What I have found is the reason most people don’t try vegan food is because they don’t understand it or the taste is horrible. I have found many ways to remedy those situations. Feeding carnivores vegan foods is not as hard as it seems. Even if you are a meat eater, you can benefit from these tips.
Instead of adding meat to your salad try marinated tofu, nuts, raisins, or fruit-like berries. A lot of people are not aware that most imitation bacon bits are what is known to vegans as TVP (textured vegetable protein) and that too is a good option. There are many ways to create a tasty fulfilling salad that is nutritious.
What about sandwiches? You can make your non-vegan buddies sandwiches like Portobello with vegan cheese, spinach, and onions. Or why not make “egg” salad with tofu and make sandwiches with it. Another great sandwich that you can make is an avocado sandwich. All you need are avocados, sprouts, spinach, vegan mayo, and seasoned salt. Talk about YUMMY!
Wraps are a good option to sandwiches and you will find that many carnivores will eat a wrap that is filled with all vegetables. So you can create any number of wraps that will be pleasing to any palate. A good one to try is hummus, sliced red peppers, lettuce, water cress, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, and olives wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla shell. Simply spread the hummus on the tortilla, add vegetables and roll.
One dish that truly wins over many of my non-vegan friends is chili. With or without meat, a good chili will win over any lover of meat. The best meat substitutes to use in a chili are Boca crumbles, “beef” or “chicken” tvp, or none at all. Black beans give chili a more robust taste and with plenty of vegetables like corn, onions, garlic, bell peppers, and tomatoes the absence of meat is seldom noticed.
As far as deserts go pies, cakes, and others can be made with all vegan products. In my home we make a lot of cheesecakes and sweet potato pies. Anyone who knows me knows that I come from a long line of great pie makers so I take pride in creating a tasty pie. So I took my mother’s sweet potato pie recipe and veganized it.
Was it good?
Let put it to you this way, I had to make two more pies the next day.
The options to feeding your meat-loving friends are unlimited. If you make it right they will eat it. Here are two of my favorite recipes that I dare you to try on your carnivore friends.
Cynthia’s Sweet Potato Pie
My momma’s recipe with a vegan flair.
Ingredients:
4 med. Sweet Potatoes, peeled and boiled (baking them makes your pie even yummier)
1 cup organic natural sugar
Ener-G egg replacer (equivalent of 2 eggs)
1/4 cup soy butter
1/2 cup soy milk
1 small banana, mashed
2 tbsp. flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
2 Whole Wheat Pie shells, unbaked (9 inch)
Directions
In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients except the pie shell and mix thoroughly, using a mixer or blender to get the fluffiest consistency. Transfer the mixture to the pie shell. Bake the pie at 350 for 45 minutes or until light brown.
Cilantro Garlic Hummus
Ingredients:
1 can of chick peas/garbanzo beans (15 oz) – Drain only half of the liquid from beans)
1/3 cup tahini
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoon olive oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 to 3/4 cup of fresh cilantro
sea salt to taste
Directions:
In a food processor add garbanzo beans and the juice , tahini, lemon juice, garlic and olive oil. Blend until smooth. Add cilantro blend for an additional 2-3 minutes.
Serve with chips, as a sandwich condiment, on tacos, burritos, or with whole wheat crackers.
About the Author: LaTara Ham-Ying is the host of the Vegan Family Living podcast and creator of the Vegan Meal Helper membership program.
