What is vegetarian meat?
Many people are trying to become vegetarians due to reasons like health benefits, bad treatment of animals, environmental concerns, etc. But, many vegetarians like the taste of meat yet refuse to consume animals. So, what do they do?
They eat vegetarian meat. Vegetarian meat is also known as plant-based meat, vegan meat, meat substitute, etc. They are made from plant materials such as beans and lentils. These items are made to have the texture, flavour, colour, and smell of real meat.
Companies have started to create meat substitutes that taste like chicken, mutton, etc. Vegetarian meats are becoming very popular these days.
How are taste, flavour, and colour replicated in vegetarian meat?
Vegetarian meats are made using a variety of foods, including plant-based proteins, soy, potatoes, peas, and even rice. All these are mixed with others to give vegetarian meat the chewy texture and juiciness of real meat.
Soy has a similar texture to chicken. Yeast is commonly used to add chicken flavour to vegetarian meat. To increase the flavour, ingredients such as onion, garlic, salt, and pepper are used. Many vegetarian meat companies also use sugar or beetroot to colour the meat.
Is vegetarian meat healthier than regular meat?
Plant-based substances contain vitamins, minerals, etc. that are good for our health. Also, studies show that plant-based foods help with weight control, diabetes, etc. The World Health Organization (WHO) is also worried about chemicals found in processed meats that may increase cancer risk.
The American Heart Association (AHA) says that eating more plant protein instead of meat can improve heart health. But, vegetarian meats have excessive salt. They might also not have certain vitamins and nutrients that are required by us.
So, vegetarian meats have certain advantages as well as disadvantages.
What did we learn from this article?
We learned that vegetarians also want to sometimes get the taste and feel of real meat. But, they do not wish to eat animals. So, they eat plant-based meats. There are many such products available in the market, and one can try them.
Have you ever had vegetarian meat? Tell us in the comments below.
