Vegenaise Vs Mayonnaise | An Ethical and Better Tasting Vegan Swap

Oftener vegans encounter the perplexity to compromise taste for ethics. Mayonnaise is one of those yummy condiments that vegans tend to miss out on. Mayonnaise, also called by its short name- mayo, is typically an egg sauce. Use it for seasoning, layering, or as dips, mayo is a reliable addition to anything from salads to burgers.
But what if I tell you that there is a vegan alternative to mayonnaise? Not just a compromisable alternative but a vegan mayonnaise that tastes better and richer than the regular mayo? Interested- even I can’t keep it from you anymore!
This flavorsome vegan mayonnaise that we are talking about is Vegenaise. Pronounced as Vegan-naise or even as Veggie-naise, this vegan spread manufactured by a company named Follow Your Heart, is a yummy vegan substitute to mayonnaise. In this article, I would walk you through all the questions that must be bubbling up in your head- is Vegenaise healthy? is Vegenaise good for you, is Vegenaise healthier than mayo? And so on.
Vegenaise Vs. Mayonnaise | Compared 1 on 1
1. Taste
Vegenaise is highly popular for its taste that is not just similar to mayo but actually much better than that. Due to its richer taste, most non-vegan foodies have also considered swapping from regular mayo to Vegenaise. It also comes in four different varieties, original, grapeseed oil, organic and expeller-pressed, to provide an array of experimenting with the main ingredient of the vegan mayo.
Despite the different varieties, the taste in all of them is pretty much similar. What works for you would be a matter of personal choice. Vegenaise retains the tanginess and sweetness of a quality regular mayo.
Since Vegenaise is egg-free it is not only suitable for vegans but also for those who have specific allergies or have a vegetarian plate on specific days. One in all Vegenaise can suit a number of dietary habits and preferences. It is richer and also nutritious because it does not employ additives or preservatives.
2. Saturated Fat Content
Saturated fats are not very beneficial to your health. The reason why physicians and health advisors recommend going lower on saturated fats is that it has the potential to cause obesity and increase the risks of cardiovascular disorders. The saturated fat content in one tbsp (0.5 oz) serving of Vegenaise has 1 g saturated fat while regular mayo has 1.5 g.
This may seem a very small difference but when you count over 2- 3 tbsp of mayo which we normally spread on foods without a thought, the 0.5g extra saturated fat in regular mayo builds up and surpasses the healthy range in no time. This clarifies how you can cut down on the saturated fat content in your simple salad dressing by switching from regular mayo to Vegenaise.
Since Vegenaise is free of eggs, the vegan mayo is considerably low on saturated fat than regular mayonnaise. It also has 0mg cholesterol in comparison to 5mg cholesterol per one tbsp serving of regular mayo. Therefore, even if you are not a vegan or are not intending to become one anytime sooner, Vegenaise could dramatically cut down the cholesterol levels in your diet while giving you a superior taste to the non-vegan mayonnaise.
3. Texture
The consistency and creaminess of Vegenaise can not be distinguished from regular mayonnaise that has eggs. Despite being low in cholesterol and saturated fats, Vegenaise maintains the texture as one would expect from mayonnaise. It is easy to spread on the toasts, veggie burgers, sandwiches, and meat rolls you make. It can be used to dress salads or sausages as you may wish to do using regular mayo without a difference in texture or thickness.
However, the flavor or aftertaste is much more pleasing and balanced than regular mayonnaise. The texture is smooth and airy which could actually feel much better than most commercial egg-based mayo. It is also less goopy and you won’t feel too heavy after eating a dumpling dipped in Vegenaise as you may feel with mayonnaise. The flavors come up well and yummy so that you need not go back to thinking of regular mayo any day!
4. Long-term consumption implications
When we switch to a vegan substitute or introduce any type of food into our diet, it is important to measure the long-term impact of that element on our overall health. As we have discussed earlier, saturated fats and cholesterol are detrimental to our body and our heart health. This might pop up Vegenaise as a savior in the fields.
Well, why not- it has no cholesterol, no trans fat, and is substantially low in saturated fat without compromising on the taste of richness. Furthermore, it is also a potent replacement for butter and cheese spreads that are, firstly, not vegan and secondly, high in saturated fat content.
However, that does not give you the absolute freedom to load your vegan burgers on and on with Vegenaise. Remember, even though it has 1/ 3 times less saturated fat content than regular mayo, it does have some amounts of it! While eating, you may consume more than one tablespoon of Vegenaise, which means the calorie and fats will build up more if you are not vigilant enough.
Moreover, both Vegenaise and mayonnaise have the same amounts of calories per serving which you may not realize due to Vegenaise’s excellent flavor and lightness in the aftertaste.
5. Ethical Manufacturing
Vegenaise by Follow Your Heart is 100% vegan and tastier. If you go through the label and ingredients list of Vegenaise you can realize that nothing possibly could have been better.
The Vegenaise (original variant) employs the following ingredients:
Expeller-Pressed Canola Oil, Filtered Water, Brown Rice Syrup, Apple Cider Vinegar, Soy Protein, Sea Salt, Mustard Flour, Lemon Juice from Concentrate.
The other variants only differ with respect to the type of oil used in producing them, the rest of the ingredients remain unaltered.
Nutritional value of per tbsp (0.5 oz) of Vegenaise if as follows:
Calories: 90, Fat: 9 g (1 g saturated fats, 0 mg Cholesterol, 85.0 mg Sodium), Carbs: 1 g, Protein: 0 g
The vegan Mayonnaise is free from additives and preservatives, which I personally believe deserves a huge thumbs up! It’s non-GMO and eggless, making it one of the most cruelty-free and ethical condiments available in the market.
Furthermore, Vegenaise has no gluten, dairy, or soy which allows those with sensitivities or intolerances to enjoy a healthier and tastier version of mayonnaise without any risk of allergy. The heart-healthy oils in Vegenaise completely rid it of Cholesterol content- so you can now keep your tastebuds, tummy, and heart happy all at once!
Verdict | Is Vegenaise Healthier than Regular Mayonnaise?
There is no doubt that Vegenaise is healthier than Regular Mayonnaise. It provides you the following benefits over egg-based mayo:
- Tastier and creamier
- Airy and non-goopy texture
- No cholesterol
- 1/3 times less saturated fat content
- No dairy, soy, or gluten
- Non-GMO, Vegan, and free of additives
In the contemporary world where you can find a myriad of alternatives to any non-vegan item in the store, it becomes difficult to find out the closest or at par, a better substitute. While Vegenaise is better than mayonnaise, it is also better than a number of commercial vegan mayo. The no additives and zero preservatives formula makes it stand out.
You can use it in a number of dishes and serve it to anyone, be it a vegan or flexitarian, kid or an elderly. Does not matter if you are a home cook or a chef, as you plate your dish and season it with Vegenaise, you can rest assured that besides taste, you are caring for the health of your beloved ones or valuable customers.
Hello- I just wanted to point out that veganaise is not soy free unless you get the soy free version. This article states in two different places that it is soy free.
I agree with everything you say (especially the taste) but canola oil is not good for you. I use the grape seed oil version.