Vegan Product Review: Yves® Meatless Deli Bologna

As a Holistic Wellness Consultant and a vegan, I am always on the quest for healthy vegan products for my family and my clients. In pursuit of the best meat-free additions to a natural, healthy diet, I have tried pretty much all of the meat substitutes on the market - with very mixed results. When I came across Yves® Meatless Deli Slices in a variety of flavors, I didn't know if I had found another lackluster product or had finally found something that my family and clients would love - so, of course, I had to give them a try.

Yves® Meatless Deli Bologna: Nutrition Information

The serving size on the package is four slices, which contains 80 calories, 14 grams of protein and 2.5 grams of fat. I am always looking for high protein, low fat foods to recommend to my clients, particularly foods that also offer lots of other vitamins and minerals. Yves® Meatless Deli Bologna does just that, and has no trans fat, no saturated fat and no cholesterol - and is loaded with heart-healthy soy protein.

Those of us who are vegan and vegetarian know all to well what a challenge it can be to get enough of certain vitamins and minerals in our diets each day - particularly the B vitamins and iron. If this is a challenge for you, you will be happy to hear that Yves® Meatless Deli Bologna offers 20% of the daily recommended value of iron, 20% of thiamin, 8% of riboflavin, 25% of niacin, 15% of vitamin B6, 20% of vitamin B12 and 20% of zinc per serving - plus 2% of calcium and 4% of magnesium.

As for nutrition, Yves® Meatless Deli Bologna is not quite as healthful as their Meatless Deli Salami, which has no fat and higher amounts of some vitamins and minerals. It also has a bit more fat than their Meatless Deli Turkey, but is still a healthful choice - and certainly better for you than animal-derived bologna.

Yves® Meatless Deli Bologna: Taste and Texture

While Yves® Meatless Deli Salami is still the most flavorful of their products that I have tried so far; their Meatless Deli Bologna also has a good flavor and works well as a substitute for animal-derived bologna. And, considering that salami has more spices, and, therefore will always have more flavor than bologna, one would not expect their meatless bologna to have as strong a flavor as their meatless salami.

The flavor and texture are appropriate for a bologna substitute, but if you like a bit more kick, try Yves® Meatless Deli Salami instead.

Yves® Meatless Deli Bologna: Overall and Other Yves® Products

There are ten slices in each package, with a package costing around $2.79, depending on the grocer. The slices are thick and hearty and the taste is better than other bologna substitutes I have tried. It's not my favorite Yves® product, but as far as meatless bologna goes, this is the one that tops the charts.

Yves'® other meatless deli slices include turkey, ham, salami, pepperoni, roast beef and smoked chicken. My two favorites are the salami and the pepperoni. The pepperoni is perfect for sandwiches or vegan/vegetarian pizzas and I can often be found sneaking a slice of salami in the middle of the night.

Check back on my Content Producer page (Mavyn) on Associated Content for reviews of their other products. I haven't come across the roast beef or smoked chicken at any of my local stores yet, but once I do, I will review those as well.

When compared to their meaty counterparts, most of Yves® products actually have more protein while having less fat and no cholesterol. This makes Yves products great sources of protein that aren't weighed down with all the stuff that's bad for us. So, whether you are vegan or vegetarian, or just want to eat a little healthier, I highly recommend trying Yves® Meatless Deli Bologna and their other great meatless products.

Yves® Meatless Deli Bologna: Serving Suggestions

1. Cut slices into bite sized chunks and place in a salad for added protein.
2. Wrap slices around vegan cheese and secure with a toothpick for a fun appetizer.
3. Serve in a sandwich with vegan mayonnaise, mustard, tomato and spinach.
4. Serve in a wrap using a tortilla or flatbread.