Womens Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. Why Trust Us?
Meatless Mondays are easier than ever thanks to the bevy of look-alike burgers in your supermarket that feature zero meat. Yep, Im talking about Beyond Meat and similar companies producing plant-based burgers, which are still very much on the rise.
After years on the market and a solid IPO showing, Beyond Burgers are available in more places than ever these days. You can throw some in your cart on your next Target run or click Buy Now from Amazon Prime Fresh. Plus, Carl’s Jr., Bareburger, and Just Salad are among the many fast-food chains with delish Beyond Meat options on their menus.
Beyond Burgers have a lot going for them—and they meet a legitimate need, says nutritionist Vanessa Rissetto, RD, co-founder of Culina Health. “People want to be more plant-based, but also want quick and easy,” she says. “Its easier to throw a fake burger in a pan and cook it up than to get creative with beans and tofu.”
That said, though, there are some very real pros and cons to consider before diving in. “These ‘meat’ products have potential to be healthier than regular animal meat because they can be engineered to contain more protein, essential amino acids, and vitamins while reducing the amount of saturated fat and minimizing the chance of animal-borne illnesses, such as salmonella and E.coli,” Rissetto says.
But faux-meat products like Beyond Burger aren’t perfect. “They’re highly-processed foods and typically are high in sodium, which could be a problem for people with high blood pressure,” she adds.
It has all the juicy, meaty deliciousness of a traditional burger, but comes with the upsides of a plant-based meal. The Beyond Burger has 20g of plant-based protein and has no GMOs, soy, or gluten.
How is the Beyond Burger made?
Beyond Brands wont reveal exactly how they create their products (fair). But the company site does offer up some info online about how the Beyond Burger is made: “We use a simple process of heating, cooling, and pressure to create the fibrous texture of meat and layer in plant-based fats, binders, flavors, and colors.” A little cryptic.
What is the Beyond Burger, exactly?
It may look like raw meat in the package and cook up all juicy to “medium-rare” perfection, but this trendy burger is actually totally plant-based. The company says on their website that they wanted to make a burger that “looks, cooks, and tastes” like a beef burger but without the environmental and health problems that can come from red meat. With beets as one of the ingredients, it even changes color as you cook it, to mimic the bloodiness of beef.
Are Beyond Meat and the Impossible Burger Healthy?
FAQ
Are beyond burgers a good source of protein?
What are the disadvantages of beyond meat burgers?
Is Beyond Meat a complete protein?
Are beyond meat burgers healthier than beef?
Is beyond Burger a good source of protein?
It’s an excellent source of protein with 20g per serving. Compared to 80/20 beef it also has 35% less total and saturated fat, lower calories, no cholesterol, more iron and comparable B vitamins and minerals. Where can I buy Beyond Burger?
Is a chicken burger a healthy food?
Chicken wings are healthy for their protein intake but can be high in fat. Also, if they are breaded and fried, it is recommended to reduce their consumption.
How much protein is in a Beyond Burger patty?
There are 20 grams of protein in a Beyond Burger, the same you’ll find in a regular beef patty at Burger King, according to Business Insider. But in a Beyond Burger patty, much of that protein comes from pea protein. But what exactly is pea protein? It’s not peas, exactly, but an extract of the proteins in split peas.
Are beyond meat burgers healthy?
Nevertheless, according to Harvard Health Publishing, Beyond Meat burgers contain a significant amount of protein and vitamin B12 (which are also found in animal proteins) as well as minerals like zinc and iron.