The global vegan food market was worth $12.69 billion in 2018, according to Health Careers. In recent years, more vegan-friendly food brands have seen their products showcased in grocery stores, and large fast-food chains have added vegan and vegetarian substitutes to their menus. 

      However, just because a meal is plant-based does not mean that meal is tasty, and many of these products are a hit or miss. Not all vegans and vegetarians eat these substitutes and the ones that do have differing opinions.

     “I’ve been vegan since I was born,” senior Shayla Houston said. “My mom made the decision for my family because her mother-in-law died from breast cancer and my mom noticed that she ate a diet full of dairy and meat. [My mom] figured that it wasn’t healthy, so she decided to cut all of that out when raising her children so that we wouldn’t be at an even higher risk for developing cancer since it already runs in our family.”

     For families like the Houstons and other vegetarians and vegans around the world, restaurants have not always had options that accommodate their diet. But as the vegan food market expands, so do restaurants’ menus.

     In Aug. 2019, Burger King announced its new menu item, the “Impossible Whopper.” The burger features a patty by Impossible Foods, a company that develops plant-based substitutes for popular non-vegetarian and non-vegan foods. The patties are made of soy and potato proteins, yeast extract, coconut oil, and sunflower oil rather than meat. Starbucks also introduced an Impossible product to its menu in June 2020, called the “Impossible Breakfast Sandwich.” Impossible products succeed in replicating the flavor of meat while also being rich in protein. They are one of the most high-quality meat substitutes on the market. 

     “At Burger King, they have the Impossible Whopper, which is 100% vegetarian, and you can make it vegan by asking for no mayo. I get it without mayo and make sure it has no cheese on it and then I keep the onions and tomatoes and lettuce and it tastes so good. [Being able to eat vegan foods at restaurants] really makes me feel better because you don’t wanna be the only person, especially when you’re younger and care about what people think, that’s just eating a salad and side of soup while everyone else is eating chicken fingers and ribs,” Houston said.

     Beyond Meat is another meat substitute company with products in popular chains. Their ingredients include peas, beans, coconut oil, beet juice extract, and potato starch. Dunkin’ Donuts’ menu features a “Beyond Sausage Sandwich,” and Pita Pit recently introduced its “Beyond Buffalo Ranch” pita. Beyond Meat products are full of flavor with a mouthful of seasonings in every bite. Beyond is my personal favorite meat-substitute available in restaurants.

     “At Showmars, they have a Beyond hummus pita, and it’s so good. It’s like a regular pita, and they cut a Beyond burger in half and it has lettuce and hummus in it. I get it with onions, and my mom gets it with tomatoes. Even though that already is vegan, it’s really fun to customize what you want without having to feel restricted in what you order,” Houston said.

     One of the most popular meat substitute companies found in grocery stores is MorningStar Farms. They have a wide variety of food options, such as hot dogs, chicken patties, burgers, sausage, and ground beef. The primary ingredients of their products are soy protein, canola oil, palm oil, potato starch, yeast extract, and wheat flour. MorningStar’s Chik’N Nuggets can be found in my freezer ready to be cooked and consumed at any given moment. Their foods are delicious and taste just like the meats they are replicating. If I could recommend just one brand of plant-based meal substitutes, it would no doubt be MorningStar.

      “MorningStar’s spicy nuggets are so good. I used to eat them all the time but now I have to stop because I just feel like I’ve been eating them way too much,” Houston said.

     Lightlife is another meat substitute company that can be found in grocery stores. They have everything from burgers and hot dogs to chicken and deli meat. Some of the ingredients included are wheat gluten, soy protein, cane syrup, tapioca starch, yeast extract, and sea salt. Their most popular products, the deli meat, are impressive but don’t quite taste like the originals. Lightlife’s Smart Bacon is the only plant-based substitute I have ever been truly disappointed by, as it was bland with a texture not at all similar to the chewiness and crunch of a typical bacon strip. 

     As vegetarian and vegan diets become more popular, these companies will only grow. Even for those who don’t plan on changing their diets any time soon, these foods can be a delicious way to try a new recipe that doesn’t harm animals or the environment as much as the meat and dairy industries do.