• It’s a Cookbook
    It’s a Philosophy
    It’s a Resource
logologologologo
  • FoodTrients 101 –
  • News –
      • Age Gracefully with Grace O
      • Ginger Hultin, Nutrition
      • Mark Rosenberg, MD
      • Robert Tostado, MD
      • Anti-Aging –
      • Beauty –
      • Food –
      • Health –
      • Exercise –
      • Celiac –
      • Life Extension
      • Books We Love –
      • FoodTrients Guides –
      • Newsletter –
      • capsule full of good foodAre Supplements Safe for You?
      • woman doing yogaSecrets of the Lymphatic System
      • woman fanning herselfWomen, Food, and Hormones: A Plan
      • "collagen" written on a chalkboardSave Your Eyes with Collagen
  • Recipes –
    • SEARCH BY:

      • Category:

      • Starters –
      • Soups –
      • Salads –
      • Main Dishes –
      • Sides –
      • Desserts –
      • Drinks –
      • Extras –
      • Spice Mixes –
      • All Recipes –
      • Or Search By:

      • Anti-inflammatory –
      • Antioxidant –
      • Beauty –
      • Detox –
      • Disease Prevention –
      • Gut Health –
      • Immunity Booster –
      • Mind –
      • Strength –
      • exotic fruit and granolaExotic Fruit Salad with Granola
      • chocolate mousseDark Chocolate Mousse
      • Green Tea NoodlesGreen Tea Noodles with Edamame
      • buffalo meat slidersTry Buffalo Sliders with Sweetened Cranberries
  • Resources –
  • About –
  • Shop –
  • Media –
  • Home Page
  • News
    • Age Gracefully
    • Anti-Aging
    • Beauty
    • Food
    • Ginger Hultin, MS RDN CSO
    • Health
    • Newsletter
  • Recipes
    • Starters
    • Soups
    • Salads
    • Main Dishes
    • Sides
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Extras
    • Spice Mixes
  • Resources
    • Anti-Aging Resources
    • Health
    • Eating Well
    • Books We Love
  • About
    • About Grace O
    • Experts and Advisors
    • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Pinterest
  • Shop
  • Media
    • In the Media
    • Press Releases
    • Videos
            No results See all results
            ✕
                      No results See all results

                      The Lowdown on Plant-Based Meat Substitutes

                      Published by Grace O
                      buffalo meat sliders

                      One of the hottest topics to come out of the world of food and nutrition was the broad introduction of plant-based meats, specifically patties that mimic beef burgers. Two companies, Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat, are at the forefront of providing meat substitutes that really taste like ground beef. The question from a FoodTrients standpoint is: are these products more healthful than beef patties? Do they have what it takes to benefit your well-being?

                      Who’s the Target Audience?

                      First thing to know about these plant-based meat substitutes is that veggie burgers have been around for decades. Remember Boca® Burger and GardenBurger®? The market for these was individuals—vegetarians and vegans– who wanted to avoid eating meat. Impossible Burgers and Beyond Burgers are targeted primarily toward people who regularly eat meat and patronize establishments like Burger King, but for whatever reason, want to cut down. Those reasons could be for health, for animal welfare, to benefit the environment, appease non-meat-eating loved ones, or any combination of the above.

                      Veggie burger with sweet potato fries on a dark background

                      What Are the Plant-based Patties Made Of?

                      If you want to eat a food that is more ‘natural’, these patties are not it! Check the ingredient statements. The Beyond Meat patty contains 22 ingredients—some that sound pretty benign like Pea Protein Isolate (??) and some unrecognizable as food like methylcellulose.

                      Impossible Burgers also consist of a long, mostly unpronounceable list of ingredients. Instead of Pea Protein Isolate, the number-two ingredient (after water) is Soy Protein Concentrate. These are not whole foods, but rather parts of plant extracts extruded in a lab.

                      Trader Joe’s released its own entry into the plant-based burger wars. The new “Protein Patties” contain 18 grams of protein and are made from a combination of pea protein, sunflower oil, beets, and seasonings.

                      The scary thing about textured vegetable protein, soy protein isolate, and soy protein concentrate is that, in order to separate soybean proteins from fats, many manufacturers use a solvent called hexane. Although most of the hexane evaporates, small amounts remain in the final product. Hexane is a known human neurotoxin and is suspected of damaging reproductive and fetal health. The European Union limits this residue to 10 ppm, while in the U.S. the leftover amounts of hexane are 20-50 ppm.

