Looking for meat alternatives? There are many!

In light of the recent turmoil that has hit the meat community— for those of you not on twitter 24/7, processed meat has been declared a carcinogen for humans— it might be a good idea to look at meatless alternatives instead of some of our favorite, less healthy meats. Although at SPUD we only carry the cleanest, leanest and healthiest meats, we still understand that some consumers may want to cut out meat entirely.

With the recently released report by the World Health Organization placing processed meat in Group 1 of its list of carcinogens, we have named our top 5 list of products for those looking to find alternatives to ham, bacon, salami and sausages. We can proudly say we have never carried products with added chemical nitrates or nitrites, and the team is constantly looking for ways that it can better its product quality standards, while still having the items that customers want. SPUD.ca shoppers can trust that they are getting the best local, sustainable food available.

Here are our top five meatless alternatives:

Ocean Wise Wild Sockeye Salmon Lox by the Daily Catch Seafood Store – The Daily Catch’s Wild Sockeye Lox is cold smoked using no preservatives. This SPUD.ca shopper favourite is often enjoyed on a bagel with cream cheese topped with capers. At Daily Catch, they strongly believe that they all have a responsibility to make sure that the seafood we take from our world’s oceans is sustainable. Daily Catch is dedicated to doing its part by making sure everything they sell is not only a sustainable product, but also caught in a sustainable method, not harming the other species of sea life.

Organic Smoked Tofu by Soya Nova Tofu Shop – A SPUD.ca best-seller, Soya Nova’s Organic Smoked Tofu is made on Salt Spring Island in small quantities using the traditional open-cauldron, slow cook method. Using only organic soy beans, nigari (natural magnesium chloride) and mineral-rich, chlorinated well water, the tasty tofu is slow cooked in an open cauldron, to produce some of the best tofu around.

Italian Sausages by Field Roast Grain Meat Co. – Authentically seasoned Field Roast sausages are juicy, firm but tender, packed with grains, vegetables, fruit and seeds and won’t dry out after a few minutes on the grill. Developed by chef David Lee from Seattle, Field Roast uses only fresh, natural ingredients to craft all of its artisan offerings that are high in protein, low in fat and carbohydrates, and contain zero trans-fat and cholesterol.

Crispy Tenders by Gardein – Better than take out and ready in just eight minutes, Gardein’s Crispy Tenders are easy to cook and taste great. Made from a blend of non-GMO soy and wheat, organic ancient grains and vegetables, the award-winning Gardein offers tasty meatless, vegan and vegetarian foods, including burgers, meatless chicken, fishless fish and more.

Canned Sockeye Salmon by Raincoast Trading – Raincoast Trading adheres to the highest sustainability standards when catching, processing and packaging its seafood. The company’s seafood is single-cooked and packed in natural fish oils, which results in a rich, dense flavour and loads of extra nutrition typically not found in most canned seafood products.