355: Vegan Meat Substitutes Holding You Back? Here’s What No One’s Told You

You're trying to eat healthier. You're on board with whole food plant-based eating - and maybe even excited about the way it could completely change your life.

But when it’s time to eat… it feels like something's missing.

Maybe it's the texture. The nostalgia. Or just the feeling that dinner isn't "right" unless there's a meaty center on the plate.

That’s where fake meat sneaks in. It looks like the answer. It’s familiar. Comfortable. "Close enough.”

But here’s the concern: If you're relying on fake meat to feel satisfied with your meals… it could be the very thing holding you back from feeling your best.

In this episode, we're unpacking how we've all been conditioned to believe that "meat is the meal"—and how that belief can keep you stuck, sick, and feeling like plant-based eating just doesn’t satisfy.

Here’s what you'll discover:

✅ Why your brain craves something “meaty” 

✅ How food marketing made you believe animal protein (or its imitation) must be the star of every plate

✅ What to look for instead—and how to find real satisfaction with whole plant foods 

✅ The Big Key that make plant-based eating not only doable—but joyful

You’ll walk away feeling empowered and inspired to ditch the fake stuff and find the satisfying meals that nourish your body PLUS taste absolutely amazing.

What you’re eating affects so much more than your plate—it touches your energy, your goals, and your ability to show up fully for the calling you’ve been given.

✨ Ready to go deeper and make this lifestyle stick? Learn more about our step-by-step coaching program, Accelerator, where we walk hand-in-hand with you to make plant-based living simple, satisfying, and sustainable: 👉 poweronplants.com/accelerator

💚 Want the simplest, most enjoyable WFPB recipes? Grab our go-to favorites here: poweronplants.com/cookbook — 

the easy, flavorful meals that help you naturally crowd out the stuff that’s getting in the way of your healing so you can 10x your productivity!

You don’t have to settle for fake versions of what you used to love. There’s a better way—and thankfully, it actually tastes better, too.  🙌🏼

💃🏻 Ready to learn how to actually enjoy eating whole plant foods so you can finally feel great and fully experience life? Inside Accelerator, we'll take you by the hand & walk you step-by-step through our proven 5-Step WFPB Framework so you can heal naturally & actively live your God-given dreams. Join the Waitlist Here... the Doors are Opening Soon!

🎁 Not yet a member of our FREE plant-based community, PIE? Once you're on the inside, every single podcast episode becomes searchable for you. 😲 Join the family to gain the plant-based encouragement, real health-changing ideas, and sustainable plant-based inspiration you've been praying for! 💕

🥣 Grab our Cookbook Bundles (and snag the incredible Bonuses today) to learn the simple way to make whole food plant-based eating quick, enjoyable, and sustainable.

🤔 Wondering what's in our new Thrive Cookbook? Click here for the inside scoop!

Loving the episodes and want to keep them coming your way? Subscribe & leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast provider. And don’t forget to share us with a friend for inspiration!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Only meat has protein in it.
So it's just been thispervasive message and it drives
me nuts because it's a fallacy.
We don't need meat for protein.
I mean, think about it.
Where is your protein gettingits protein?
I share this with patients allthe time and they have this aha
moment, like I did several yearsago.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Hey sister, welcome to the Power on Plants podcast.
Are you tired of staring intothe fridge wondering what to eat
so you can just feel better?
Do you want to avoid spendinghours in the kitchen making
complicated meals in the name ofhealth?
Would you love to leave fatiguebehind and finally have the
energy to do all the things youwant to do?
Hi, we're Jared and AnitaRoussel, christ followers,

(00:42):
health care professionals,parents of four and big fans of
great tasting food.
We, too, tried exercising more,eating natural and clean foods,
but we still found ourselvesstruggling with what we thought
were changes that come with ageor bad genes, and we weren't
finding answers the traditionalroute.
So we dug into the research andcreated our secret nutritional

(01:03):
weapon sustainable plant-basedliving.
The truth is, you can eat morewhole plant foods and it's not
hard.
You just need the way.
That's realistic and delicious,so you never feel deprived.
If you're ready to enjoy yourmeals, no longer be held back by
your health struggles andactively live your life, then
you're in the right place.

(01:23):
So grab your favoriteplant-based cup of happy pop in
those earbuds and let's getstarted.
Hello sunshine, welcome to thePower on Plants podcast, where
we show you how to eat morewhole plant foods in the way
that's simple and exciting, soyou can heal naturally, finally
feel good and increase yourproductivity to fully enjoy
living your God-given dreams.

(01:43):
In this episode we're answeringpart two of a question that we
were asked.
The question that was asked isthis what are your tips for
people who feel like they need afake meat substitute with every
meal?
So in the past episode weanswered as if the person was
asking us this, because theywanted to help a friend or a
family member stop eating fakemeat substitutes.

