Looking for a protein-heavy meal? Look no further.
burgers contain more protein, calories, fat, and cholesterol–and less sodium and fiber–than"imitation" and veggie burgers., the data aimed to show a true nutritional comparison of beef burgers with other competing plant-based options on the market.In comparison to beef burgers, the study shows that veggie burgers contain the most amounts of carbohydrates and vitamins A and C, with the least amount of fat.
The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, including senior author Alissa Nolden. As a sensory scientist, Nolden focuses her work on the complexities behind what makes food taste good for people. She found in her research that there is a huge nutritional difference in burger products in the market, which she notes is important for consumers to be aware of.
"There are tons of options for consumers to try and they might not be aware of the nutritional differences," Nolden said."The goal of this study wasn't to say one product category is healthier than the other. We wanted to look at the nutrients, which can sometimes become a lower priority during product development because there is a strong focus on making the product taste delicious."can be added to alternatives to help enhance taste.
"You might think that because an imitation burger is plant-based it would be lower in things like saturated fat, when in fact, in order to make it taste better they incorporate things like coconut oil," Nolden said.Kristen Warfield is the weekend editor for Eat This, Not That! and is a graduate of SUNY New Paltz’s journalism program in the Hudson Valley region of New York.