The numbers don’t lie: Plant-based food is a multibillion-dollar industry that isn’t slowing down. According to natural and organic products information provider SPINS, that number hit $4.2 billion at the end of 2018, and could reach $6 billion by the end of 2020. The NPD Group, another global information company, shares that more than 43 million Americans regularly use plant-based alternatives. One of the reasons: Plant-based foods just keep getting better and more available. Here are a few to try.
CHEESES
Daiya Cheddar Style Shreds
This plant-based cheese is dairy-free, made with tapioca flour, canola and coconut oils, plus pea protein and natural flavors. Gooey when melted!
Treeline Treenut Cheese Herb-Garlic Flavor
Soft, French-style spread from cashews, lemon juice, scallions, herbs and L. acidophilus, a probiotic.
SPREADS
Pure Blends Avocado Oil Plant-Based Butter
Made with avocado oil, delicious and “better-y” in a made-with-plants kind of way.
Earth Balance Original Buttery Spread
A blend of palm fruit, canola, soybean, flax and olive oils, with a dash of pea protein.
MEATS
Field Roast Italian Sausage
Like an old-country artisan sausage, but made with wheat gluten, eggplant, sweet peppers and spices.
Beyond Meat The Beyond Burger
Made from pea protein and beets. Looks, cooks and tastes like beef; this plant-based burger bleeds “beet blood.”
PASTA
Barilla Red Lentil Rotini
No long ingredient list, made simply with red lentils—rich in iron, folate and protein. Certified non-GMO and gluten-free.
Banza Penne
Protein- and fiber-laden chickpeas are the main ingredient, with a touch of tapioca and pea protein.
GRAB-N-GO
In need of nourishing, quick plant-based foods for lunch or post-workout? A protein heavy hitter can help you feel fuller, longer. Try Alpha Foods’ vegan Mexicali Burrito, loaded with 11 grams of plant protein from soy, plus dairy-free cheese, caramelized onions and spices.