Gelatin serves both nutritional and culinary roles in

nonvegetarian diets; however, a lot of vegetarians and

all vegans do not consume gelatin in its many forms

because it is often created out of boiled pig skins and

dissolved veal cartilage and bones.



This leaves vegetarians with a gap in cooking

functionality when a recipe calls for a gel or thickening

agent. It also leaves vegetarians with fewer options if they

need a source of gelatin to increase bone and cartilage

health.



If you are a vegetarian and you are looking for something

to replace gelatin, do not despair. Here are some alternative

options for you:



1. Use a rice starch alternative. A&B Ingredients recently

developed a rice starch alternative to gelatins that mimics

the cooking functionality of gelatins closely.



2. Use a soy-based alternative. Soyfoods USA developed

NuSoy Gel, a gelatin alternative which was created

entirely out of of soy isoflavones and contains 100% of

your vitamin c recommended daily allowance.



3. Use seaweed-based alternatives. Agar-agar, for instance,

is a seaweed based alternative to gelatin that can simulate

the culinary functions of gelatin.



4. Increase your calcium intake. One component of gelatin

supplements that allegedly increases joint health is

calcium. If you want to increase your calcium intake

without eating gelatin, you can simply consume more

calcium-fortified foods and even take supplements.



5. Increase your vitamin c intake. Another component of

gelatin supplements that allegedly increases joint health is

vitamin c. You can increase your vitamin c intake by

consuming more citrus fruit.



6. Increase your glucosamine intake. No foods contain

glucosamine, but you can increase your intake by purchasing

supplements at your local grocery store or pharmacy. This

is rumored to improve joint health if taken regularly.



To reiterate - gelatin has two major functions: it works

as a thickening agent for foods and is rumored to improve

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