Serving something new for vegans - bacon made entirely from strips of parsnip

And now, there is something else to add to the shopping list - slice of meat-free, vegan bacon - made entirely from strips of parsnips.

The new product has been launched by an online healthy food retailer, musclefood, which is now selling a plant-based kit that will allow customers to make their own fresh alternative to the breakfast favourite at home, which apparently looks and tastes just like the real thing.

An increasing number of Brits are being inspired to cut down their meat consumption by campaigns such as Veganuary and concerns for animal welfare, the environment or their health.

But they can now move to a wholly or partially vegan diet without giving up much loved bacon butties and traditional full English fry ups, by making a healthy and tasty swap from the comfort of their own kitchens.

The ‘crispy facon’ kits cost just £1.50 each and use fresh vegetables and flavourings, rather than highly-processed meat substitutes.

It’s made using 350g of wide, peeled parsnip slices that form the mass of the vegan ‘facon’, which are dabbed dry with kitchen roll to ensure the classic crispy texture once cooked.

A marinade containing liquid smoke, yeast, garlic, soy sauce and black pepper is then used to coat them and provide the typical meaty flavour that many Brits know and love.

After around half an hour of soaking up the bacon flavourings, the healthy vegan substitute is ready to remove from the fridge and cook.

Home cooks simply need to place the slices into a pre-heated regular oven on a lined baking tray for around 12 to 15 minutes.

Not only can they be used to replace bacon in Brits favourite breakfasts, but the vegan substitute is also suitable using in plant-based quiches, pastas and other recipes.

As well as being cheaper than ‘normal’ bacon, this vegan version is significantly lower in calories, fat and salt too when put up against similar meat-based slices.

Amy Kershaw, Head of Product Innovation at musclefood.com, said: “It can sometimes be hard for Brits who want to cut down their intake of animal products to get over the hurdle of giving up foods they’ve grown fond of over the years.

“A comforting bacon butty or a filling fry up are staples of our national cuisine, so we’ve decided to dispel the myth that following a vegan diet or cutting down on meat has to be about abstinence.

“Our new completely plant-based bacon kit means that you can enjoy a fresh and healthy alternative to real bacon, without fuelling concerns about harming animals or the planet.

“By following a few simple steps provided with the ingredients, home cooks can turn humble parsnips into tempting vegan bacon ready for the breakfast table or other meals.”