Is Tuna Plant Based?

Tuna is one of the most popularly consumed seafoods around the world. However, when you switch to a plant-based diet, you may need to eliminate certain foods. Most people wonder whether they can include this nutritious fish in their daily diet while adopting a plant-based lifestyle. 

So, is tuna plant based? No, Tuna is not plant based. It is a fish or flesh that plant-based diet followers generally abstain from. While some people chose to include certain types of fish and meat, it is not a plant-based food.

Tuna

Read on to find out whether there is any plant-based alternative to tuna that you can include in your diet. 

Top 3 Tuna Substitutes For A Plant Based Diet

As more and more consumers turn towards plant-based diets, meat alternatives are growing in popularity. A number of brands have come up with plant-based fish that mimic seafood in terms of protein content and taste. Products such as Vuna from Nestle contain plant-based ingredients to provide a way to follow the diet restrictions without having to give up on your favorite tuna recipes.

Nestle Vuna

The first seafood alternative product from Nestle, Vuna is a fish-free tuna that contains six high-quality, plant-based ingredients like pea protein. This plant-based food is high in protein and rich in essential amino acids, making it a great tuna alternative for those who turn to animal-free foods for their protein intake. 

Looking at the nutritional profile, Vuna is quite comparable to regular tuna as 100g of the product contains as much as 23g of protein. It mimics the rich flavor and flaky texture of tuna and is free of any artificial coloring and preservatives. While the primary ingredient is pea protein, the tuna alternative is constituted with rapeseed oil known for its high content of omega-3 fatty acids. It is designed to be used like real fish in dishes like sandwiches, salads, pizzas and more. 

TUNO

TUNO is the latest introduction from Loma Linda, the flagship brand of Atlantic Natural Foods and is a mercury-free, ocean-safe alternative to real tuna made out of plant-based protein ingredients and omega-3 fatty acids. It is a protein-rich, gluten-free food bearing the flaky, light texture of seafood. TUNO is fishless and made with sunflower and soy extract blend. 

It has a unique taste but not similar to the overt taste and smell people are familiar with. It is catered towards people trying to incorporate more plant-based foods into their diet. TUNO comes in a plain version as well as Lemon Pepper and Sriracha varieties and can be easily added to salads and sandwiches. 

Sophie’s Kitchen Toona

Sophie’s Kitchen makes several plant-based meat and seafood alternatives including Toona, a vegetarian and vegan tuna alternative that suits a plant-based diet. It is intended to bring the taste and flavor of the fish to dishes like salads, subs, sandwiches sushi and more without having to indulge in the real fish. 

It is a low-carb tuna alternative that comes as convenient canned food to make a versatile ingredient for plant-based dishes and a protein-packed snack option. It comes in several flavors including sea salt and black pepper. It is made out of Japanese yam that resembles tuna in terms of texture and flavor and is low in preservatives, making an excellent tuna alternative for plant-based diets.