Vegan Substitutes
Written by India Mace on April 15th, 2010Anyone on a vegetarian diet may want to be aware of vegan substitutes. Your substitutions will vary, depending on your diet. Are you just eliminating meats? Maybe you do not want to eat dairy? Perhaps you wish to exclude any and all types of animal products from you diet. If you are eliminating all animal products, you will need to exercise caution. Many everyday food items may contain animal products.
Egg substitutions
It is not as simple as not eating eggs. Eggs make up a large amount of foods that you may be unaware of. First is egg substitutes found in your grocery store. This ingredient may be added to recipes in some cases. For baking you can buy natural egg replacement products. You may have to go to a health food store. Look for tapioca flour and potato starch as the main ingredients. Many baking recipes call for eggs. These products will work for baking.
Flax-seeds will work as an egg substitute also. They are used in recipes where eggs are used to bind ingredients together. Mix three tablespoons of water with one tablespoon of flax-seeds. It should be blended or processed until smooth.
You can use other things as recipe binders, also. Whenever you bake cookies, cakes, muffins, or cornbread, you will need a binder. Tofu is another way to substitute eggs. Use one fourth of a cup for an egg. If you mix one teaspoon of yeast with one fourth cup of water, you can make one egg. Another method is one teaspoon of potato flour and one teaspoon of water. Some of these substitutes may affect the flavor of your dishes. You may need to test them to find out. Avoid Gelatin because it is made out of animal by-products such as cows’ and pigs’ skin, tendons, ligaments and bones.
Meat substitutes
Besides the many non-meat products, there are natural replacements to consider. If you incorporate nuts into your regular diet, you will get necessary protein. There are many types of nuts to choose from. You can eat them from the container. You might add them to recipes like cookies.
Legumes will make a good alternative to meat. Split peas, kidney beans, and lentils will work well. They can be the featured item on the table. Use them in place of meat in recipes. Make chili with beans and no meat.
Some things mixed together will make an excellent protein source. Bread and peanut butter are good examples. Rice and beans will work well. Corn and beans are another good combination to utilize.
Soybeans are another healthy alternative to meat. They are said to be good for cholesterol. Tofu is a good example of soybeans. Many meat replacement products employ soy. You can also buy roasted soybeans at health food stores. They make a healthy snack. You can eat them as you would peanuts.
In closing
Vegan substitutes are an important part of any vegetarian diet. If you only restrict meat, it may not be too complicated. If you avoid all animal products, you will have to be careful. Many items may contain animal products. Read labels and research your food carefully.
To find out more about vegan substitutes, visit http://tinyurl.com/yapddva on how to choose more vegan substitutes for your needs.
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