Attention vegans and vegetarians: advice sought!

It's the sodium in all processed food you have to keep an eye on.  I no longer eat Quorn products and limit tofu to a couple times per week.  Even Cauldron (except firm tofu) have high amounts of sodium in most of their products.

Beans and lentils, as already mentioned will give you good amounts of protein & fiber.  I had to add protein powder into my diet because I was not getting enough.

Do you mean meat substitutes? If so, I would stay away from most Quorn products, they taste a bit funny to me. The only one I use regularly is the Quorn Pieces (fake chicken) which are useful for soups, stews & stir fries.

Agreed.  I think their sausages are bland and the burgers are like cardboard.  I use the chicken pieces a lot, for stir fries and pies. Their chicken burgers are pretty good too.

Actually all the Realeat products I've had have been very nice - mince, veggie bacon etc.  You can get them from Holland and Barrett and other health shops, as well as some supermarkets.

We get through loads of Realeat mince.  It used to be sold in Tesco but is being phased out for their own brand, which isn't as good.

Also check out Cauldron brand - available in most big supermarkets, they do various kinds of tofu as well and burgers, pates, sausages and more.

Cauldron sausages are the best, but tesco and Sainsbury now do very good ones too.

As well as the above, we get sainsbury burgers and hotdogs sometimes.  They are actually made by a firm called Tival, who also make shnitzels, nuggets and a few other meat free products.  Tival stuff is also sold in health food shops, and in supermarkets is likely to be in the kosher section if you have one.

Vicky

As well as the above, we get sainsbury burgers and hotdogs sometimes. 

vicky, how do you cook the hotdogs?

They can be microwaved (if lazy) or boiled in water (which is better). 

Vicky

we get sainsbury burgers and hotdogs sometimes. 

I absolutely love the vegetarian Sainsburys hotdogs. They're perfect as I hate the thought of real hotdogs and these have the flavour and texture pretty well down. As I don't have a microwave I generally thaw them in the fridge and then warm them slowly in a frying pan.

Thanks, heaps, everyone!  I've found this very helpful and have assembled a little list on what specific products to look for/avoid when I go shopping.  If anyone has anything to add, I can edit this post to reflect that, in case this is useful to anyone else.

Recommended:

"The only [Quorn product] I use regularly is the Quorn Pieces (fake chicken) which are useful for soups, stews & stir fries."
"Also check out Cauldron brand - available in most big supermarkets, they do various kinds of tofu as well and burgers, pates, sausages and more."
"I found most of Tesco's veggie burgers acceptable.  The nut cutlets were probably my favorites."
"I did like [Quorn's] cottage pie if I needed something quick."
"...Cauldron Brand from Sainsbury's, 3 for the price of 4 right now - buy loads and freeze). As Andee mentioned, it's great in stirfrys, also great in currys, soups, or just marinated and grilled."
"And my favorite meaty substitute is dried soya mince. We use Sainsbury's own brand, and it's unbelievable cheap, very high in protein, and has nothing funny added. It can go into anything that calls for beef mince. My favorites are chili, tacos, spag bol, lasagna, etc."
"Here you can get [butter substitute] Pure (in the green tub) which is soya "butter" in most supermarkets and it's really good stuff."
"Also, the spinach and feta Quorn sausages are TO DIE FOR!"
"And try Cauldron's veggie pates - the tomato and basil one is the best of the range, imho."
"now, i really dig the quorn stuff, but i have to limit it to the fake chicken and fake bacon stuff."
"I use the [Quorn] chicken pieces a lot, for stir fries and pies. Their chicken burgers are pretty good too."
"We get through loads of Realeat mince.  It used to be sold in Tesco but is being phased out for their own brand, which isn't as good."
"Cauldron sausages are the best, but tesco and Sainsbury now do very good ones too."
"As well as the above, we get sainsbury burgers and hotdogs sometimes.  They are actually made by a firm called Tival, who also make shnitzels, nuggets and a few other meat free products.  Tival stuff is also sold in health food shops, and in supermarkets is likely to be in the kosher section if you have one."
"I absolutely love the vegetarian Sainsburys hotdogs."


Not recommended/avoid:

"Stay away from most Quorn products, they taste a bit funny to me."
"I agree with Britwife that most of the Quorn products taste a bit funny."
"We used to use Quorn alot, but I've been reading about some disturbing reactions some people experience from Quorn products."
"I think [Quorn] sausages are bland and the burgers are like cardboard."
"Quorn stuff contains egg." (So, it's not vegan.)
"the burgers i can't do--any veg burgers--it's a texture thing. same with sausages."
"the linda mccartney stuff is way too salty."

Sorry to do a quick hijack - but question on the fake meat issue...  I want to make a pinto bean pot dish this weekend, in which I would normally toss some ham or bacon for the smoky flavoring (and the meat flavoring).  Any good ideas on a veggie substitute that's not terribly foul (or terribly salty & filled with nasty fillers) that would still kind of give it that smoky bacony/hammy taste?  Cheers!

You could try smoked tofu or, if you can find it where you are, the Real Garlicky people now do smoked garlic bulbs, that would probably lend a better flavour.

You could try smoked tofu or, if you can find it where you are, the Real Garlicky people now do smoked garlic bulbs, that would probably lend a better flavour.

Thanks, L.  I had thought about smoked tofu as well!  I'll have to see what Morrisons has in the morning, and/or put my husband on the case at Leeds City Market tomorrow while he's in town.  I prefer to use my bacon/ham, but I'm cooking for a veggie friend so need to adapt the recipe.

Ha, they are talking about smoked tofu on "Come Dine With Me" as we speak!

I would also suggest putting in some chipotle chili peppers (the kind you buy in cans in the States come smoked, so it gives that rich smokey flavour).  Maybe won't help anytime soon, but you can stock up next time you are in the States or get someone to bring them back for you (I think the tins will last a couple of years - we bought a few last time we were in the States to stock up).

Ha, they are talking about smoked tofu on "Come Dine With Me" as we speak!

I would also suggest putting in some chipotle chili peppers (the kind you buy in cans in the States come smoked, so it gives that rich smokey flavour).  Maybe won't help anytime soon, but you can stock up next time you are in the States or get someone to bring them back for you (I think the tins will last a couple of years - we bought a few last time we were in the States to stock up).

I found some chipotle flakes here in town, and they definitely have a nice smoky flavour that goes well in beans. If I can find them in Belfast, surely you can find them in Leeds!

I have some dried whole chipotle peppers in the cupboard now - that'll work a treat!

I have some dried whole chipotle peppers in the cupboard now - that'll work a treat!

You clever thing you!

I found some chipotle flakes here in town, and they definitely have a nice smoky flavour that goes well in beans. If I can find them in Belfast, surely you can find them in Leeds!

Thanks, it's great to hear these are available in the UK too!  I really must explore the local shops a bit more to find this stuff out - and am glad for this board - what a wealth of information! 

chipotle peppers are WAAAAAAY too hot for me and my boy, but we love using smoked spanish paprika to get that smoky flavour in chilies and my aforementioned macos.