Best Vegan Products

Introduction to Vegan Alternatives 

So as a vegan chef of 40+ years, I'm most known for making things healthy and from scratch. But, we all need Plant-Based alternative products from time to time. This list is by no means complete as many new plant-based brands popup all the time. I apologize for anyone I left off the list.

Also, I attempted to list the companies with healthier options: no sugar added, lower fat content, simple ingredients. However, there are many listed on this list that I don't consider that healthy but they made the list as they are leaders in plant-based alternatives.

Any item with a * are vegan foods that I use and believe to be the best in their class as well as on the healthier side. I have listed the items in each category in the order of my opinion as to their taste and secondarily their health profile. That said, all are processed foods which I believe are not as healthy as a whole foods, plant-based, clean, low fat, no sugar diet.

Vegan Chef Ronald Russell

Meat Substitutes

1. * Daring “Chicken” – Cleanest of the meat subs. Soy, very small amount of fat and spices. That’s it.

2. Beyond Meat - Plant-based burgers, sausages, and ground meat.

3. Field Roast - Grain meat sausages, roasts, and burgers.

4. Gardein - Wide range of plant-based meats like chick'n, fishless filets.

5. Tofurky - Plant-based deli slices, sausages, and holiday roasts.

6. Impossible Foods - Impossible Burger and other meat alternatives.

7. Quorn (some products are vegan) - Vegan chicken nuggets and fillets.

8. MorningStar Farms (select products) - Plant-based burgers, sausages, and meal starters.

Dairy Alternatives

1. * Miyoko's Creamery - Vegan butter and artisanal cheeses. Butter is exceptional.

2. * Violife - Variety of vegan cheeses including shreds, slices, and spreads.

3. * Follow Your Heart - Vegan cheeses, mayo, and salad dressings.

4. Kite Hill - Almond milk-based yogurts, cream cheeses, and ravioli.

5. Daiya - Vegan cheese, dressings, and frozen pizzas.

6. So Delicious - Dairy-free ice creams, yogurts, and cheese shreds.

7. Alpro - Wide range of plant-based yogurts, desserts, and creams.

Snacks and Bars

1. * Organic Food Bar - Active Greens. Sweetened with dates.

2. * Bada Bean Bada Boom - Sweet Sriracha

3. LÄRABAR - Fruit and nut bars.

4. Hippeas - Organic chickpea puffs.

5. * The Daily Crave - Beyond Puffs

6. * No Cow Bars – No sugar, but has erythritol

7. GoMacro - Macrobiotic, vegan energy bars.

8. Nature's Bakery - Fig bars, brownies, and oatmeal crumble bars.

9. Primal Spirit Foods - Vegan jerky.

10. The Good Bean - Chickpea snacks and crisps.

11. Clif Bar - Energy bars, some are vegan-friendly. Uses sugar.

Plant-Based Milks - I didn't * any of these as I tend to make my own milks.

1. Oatly - Oat milk.

2. Almond Breeze (Blue Diamond Almonds) - Almond milk.

3. Silk - Offers soy milk, almond milk, oat milk, and coconut milk.

4. Ripple - Pea protein-based milk.

5. Califia Farms - Offers a variety of almond, oat, and coconut milks.

6. Pacific Foods - Hemp and hazelnut milks.

7. Elmhurst - Range of nut milks including cashew and walnut.

Condiments and Sauces

1. Vegenaise (Follow Your Heart) - Vegan mayonnaise. The original and many people feel is still the best.

2. * Annie's Naturals - Offers vegan salad dressings and condiments.

3. * Bragg - Nutritional yeast and liquid aminos.

4. Sir Kensington's - Vegan mayo and special sauces.

5. Primal Kitchen - Vegan salad dressings and mayos.

Baking Ingredients

1. * Enjoy Life - Vegan chocolate chips and baking chocolate.

2. Ener-G - Egg replacer for baking.

3. Earth Balance - Vegan buttery spreads and baking sticks.

4. King Arthur Baking Company - Gluten-free and vegan baking mixes.

5. Wholesome Sweeteners - Organic, vegan-friendly sugars and syrups.

6. Namaste Foods - Vegan-friendly baking mixes and flours.

Frozen Meals and Convenience Foods

1. Sweet Earth Foods - Plant-based burritos, bowls, and pizzas.

2. * Lightlife - Plant-based hot dogs, deli slices, and tempeh.

3. Dr. Praeger’s - Veggie burgers, patties, and bowls.

4. Amy’s Kitchen - Vegan frozen meals and soups. (not 100% vegan)

5. Gardein - Assortment of meat-free meals and snacks.

6. Tattooed Chef - Vegan bowls, pizzas, and meal components.

Supplements and Protein Powders

1. * Orgain - Organic plant-based protein powders.

2. * Sunwarrior - Plant-based proteins and supplements.

3. * Nutiva - Hemp protein and other superfood supplements.

4. * Vega - Plant-based protein powders and supplements.

5. * Garden of Life - Vegan protein powders and meal replacements.