Since I could remember, I’ve always eaten plant based products. Being in a family with two pescatarians, who stay away from meat but do eat fish, my grandma always made accommodations in food for us all. Because of my experience with alternatives to red meat, I have a handful of opinions on plant-based meat. 

With so many selections of plant-based meat, the brand is the most important aspect to consider when switching to a plant-based diet. I’ve found that when you want a specific taste to your food, make sure you know what brands have what you are looking for. You’re never going to find just one brand to stick to, so don’t be afraid to experiment.

Craving some breakfast bacon? MorningStar Farms is my go-to. It has a smokey taste and tastes crispy just like pork. Craving a good juicy burger? My dad and uncle swear by BOCA for beef and chicken patties. There seems to be a plant based alternative for everything now, which is pretty amazing. It doesn’t really feel like you’re missing any flavor by switching. 

Admittingly, not everything tastes good. One night my dad and I decided to try the Beyond Beef patty on an In-N-Out grilled cheese. My first bite of it reminded me of dog food. Don’t bet on everything being to your liking, as a lot of times these alternatives will have an artificial taste you’re not used to. 

If you want to gradually change to plant based meat, try going to a restaurant that offers it. Burger King added the impossible Whopper to their menu in July 2016, and it’s delicious. Other chains like Wendy’s, Chipotle, Del Taco, and KFC have great plant based options.

Some might think plant based meat lacks nutritional value, but that’s far from true. Most plant based meat ingredients are high protein vegetables like soybeans, lentils, quinoa, seitan, and peas. 

Plant based meat is a common healthier alternative to red meat. Due to red meat’s high fat content and connection to various health risks, many people with health issues or simply just people that want to live a healthier lifestyle tend to cut out red meat completely from their diet. 

Going back to brand specifics, some plant based meats only attempt to mimic and recreate animal meat. Since there’s less attention to ingredients, it tends to undergo more processing which leads to a high content of saturated fat, sodium, and tons of added sugar. 

Overall, if you don’t see a reason to switch to plant based meat, it’s not for you. Although the subject is heavily debated, the pros outweigh the cons of plant-based meat.