Vegan fried chicken alternatives (like VFC!)
VFC is sold in all supermarkets (including budget ones like Lidl). It’s a simple mix of plant proteins that is easy to cook in the oven or air-fryer and very affordable.
The brand was co-founded by the co-founder of Veganuary, the world’s most successful plant-based marketing campaign. You can buy nuggets to chicken popcorn, and also burgers. Serve with homemade chips and some salad, and you wouldn’t know the difference.
If buying ready-made, recycle packaging at kerbside or supermarket bag bins.
KFC fries are (like Burger King fries) cooked in the same chicken fat as the chicken, so are not suitable for vegans. Apparently the burgers (unlike Burger King) are cooked on separate equipment.
Like Nando’s, KFC has recently ditched its commitment to better chicken welfare, which would have used slower-growing breeds (to avoid chickens suffering from pain in the legs) citing ‘lack of birds and higher environmental impact?’ Both chains say that slow-growing breeds ‘need more feed, land and water’ (yes, because that’s better welfare). Obviously the real reason is that it costs more, reducing profits.
KFC is of course known for its chicken drumsticks and sharing buckets, but also sells fries, burgers and has recently starting sell vegan burgers (which are basically Quorn filters in a bun with lettuce, mayo and their 11 spice/herb mix).
Avoid feeding pets leftover vegan chicken (contains unsafe herbs and onions) nor cooked real chicken (high in fat/salt and may contain cooked bones).
Heura vegan chicken nuggets
- Heura is a fresh young brand from Barcelona, offering chunks and nuggets in sustainable packaging.
- Moving Mountains Chicken (burgers and nuggets) is made from natural ingredients, and also sold for food service (hotels, restaurants etc).
- Meatless Farm crispy nuggets
- M & S Plant Kitchen nuggets
- Linda McCartney chicken-style dippers
- OMV (Asda) vegan chicken nuggets
- THIS isn’t chicken wings or thighs
Inspiration from abroad: The Herbivorous Butcher!
The Herbivorous Butcher (USA) offers vegan fried chicken, that can be cooked in the oven or air-fryer. And profits also help their own farm sanctuary!
Homemade plant-based ‘chicken nuggets’
Tofu nuggets (Madeleine Olivia) cover tofu with a crunching coating seasoned with mustard, spices, herbs and cheesy-tasting nutritional yeast.
These seitan fingers (It’s Liv B) are quick and easy to make with vital wheat gluten and simple seasonings, served with a tasty sauce after being pan-fried.
These vegan chicken nuggets (The Post Punk Kitchen) were created by Isa Chandra Moskowitz, one of the world’s best-selling vegan cookbook authors. This recipe is a bit more complicated, but ideal for ambitious chefs or restaurants who wish to serve up something similar to KFC.
The NHS picks up the cost of KFC
KFC is not health food. Fried chicken has high levels of sodium fat and calories, which can lead to heart disease, diabetes and obesity when consumed frequently (which it frequently is by fans). Most people who eat fast food regularly, tend to live on it. High levels of salt also contribute to high blood pressure and kidney disease.
The buns used are made from refined grains, and large portions (like sharing buckets) go way over recommended daily calorie allowances.
There is also a myth that chicken is low cholesterol. In fact, even with the skin removed, the difference in cholesterol levels from chicken and beef is minimal.
Nobody is berating anyone who enjoys a KFC meal. But en-masse (combined with lack of affordable good food and natural exercise spaces like green parks), this contributes not just to ill health, but to huge expenses for the NHS, at a time when its budget is limited.
Ironically, NHS staff are entitled to discounts at KFC, helping to fuel the very market that is causing them indirectly to be so over-worked.
