Where’s the Beef?
Beyond Meat
What’s the Beef?
After hearing the buzz about the plant-based beef substitute “Impossible Burger” and “Beyond Beef” , I thought what’s the big deal, what’s the fuss? So, at a local restaurant, Harvest Grill in North Wales, Pennsylvania.. I thought I’d give it a try. I must admit , though, I was skeptical because, well, it’s not beef.
We ordered our meals and on arrival my “Impossible Burger” didn’t disappoint. It was dressed with bibb Lettuce, house-made pickle chip, vegan cheddar cheese, smokey tamarind-tomato jam, roasted poblano pepper, crispy plantain straws, a house side salad, pickle, on a vegan roll.
After my first bite, I fell silent, since there were a lot of flavors circulating from all of the toppings and I was trying to decipher all of them. My first thought was wow, this is not not what I expected, mainly because it wasn’t bland or rubbery. It was really good, and it had the texture and flavor of beef. Though, by a matter of course, I went looking for flaws and in this instance there really weren’t many. The patty was savory, meaty, smoky, cooked to a perfect medium rare but lacked that umami punch (just a tad) of grilled beef however, it was very, very close. The toppings were exceptional, sweet, hot, salty and sour. With that being said, It was very, very good and I’d order it again.
There is a caveat: I would definitely order this again just like a real burger, though it would be in moderation.
Is Plant Based Beef Good for You?
The answer is, yes and no. Good for the planet but not necessarily good for you, it all depends on your particular dietary needs.
The good news.
According to a study commissioned by Beyond Beef with the Center for Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan, a plant-based burger generates 90% less greenhouse gas emissions, requires 45% less energy, has 99% less impact on water scarcity, and 93% less impact on land use than a ¼ pound of traditional U.S. beef.
Both Impossible Burger and Beyond Beef are good sources of fiber, calcium, and potassium, an added bonus for a protein source. It also has zero cholesterol. To compare, a regular burger patty contains almost a quarter of your daily cholesterol limit.
In a nutshell: Beyond Beef is made up of these five things. It's amino acids, lipids, trace minerals, trace vitamins, and water, they're all present in the plant kingdom.
According to Beyond Beef’s website, ingredients for its plant-based patties include water, pea protein isolate, expeller-pressed canola oil, refined coconut oil, rice protein and other natural flavors, including apple extract and beet juice extract (for color).
Aug 21, 2019
The not so good news:
Impossible Burger and Beyond Beef are considered to be a highly processed food, to be blunt, both have been created in a lab and are high in sodium and saturated fat. So, for those who have health considerations like, high blood pressure or heart disease, tread lightly.
By definition, a processed food is a food item that has had a series of mechanical or chemical operations performed on it to change or preserve it and has more than one item on the list of ingredients.
Here are the nutritional values.
Beyond Beef
4 ounce patty
Calories: 270.
Fat: 20 g (Saturated fat 6 g)
Cholesterol 0 grams
Sodium: 380 mg.
Carbohydrates: 5 grams.
Fiber: 3 grams.
Sugars: 0 grams.
Protein: 20 grams.
Beef Patty:
4 ounce uncooked patty
Calories: 287
Fat: 23 g (9 g sat fat)
Sodium: 75 mg
Cholesterol 80 mg
Carbohydrates: 0 grams
Fiber: 0 grams
Sugars: 0 grams
Protein: 19 grams
So, the choice is up to you…
In conclusion: If you are interested in consuming less animal protein or are a vegetarian or vegan this is definitely an option. On a personal note, since I still eat meat in moderation and will have an beef or turkey burger 2 to 3 times a year, so I will add to my repertoire.
Though when when push comes to shove, I will always choose real, fresh “whole foods”. Like a locally sourced, organic, beef or turkey burger.
If this still doesn’t float your boat, here is my recipe for; Vegan Southwest, Sweet potato, Quinoa, Black Bean Burger.