Soya meat

[Maude32]

I've been thinking about changing my diet to a more healthy one and was going to up my fibre, fruit&veg, fish and lower bad fats and red meat which I heard could be substituted by soya meat. Where is the cheapest place to buy this in bulk, what is the nutrient profile compared to beef and what recipes have you tried and loved using it?

[bellazella]

Maude, its excellent when using strong flavours such as, chilli, spag bol, curries etc, otherwisw very bland

[pastafreak]

If I were you,I'd read up on the pros and cons of soy-there are loads! - before deciding to buy it in bulk. It may be healthier to seek out organic or grass feed meat,cut out processed foods (soya is highly processed),and limit sugars in your diet.
Also-do you *like* soy?

http://www.scientific...isoflavones-genistein

[Old_Geezer]

Soya meat. Isn't that a contradiction in terms ?
It's a bean isn't it ?

[Maude32]

That makes scary reading Pastafreak but several billion Chinese people can't be wrong, the chinese also tend to live strong and healthy to a ripe old age so they're doing something right.
Soy sauce? Yes I love it on food.

[pastafreak]

I assume Maude means soya protein.

If not - is a soya the same size as a piggie?

[Zeuhl]

There is a view among some nutritionists that europeans should limit their consumption of soya/tofu products.

I think the issue is certain enzymes that ethnic orientals and some ethnic groups from south america have developed resistance to over many generations - we haven't.

[Prudie]

Yuk I lived on this when I was a student, tasted like soggy dog biscuits and was only OK when masked in strong curry - maybe it's moved on since those days though.

[bellazella]

I think it has moved on, i have used it several times, and everyone loved the dish, and when i told them it was soya, they couldnt believe it

[Maude32]

Yes I meant Soya Protein Pastafreak, god knows where I got Soyameat from lol.
Zeuhl, their digestive systems have adapted to it? Is this the same as saying their digestive systems have evolved? Can we digest certain things that others cannot too?
Prudie, that sounds very encouraging lol.

[Kristal53]

We've just had a delicious lasagne made with quorn mince -my only criticism would be the texure is quite soft (soggy) which is ok for a nice creamy lasagne but my lot prefer real mince in spag bol and chili

[Zeuhl]

Maude

<<Can we digest certain things that others cannot too? >>

I suppose the best example is the Innuit. They have evolved to live healthily on a high fat / low greens diet (lots of seal blubber and oily fish not much salad!)

Two generations of 'civilisation' and a high carb american/canadian diet ( Big Macs and Fries) and they are keeling over with heart attacks in their 30s

[joko]

i eat it all the time and most of it is delicious and in some instances almost indistingushable from real meat

i too have fooled people with it and even my brother who is totally anti vegetarian said he actually preferred the veggie sausage rolls from sayers, over the meat ones! i was gobsmacked.

like with any food, there are nice ones and not so nice varieties... the quorn brand tends to be the best

but you can buy TVP (textured vegeable protein) from health footh shops - holland and barrett etc or world supermarkets... you could look online too
it comes dried in either chunks or mince (i prefer the mince) and can be flavoured or unflavoured...this is more like beef mince... quorn chunks and mince are more like chicken

its really a bit of trial and error - as with all food - to find your favourite ones

with some veggie meals, they have spent a lot of time and effort on the flavour, testing and testing to get it right...rather than relying on the meat and basic seasonings to give flavour...so in some ways it can be tastier...

[pastafreak]

<<Can we digest certain things that others cannot too? >>

One that comes to mind is certain Asian/Oriental groups who have trouble with dairy,and I think,milk proteins.

[Maude32]

Thank you all it's been an education and I'll get some this week and experiment on it.