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The plant-based movement, which promotes plant-based alternatives to animal products, grew three times faster than total food sales in 2021. Plant-based alternatives to meat, including vegan chicken, are becoming more widely available in stores. Although components vary, certain materials are commonly used in meat and meat-free chicken products. These include water, wheat flour, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and other spices. The main difference is that plant-based chicken is usually made from soy protein and wheat gluten instead of animal flesh.

Who said you can’t have the best of both worlds? If you became vegan and imagined that you would have to start spending oodles of time in the kitchen, then you thought wrong. Luckily enough, we live in the world of vegan comfort food! There are dozens of delicious, convenient, and 100% vegan meals that you can procure from the grocery store. Keep reading to find out what some of these food options are, so you can stock up next time you go grocery shopping.

Iron is a micronutrient that helps you get enough oxygen in your bloodstream, which in return, gives you more energy, helps your red blood cells function, and provides better cognitive and physical performance. People often get iron from meat or poultry options. However, it's a misconception that you can't get enough iron from plant-based sources.

Did you know that 1/3 of Americans consider themselves flexitarian? One of the easiest ways to support a plant-based diet is with a meat substitute alternative. From someone with a fully plant-based vegan diet to someone with a flexitarian diet who wants more options, these alternatives work for everyone. If you're wondering how to switch to a plant-based diet, keep reading to learn more! 1. Start With One Plant-Based Meal a Day The all-or-nothing approach is usually what makes switching to a plant-based diet too difficult. If you're having meat in every meal, the easiest way to stop is to slowly phase it out. Start with one plant-based meal per day. This doesn't have to be the same meal every time. In fact, it's better if you switch it up! This way, you can experiment to find plant-based meals that work for you. 2. Adopt the Meatless Monday Habit Meatless Monday is a global campaign where people try to reduce their meat consumption by not eating any on a Monday. This is a great way to expand your meal variety and try out some new things! Participating in a group activity means there's more accountability to keep you from caving and eating meat. Get your friends, family, or even your co-workers to participate in Meatless Monday with you. 3. Find Replacements for the Foods You Already Love Swap out your favorite meal's meat with a plant-based alternative. This way it doesn't feel like you're changing anything. Most plant-based meat alternatives these days are so similar in texture and taste, that you can't even tell they aren't the real thing! For example, if you love chicken nuggets, check out our Chik'n Nuggets . 4. Stop Worrying About Protein Hint: there is plenty of protein in plants and plant-based products! There's a big misconception that meat is the only good source of protein. This simply isn't true. Good plant protein sources include beans, nuts, wheat, chia seeds, and more. 5. Start With Meat Substitutes and Go to Dairy After That Trying to drop meat and dairy at the same time can be difficult. Focus first on swapping out the meat, and then once you've got a handle on that, you can drop dairy. 6. Don't Stress if You Mess Up Remember that you're switching to a plant-based diet for yourself. This means you don't have to worry about messing up! If you cave and have some meat or dairy, it's okay! What's important is to go back to your plant-based diet afterward. 7. Stock up on Frozen Ready-To-Eat Foods to Combat Spontaneous Hunger One of the most common reasons you're going to have a "cheat" is that you're hit with spontaneous hunger. When this happens, it's easy to default back to your usual diet. Prepare for these by stocking up with plant-based alternatives that are ready to eat. Alpha Burritos are a great choice because they're ready in just two minutes, and they taste delicious! How to Switch to a Plant-Based Diet Now that you know how to switch to a plant-based diet, you can start making the changes you need to get there. The biggest thing to remember is that you can take your time. If you make mistakes, that's fine! You can always start over. Make your transition to a plant-based diet easier with our tasty plant-based alternatives! Use our store locator to find Alpha Foods in a store near you.

A common misconception among people is about the protein required for optimal health. The truth is, the actual amount of protein required for your physical well-being is much less — about 0.8g of protein per kg of your body weight. Vegan diets can easily accommodate this much protein when planned properly.