Beyond Meat Calories and Nutrition Facts
Beyond Meat is a company producing plant-based meat substitutes made to mimic the taste, texture, and nutrition of animal products. Their burger patties, sausages, crumbles, and chicken strips are popular options.
But how do the calories and nutrients in Beyond Meat alternatives stack up against traditional meat? Here is a detailed comparison.
Beyond Burger Nutrition
The Beyond Burger is Beyond Meat's flagship product designed to look, cook, and satisfy like a beef burger without coming from a cow.
Here are the nutrition facts for a 4-ounce (113g) Beyond Burger patty:
- Calories: 250
- Total Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 380mg
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Dietary Fiber: 2g
- Sugars: 0g
- Protein: 20g
A serving provides vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, iron, potassium, and folate. The main protein sources are pea, mung bean, and rice.
Compared to Beef Burger
How does this compare nutritionally to a traditional 4-ounce beef burger patty?
- Beef Burger Calories: 285
- Beef Burger Fat: 23g
- Beef Burger Saturated Fat: 9g
- Beef Burger Cholesterol: 80mg
- Beef Burger Sodium: 75mg
- Beef Burger Carbs: 0g
- Beef Burger Protein: 19g
The Beyond Burger is slightly lower in calories and sodium compared to beef. It also has 0 cholesterol and less saturated fat, since it contains no animal products.
However, the Beyond Burger is slightly higher in overall fat due to containing coconut and canola oils. It also has more carbs from plant-based additives.
For protein, both provide around 20 grams per 4-ounce patty.
Other Beyond Meat Options
Beyond Meat makes a variety of alternative meat products besides the Beyond Burger, including:
Beyond Sausage
The nutrition for one Beyond Sausage patty (57g) is:
- Calories: 130
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Carbs: 3g
- Protein: 10g
Compared to a typical pork or beef sausage patty, the Beyond Sausage is lower in calories, fat, saturated fat, and sodium. It contains no cholesterol.
Beyond Beef Crumbles
A 1/4 cup (56g) of Beyond Beef Crumbles provides:
- Calories: 100
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Carbs: 3g
- Protein: 14g
Real ground beef averages around 180 calories and 15g fat for the same serving. The plant-based crumbles are lower in calories and fat.
Beyond Breakfast Sausage
A 4-piece serving (85g) of Beyond Breakfast Sausage links has:
- Calories: 190
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Carbs: 4g
- Protein: 14g
Pork sausage averages around 280 calories and 24g of fat for the same quantity. Beyond's breakfast sausage is lower in calories, fat, saturated fat, and sodium.
Beyond Meat Chicken Nutrition
Beyond Meat recently launched plant-based "chicken" products as an alternative to real poultry.
Beyond Chicken Tenders
Here is the nutrition data for a 4-piece serving (84g) of Beyond Chicken Tenders:
- Calories: 140
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Carbs: 6g
- Protein: 16g
The same serving size of traditional breaded chicken tenders contains around 180 calories, 7g fat, and 2g saturated fat. Beyond's tenders are lower in calories and total fat.
Beyond Chicken Strips
A 4-ounce (112g) serving of Beyond Chicken Strips has:
- Calories: 240
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Carbs: 5g
- Protein: 18g
The same amount of grilled chicken breast strips averages 160 calories, 3.5g fat, and 1g saturated fat. Beyond's strips are higher in calories and fat than the grilled chicken.
Benefits of Choosing Beyond Meat
What potential benefits does opting for Beyond Meat's products provide?
More Sustainable
Plant-based alternatives generally require fewer natural resources like land and water versus raising livestock.
Ethical Choice
Vegans/vegetarians may prefer meat substitutes to avoid harming animals.
Environmental Impact
Producing plant-based meat generates lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to meat production.
Less Saturated Fat
Most Beyond options are lower in heart-unhealthy saturated fat than animal products.
No Cholesterol
All Beyond Meat items contain 0 cholesterol since they have no animal ingredients.
High Protein
Beyond products provide similar protein levels to meat between 10-20 grams per serving.
Potential Downsides
However, there are a few potential downsides with plant-based meat alternatives to consider:
Highly Processed
Beyond Meats undergo extensive processing and use additives to achieve the meat-like taste and texture.
Higher Sodium
Most Beyond products contain 300-500mg sodium per serving to enhance flavor, which can be high for some diets.
Allergens
The products contain potential allergens like soy, gluten, and nuts that meat does not have.
Higher Cost
Beyond Meat typically costs significantly more than traditional meat per serving.
Nutrient Differences
Animal meat contains some nutrients like B12, creatine, carnosine, and certain amino acids in levels not matched by plant-based alternatives.
Beyond Meat for Weight Loss
Can incorporating Beyond Meat products into your diet help with losing weight? Here are some points to consider:
Lower Calorie Options
Many Beyond items like the burger, sausage, and crumbles are lower in calories than their meat counterparts.
High Protein is Filling
The 10-20 grams of protein per serving promotes fullness so you eat less overall.
May Replace Higher Calorie Meats
People replacing some meat main dishes with Beyond alternatives take in fewer calories.
No Single Food Fixes Weight
Switching one ingredient won't lead to significant weight loss on its own. Overall diet matters.
Processed Aspect May Negate Benefits
Some research links ultra-processed foods to obesity. The high amount of processing may counter any weight loss effects.
For moderate calorie reduction, Beyond products can be part of an overall healthy, balanced diet paired with exercise.
FAQ
Is Beyond Meat healthy?
Beyond Meat is relatively comparable to meat nutritionally in terms of calories, protein, and micronutrients. It is lower in saturated fat and contains no cholesterol. However, the high level of processing raises some health concerns.
Is Beyond Meat gluten-free?
No, most Beyond Meat products contain wheat, barley, or rye making them not gluten-free. But the company indicates which products are gluten-free on its website.
What is in Beyond Meat ingredients?
Beyond Meats are made from pea, mung bean, rice, or fava bean protein along with oils, flavorings, binders, and preservatives added to emulate the taste and texture of meat.
Does Beyond Meat taste like real meat?
Many customers and reviews report Beyond Meat products like the burger and sausage closely replicate the mouthfeel, juiciness, smell, and flavor of real meat.
Is Beyond Meat non-GMO?
No, Beyond Meat products are not certified non-GMO. They likely contain genetically modified ingredients like soy given the widespread use of GMOs in the food system.
FAQs
Is Beyond Meat low carb?
Most Beyond Meat options contain 3-6 grams of net carbs per serving, which is considered low carb. The Beyond Burger has 5 grams of total carbs with 2 grams as fiber.
How long does Beyond Meat last in the fridge?
Properly stored, Beyond Meat products typically last 5-7 days refrigerated past the printed sell-by date before opening. Once opened, they should be used within 3-5 days.
Can you grill Beyond Burgers?
Yes, Beyond Burgers can be grilled just like beef burgers, although they may stick without oil or grill spray. Avoid overcooking as they can dry out. Grilling gives them nice char.
Does Beyond Meat have estrogen?
No, Beyond Meats do not contain any additional estrogen or impact hormone levels. The soy ingredients they contain do not affect estrogen levels either based on studies.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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