Are veggie burgers a good meat alternative? Well…maybe not.
Something like the Beyond Burger** patty (still approximately the same price as gold in SA 😱 …so please help in the comments if you have found good a local version) IS an excellent, concentrated plant-based protein source that is about equivalent to a meat patty. Other patties made with concentrated soy or wheat protein are quite high in protein as well, but there are lots of veggie burgers that are made with a combination of beans, chickpeas, vegetables, grains and other things (maybe bread crumbs, oats etc) that are marketed as meat alternatives, but don’t contribute much protein. I looked at 4 different versions that are easily available in grocery stores. There are many great recipes online for homemade versions as well, but it helps to understand where they fit in your diet.
Veggie burgers made with grains/veg/beans are a nice way to add more healthy foods to your plate (if they contain whole foods, veggies etc)
How would I use them?
-As a burger substitute when I feel like one 😁 (knowing that I probably need to get protein from somewhere else…and that a veggie burger with a bun is a pretty high carb meal. Add some fries and you might as well eat a whole pizza.)
-As a carbohydrate side for a meal. For vegetarians or anyone avoiding gluten, a veggie burger is a great base for a poached egg instead of toast (just check ingredients as many veggie burgers do contain gluten). For omnivores, there’s no harm in using a veggie burger instead of another starch and serving it as part of a mixed meal.
-As part of a plant-based meal that contains other sources of protein e.g. with a grain and lentil side salad that also contains seeds or nuts.
We don’t HAVE to eat a high protein food with every single meal, provided we get enough protein in a day…I am just aware that many veggie burgers are marketed as meat alternatives but don’t contribute much to your protein intake. It always helps to read nutritional information 🤓 #goodwithfood
**This is not a sponsored post and the mention of a product or brand name is not an endorsement.
Photo credit: inspiredtaste.net | Beyond Burger
