Vegan fish: what is this alternative made for vegetarians made of?

In recent years vegetarian products have been making a dent in supermarkets in response to the increase in people following a vegetarian or vegan diet. Vegetable drinks and yogurts, tofu, seitan, veggie burgers … And not only that, but with the aim of covering nostalgia for animal foods of those vegetarians who miss their flavor, the industry has created vegetable preparations that try to mimic the meat to the fullest. After this, how could it be less, it was the turn of the vegan fish, a vegetable-based version that aims to make the original competition.

play

Video:Reasons to go vegan unsplash

Although the idea promises and will surely gain followers in the coming years, Vegetable meat remains the most demanded product by vegetarian or vegan people, so at the moment, fish is only found in specialty stores or vegan supermarkets. Some restaurants focused on this type of food have also included this version of the fish in their menus.

What options we have?

But what options do we find and what are they made of? There is quite a variety and some of the most popular are salmon and tuna. There are also other products such as squid, shrimp, prawns or even vegetarian-based caviar. Among its ingredients is soy, tofu, seaweed and tapioca starch. Through the combination of these flavors and textures are achieved very similar to the originals.

All of them can be a good option if you are looking for a food that is respectful of animals and much more sustainable for the planet. In addition, it can be a good way to avoid the consumption of mercury present in large fish such as swordfish, bluefin tuna or the emperor.

unsplash

Nutritional properties of vegan fish

Vegan fish can be a good alternative to cover protein needs, since the ingredients that compose it are high in these. However, it is true that there are many other fish nutrients that are not present in this alternative such as iron, iodine and omega 3, among others. Therefore, if you are considering following a vegetarian or vegan diet, it is important that you inform yourself properly and go to a dietitian-nutritionist specializing in this type of diet to avoid nutritional deficits.

Likewise, it is convenient to remember the importance of reviewing the ingredients of any product, since the fact that it is vegan is not synonymous with being healthy, since it can be an ultra-processed one that contains non-recommended ingredients such as sugar, refined flours, poor quality oils and other additives. In this sense, the ideal is Choose products with good quality ingredients and limit or eliminate consumption of those that are not.