Food

16 Vegan Recipes That Will Make You Forget Meat and Cheese

You won't miss it, we promise

by Emily Woodruff | COMMENT

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The verdict is in: Plant-based diets are more popular than ever, and with good reason. There's now convincing evidence that yes, bacon and hot dogs are bad for you — eating them and other processed meats in excess has even been linked to significantly higher chances of certain cancers. Evidence shows that choosing a plant-based diet can ward off high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even acne and wrinkles. At this point, it isn't really rocket science: Eating more fruits and vegetables, vegan or not, is definitely, definitely good for you.

Whether you're in it because you can't stomach the idea of, well...stomaching your favorite animals, or you're an environmentalist aiming to lower the CO2 emissions consuming meat produces, or, hey, if you're just after limitless clear-skin days and a svelte bod — going vegan, when done correctly, certainly has its benefits. But we're not saying it's not hard. No matter how many dollars you donate to PETA or times your good intentions pick up hemp seeds at Whole Foods, sometimes the scent of a burger or the sight of melted cheese on pasta (or bread...or broccoli...or tomato soup...or just a blob of melted cheese, really) can turn your vegan diet into a puddle of melted resolve.

That's where these vegan recipes come in. If you're craving animal products in a major way (as in, on your tongue), these vegan desserts, entrees and appetizers can satiate your desire. They're not just swaps; these vegan recipes are actually better than the real thing. Promise.

Image viaEnrique Díaz/7cero/getty

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