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This is pretty fascinating. Meat alternatives are sometimes packed full of other ingredients. I try to use a simple rule when I substitute one food for another:

by grvdrm 5y ago

This is pretty fascinating. Meat alternatives are sometimes packed full of other ingredients. I try to use a simple rule when I substitute one food for another: consume things with the fewest number of ingredients. Otherwise, is that alternative truly healthier? Not so sure.

cies 5y ago
Meat can hide a lot of ingredients behind one: the animal. Maybe they fed the animal rubbish (likely in case of cheap meat), stuff that changes the color of meat and preventive antibiotics amongst other medicine cocktails. Meat (and dairy and eggs for that matter) also comes with all kinds of hormones, as it is from an animal not much unlike the creatures we are ourselves. So those hormones also affect our system. Yes plant-based "fake meats" have more ingredients, while also having less of the downsides of animal foods (saturated fats, sulfur-rich protein, hormones, high levels of persistent "forever chemicals"). So the choice is yours. From what I know the plant-based alternatives are usually healthier. If you want to reach the next level use traditional meat replacers: lentils, beans, nuts, tofu, tempeh, soy-skin.
- grvdrm 5y ago
  I think you're making my point for me, but it is well said - breaking into simple ingredients like lentils and beans is a good start. For what it's worth, I'm not suggesting meat is any less of an offender. Just instead that something that can be pitched as meat-alternative and still be full of crap. And it's worth looking into those ingredients to make an informed decision about what's healthy/not (putting aside other non-health benefits of avoiding meat)
igetspam 5y ago
Being the healthier alternative isn't the goal. The intent is to be the green alternative or the kind alternative. Thinking it's inherently healthier is something I hear more from detractors than supporters. I eat meat alternatives because I like meat but believe in climate science and like animals. I'm not pretending I'm on a diet.

by grvdrm 5y ago

cies 5y ago

Meat can hide a lot of ingredients behind one: the animal. Maybe they fed the animal rubbish (likely in case of cheap meat), stuff that changes the color of meat and preventive antibiotics amongst other medicine cocktails. Meat (and dairy and eggs for that matter) also comes with all kinds of hormones, as it is from an animal not much unlike the creatures we are ourselves. So those hormones also affect our system. Yes plant-based "fake meats" have more ingredients, while also having less of the downsides of animal foods (saturated fats, sulfur-rich protein, hormones, high levels of persistent "forever chemicals"). So the choice is yours. From what I know the plant-based alternatives are usually healthier. If you want to reach the next level use traditional meat replacers: lentils, beans, nuts, tofu, tempeh, soy-skin.

grvdrm 5y ago
I think you're making my point for me, but it is well said - breaking into simple ingredients like lentils and beans is a good start. For what it's worth, I'm not suggesting meat is any less of an offender. Just instead that something that can be pitched as meat-alternative and still be full of crap. And it's worth looking into those ingredients to make an informed decision about what's healthy/not (putting aside other non-health benefits of avoiding meat)

igetspam 5y ago

Being the healthier alternative isn't the goal. The intent is to be the green alternative or the kind alternative. Thinking it's inherently healthier is something I hear more from detractors than supporters. I eat meat alternatives because I like meat but believe in climate science and like animals. I'm not pretending I'm on a diet.