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Soy
substitutes
Options
for those who do not like tofu but want tofu's nutritional
benefits
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If you are a Japanese or fascinated by Japan as
many diet-conscious people are, you have had some experience
eating tofu. Even those who do not live in China or Japan can
now buy excellent quality tofu in their supermarkets or eat tofu based meals in
Japanese, Chinese, or other south-east Asian restaurants. Now what happens if you do not like tofu or can not eat it for medical reasons. Most
Chinese/Japanese have grown up eating tofu and it is an acquired taste. Many non-Japanese find it difficult to develop a taste for tofu and need to look for alternatives to take advantage of its benefits.
There are other options that come close to tofu in nutritional value. Chickpeas, or garbanzo beans, are the closest to soy in nutritional value. They are extremely low in fat, and high in fiber and protein. Now this is all you need these days. Another advantage of chickpeas is their versatility. They can be used to make soups, salads, and curries or hummus. You can buy a can almost anywhere. |
 Wheat gluten or wheat flour with the starch and bean removed, is another good choice. It is generally sold as vegetarian hot dogs and is a good source of proteins as well.
Kudzu, a vine native to Japan, is another option. The leaves can be used in salad or these can be stuffed and baked like cabbage. However, it is not so easily available everywhere.
Of course,
beans and lentils of all kinds, are rich sources of protein like soy. Another choice is red clover, which is a herb similar to soy in chemical composition. Red clover can be easily found in tea, supplement, or tincture form. If you like drinks, then go for
rice milk, oat and almond milk, and even potato based beverages. These drinks are available almost everywhere in the refrigerated section of the
supermarket. Recommended
links:
Cooking channel
Okonomiyaki
meal Teppanyaki
meal
How Japanese stay slim?
California rolls recipe
Does soy milk cause moobs?
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