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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No to reducing as I think we have a good balance already. We are though actively trying to reduce red meat for white meat a bit more and also look to avoid processed meat as much as possible. Kids love cooking with us so that makes it easier.

I like the idea of us eating less meat, to be honest it's mostly Turkey or chicken we eat anyway but still with all you see on tv these days I'd like to try but I do worry about balance so would want some guidance

I think my family eat a good varied diet already so i won't be reducing our meat intake any more than i have .I often do a pasta dish weekly that contains no meat and is just a pasta,tomato based sauce,and vegetable dish which is really nice.I also do a cheese and onion potato bake dish or twice baked jacket potatos with the middle scooped out and then mixed with non meat ingredients and then placed back in and baked again and those are great too.

Am a vegetarian so my family has a lot of vegetarian food although I don’t always tell them the chicken curry is in fact Quorn chicken and the cottage pie is Quorn mince they don’t really notice the difference anymore I have been swapping meat for Quorn for years so everyone is used to eating less meat

my daughter is a vegetarian, the rest of the family love meat. So yes for her, we'll eat what she doesnt

We have lots of unintentionally vegetarian days so are just going to carry on how we are. Meat's expensive and quorn and similar products are cheap and easy to cook with.

Not at the moment as 3 in our household are coeliacs and the meatfree options normally contain gluten.

I think it would be great to reduce our family's meat intake, we definitely eat too much. As long as the food I'm having tastes good I have no problem trying it :)

I'm a meat eater, as are all of my family. Personally i think that there are vital nutrients in fresh meat, and i thouroughly enjoy the flavours/textures. I am very open minded though so wouldnt hesitate to taste the meat free, but it wouldnt replace my meat option.

Linda mccartney products are a staple for us.

While we do have meat free days the whole family has tried meat substitute products and none of us liked them. We tend to have fish twice a week and one day with no meat or fish, just vegetables and pulses made into tasty dishes.

I went pescatarian a couple of years ago, and now rarely cook other meat for the family, although they will still have ham in sandwiches etc and when they eat out. We all like Quorn 'chicken' pieces in currys and stirfrys but are less keen on the mince or sausages. Cauldron sausages are the best ones I've found so far. Yet to try the meatless farm company as I usually shop at Tesco and haven't seen it, but would be interested to. However whilst prefer to keep meat alternatives to a minimum because they're so processed, they are very handy for adapting old favourites.

Reducing meat intake is certainly something I’m interested in, but I’m not a fan of fake meat.

I would like to reduce our meat intake, I'm not entirely convinced by meat substitutes though.

Absolutely. There are so many fantastic meat free products on the market now & it's often hard to tell the difference!

I eat meat less than once a fortnight because I like the taste less and less. I eat fish and dairy. My kids are happy with fish and occasional veggie meals but are keen meat eaters. We all dislike the meat subs we have tried and just use vegetables for veggie options. Paneer cheese is the only meat type tasting thing that I enjoy in curries. I think it helps that it’s a food in itself not a construtected substitute.

We are not vegans or vegetarians but have cut down on meat this year. We love researching new vegetarian recipes and looking them together.
We haven’t tried many bought meals as we prefer to cook from scratch.

Growing up with a vegetarian Mum this is something that i'm used to. I eat meat but not excessively. I enjoy mostly vegetarian foods (i'm a cheese addict) and breakfast and lunches are usually always vegetarian in my house, falafel, quorn, quiche etc Dinner time will usually either have some meat in in or seafood, i find this to be a good balance for my family and as I don't feel that we eat meat excessively, I don'y think I would consciously reduce our intake.

We tend not too each much meat generally as the kids are not keen on it, we eat a lot of chcken though. We have had quorn mince in the past which the family seem to enjoy. We don't eat much fish which I would like to change and try to introduce it more in meals

My family will never be vegetarian let alone vegan. Each to their own but I am finding a lot of vegan enthusiasts trying to guilt those who are not into doing what they want.

we already eat and love some quorn products but i want to try some more veggie options for our family meals

We are not vegetarian, but do go meat free once or twice a week. There are so many options now, unlike when I was growing up. We still enjoy meat, but some dishes simply taste good without it - stroganoff, bolognaise....There are also some great veggie frozen options - Linda McCartney stuff is great for a quick healthy meal

No but i am increasing chicken and reducing red meat

like to control meat intake - some no meat meals are great others are awful

We try to eat as healthily as we can, and have not changed our ways of eating for some time.