---
title: "Beyond Meat Burger – A Healthier Choice?"
entity: "blog"
canonical_url: "https://www.drgri.com/blog/beyond-meat-burger-a-healthier-choice"
markdown_url: "https://www.drgri.com/llms/blog/beyond-meat-burger-a-healthier-choice"
lastmod: "2019-08-01T04:00:00.000Z"
---

Enjoyed by vegetarians and meat eaters,
Beyond Meat burgers have been all the rage this summer. According to the
company, this vegan burger is designed to look and taste just like a beef, “without
the health, environmental sustainability and animal welfare concerns of
traditional animal-based burgers.” However, nutritionists and dieticians have
been warning that this burger is not quite the healthy protein alternative it
claims to be. In this month’s newsletter we’ll take a deeper dive into the
nutritional profile of the “meatiest” meatless burger.

The Beyond burger contains an
impressive 20 grams of protein per patty, which is similar to the amount of
protein found in a beef burger. However, the protein comes from processed plant-based ingredients rather than
whole foods, such as beans, lentils and nuts. This means that unlike other
veggie burgers, the amount of fibre per patty is relatively low. The fat
content of the Beyond burger is similar to a traditional beef burger, but the
Beyond burger has the added benefit of not containing any cholesterol. High
sodium has been a frequent critique. A&W’s Beyond Meat burger, with the bun
and sauces, provides 1,110 milligrams or 48% of your daily-recommended sodium.
Just the patty contains 380mg of sodium (16% of your daily allowance), which is
still quite high.

While a traditional beef patty is made
from just one ingredient (beef), Beyond Meat’s plant-based patties include
almost 20 ingredients. Many of these ingredients do not
boost the nutritional profile of the burger and are included to do one thing:
mimic meat. A veggie burger made from whole foods would
be a healthier option, such as the one available from Toronto-based vegetarian
restaurant [Fresh](https://freshplantpowered.com/). If you’re looking to make a vegetarian burger at home,
check out [this recipe](https://minimalistbaker.com/easy-grillable-veggie-burgers/) from the Minimalist Baker.

Despite being less taxing on the
environment, the Beyond burger is a processed food. If you’re eating out and
looking to reduce your carbon footprint, then the Beyond burger would be a
better choice than a traditional beef patty. My advice is to treat it as an indulgence, and not a vegetarian meal to include in
your weekly rotation.

Disclaimer: The information provided on this blog is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health regimen. The content shared here is based on the author’s research and personal experiences, and individual results may vary. The author and blog are not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of any suggestions, preparations, or procedures discussed on this site.