                      How About the Nutritional Profiles of Beef Versus Beef Alternatives?

                      Both alternative beef patties come reasonably close to the nutritional profiles of actual beef. Here’s the beef nutritional statement for a 4oz. patty that’s 80% lean:

                      · Calories: 287
                      · Fat: 23 g (9 g sat fat)
                      · Sodium: 75 mg
                      · Protein: 19 g
                      · Carbohydrates: 0 g
                      · Fiber: 0 g
                      · Sugars: 0 g

                      Below is the nutritional declaration for a 4oz. Beyond Beef patty:

                      · Calories: 270
                      · Fat: 20 g (6 g sat fat)
                      · Sodium: 380 mg
                      · Protein: 20 g
                      · Carbohydrates: 5 grams
                      · Fiber: 3 grams
                      · Sugars: 0 grams

                      And here’s the nutrition statement for a 4oz. Impossible Burger patty:

                      · Calories: 240
                      · Fat: 14 g (8 g saturated)
                      · Sodium: 370 mg
                      · Protein: 19 g
                      · Carbohydrates: 9 g carbohydrates
                      · Fiber: 3 g
                      · Sugars: Less than 1 g

                      As you can see, the beef alternative patties have fewer calories, a little less fat and more carbohydrates than a beef burger, but where they really fall down is in the high levels of sodium, which can contribute to high blood pressure and other problems of the vascular system. And the levels of artery-clogging saturated fat from coconut oil are almost as high as a 20% fat beef burger.

                      The Quinoa Burger

                      So Here’s the Thing

                      If you don’t mind eating a highly processed meat substitute, both Impossible Burger and Beyond Burgers taste pretty delicious, especially when doctored up with ketchup, onions, tomatoes, etc. like any fast-food burger. The texture of the patties is eerily like meat, especially because they add heme, a molecule that provides the bloody look and taste of beef.

                      According to nutritionists who have weighed in on these latest meat alternatives, just as in the case of beef burgers, they aren’t the type of food you want to eat every day if you want to maintain a healthful diet. Simply switching from animal-based meat to plant-based meat won’t make you healthier unless you add a lot of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains to your diet as well.

                      You can make plant-based burgers more nutritious by adding a whole grain bun, fresh vegetables, mustard and avocado to the sandwich, rather than cheese or mayonnaise. But it’s better to stay closer to fruits and vegetables that haven’t been processed into unrecognizable forms and stick to grass-fed beef. Enjoy these alternative meat burgers as a rare treat, just as you would the occasional Whopper.

                      The Last Word

                      One thing Impossible and Beyond Burgers do achieve is that, for all their technology and lab-based alchemy, they do appear to be more sustainable and gobble up fewer resources than beef production.

                      Even highly manufactured foods from plants use far less land and water resources than it takes to raise cattle. Because it’s agreed that livestock production is one of the main contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, forgoing animal protein is a major step toward reducing global warming and the resulting climate changes that can harm the Earth. That’s reason enough to give the occasional alternative beef burger a try.

                      That said, if you’ve cut back on meat for both health and earth-friendly reasons but you’re craving a special, old-fashioned beef patty, try this recipe from my Age Beautifully cookbook.

                      Buffalo Sliders FoodTrients

                      Buffalo Sliders with Cranberries

                      Note: If you can’t find bison meat, you can use any grass-fed meat or even ground turkey for this recipe. For an optional topping, you can make a goat-cheese spread to top the burgers by mixing 1/4 cup goat cheese with 1/2 tsp. of roasted garlic, 1/2 tsp. of fresh thyme, 1 tsp. of fresh parsley (minced), and 1/2 tsp. of fresh dill. To cut down on sugar, you can replace the dried cranberries with dried, unsweetened cherries.

                      Ingredients

                      ½ cup organic dried, sweetened cranberries (or unsweetened dried cherries for less sugar)
                      ½ cup flax meal
                      ½ cup whole wheat or regular breadcrumbs
                      1 lb. ground buffalo (bison) meat or grass-fed beef
                      1 egg (omega-3 enriched, organic or free-range)
                      1 tsp. salt or salt substitute
                      1 tsp. crushed garlic
                      2 tsp. red wine vinegar Olive oil spray as needed
                      8-10 whole grain slider buns or rolls

                      Procedure

                      1. Pulse the cranberries together with the flax meal and breadcrumbs in a food processor or blender until you have a coarse meal, about 1-2 minutes.

