Top 5 - Vegan alternatives to meat and dairy

The Top 5 series is back for 2020. And what better way to kick off the new year, a new decade even, than with a Veganuary special. It is thought that over 250,000 people had taken the pledge to try a vegan diet this January - more than ever before.

A few years ago it would have been difficult to find five of the best meat and dairy alternatives, but now there are so many, it’s hard to choose just five. We could look at all the meat-free meatballs, and Southern-fried chicken-style fillets, but we’ve gone for five items that could easily be a permanent swap in your shopping basket.

So after taking part in Veganuary, here's what we've found...

VITALITE DAIRY FREE SPREAD

If you’re making the switch to a plant-based diet then this sunflower spread is one of the easiest changes you can make. Made with 75% less saturated fat than butter, Vitalite is great for spreading on toast, brilliant to make mashed potato, and can be used as a base for lots of sauces.

SACLA' VEGAN TOMATO PESTO

Sacla’s vegan pesto tastes just like the traditional parmesan cheese version. This dairy-free alternative still has the rich tomato taste and is perfect to stir into pasta dishes or spread on pizza bases to create homemade pizzas.

ALPRO OAT MILK

There are lots of milk alternatives in supermarkets and after trying soya, almond, coconut and hemp milk, our favourite was oat milk. The others are great, but this one is probably the pick of the bunch. Oat milk is an all-rounder. Great in hot drinks, brilliant with cereal, and even good in sauces.

CHIPPA ‘MAY-O’ MAYONNAISE

Another product in our list that is just like the real thing is May-O. It is perfect for pasta salads, great smothered in burger buns, and even squirted onto the side of your plate so you can dip your sweet potato chips into. You can also add a little chilli powder to give it an interesting kick.

LINDA MCCARTNEY FISH GOUJONS

These Linda McCartney fish-style goujons are awesome. They taste just like fish and are coated in a crispy lemon and parsley breadcrumb. They work perfectly as a substitute for fish fingers in a fish finger sandwich or brilliant as fish tacos with fresh salsa.

Did you take the pledge for Veganuray? Which products would make your top five? Let us know your favourite meat-free and dairy-free products.