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It is no doubt that meatless options have been gaining traction over the years with the pandemic fueling more interest from those new to the vegan and vegetarian market. With news of prices possibly increasing for meats as a result of production plants shutting down due to COVID-19, several reports and articles such as the one in The New York Times are noting that the sales of vegan products are increasing upward of 25% or more as suppliers rev up production to keep up with demand.
We have written several articles over the years featuring individuals, restaurants and products where a meatless diet is a way of life. The most recent one to check out is the article, “Is 2020 the Year Meat-Free Lifestyles Go Mainstream?” where we share tips, brand suggestions and more to move into a transition that works for you if this is the lifestyle you are thinking about.
With any food lifestyle transition comes learning of what to eat and what not to eat, as well as which foods and brands to try that will still make your taste buds dance. With so many products on the market these days, it is just a matter of reading reviews, talking to those who have tried them (joining a Meetup or Facebook group is great for things like this) and doing your own taste tests.
Discovering New Meatless Options
This past January while visiting the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco, I stopped by the booth for Urban Accents to see what is new to their portfolio of seasonal blends, mixes and other products sold in stores. To my excitement, they were showcasing their plant-based ground veggie meatless mixes: Street Taco, Korean BBQ and Sloppy Joe.
I tried the sloppy joe mix at the show, which good enough to linger on my mind for months. I finally purchased all three in May as I too was making a conscious effort to cut animal protein from my diet.
After eating all three, I would say the Street Taco was my favorite. Call me bias because anything involving a taco has my vote. It was a great substitute for my usual ground turkey. The hint of chipotle complimented my usual topping suspects: lettuce, cheese, jalapenos, salsa and sour cream.
Now that I have tried all three, the Sloppy Joe was good but my least favorite as I wanted a little more tang in the sauce. Maybe it is how I made it compared to how it was made at the show. The directions added ketchup but thinking back, I should have added a tangy barbecue sauce instead.
A fan of lettuce wraps, this Korean BBQ was a fair substitute for this dish that typically includes ground chicken. I liked the tang from the soy sauce and added the carrots and cilantro as seen on the packaging which provided more flavor and crunch to each bite.
Overall, I would highly recommend them, especially for those just embarking on a meatless journey. The ingredient list per product is not long; you can recognize what is listed.
I also tend to look at the sodium amount and it is not too bad. Each package ranges from 750 – 1900 mg for five servings which is pretty good. You can be the judge.
Each package is $6.00 and available during on their site and at select retailers as well as on Amazon. For more information and to purchase, visit Urban Accents online.
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