Crafting your perfect meat-free dish has never been easier than it is today. As more people are choosing to follow a vegan lifestyle, the demand for more products, which taste, look and smell like the real thing has gone up. Meat-alternatives are growing in popularity because there are so many good replicas available; people can now choose a vegan lifestyle without having to ‘miss’ meat. Now, we know that not all vegans and vegetarians enjoy the taste of meat, but these products were initially produced to fit the demand for flexitarians and meat-eaters who want to reduce their meat intake, but struggle to kick their cravings. The rise in meat-alternatives is still great news for vegans, as it means that our voices are being heard, and the number of products for us to choose from will only continue to rise. It also shows that competition is heating up between the different brands for who can produce the best plant-based meat.
However, it’s no secret that there is a lot of stigma that surrounds the word ‘vegan’, and unfortunately, there is still a large portion on the population that think the diet consists of kale and tofu — but meat-substitutes are completely changing the game. More supermarkets are choosing to stock meat-free products; Iceland have recently launched their new range, and they have laid on a feast! We’re almost spoilt for choice, with products including sausages, meatballs and chicken pieces, and dishes such as paella and chilli con carne — all animal-product-free, of course. This range has been developed in response to the huge demand for — what Iceland have dubbed their ‘hero’ product — the No Bull burger. The new products have been expertly crafted by head chef, Neil Nugent, to not only broaden the range of vegan products available, but to encourage others to make the switch from eating meat.