Are alternative meat replacements a good solution?

In recent years, a demand for vegan alternatives meat replacements has increased, leading to the creation of an array of fake meat products. While these products are an exciting and creative way to encourage reducing meat consumption, we wanted to discuss the the potential drawbacks, and why our philosophy focuses on plants instead. 

1. Highly Processed Ingredients

One of our primary concerns surrounding vegan fake meat products is their high level of processing. These products often contain a long list of artificial additives, preservatives, and flavour enhancers. As you may know, we believe in clean eating, which to us means consuming all the beautiful colourful plants that nature has provided us in an unprocessed form. Read more about clean eating here. Relying heavily on processed fake meat products may not be a nutritious choice for individuals seeking to improve their well-being through a plant-based diet.

2. Nutritional Imbalance

While fake meat products are marketed as a nutritious alternative to traditional meat, they often fall short in terms of nutritional balance. Certain fake meat products are less processed and reflect the plants they were made from more directly - such as a minimally processed black bean burger, or planted. products which contain no additives, and are made from peas. These products provide more diverse nutritional values, sourced from the plants they are made from. Even better though, is to just consume the black beans or peas in their whole food form! That is when you get the best nutrient quality and variety - and what we do at Eat by Alex!

3. Environmental Concerns

The environmental impact of vegan meat alternatives is another aspect worth considering. It is important to acknowledge that these products have a much lower carbon footprint compared to conventional meat production, but their overall environmental impact is still significant. The extra manufacturing processes involved in creating fake meat from the unprocessed plants results in an emission of greenhouse gases and the generation of waste. 

Overall, opting for whole plant-based foods and reducing our reliance on heavily processed fake meat products may be a more sustainable and health-conscious long term approach. Of course, most fake meat is more sustainable than traditional meat production so it is an exciting addition to the food market! We believe that everything in moderation is key, so of course enjoying fake meats once in a while is great - they are delicious and a great solution for those wanting to reduce their meat consumption. We've even used some planted. meats in our lunch bowls in the past! But having an overall clean eating approach to your nutrition is where your and the planet's wellbeing flourishes!