If you want to change your diet to veganism or have been eating vegan for a long time, the right products play an important role. The best vegan products are particularly important when it comes to substitute products for meat, fish, eggs and milk.
We provide you with valuable tips relating to the taste, ingredients and consistency as well as great shopping sources .
Where is the best food?
When the vegan diet trend took off a few years ago, shopping for vegans was still quite a tedious task. There were alternatives - with a bit of luck - in the health food store.
Many vegans made their own substitutes. This is how tips and tricks emerged, for example using applesauce instead of eggs when baking. Or you can find out how good a bolognese can taste with lentils instead of minced meat!
Numerous tests and research by food manufacturers led to the range of products becoming increasingly extensive. Today you can buy many vegan substitute products in the supermarket or, even more conveniently, order them online.
If you combine lots of fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes and grains in the spirit of veganism , you have a healthy and balanced meal plan .
The focus: veganism without sacrifice
Veganism doesn't just mean animal welfare by not eating foods of animal origin. It also means great taste with alternative products ! So you don't have to miss out on anything.
On the contrary : you can eat a healthy and varied diet. The basis is excellent substitute products so that you don't miss meat, fish, sausage and cheese.
A yogurt alternative , high-quality milk substitutes, cheese substitutes and alternatives to chicken eggs are perfect for preparing various dishes and drinks.
We looked for and found delicious, healthy and versatile foods for you and your family! You can be sure : We have tested every alternative product ourselves. Because for us, vegan means : Vegan food is perfect if made from the best basic ingredients, with optimal properties in the kitchen and of course a great taste.
At Greenforce you can expect delicious meat and fish substitute products as well as many other products. We carry cereal products and milk substitutes . Of course, you can also order spices, egg alternatives, breadings and spreads from us.
Maybe you have already had experience with competing products. We would like to convince you with the high quality and excellent taste of our offer!
Plant-based food can be incredibly tasty; with the very best products , you won't be able to tell the difference from conventional foods. We also have a wealth of recipe ideas for your menu. This means your food will never be boring, but instead offers you lots of exciting and new recipes to try out .
Other ingredients for cooking, baking and frying
Many foods are naturally plant-based. The only important thing is that it does not contain any components of animal origin. A typical example that is worth taking a closer look at is honey. Sure, honey is popular and tastes good. But since bees play the main role in production, honey is taboo for vegans.
Instead there is maple syrup, agave syrup or homemade dandelion honey. This question does not arise with other foods. Vegetables, potatoes, salad and fruit can be eaten safely. This also applies to all types of grain.
Rice, corn and legumes of all kinds can be on the menu at any time. You can use sugar, salt, herbs and spices to make plant-based meals taste really delicious .
Speaking of taste , let's talk about fats and oils! We know that fat is a good flavor carrier. Vegetable fat is suitable for many types of preparation. Plant-based margarine also tastes very good on bread.
Oils are always created by pressing fruits, kernels or seeds. A high-quality olive oil goes well with salads or Mediterranean dishes. If you want to use the oil for frying or deep-frying, a high-heat vegetable oil is ideal, such as sunflower oil.
Vegetable fats and oils have the advantage that these foods are healthier for the organism than animal fats. This also applies to cheese substitute products, for example.
Foods that have already been created in some form from the basic ingredients require a closer look. For example, pasta is available with and without eggs. Bread usually doesn't contain eggs, but you should ask for cakes from the bakery or pastry chef.
Or you can just bake it yourself! Don't worry, eggs can be a great substitute . A yeast dough that is made with warm milk works without any problems if you use a milk substitute. This also applies to quark and yoghurt.
The more people choose veganism, the larger the range of products for vegans becomes .
What is important when it comes to replacement products?
If you want to buy meat, fish or milk alternatives as well as an ideal yogurt substitute , several criteria play a crucial role.
Great replacement is characterized by :
- a high quality of the ingredients.
- an excellent seasoning so that the taste is right.
- a pleasant consistency - important for the mouthfeel.
- good properties for further processing in the kitchen.
A critical point is often the use of preservatives . However, preservatives are not inherently bad, but rather extend the shelf life. They protect the food from spoilage and mold. The label with preservatives must be on the packaging.
For foods that are sold openly, such as bread or cake, the seller is obliged to name the preservatives if asked. All preservatives that are approved in Germany have a so-called E number.
Commonly used preservatives and areas of application include :
- Sulfur dioxide (E 220) and sulfites (E 221 to E 224 and E 226 to E 228) are found in frozen fries, ready-made mashed potatoes and white wine.
- Sorbic acid (E 200) is used in baked goods and pickled vegetables.
- Benzoic acid (E 210) and its salts (E 211 to E 213) (sodium, potassium and calcium benzoate) are often ingredients in fast food, soft drinks and dyes.
- Phosphorus compounds (E 338 to E 341, E 450 to E 452, E 540, E 543 and E 544) are antioxidants. These prevent food from discoloring or becoming rancid. In cola drinks, the added phosphate gives them the brown color - otherwise cola would be black. Phosphates can also be contained in cereals, frozen pizza and baking mixes.
- Propionic acid (E 280) and its salts (E 281 to E 283) are often found in packaged bread as well as packaged cakes and cookies.
- Orthophenylphenol (E 231) and sodium orthophenylphenolate (E 232) serve as protection against mold in citrus fruits.
Preservatives and flavor enhancers
A number of preservatives are mainly found in meat and sausage products as well as cheese. These include the substances :
- Natamycin (E 235),
- potassium nitrite (E 249),
- sodium nitrite (E 250),
- Sodium nitrate (E 251) and
- Potassium nitrate (E 252).
As a vegan, you are safe from these preservatives!
There are also safe preservatives. These are substances that occur in nature.
