Vegan Product Review: Yves® Meatless Deli Turkey

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 Turkey: Nutrition Information

The serving size on the package is four slices, which contains 100 calories, 16 grams of protein and 1.5 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 Turkey 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 Turkey offers 20% of the daily recommended value of iron, 20% of thiamin, 10% of riboflavin, 30% of niacin, 15% of vitamin B6, 20% of vitamin B12 and 20% of zinc per serving - plus 2% of calcium, 15% of vitamin C, and 4% of magnesium.

Yves® Meatless Deli Turkey has more vitamin C and niacin per serving than their Meatless Deli Salami or Meatless Deli Bologna, and has less fat than the bologna (the salami has 0 grams of fat). The turkey does have more calories than either the salami or bologna, but it also offers one more gram of protein than the salami and 2 more grams than the bologna. The differences in nutrition are slight and any of these three are great additions to a healthy diet.

Yves® Meatless Deli Turkey: 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 Turkey also has a good flavor and works well as a substitute for animal-derived turkey. And, considering that salami has more spices and is meant to have a stronger flavor, one would not expect the same amount of spice from meatless turkey. The flavor and texture are great and are appropriate for a turkey substitute, but if you like a bit more kick, try Yves® Meatless Deli Salami instead.

Yves® Meatless Deli Turkey: 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 work great on sandwiches, or cut up in salad. My favorite way to enjoy Yves® Meatless Deli Turkey is in a wrap with Dijon mustard, cranberry sauce and spinach.

Yves'® other meatless deli slices include salami, ham, bologna, pepperoni, roast beef and smoked chicken. My 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 and devouring it. However, the turkey is a close second.

Some meatless turkey lovers may prefer Tofurkey® slices, particularly because they come in a variety of flavors (peppered, smoked, etc.) and are sliced very thin like higher end deli meat, but Yves® Meatless Deli Turkey slices are also a solid, tasty protein source for a healthy diet.

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 Turkey and their other great meatless products.

Yves® Meatless Deli Turkey 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.
5. Serve in a wrap with Dijon mustard, cranberry sauce and spinach.