VFC (plant-based alternatives to KFC!)

Most meat fast food joints use factory-farmed meat. Yet buckets of fried chicken are one of the most popular meals in England. Meat that is not free-range (just recognised by Red Tractor) is not ranked well by animal welfare organisations.

Avoid sausages for young children and choking hazards. Before cooking, read up on food safety for people and pets (keep these items away from animal friends, as some ingredients may not be safe).

Most councils now offer soft plastic packaging. If not, use supermarket plastic recycling bins.

KFC has recently said it will be going back on its pledge to use slower-growing chickens (with better welfare) as it can’t find enough chickens? And it fries its chips in chicken fat.

Chickens (related to dinosaurs) are now the most over-bred (25 billion and counting) and abused creatures on earth.

VFC was founded by the co-founder of Veganuary with a chef (who he took to visit a chicken farm). This ‘chicken’ is high in protein and tastes as good, you’ll find it in most supermarkets including budget ones (Lidl and Aldi).

Based on the target slaughter weight of a chicken in the UK (and percentage being edible), they estimate one chicken’s life is saved for each 1.5kg they sell.

Made from wheat protein in corn coating, you can bake it in the oven or air-fry, or pan-fry. Full instructions on the packets.

Look in stores for Heura Plant-Based Nuggets (made in Barcelona by a young fresh sustainable team). Serve with home-baked fries and ketchup.

Why Choose Vegan Meats?

Often people are criticised for choosing vegan meats, saying they are ‘not natural’ and we should ‘support our farmers’. In fact, England has 60 million meat so we don’t have enough free-range land to eat meat in its present quantities, without resorting to horrible factory farms.

So if you eat meat, choose free-range (and pay a little more). And some of the time, choose vegan meats (these are fine if made without palm oil, and you recycle the packaging). No cholesterol too!