Beyond Meat

“Would we continue to raise and eat animals in such staggering numbers if a delicious and perfect plant-based replication of meat existed?” Found this question on the website of the latest and quite possibly greatest chicken substitute now available, Beyond Meat. This product looks enough like chicken and overall has a good chewiness and mouth feel that make it a great alternative to chicken. Beyond Meat is intended to replace chicken in any recipe and goes great in wraps and salads. I’ve even eaten it just as snack dipping it into some spicy hummus. Beyond Meat is packed with 20 grams of protein per 3 oz serving and is cholesterol and gluten free. It is comprised of soy and pea protein isolates (non-GMO), flour, and fiber. For more information on their ingredients, visit the FAQ.So where can you find it in Charlotte? The only place that currently sells retail packs for home use  is Whole Foods in Southpark. While other Whole Foods I’ve been to stock Beyond Meat near the Daiya and tofu refrigerated section, the Southpark Whole Foods hides it in the freezer section. They also supposedly offer Beyond Meat in their prepared foods department although I’ve never seen it when I’m there. The other place to find Beyond Meat is at all Tropical Smoothie locations. Unfortunately,  there are no Charlotte locations, but there is one just 20-25 minutes away in Tega Cay. It’s a great thing to see a chain restaurant offering a meat-free, vegan option. So, if you’re in the area or don’t mind a short drive, go check them out.Here is a list of Tropical Smoothie’s vegan offerings according to a Compassion Over Killing article: vegan bread, sauces and toppings include: flour/garlic tortillas, flatbread, ciabatta, jerk sauce, Thai peanut dressing, buffalo sauce, guacamole, hummus, salsa, wontons/wonton strips, and southwestern rice.