fbpx ;

10 Quick and Easy Vegan Swaps

vegan-swaps-585As a plant-based athlete, I’m always looking for ways to vegan-ize and health-ify my diet. Though there are certainly a lot of options available to vegetarians and vegans these days, they’re not always healthy. In fact, many vegan substitutions for meat and dairy products are overly processed and loaded with artificial ingredients — not exactly what most Fit Bottomed Girls want to put into their body, right?
Fear not! Swapping out your favorite ingredients with natural versions isn’t as hard as you might think. Even if you’re not looking to go completely vegan, you might find your taste buds approve of these delicious (and nutritious) substitutes. Here are 10 plant-based swaps you’ve gotta try:

Instead of Dairy Milk, Try Nut Milk

Milk
For those looking to eliminate dairy from their diet, nut milks — made from almonds, cashews, or hazelnuts — are a great, healthy substitution. Allergic to nuts? Soy, hemp, and oat milk are also delicious vegan alternatives.
But before you go buy a carton from the store, consider making your own. Many commercial offerings utilize carrageenan, a controversial additive, as a thickener. Although the seaweed-derived additive is approved by the FDA, some scientists have raised questions about the safety of carrageenan consumption.
Making your own (carrageenan-free!) nut milk is simple — really! Try it once; you’ll be hooked.

Instead of Yogurt, try Cashew Cream

yogurt

Like nut milk, a substitute for yogurt is simple and quick — simply soak raw cashews overnight, then blend. If you wish, add spices or a drop of vanilla extract. That’s it. Really. Cashew cream makes a delicious, creamy accompaniment to fresh berries at breakfast — with no dairy, no artificial ingredients and no added sugars.

Instead of Mayonnaise, Try Mashed Avocado

Mayo
If you’re a sandwich junkie like me, you’ll lament the loss of mayo at when you first go plant-based. That cool, creamy tang is what makes a sandwich, you know? But replacing mayo with mashed avocado provides a rich, textural comfort as well as a healthy source of (good!) fat.

Instead of Honey, Try Agave Nectar

honey
Though some vegetarians and vegans allow for honey in their diet, others avoid the sweet stuff at all costs. Luckily, several sweeteners exist to step in, the most talked-about being agave nectar. In many cooking and baking situations, agave can be a direct substitution for honey (in other words, one tablespoon of agave nectar can replace one tablespoon of honey), but in tea or on toast, you may want to use a smaller amount of agave than you would honey — the syrup has almost two times the fructose content of honey, making it super-sweet! The only downfall? Agave nectar doesn’t come in that cute little bear-shaped bottle.

Instead of Ice Cream, Try Frozen Bananas

Ice cream
This swap has won over even the most skeptical of omnivores — including my husband, who requests this sweet treat on the regular. Frozen bananas, when blended into a fro-yo consistency, serve as the perfect base for a sundae — I like mine with melted peanut butter and dairy-free chocolate chips.

Instead of Scrambled Eggs, Try Tofu

Egg
Looking to fill a breakfast burrito with vegan goodness? Firm tofu, mashed with a potato masher, will give any morning meal a protein punch. The key is to drain the tofu before cooking (place the tofu between two towels, then put a heavy brick on top for 15 minutes), then season the ingredient well in the skillet. Turmeric gives a scramble good flavor and a yellow “egg” color, while cumin is a delicious addition for a southwestern-themed breakfast burrito.

Instead of Ground Beef, Try Diced Mushrooms

beef
For years, I used ground beef replacements like Boca, Quorn, and Field Roast in recipes like tacos and chili. I think meat-replacement products are a great tool for new vegetarians and vegans to use as they transition to a new plant-based lifestyle. However, they’re also really high in sodium, and that’s something I’ve had to cut out of my diet recently.
Luckily, mushrooms have stepped up to the plate. Their “meaty” flavor works well for many recipes. Sometimes, I grill portobello caps whole and serve on a bun (for burgers) or slice into strips before serving (for tacos); in other recipes, like my vegan chili, I sauté diced mushrooms, onion, and red pepper as the “meat.”

Instead of Cheese, Try Nutritional Yeast

Cheese
I’m a Wisconsin native, so even suggesting this substitution feels…dirty. But you know what? In some recipes, it really works. Nutritional yeast has the flavor of sharp cheddar, and a small amount goes a long way in adding a cheesy taste to your favorite foods. Bonus: It’s high in Vitamin B12, which many vegetarians and vegans struggle to find in plant form.
Because nutritional yeast (or “nooch,” as some people call it) comes in small flakes that don’t melt, it doesn’t work in every cheesy situation — say, on pizza or in an ooey-gooey grilled cheese sandwich. However, it’s a fantastic substitute for parmesan in a pesto recipe, or stirred into mashed potatoes or grits.

Instead of Eggs in Baking, Try Flaxseed

eggre
It’s true! You don’t have to give up your favorite baked goods! It’s easy to make your favorite cookies vegan by simply substituting 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 2.5 tablespoons water for every egg.

Instead of Bacon, Try Beans.

bac
No, I’m not kidding. This vegan bacon recipe using beans and buckwheat is hella delicious (and hella healthy, to boot!).
What are some of your favorite plant-based swaps? I’m about to go make a BLT with some vegan bacon and avocado “mayo”!Susan

FTC disclosure: We often receive products from companies to review. All thoughts and opinions are always entirely our own. Unless otherwise stated, we have received no compensation for our review and the content is purely editorial. Affiliate links may be included. If you purchase something through one of those links we may receive a small commission. Thanks for your support!