I haven’t looked back since I decided to go veggie 18 years ago. For me, it’s a rejection of the unthinkably cruel factory farming and slaughterhouse mentality of the meat industry; I no longer wanted to contribute to the perpetuation of those practices. However, disavowing meat meant finding a suitable replacement for the protein I would be losing, and I wanted to eat more than just tofu for the rest of my life.
Tofu or Not Tofu.
Tofu, a staple of Asian cooking otherwise known as bean curd or soybean curd, is a mixture of soybeans, water and curdling agent that is high in nutritional value, especially protein and calcium. It has the ability to take on the flavor of whatever sauces and marinades are used in its cooking, a factor that has fueled its rise in popularity among Western cooks in recent years.
I’ve tried tofu as a meat substitute in stir fry dishes; believe me, you can barely pick it out from the flavor symphony created by the vegetables and sauces. But you can’t substitute a block of tofu for a Thanksgiving turkey at holiday time. Are there other alternatives? Absolutely, there are.
What Do You Do At Thanksgiving?
You’ve got a couple of good vegetarian substitutes for the traditional turkey to choose from. First, there’s Tofurky. Again, from personal experience I can assure you that this tastes great. I was never a fan of real turkey to begin with, and even if I weren’t a vegetarian I’d prefer Tofurky on my holiday dinner plate or for post-holiday leftovers. Tofurky is made from a blend of tofu and wheat protein that tastes amazingly close to the real thing.
Quorn also offers a turkey roast substitute that successfully mimics the Thanksgiving turkey taste. Quorn is made primarily of mycoprotein, a protein derived from the Fusarium venenatum fungus that is native to Buckinghamshire, England. Some people like Quorn so much that they’ve switched allegiance from Tofurky to Quorn at holiday time.
What About the Rest of the Year?
Fortunately for 21st Century vegetarians, meat substitutes have gone mainstream and are readily available in most grocery stores around the country. I’ve personally used veggie bacon, meatless sausage, hot dogs, and ground beef substitute, with no adverse effect on taste or alteration to cooking instructions. The meat eaters in our family can’t tell the difference!
Cooks also have a wealth of vegetarian cookbooks to choose from. My personal bible is Linda McCartney’s Home Cooking (Arcade Publishing, 1992.). You’ll be amazed at the number and variety of meatless recipes!
Related Article:
It’s Just Another Meatless Monday
Elizabeth’s Other Articles:
Composting in a Northern Climate
Do We Really Need to Put All Those Chemicals On Our Lawns?
A native of western New York State, Elizabeth holds a political science degree from the State University of New York Empire State College. After over twenty years in the legal profession, Elizabeth decided to turn her extensive writing, editing and proofreading experience into a freelance writing career. During that same twenty years, Elizabeth and her husband opened up their home and their hearts to numerous mischievous cats and three loveable dogs, all rescues. Elizabeth’s love for animals led her to pursue veterinary technology studies and training as an animal Reiki practitioner. Her deep love for the Earth and belief in the interconnectedness of all things informs her desire to write on green living and environmental issues.
Elizabeth’s articles have been published on eHow.com and in Animal Wellness and Veterinary Technician magazines and Animal Reiki Source’s newsletter complication Tails From the Source. She has also written a children's book about the antics of her dog Simon for her granddaughters.
Wow, really? Veggie for 18 years & still looking for meat substitutes & ‘protein replacement’?!
OK: nutrition 101… PROTEIN IS NOT A PROBLEM, unless you are starving yourself. If you eat a variety of foods (fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, grains, legumes), and eat enough calories to meet your body’s energy needs, you’re gonna get enough protein. In industrialized western nations, it’s far more common to eat TOO MUCH protein than to have a deficiency — leading to increased risk of osteoporosis and diabetes. Vegans who eat no tofu or ‘fake meat’ at all, ever, still get plenty of protein… I love to see articles talking about how rewarding the veg life can be, but it’d be cooler without spreading this erroneous idea. Balanced vegetarian diets (without ‘substituting’ for anything) give you everything you need; balanced vegan diets may need extra attention to B12, vitamin D, and Omega-3′s, though these are easily obtained if you’re watching for them… but either way: protein is a NONissue! For more reading about this issue, please see http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/protein.htm.
