There were many (many many) years where I practically lived
on fake meat products, blindly assuming them to be healthy.
In my guide, I talk about how some vegans eat
the fake meat products and cheeses, or things like oreos and special vegan snacks / desserts which are all very processed as you know, so I guess staying away from those would help!
I would personally take a slab of tofu or tempeh over
a fake meat product any day, but sometimes they really are just the best fit for a dish, especially veganized omni dishes.
Artificial proteins, like
the fake meat products you'll find in the freezer section, and soy, both of which many of our doctors agree aren't great options.
When I started my first degree in nutrition I realized how processed
those fake meat products really are and have more or less eschewed them ever since.