of a lifesaver, particularly through the week when the thought of cooking separate meals is just too much. Also I'm very much in favour of meat substitutes in general, you get all the taste and none of the cruelty - win win

It’s nice to have more choices as a vegetarian of 30 + years it’s amazing how far things have come. I personally am not a fan of meat substitutes and prefer pulses etc. However if these substitutes help people eat less meat then it’s a good thing I guess.

I’ve been vegetarian since I was 15 (now 37) and up until recently meat substitutes like quorn and linda McCartney were a big part of my diet. Over the past 12 months I have stopped eating these meat subs as found they were upsetting my tummy. I now cook with more beans, chickpeas and lentils as a source of protein. I also bulk out my meat loving family’s meals with these ingredients! More readily available veggie meals with ‘natural’ meat subs would be a great addition to the supermarket!

We are looking to reduce meat consumption but not become vegetarian. We already have restrictions because of a coeliac member of our family so that makes it tougher. We are looking for products which are made using sustainable farming methods (meat or meat free).

I’m vegetarian and my daughter is vegan. We eat a lot of tofu, beans and pulses but do enjoy meat free sausages and burgers from time to time. We currently eat Frys and Vivara products but would be happy to try a different range.

We have vegetarian days and often if we use a good meat free product the kids don't even notice, I feel for health and what's coming for future generations that taking in new ideas is good,

We are trying to reduce meat intake and have cut dairy, these look great but Im gutted they are soya based, our family are allergic to soya so they arent going to worl for us. I like how transparent the website is about the ingredients. There are a lot of meat alternatives now which is great for introducing more choice to people :).