5 Vegan Swaps that "Taste the Same"

Hello everyone, happy Friday! 

So, again, I love food. Fridays, in my humble opinion, are for eating out for lunch, maybe eating out for dinner, and also eating out at happy hour.

I chose to switch to a plant-based diet in January. At first I thought this meant I was going to have to cut out a lot of the things that I love- breakfast sandwiches (brunch in general), burgers, hot dogs, burritos. But I've been pleasantly surprised! Not only are more and more restaurants offering vegan/plant-based options, but it's becoming increasingly possible to make these same things at home.

So whether you're considering going plant-based, looking to cut down on meat or dairy, or just looking for some healthier alternatives to try out, I present to you, in no particular order, my five favorite vegan swaps- things that I swear taste the same (and that I even trick my fiancee with sometimes). 

1) JUST Egg- Big shout-out to my friend Yuliya (who is flexitarian/ not vegan) who asked me if I'd had JUST Egg before, because she loves it. I had seen it once at Vons (and then never again), but that text was the push I needed to run to Sprouts that very weekend, and my life has been forever changed. I think I've cooked with it every single day since. Ignoring the fact that it literally makes for decadent, tasty (honestly, kind of cheesy tasting?) scrambled eggs, it is just aggressively convenient. Needs eggs for baking? Done. Just don't want to crack an egg? Done. Breakfast sandwiches with avocado and Cholula on accidentally vegan Pillsbury biscuits? Done :)

2) Earth Balance Butter- (Or really any vegan butter I've tried so far.) My personal favorite are the sticks, but I always have a tub of the margarine too. They both taste exactly like butter, I kid you not. So much so that I once heard Jordan telling his friends (over video games) that it tastes the same, and it doesn't get any more real than that. It's perfect for baking, for greasing pans/woks, on toast, or in just about any capacity.

3) Impossible (or Beyond) Ground Beef- I know there's some great debate between the two, but I like them both! With the rise of Impossible Whoppers and Beyond Breakfast sandwiches, I know everyone is realizing that these plant-based meats taste pretty dang real (short of maybe a side by side taste test). But if you are one of those few (or someone in your household is) that swears they can taste the difference, I promise you when these plant-based meats are added in lasagna, bolognese, or some other dish that has other flavors to blend with, they'll never know the difference. It's gotten to the point where if I cook with this stuff Jordan doesn't even cook an additional meat, he just goes with it (victory!). Disney Food and Wine Festival Impossible Meatball Sub, I'm coming for you next.

4) Swerve Zero Calorie Sweetener-  I actually discovered this sweetener when I was actively in Weight Watchers (Lifetime now!) as a sugar alternative. I absolutely hate the taste of artificial sweeteners like Splenda, but I legitimately can't taste the difference with Swerve, even if I'm having it sprinkled (okay poured) over fruit. It also measures cup for cup with sugar, making it a super easy swap for baking and cooking. Not into artificial sweeteners? Another super easy swap is to switch to organic sugar! While I can't speak for all brands, I do know the Sprouts sugar and the Kirkland organic sugar are not bleached with bone char (blech), so you'll be safe there! 

5) Trader Joe's Marshmallows- I am that weird person that loves marshmallows. I love them melted in hot chocolate, I love them as Peeps at Easter. I love them straight from the bag and I especially love them when I'm sick (no idea why). But I hate that they're made with gelatin. Thankfully, the marshmallows at Trader Joe's are 100% vegan- and they are AMAZING. I can and will eat a full bag in a sitting. One of these little pillow-y babies and you will wonder (as I did) why in the world anyone would ever make marshmallows in any other way. Make it make sense. The bummer is they aren't always carried at every Trader Joe's and I'm pretty sure they're seasonal (mini in the winter and big in the summer)- so when you see them, stock up! 

So there you have it, my favorite swaps! It's amazing to eat unprocessed, whole foods when you can, but sometimes you just want those decadent, fatty cheat meals, and that's okay! 

If you haven't tried these swaps yet (if you haven't braved an Impossible burger) I challenge you to try one! You may find you like the way they taste as much as the way they make you feel.

And more importantly, if anyone has a good dupe for a perfect, runny yolk, definitely send it my way.

All my best (with mini marshmallows), 

Whitney (@whitnibble)