Veggie Burgers Vs. Beef Burgers
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The American Dietetic Association just published an article about veggie burgers called “Meet the Meatless: How Veggie Burgers and Hot Dogs Rate with Nutrition Facts.”
Here are some bits from the article to keep in mind when choosing your next veggie burger:
Nutritional advantages of veggie burgers: Less fat, more fiber
* Veggie burgers typically contain three times less total fat and seven times less saturated fat than average beef and turkey burgers. On average, veggie burgers have 3 grams of total fat and 0.5 grams of saturated fat while average meat burgers contain 10 grams of total fat and 3.5 grams of saturated fat.
* Veggie burgers typically contain an average of 3 to 4 grams of fiber, which classifies it as a good source. Meat burgers contain no fiber.
But it’s not 100% rosy.
Veggie burgers come pre-seasoned whereas beef burgers don’t. So… surprise, veggie burgers have more sodium.
And veggie burgers often have less protein, but even so, veggie burgers are still an EXCELLENT source of protein.
The article says, with emphasis added by moi:
Nutritional disadvantages of veggie burgers: More sodium, less protein
* Veggie burgers typically contain 5 times more sodium than unseasoned beef or turkey burgers. The sodium range of veggie burgers is between 250 to 500 milligrams per burger with the average being around 350 mg. This represents 15 percent of the daily value of sodium, which is considered a moderate but not high amount.
* Veggie burgers typically contain two times less protein than beef or turkey burgers. The protein range of veggie burgers is between 5 to 15 grams per burger with the average being around 11 grams. Though veggie burgers have less protein than meat burgers, on average they contain 22 percent of the daily value of protein, which classifies it as an excellent source.
Please remember, though, that no one needs to eat either type of burgers. There are meat-eaters who never eat burgers and there are vegans who never eat veggie meats. But… if you’re a meat-eater who eats burgers, perhaps it’s time to switch to something a little healthier.
So… what’s YOUR FAVORITE veggie burger?
Heh, cool. I don’t have a favorite as I don’t often eat vegan burgers and generally avoid vegan meats, though I do eat them sometimes.
You might find this blog entry amusing: http://moonpointer.com/new/2009/07/its-a-tofu-burger/
~ Recent blog post: How would I want the world (you) to know me? ~
My favorite veggie burger is the Sunshine Southwest burger: http://sunshineburger.com/products/southwest.html
I don’t have a favorite either, but my choice often depends on context or what I’m wanting at the time. For example, I like the original Boca Burgers for a quick healthy snack. I just pop one in the microwave and eat it plain. I like the texture, how it holds together well.
Actually NOT TRUE. A meat hot dog is loaded with salt. Most restaurants season meat hamburgers with salt for flavor. Ketchup also has a lot of salt in it, so it’s a matter how you want your burger seasoned. Ounce per ounce soy has more full amino acid protein than whole beef. Also note the size of a meat burger tends to be thicker than a vege burger, but soy has MORE PROTEIN ounce per ounce. A vege hot dog has 7 grams of protein whereas a meat hot dog same size has only 5 grams of protein.
I just found some great veggie burgers- that I am absolutely loving. They are Schneider’s, you can find them in the frozen section in a bag. I think they taste just like meat burgers and would highly recommend them to anyone looking to try something to get some protein!!!