                      2. Mix the cranberry-breadcrumb mixture into the ground buffalo meat along with the egg, spice, and vinegar. Shape into 8-10 patties (about 3 inches).

                      3. Spray each patty with olive oil and grill over medium-high heat (or broil under high heat on a broiler pan) for at least 4 minutes. Flip the burgers and cook another 4-5 minutes more or until they are brown throughout (no pink in the middle). 4. Place on buns and spread with mustard or goat cheese. Top with pickles.

                      Makes approximately 8-10 sliders

                      FoodTrients

                      Ai– Anti-inflammatory – Reduces the inflammation process in cells, blood vessels and tissues, helping to slow aging and lower the risk of long-term disease.

                      Ao– Antioxidant – Prevents and repairs oxidative damage to cells caused by free radicals.

                      strength– Strength – Builds strength in bones, muscles and joints. Increases bone density and repairs tissue.

                      Share
                      Grace O
                      Grace O
                      GRACE O is the creator of FoodTrients, a unique program for optimizing wellness and longevity. She is the author of three award-winning cookbooks – The Age Gracefully Cookbook, The Age Beautifully Cookbook, and Anti-Aging Dishes From Around the World. She is a fusion chef with a mission to deliver delicious recipes built on a foundation of anti-aging science and her 20 years in the healthcare industry.

                      Sign Up to get our
                      NEWSLETTER FREE

                      Select list(s) to subscribe to


                      By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: FoodTrients, 14011 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA, 91423, http://www.foodtrients.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

                      Grace O Blog

                      • 0
                        We’re Just Wild About Saffron
                        January 30, 2023
                      • Rabbit Leaps into Lunar New Year
                        January 30, 2023
                      • 0
                        Discover the Many-Splendored Foods of Malta
                        January 30, 2023
                      • flu-fighting soup
                        Stay Well with These Super Flu-Fighting Foods
                        January 30, 2023
                      • It’s Citrus Season and the Squeeze Is On!
                        January 30, 2023

                      Latest Articles

                      • 0
                        How To Feel Better Faster During Colds & Flu
                        February 2, 2023
                      • 0
                        Feeling Frisky? 15 Foods To Enhance Romance
                        February 2, 2023
                      • 8 Ways To Save Money on a Gluten-Free Diet
                        February 1, 2023
                      • buffalo meat sliders0
                        Try Buffalo Sliders with Sweetened Cranberries
                        January 30, 2023
                      • The Essential Guide to Oils and Aromatherapy
                        January 30, 2023

                      SEE MORE

                      SEE MORE

                      ABOUT

                      • Grace O
                      • Our Experts
                      • FoodTrients
                      • Board of Advisors
                      • FAQs

                      EXPLORE

                      • Age Gracefully by Grace O
                      • News
                      • Recipes
                      • Our Guides
                      • Resources
                      • Shop
                      • Media

                      CONNECT

                      • Contact Us
                      • Subscribe
                      • Facebook
                      • Pinterest
                      • Instagram
                      • Twitter
                      • YouTube

                      SIGN UP for our NEWSLETTER

                      Nourish your week! Get the latest wellness news and delicious recipes to help you age better.

                      Select list(s) to subscribe to


                      By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: FoodTrients, 14011 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA, 91423, http://www.foodtrients.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

                      FoodTrients Trademark™ and copyright © 2011-2022 Triple G Enterprises. I Terms and Conditions I Privacy

                      This website is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. FoodTrients – A Recipe for Aging Beautifully Grace O, author and creator of FoodTrients® -- a philosophy, a cookbook and a resource -- has a new cookbook dedicated to age-defying and delicious recipes, The Age Beautifully Cookbook: Easy and Exotic Longevity Secrets from Around the World, which provides one hundred-plus recipes that promote health and well-being. The recipes are built on foundations of modern scientific research and ancient knowledge of medicinal herbs and natural ingredients from around the world. Since the publication of her first anti-aging book, The Age GRACEfully Cookbook, Grace O has identified eight categories of FoodTrients benefits (Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Immune Booster, Disease Prevention, Beauty, Strength, Mind, and Weight Loss) that are essential to fighting aging, which show how specific foods, herbs, and spices in the recipes help keep skin looking younger, prevent the diseases of aging, and increase energy and vitality. Grace O combines more exotic ingredients that add age-fighting benefits to familiar recipe favorites.

                                No results See all results