Meet Your 2020 Meat (Alternatives)
Three meat substitutes you'll be drooling over in 2020.
Happy New Year…New Decade, actually! If you’re anything like me, you can’t help but look at a new year as a chance to say goodbye to some old habits (buh-bye snooze button) and an opportunity to dip your toes in some new things. Sure, we can start and stop things at any time, but there’s just something about a fresh year that amplifies the mindset…out with the old, in with the new.
I’ve been enjoying and soaking in all of the 2020 wellness trends and prediction pieces I’ve seen coming out recently. One that caught my eye is this list of 2020 trends by Well + Good. If you’re not familiar with W+G (I’m pretty sure most of you know it), check it out. They have a wonderful email newsletter and put out smart wellness and lifestyle content.
One of their top 2020 trends is the rise of meat alternatives, and I have to admit, I’m intrigued! I haven’t been a big fan of the “alternatives” space when it comes to food. I believe in eating the real deal. I’d rather have a cookie made with butter, flour, sugar, and love than a “diet” cookie made with alternatives. That said… I’m looking closer at meat alternatives and learning more about them. I don’t see myself going fully meat-less (never say never!), but I do want to explore them in 2020. I want to read the labels, see how I feel when I eat them, and see how the kiddos respond to them (99% sure they won’t know).
Meat Alternatives to Explore in 2020
Probably one of the leaders in meatless “meat” Beyond Meat makes everything from burger patties to sausages and meat crumbles. I’m excited to try this in everything from tacos to breakfast casseroles. I was interested to learn from their site that real meat is essentially made of up of protein, fat, minerals, carbs, and water. They use vegetables to re-create that formula. Neat! This Kimchi Beyond Burger is tops on my list of recipes to try.
Admittedly, I’ve seen Gardein in my freezer section for years. They make a variety of meatless “meats” including crabless crabcakes (yum!) and the kid-friendly chick’n nuggets.
“Seafood without sacrifice” is the tagline of this company. Tuna is such an easy, quick protein, but I do worry about mercury and other effects. Good Catch makes a plant-based tuna that I’m interested in trying. Anything that blends quick and easy with plant-based feels like a worthwhile brand to try in 2020.
I’m just exploring this space and want to hear your feedback – what plant-based meat alternatives have you tried? Did you notice feeling different after eating a meat alternative versus real meat? Did your kids notice the difference between alternative and real meat products? How was the taste? Do you have any favorite recipes to share? I’d love to hear from you! Xx
More plant-based products and meat substitutes to check out.
- This Impossible Food that’s cholesterol-free and claims to have as much protein as ground beef per serving.
- This Earth-friendly brand that will be producing its own version of ground beef for your favorite “it’s not delivery” pizza.
Are plant-based meats healthy?
It depends on the product, just as it does with real meat products. The Harvard Health Blog has an article comparing how healthy meatless burgers are. “The good news: Meatless burgers are a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals…The bad news: Meatless burgers are heavily processed and high in saturated fat.”
Of course, not all meat alternatives are processed; take the black bean burger, for example, which isn’t highlight processed and is still a good source of protein, zinc, and iron.
Finally, as an article from USA Today says, ‘But two of the industry’s most prominent players, Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat, counter that many foods, including commercially raised meat, are processed. And they say that in addition to being better for the environment, their products match or surpass the nutritional impact of their animal counterparts.
How do you cook beyond meat burgers?
For a Basic Beyond Burger
Lightly coat a skillet with olive oil and heat on medium-high.
Cook each side for 3 minutes or until brown.
But to REALLY enjoy them, check out Beyond Meat’s recipes here
What are plant proteins?
All proteins are molecules that consist of amino acids. The human body needs nine essential amino acids to function. While some plant proteins contain all nine amino acids, some don’t, which is why variety is always encouraged in a plant-based diet.
Complete Plant Proteins
1.Soybeans
2.Quinoa
Incomplete Plant Proteins
3.Edamame
4.Almonds
5.Lentils
5.Spirulina
7.Chickpeas
8.Tofu
9.Tempeh
10.Peanuts
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Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to products and brands I love.
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