What is vegan beef anyway?
Unless you’ve been living under a rock or in complete denial, you’ve heard the news: eat more plants.
No matter who we are, we could all use a little veggie boost and heed the healthcare advice. Plant-based foods really should make up the majority of our diet. They are the foods that truly fuel us – they are the ones that are full of all the vitamins and minerals, the antioxidants, and the fiber (and also the great flavor and color!).
That does not mean we all need to give up our carnivorous tendencies and eliminate meat completely. That works for many people, but it doesn’t have to be the answer.
Simply cutting back and occasionally enjoying a meat-free meal can be an excellent choice for your body and for the sustainability of the environment! Have you ever heard of “Meatless Mondays?” (Much less energy and water goes into growing veggies than raising cattle).
In response to this well-known fact, many larger restaurant chains are beginning to offer vegetarian burger options, such as the “Impossible Burger” and the “Beyond Burger,” which are both widely available at supermarkets as well.
Many people believe that these sexy beasts are “healthier” alternatives to a clean meat burger.
Let’s break it down:
- 4 oz. Beyond Burger (Vegan):
Ingredients: Water, Pea Protein Isolate*, Expeller-Pressed Canola Oil, Refined Coconut Oil, Cellulose from Bamboo, Methylcellulose, Potato Starch, Natural Flavor, Maltodextrin, Yeast Extract, Salt, Sunflower Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Dried Yeast, Gum Arabic, Citrus Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Beet Juice Extract, Acetic Acid, Succinic Acid, Modified Food Starch, Annatto.
Nutrition: 270 Calories, 20g fat, 5g saturated fat, 5g carbs, 20g protein. - 4 oz. 80/20 Ground Beef (From a Real Cow):
Ingredients: 100% Beef
Nutrition: 210 Calories, 22g fat, 6g saturated fat, 20g protein.
Moral of the Story: Beef. It’s what’s for dinner.
Well, not really. But, speaking of the health benefits of consuming REAL Food vs. Fake Food and highly processed food items, the picture is pretty obvious.
High quality beef in moderation provides you with all the good stuff and none of the bad – unpronounceable, unidentifiable stuff. Remember, if it has to have an ingredient label (more than one ingredient), it may not be your best choice.
But, if you do want to explore the world of vegetarian and vegan burger options, the opportunity is wide open. Hundreds of thousands of REAL food recipes exist for super juicy, super delicious, and super nutritious meatless burgers.
Go for it!