I don’t personally know anyone who’s been veg*n for any length of time and still relies on fake meat. I mean really: there’s so much more out there to eat! Mostly that stuff’s for new folks, just making the change, which is fine — I’m glad it’s available, & all — but that’s just the tip of the vegan cooking iceberg!… In my opinion, it’s neither the healthiest nor the tastiest way to approach a plant-based diet. I strongly recommend surfing around on http://www.vegweb.com — there’s a whole section on Thanksgiving, and pretty much everything there is more succulent than Tofurky!
Insightful?:
0 
0
I’ll take a look, thank you for your suggestions! But, FYI, I’m not still looking for a meat substitute, I meant this as an informative article for others. I have adapted quite well to a balanced diet full of alternative forms of protein, but it is easier for my husband (yes, my husband) to cook meals if I use meat substitute, as he is not veggie. We share the same side dishes and he cooks meat for himself and a substitute for me. It’s all in what works for a particular individual’s situation.
Elizabeth
Insightful?:
1 
0
(I think the ether just ate my comment… if this is a dupe, please excuse!)
I appreciate the article, & didn’t mean to give you a hard time; it’s just SO tiring and annoying, dealing with the ‘But whatever do you do for PROTEIN?’ question from (uninformed) omnis! So I hate to see the idea propagated that you have to go looking for substitutes…
But of course, you’re right: whatever works for your family, works! It’s good that there are so many options out there, for enjoying meat-free eating. And I think it’s awesome that your hubby not only cooks (more guys should: it’s very sexy!), but respects your food choices even though they differ from his… very cool.
Insightful?:
0 
0
Thanks, Tanya! I’m with you on the protein question. I’ve also been mocked by some really thick-headed people. It takes conviction for people like us to stick to our beliefs in the face of ignorance.
I do plan to review those links you sent me, as I’m always on the lookout for new veggie meal suggestions. Thank you again!
Elizabeth
Insightful?:
1 
0
Great article! I also find a ton of great reciepes at http://www.vegcooking.com
Insightful?:
0 
0
Great article! I also find a ton of great reciepes at http://www.vegcooking.com you should check it out if you get a chance.
Insightful?:
0 
0
Great article! I also find a ton of great reciepes at http://www.vegcooking.com you should check it out if you get a chance.
And I love faux meats. I’ve been vegtarian for 10 years, vegan for 8.
Insightful?:
0 
0
Great article! I also find a ton of great reciepes at http://www.vegcooking.com you should check it out if you get a chance.
And I love faux meats. I’ve been vegtarian for 10 years, vegan for 8.
Keep up the nice posts!
Insightful?:
0 
0
Thank you! I appreciate your suggestions. Going vegan presents a challenge for me, as my stomach can’t tolerate certain foods, but that doesn’t stop me from investigating new menu ideas. I’ll certainly check out your link!
Elizabeth
Insightful?:
0 
0
[...] Going Veggie Doesn’t Mean You’re Stuck With Tofu Share and Enjoy: [...]
Insightful?:
0 
0
Thanks for this post, Elizabeth! I think it’s useful for the mainstream non-veggie (who wants to give vegetarianism a try) to know there are substitutes or alternatives out there…that is, until they discover the absolute delight of whole foods in conjunction with the faux meats of their liking. If you need any support on going vegan, give me a shout!
Cheers,
Kenda
Insightful?:
0 
0
I shall do so – thanks for the support, Kenda!
Elizabeth
Insightful?:
0 
0
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for that article! I think I have nearly convinced my husband to try the tofu route, so I can definitely use all of the suggestions I can get!
Also, thanks for the link back to It’s Just Another Meatless Monday!
Best regards,
Amy
Insightful?:
0 
0
No problem! Glad to help!
Elizabeth
Insightful?:
0 
0
[...] Going Veggie Doesn’t Mean You’re Stuck With Tofu [...]
Insightful?:
0 
0