(02:06):
This week we're talking to youas if you're asking us this
question for yourself, becausewe weren't really sure which the
person was asking.
So we wanted to answer bothbecause we felt like, as we read
, that both answers are superimportant for you to know how to
deal with.
So let's assume this person isasking for themselves what are
your tips for me, because I feellike I need a fake meat

(02:27):
substitute with every meal.
So first we would say you haveto start understanding that
you've been conditioned to meatbeing the meal, and I want Jared
to tell a little more aboutthat, because he's passionate
about this point.

Speaker 1 (02:40):
Absolutely.
Most people think meat is themeal I know we did for years.
We ate this way for the first25 years of our marriage.
I remember thinking thatwhenever I was younger, like we
would have seven steak or we'dhave roast, and then we have
some veggies along the side, alittle bit of veggies, just some
token veggies.
Or, being down from Louisiana,some rice.

(03:02):
Anita I think had more potatoes, but that's a whole different
podcast episode Yum still lovethem.
I love potatoes too, but there'sjust something homey about rice
, because we ate it for almostevery meal.

Speaker 2 (03:13):
Potatoes for the win.
Back to the main message here.
You don't want to argue rightnow about rice and potatoes.

Speaker 1 (03:19):
No, because we're talking about meat.
Oh yeah, okay.

Speaker 2 (03:22):
Talking about meat.

Speaker 1 (03:25):
Let's get back to it.
We'll stay on topic here, butit's just the messaging that
we're given time and time again.
You see it around theThanksgiving table.
What do you see?
This big giant turkey and thensome other fixings.
Well, on our Thanksgiving tableit's all the fixings, no turkey
, and we absolutely love it.
But you hear advertisingslogans like beef, it's what's

(03:45):
for dinner.

Speaker 2 (03:46):
That's it.
It's the advertising We've beenconditioned through that.
Think about even the food guidepyramid when we were growing up
.
It has meat in there, so it'sone of those things you have to
have right Because it's a partof the pyramid, and if you don't
have it, the pyramid falls.

Speaker 1 (03:58):
It's an essential nutrient.
You must have it and only meathas protein in it.
So it's just been thispervasive message and it drives
me nuts, because it's a fallacy.
We don't need meat for protein.
I mean, think about it.
Where is your protein gettingits protein?
I share this with patients allthe time and they have this aha
moment, like I did several yearsago.

(04:19):
Where's your protein gettingits protein?
Cows aren't eating meat of anykind.
They're eating plants, andplants are the original source
of protein.
But it's just so muchadvertising.
You go through any store andall these products about protein
.
You see images where, ifthere's a plate, there's a big
hunk of meat, and we've justbeen led to believe that meat is

(04:42):
the meal and that vegetables orplants of any kind are
garnishes or less than, andthat's just not true.

Speaker 2 (04:50):
So I think your point here with the fake meat
substitutes then is we have tohave a meat, and if we can't
have a meat, then we need somekind of fake meat that looks
exactly like meat, tastesexactly like meat and we forget
to turn it over and look at theingredients label.

Speaker 1 (05:06):
Yes, that is very important.
But yes, now that you'redescribing that, maybe I got off
on a little side rant there.

Speaker 2 (05:12):
No, it ties in perfectly.

Speaker 1 (05:14):
But we've been conditioned to think that we
need meat, and so since we'renot doing that but we still have
that mindset of meat being themeal, then we're wanting a fake
meat substitute, never reallythinking beyond that point, that
point, and I promise you youare going to get to a point
where you don't even need meator a meat sub in a meal.

Speaker 2 (05:34):
But when you're first starting, it is okay to
transition, even with some ofthe fake meats.
But what I want you to startdoing is to turn that puppy over
, read the ingredients labelwhat is actually in there and
then ask yourself are theseingredients going to bring me
the future that I want?

Speaker 1 (05:53):
That's an excellent question, and I've even heard
people say how do they get plansto look like meat?
That's in that same vein ofwhat are these ingredients that
I'm reading on this list.

Speaker 2 (06:03):
Right.
So now you're at the beginningof your transition, or maybe at
the middle, but you still justmiss those meaty things.
Well, it's important for you tolearn simple substitutes you
can make that will automaticallycrowd out the fake meat, just
like it crowds out real animalmeat.
We call this finding your newwhat?

(06:24):
If you've been around here along time, you should be really
screaming right now.

Speaker 1 (06:27):
Tell us you should be screaming at us.

