Veggie burgers originated in England in 1982 as a plant-based ‘hamburger’ option for people who preferred a vegetarian eating style. These original veggie burgers didn’t claim to taste like hamburgers; they were simply a non-meat option usually made from legumes, vegetables, and soy. Fast forward to today with two plant-based burgers that are designed to taste like meat. The Impossible Burger and Beyond Burger are non-meat burgers that are marketed both as a vegetarian burger option as well as a way for responsible consumers to protect the climate. But are they healthier than hamburgers?
Impossible Burgers and Beyond Burgers contain similar amounts of calories, protein, total fat, and saturated fat as 85% lean ground beef burgers. The Impossible Burger and Beyond Burger contain over 4 times as much sodium as the 85% lean ground beef; a significant difference if you’re reducing sodium for healthy blood pressure reasons.
By Lynn Grieger, RDN, CDE, CPT, CHWC