By Gloria Stovall
In the vegan world or I should say, in my personal vegan world, taste is high on my priority list, but even more so, eating healthy outweighs taste. This does not imply in anyway that I do not prefer the taste of vegan “junk’ food such as cakes, cookies, pies, chips and processed foods, but when push comes to shove, the majority of vegan food that I devour is considered to be healthy or a whole food. Truth be told, that was not always the case, but the longer I am a vegan, the more I am aware and informed about the major differences between being a healthy vegan vs. unhealthy vegan; and believe me, if you are not knowledgeable or well informed about the vegan diet as well as lifestyle, it is effortlessly easy to be a junk food vegan and live a lifestyle that contradicts the intent of the vegan lifestyle, as a whole. Speaking of which, there is a lot of hype about two of the most delectable plant-based burgers on the market, The Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger. Indeed, they are both vegan, but what exactly are the ingredients in these tasty burgers? Is one tastier than the other? Is one healthier than the other?
Why are these two burgers so popular? As a lover of food-particularly vegan food, I am not ashamed to admit I have probably consumed just about every “vegan” veggie burger on the market; but it was not until I tasted the Beyond and Impossible Burger, that my taste buds started singing a happy tune! I mean I absolutely fell in love with these yummy plant-based burgers, especially the Beyond Burger, but the downside of these delectable veggie burgers is that they are processed and not whole foods, which means consuming too many, is not good for you. I learned that the hard way, so the bottom line is we must eat processed foods in moderation regardless if these processed foods are vegan.
Is the Beyond Burger healthier than the Impossible Burger or vice versa? I can literally write a book about these savory plant burgers, but to stay on track, I will sum it up in a quick read paragraph, if you will. The Beyond Burger is 100% plant-based protein, contains no genetically modified organisms (GMO’s), contains no gluten, contains no soy and is kosher. If you only consume the patty with no condiments or bread, the Beyond Burger has 230 calories, 14 grams of total fat, including 5 grams of saturated fat, zero trans fat, zero cholesterol, 390 milligrams of sodium, 7 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 0 grams of sugar and 20 grams of plant protein. The Impossible Burger is 100% plant-based protein, contains genetically modified soy protein, contains no gluten and is kosher. The Impossible Burger patty without condiments or bread has 240 calories, 14 grams of total fat, including 8 grams of saturated fat, zero trans fat, zero cholesterol, 370mg of sodium, 9 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of dietary fiber, less than 1 gram of sugar and 19 grams of plant protein.
Both of these burgers also have a plethora of vitamins and minerals including B12, B6, calcium, potassium, etc. So, which is healthier-Beyond or Impossible? Personally, I have nothing against soy protein as it is a complete protein and has proven health benefits, but unfortunately the soy in the Impossible Burger is genetically modified. Genetically modified organisms are bad because they increase pesticide use and toxicity, in addition to significant harm to the food system. GMO’s can cause destruction to the organs and accelerate immune system disorders, aging and infertility. With that being said, eating the Impossible Burger in moderation is probably not going to cause too much harm, but I personally prefer the Beyond Burger, as it does not contain any GMO’s. Also, for those who do not want soy in their diet, The Beyond Burger would be the right choice as it is 100% soy free. Both of these burgers are vegan and palatable; but not super healthy as they are heavily processed and should be consumed in moderation.
I appreciate you and thank you for following my blog! Have a blessed week!
Gloria Stovall 
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