The Must-Try Vegan Alternatives To Use In Your Favorite Meals

If you have a lot of food sensitivities, or if you are just trying to be healthier or are concerned about environmental impacts, you may want to look into going vegan. But if you’re worried about missing out on your favorite foods, never fear. We’ve made a list of the best vegan replacements for your favorite foods! Keep scrolling for a complete list of vegan alternatives for just about everything you can think of.

Vegan Alternatives, But Keep It Low Carb

Spaghetti Squash

Spaghetti squash only contains 20% of the carbs of traditional pasta. Spaghetti squash can be baked, boiled, or microwaved and provides a great nutrient-rich alternative to regular spaghetti.

You can find an easy recipe HERE

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Spiralized Vegetables

These veggies are 3-10 times lower in carbs than pasta, and these veggie noodles are a great source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. These vitamins include vitamins C, E, and K, which aren’t found in regular noodles. 

You can find a list of easy recipes HERE

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Eggplant Lasagna

Eggplant only contains 9 grams of carbs per every 3.5 oz, which is 3.5 times fewer carbs than an equal amount of spaghetti.

You can find an easy recipe HERE

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Cauliflower Couscous

This easy replacement only contains 4 grams of carbs for every 3.5 oz.

You can find an easy recipe HERE

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Sprouts

Sprouts are generally low in carbs and rich in protein, making them a great replacement for spaghetti. It’s also a lot easier for your body to digest and contains lots of great vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins K and C and magnesium. To replace pasta with sprouts, first blanch them by boiling for a few seconds, removing almost immediately. Then run cold water over the sprouts to stop the cooking process. Drain and top with your favorite sauce.

You can find an easy recipe HERE

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Miracle Noodles

These come in many different varieties to mirror pastas, but are made from yam flour rather than wheat. They basically have no calories and no net carbs. They are a great alternative if you are vegan, have a wheat allergy or are keto. The recipe below features broccoli, pork shoulder, and miracle noodles. (This particular recipe also uses meat, but meat is entirely optional!)

You can find an easy recipe HERE

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Alternatives To Dairy

1. Almond milk: As well as being suitable for lactose-intolerant people, almond milk is slightly healthier because it contains vitamin D, which cow’s milk does not. Also, cow’s milk contains hormones that can be difficult for our bodies to process. Drinking cow’s milk and eating dairy and meat has been traced to depression and anxiety for this reason.

2. So Delicious Yogurt: So Delicious is a great replacement for yogurt because it’s dairy free and contains high amounts of calcium, vitamin D, and B12. B12 is SUPER important if you plan to completely cut out meat and dairy and is reason enough to include this yogurt in your diet.

3. Almond cheese: Almond cheese is a great replacement for regular cheese. Almond cheese has fewer calories, contains good fats, and is a good source of protein. Cashew cheese is another great option and many people say its texture is closer to regular cheese than almond cheese, but it can be harder to find.

4. Applesauce/Flax eggs: When it comes to baking, applesauce is a great replacement for most recipes that call for eggs. For baked goods like muffins, try using a flax egg: one egg = 1T flaxseed meal + 3T water. You can also buy Just Egg, which is literally a vegan egg. You just mix it up in a pan, and voila!

5. Coconut oil or flax oil: Coconut oil or flax oil are great replacements for butter when it comes to cooking. Flax oil has a ton of natural fiber and omega 3s, and you can try vegan butter on your morning toast!

Vegan Alternatives to Meat And Bread

1. Tofu: Tofu is a low calorie food that is high in protein and a great replacement for meat.

2. Veggie burgers: You can find these just about anywhere nowadays, although they can be expensive. So try out this homemade recipe first.

3. Ezekiel bread: Ezekiel bread is ALL vegan and natural. It tastes less sweet than regular bread due to the lower amounts of sugar and carbs in this unique loaf. You can find this bread at pretty much any grocery store. 

4. Making your own bread: That’s right, making your own bread is the best way to make sure it’s vegan friendly. Here’s an easy recipe.

5. Whole Wheat Tortillas: Whole wheat tortillas are low in calories, vegan, high in fiber, and they contain lots of vitamin B. I would say it’s a great replacement to regular bread and tortillas, wouldn’t you? If you’re looking to go low carb, celery root sliced wide makes a great taco-sized tortilla replacement.

6. Sliced sweet potatoes: Sliced sweet potatoes can be toasted and used instead of bread for avocado toast or even on a sandwich. You can make it yourself or find it in the freezer section at many grocery stores.

Have you ever gone vegan before? Do you plan on giving it a try? Let us know in the comments below!