For all those Veganuary babies out there, I hope your journey is going well so far.
We are seeing an increasing number of consumers choosing a meat-free diet every year. This has led to a dynamic change within one of the UK's biggest supermarkets: M&S.
With greater variety and more adventurous products appearing in supermarkets, it hasn't taken long for one of the nation's favourite retailers to offer more plant-based options.
Now, before I describe my food experience, I must say that I am not 100% fully vegan.
During my early childhood, I was identified as having severe dairy and egg allergies which meant that I could only eat plant-based products whilst growing up.
McDonald's was one of those rare places that could accommodate for me and my allergies during the early 00s.
Fast forward to now, the situation could not be more different.
With a vast and ever-increasing array of non-dairy and non-egg alternatives in today's supermarkets, my diet is less restrictive now than it has ever been.
Now, back to the taste test. Please note that I was unable to try all the products due to my nut allergy.
READ MORE: 'I tried McDonald's McPlant vegan burger and it's honestly hard to tell it's not meat'
Tikka Masala (£4)
This was a strong contender - with lots of creamy coconut milk and a decent level of spice.
Too many onions ruined the meal for me. Would be fine for a Friday night in.
Score: 3/5
Green Thai Curry and Jasmine Rice (£3.70)
This is one of the best vegan curries I have ever had. Period.
The plant-based curry was indulgent, flavoursome and packed to the brim with flavour.
Offering a high-quality, plant-based alternative to one of the UK's favourite curries, M&S have served up a remarkable product.
Score 5/5
No Pork Sausage Rolls (£2.35)
Junk food is at the heart of the grab-and-go culture, and the plant-based world is no different.
These sausage rolls are just a posh version of the vegan Greggs edition, with just a little more flavouring.
The only downside to this junk food magic was that there were too many pastry crumbs that littered my plate.
Score: 4/5
Spaghetti Bolognese (£3.75)
I didn’t really like this to be honest. The flavour of the sauce wasn’t that tasty and the texture of the “meat” put me off.
The spaghetti itself had this weird rubbery, artificial taste to it - I couldn't force myself to eat more - it was absolutely awful.
What's more, I was not a fan of the smell. I blame the cheese alternative on the top. Please avoid this.
Score: 1/5
Vegan Salted Caramel Truffles (£5)
I really had high hopes for these but I was left rather disappointed.
Don't get me wrong - these are lovely and well worth a try for that soft and runny caramel centre.
The chocolate was too bitter and tasted like chalk. Won't have these again.
Score: 2/5
Creamy Cookie Pots (£4)
These were delicious - I could eat two pots in one sitting.
The dark chocolate cookie base with a cookie-stuffed creamy layer was absolutely delightful. Highly recommend.
If you have non-vegan friends, convince them to go to their local M&S and try these pots; they'll be converted in no time.
Score: 5/5
Strawberry Cheesecake Wedges (£4.25)
This was an average sweet treat and the hefty price tag didn't help much.
The biscuit layer was probably the best part, but the strawberry topping was too overpowering.
Would probably not get again.
Score: 3/5
No Pork Streaky Bacon (£3)
These looked horribly unappetising. Almost passed as plastic-looking ham.
The taste was average, and would probably work well in a full English vegan fry up. Make sure you use plenty of ketchup.
Score: 2/5
Sweet n Sour No Chicken (£3.80)
I never liked Uncle Ben's Sweet and Sour jars, so I hoped that M&S would help me cure my fussiness.
This meal had a weird artificial smell to it, and unfortunately it overwhelmed the taste too.
I wish I could say that the sauce was a knockout, but it was just a little bland and not very nice to eat. Eggless fried rice was okay.
Score: 2/5
Vegan Bean Chilli (£4)
This was a really filling and yummy meal to have for lunch or dinner. It's a shame it's so expensive.
While the chilli had this spicy and peppery flavour to it, the sauce was just tomatoes with a subtle hint of flavour.
Quick and no fuss about it. Would get again.
Score: 4/5
Spinach Ravioli (£3)
This looked disgusting from looking at the packet, but I love ravioli so I had to give this a try.
It's super easy to make, and surprisingly tasted fine. Not too doughy and only took 3 minutes to cook.
This product is okay. Not something I would buy every day but it did the job.
Score: 3/5
Have you tried the M&S Plant Kitchen range? Email alexandra.bullard@reachplc.com or let us know in the comments below.