Speaker 2 (06:28):
Your new favorites, finding your new favorites.
If you said favorites, listen,you're right.
Now we get it.
So many of us feel this way,like I couldn't possibly give up
meat.
I grew up in a barbecuerestaurant For crying out loud.
It's exactly why we take thetime to answer our favorite ways
to substitute meat, because youneed meat substitutes in the

(06:50):
beginning and sometimes kind offar into your journey.
But that doesn't mean you haveto eat fake meat substitutes
with the nasty ingredients.
There are so many options forsimple meat substitutes that you
can make yourself at home.
And maybe you're thinking,anita, I don't have time for
that.
I don't have time for it either.
That's why every one I make issuper quick, super easy, and

(07:11):
that's exactly why we share ourfavorite ways to substitute meat
inside our five-step course andcoaching program Accelerator.
So if you're at a point andyou're like, look, I need
someone to walk me step-by-stepto plant-based, the enjoyable
way so I can finally feel mybest, I want you to go right now
and get on the wait list atpowerandplantscom forward slash

(07:32):
accelerator.
This is the program that isgoing to make things so much
quicker and easier for you,because we walk you step by step
through developing the rightmindset and setting up your
environment for success, as wellas how to make healthy, plant
based eating delicious, rapidand simple, and that includes
finding your new favorite meatsubstitutes.
I list out all our favoritesfor you and show you how to do

(07:55):
that inside this Quartzlandcoaching program so you can find
out more at poweronplantscomforward slash accelerator.
So, to wrap things up, you havebeen conditioned that meat is
the meal over time, but it justdoesn't have to be that way.
Once you know how to make wholefood, plant based eating,
filling and really enjoyable, Ipromise you you are not going to

(08:15):
miss it.
Also, consider whether thosefake meat ingredients are going
to bring you to the future thatyou're dreaming of.
Are the ingredients they'reusing in that fake bacon going
to make your energy come back?
Are they going to help youreverse your type 2 diabetes,
your high cholesterol, your highblood pressure, your autoimmune
disease, your IBS, yourrheumatoid all the things that

(08:35):
we consistently see peoplereverse when they learn how to
make meat substitutes the simple, enjoyable way, using whole
plant foods right in their home,in like 10 minutes or less,
wrap your mind around how thatwould change your life and if
they're ones that you actuallyenjoy.
They actually taste good.
You don't dread eating them.
You're not eating them, stilldreaming for the other stuff,
because this tastes just as goodor even better than your old

(08:57):
favorites.

Speaker 1 (08:58):
And if, right now, you can't see past Beyond Burger
or Impossible Meat, you don'tknow what you don't know, and
that's why we're here sharingthis valuable information with
you week after week.
That's why we're here sharingthis valuable information with
you week after week.
It is possible to replicatetextures and flavors without
having to use fake meats and theoverly processed foods that you

(09:18):
see.

Speaker 2 (09:21):
You can do it with whole plant ingredients and we
show you exactly how to dothings like make healthy burger
meat and burgers and meatysauces and plantbased sauces and
chicken nuggets that are out ofthis world.
We just released that recipe,Tarla.
My members and they're allfreaking out about how good this
tastes.
Even the non-plant-based eatingmembers, like some of the
spouses, are just flipping overthis new chicken nuggets recipe.

(09:46):
It will blow your mind and theyare going to totally flip out
when I release the next recipe,which is lettuce wraps.
That are going to blow theirmind.
This was a big life changer forus recently when I discovered
how to make these lettuce wrapsSuper simple, super delicious.
I will never miss my allfavorite lettuce wraps.
You know that famous Asianchain where you get your lettuce
wraps.
Well, I used to love thosethings and I will tell you I

(10:09):
will never, ever miss them again.
That is what I'm all abouthelping you find your new
favorites that are quick andeasy to make so that you never
miss your old favorites again.
This is how you make thislasting.
This is how you make itsustainable.
I cannot overemphasize theimportance of finding your new
favorite meat substitutes,Because when you do that, you'll
automatically be crowding outall the health sabotaging

(10:32):
options that are pre-made andavailable in the store for you
and you'll start feeling betterevery single day, empowering
yourself to fully live theactive life that God has created
you to enjoy by eating more andmore plant foods every single
day and loving it.
This is what we're all about.
This is what lights us up,because we see life change every

(10:56):
day, learning how to do thisthe simple, enjoyable and
delicious way.
Sunshine, we are so happyyou've joined us for another
episode of Power Implants.
If this doesn't change yourlife, I don't know what will.
You need to walk away from thisepisode with some massive hope
that you do not have to staywhere you are in your current
health struggles.
There is hope and you can feelbetter.

(11:16):
Just take one step today, onething you've learned, put it
into practice from this episodeand, day by day, you're going to
start feeling better.
Then get the cookbooks.
Start trying the new recipes.
Our cookbooks will change yourlife.
You can grab those atpowerandplantscom forward slash
cookbook.
Then the next step is getinside accelerator and learn the
exact formula, step by step.

(11:37):
Fast pace yourself to plantbased joy.
Fast pace yourself to all thedreams that are waiting for you
on the other side of learninghow to do this in the way.
That is actually exciting.
Start today, take the one stepand then the next step is going
to build upon the last, andbefore long you'll be actually
living the life that you couldonly dream about before.
Sunshine, we love you, we careabout you, Know that you are

(11:58):
prayed for and we can't wait tosee you again very soon.
Thank you.