The human organism can metabolize these natural preservatives :
- Potassium, sodium and calcium acetate (E 261 to E 263),
- Malic acid (E 296) and fumaric acid (E 297) as well
- Carbon dioxide (E 290) is not considered harmful to health.
In addition to preservatives , many substitute products contain flavor enhancers . Here, too, there are differences between harmless substances and flavor enhancers that you should avoid.
Glutamate is one of the best-known flavor enhancers. It occurs naturally, but is also produced industrially . Glutamate ensures a particularly spicy taste. Meat products and other foods can achieve this “ umami ” taste in a very natural way, without any artificially produced glutamate.
When it comes to sausage and meat alternatives , natural flavor enhancers ensure intense, spicy palate experiences. These are, for example, dried tomatoes and dried mushrooms, smoked paprika powder or celery.
Best vegan substitutes for meat, fish and eggs
How can you replace meat?
Meat products can be replaced with meat substitutes . What makes an excellent food when it comes to meat alternatives ? First and foremost, it is of course the taste that speaks for a fantastic product.
But consistency is also crucial. The closer the structure is to the animal product, the better you will experience the taste. When reproducing meat, consistency plays an important role. Vegetable protein is the basis.
If the replacement product is to be convincing , meat fibers, for example, must be reproduced as realistically as possible. As soon as you cut into or bite into a veggie schnitzel , you can feel whether the alternative product feels as good in your mouth as the animal original.
The appearance and smell also play a role if you choose a sausage alternative or if you like fish substitute .
Another point : How do meat alternatives behave when roasted ? This question is particularly important when it comes to minced meat substitutes. Compared to our competition, it appears that vegans are very satisfied with our products. The burgers enrich your menu.
These dishes taste simply delicious and are easy to prepare! With the easy to mix vegan hack you can make practically all of your favorite dishes. Whether peppers with minced filling, Königsberger Klopse or Turkish Lahmacun, the recipes are a success straight away.
Fish without animal suffering
Craving fish? The taste and consistency of our fish cakes and fish sticks are amazingly real. Let yourself be surprised! You can also find the right spice mixtures for your kitchen that will further enhance the taste.
And if you would like to experiment yourself, there is a wide selection of alternative products available.
The basis for fish substitutes are plant-based foods : Plant-based fish products with plant origin consist, for example, of pea protein, which is obtained from yellow split peas. Broad beans and lupins also provide excellent basic ingredients.
Finally, there are also many alternative products available that are made from soybeans. Tofu has soy as a base and can be used to make many great foods. At Greenforce, we work with our product range to offer you the most excellent alternative products. You can follow the recipe suggestions or simply cook and fry as usual.
To ensure that your food remains healthy and varied overall, you can combine meat substitutes, fish substitutes and grain products with vegetables, salad, rice or pasta.
All about eggs and interesting facts about milk substitute products
Of course, a balanced diet does not only consist of fish, meat and vegetables as well as filling side dishes. This also includes vegetable protein , tasty grain products and everything that can be made from milk.
Numerous foods that are rich in vegetable protein are suitable alternatives to chicken eggs . The main sources of protein are legumes, but soy and linseed are also great sources of protein. Egg preparations are suitable for vegan scrambled eggs or omelettes or for many other dishes.
Milk alternatives take advantage of the diversity that grains, nuts and soy offer. There are numerous alternatives available in supermarkets and online. Oat milk is probably the best known and most popular. Children love it : oat milk goes well with muesli and coffee. Other alternatives include almond milk, soy milk, rice milk and coconut milk.
Good to know : Many people don't eat cow's milk just for reasons of veganism. Many milk lovers have an intolerance; the so-called lactose intolerance is not uncommon for dairy products made from cow's milk. Milk alternatives, on the other hand, are very well tolerated .
Vegan protein sources are also the basis for cheese substitutes or a yogurt alternative . With us you will find a versatile product range that leaves nothing to be desired. In addition, the range is constantly being expanded.
Plant-based protein sources are also the basis for cheese substitutes and other vegan-friendly products if you, as a vegan, want to avoid animal products.
Our wide range of products ensures that you can easily replace many animal products with other plant-based foods. We are continually committed to our product range so that we can offer you the very best plant-based foods .
Who actually buys vegan products?
Of course all vegans! The offer is constantly growing, with increasing interest. Factors such as excellent taste are important, because you obviously don't want to go without them. The decision to become vegan is not based on the fact that meat, sausage, cheese and fish don't taste good.
Rather, it is also consideration for the animals. A healthy and balanced diet works with a wide variety , even without animal products !
Many vegans also like to experiment. With a little time and curiosity, many foods can be recreated yourself. A good example is carrot salmon, which gets its typical fish flavor with seaweed or nori sheets. Due to their consistency, eggplants are also suitable for homemade fish substitutes .
For example, for pickled herring or herring salad. If you love Mett, you can make vegan Mett from rice cakes, onions, tomato paste and spices. Visually and taste-wise there is almost no difference. If you are used to animal products, you may need a little time to adjust.
But you'll soon realize that plant-based products don't mean giving up. The product range is rather an enrichment for your menu .
Another group is simply interested in healthy, varied food. Often the cause is a health problem, such as high cholesterol. Vegan food and plant-based protein can help you lower cholesterol levels because it does not contain animal fats or proteins.
Vegetable protein is well tolerated and can prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases.
Vegan friendliness and enjoyment - no contradiction!
Overall, plant-based food offers everything that goes into a good diet : great taste, versatility and variety on the menu are fun for you as a vegan! In addition , milk, soy and meat alternatives are ideal for cooking, baking, frying and enjoying yourself.
Plant-based protein sources are healthy and well tolerated. Ultimately, it's not just your diet that benefits, but also your health when you buy the best vegan products !
