Eating Textured Soy Protein To Improve Your Vegetarian Diet
People who start a vegetarian diet might find they're not sure how to cook without meat. A handy solution to this problem is the use of meat substitutes, specifically textured soy proteins. With these easy-to-use products, people can still enjoy their favorite meals, and with a great variety of textured soy proteins on the market, you're sure to find just the thing for recreating your favorite dishes.
When manufacturers remove the oil from the soybeans, there is a flour that is left over that has a high protein content but is low fat. Soy oil producers wanted to be able to use more of the bean, and they researched techniques for turning the low-fat soy flour into different foods. What they found was that it could be shaped to look like meat and still retain all the nutritional value of the whole bean.
The unflavored variety lends well to adopting the flavors of the dish it is being cooked in, since there is no other ingredient but the soy flour. You can also purchase textured soy products that are flavored similarly to beef and chicken, as well as those that imitate more complex flavors. Even though they are meat flavored, the ingredients are all animal product-free, giving you the taste you are looking for while allowing you to maintain a meat-free diet.
Granules were the first type of textured soy alternatives that you could buy. They are the size and shape of granola and can be used to make foods that need to be bound together, such as burgers, or in any other dish where ground beef is typically used.
Larger sizes of textured soy that are shaped to emulate chunks of meat for stews, or chicken breasts, are also available. Typically, these are used for dishes that need larger pieces for use in kabobs, chili, or casseroles. If you enjoy fajitas and stir frys, textured soy slices are a great choice for replacing meat in these dishes.
You can find flavored textured soy products that will emulate many of your favorite foods, from bacon to hot wings. The variety is endless. There are also textured soy concentrates, similar to regular textured soy, which are lower in natural sugars and therefore more easily digested. Recently, organic textured soy appeared on the market, and although this is slightly higher in fat than other textured soy, it's a perfect alternative for anyone looking for something made from organic beans.
Textured soy products have a long shelf life. Those that are flavored can remain on the shelf for a year and a half, requiring no refrigeration. For those that have no added flavors, you can store these for many years, although you should always follow the use by date on the packages.
Textured soy proteins can be a good choice for people who are weight conscious because these products are low in fat and high in fiber. They can also be used by individuals who need to watch their blood sugar and control it through diet.
Cynthia Holzapfel is owner of Healthy-Eating.com, the country's leading source for tvp, textured soy and other meat alternatives for more than 25 years. As a vegan for almost 40 years, Cynthia and her partners are experts on how to make the transition to meatless eating. Get their recommendations for how to use the dozens of textured soy protein products available for delivery to your door.
When manufacturers remove the oil from the soybeans, there is a flour that is left over that has a high protein content but is low fat. Soy oil producers wanted to be able to use more of the bean, and they researched techniques for turning the low-fat soy flour into different foods. What they found was that it could be shaped to look like meat and still retain all the nutritional value of the whole bean.
The unflavored variety lends well to adopting the flavors of the dish it is being cooked in, since there is no other ingredient but the soy flour. You can also purchase textured soy products that are flavored similarly to beef and chicken, as well as those that imitate more complex flavors. Even though they are meat flavored, the ingredients are all animal product-free, giving you the taste you are looking for while allowing you to maintain a meat-free diet.
Granules were the first type of textured soy alternatives that you could buy. They are the size and shape of granola and can be used to make foods that need to be bound together, such as burgers, or in any other dish where ground beef is typically used.
Larger sizes of textured soy that are shaped to emulate chunks of meat for stews, or chicken breasts, are also available. Typically, these are used for dishes that need larger pieces for use in kabobs, chili, or casseroles. If you enjoy fajitas and stir frys, textured soy slices are a great choice for replacing meat in these dishes.
You can find flavored textured soy products that will emulate many of your favorite foods, from bacon to hot wings. The variety is endless. There are also textured soy concentrates, similar to regular textured soy, which are lower in natural sugars and therefore more easily digested. Recently, organic textured soy appeared on the market, and although this is slightly higher in fat than other textured soy, it's a perfect alternative for anyone looking for something made from organic beans.
Textured soy products have a long shelf life. Those that are flavored can remain on the shelf for a year and a half, requiring no refrigeration. For those that have no added flavors, you can store these for many years, although you should always follow the use by date on the packages.
Textured soy proteins can be a good choice for people who are weight conscious because these products are low in fat and high in fiber. They can also be used by individuals who need to watch their blood sugar and control it through diet.
Cynthia Holzapfel is owner of Healthy-Eating.com, the country's leading source for tvp, textured soy and other meat alternatives for more than 25 years. As a vegan for almost 40 years, Cynthia and her partners are experts on how to make the transition to meatless eating. Get their recommendations for how to use the dozens of textured soy protein products available for delivery to your door.
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