By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is a professional association for dietitians. At their recent virtual meeting (Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo), one presentation’s focus was on plant-based alternative “meats.”

I found the remarks of one speaker, Christopher Gardner, PhD of Stanford University, especially interesting. He suggested that instead of asking if plant-based “meats” are good (or bad) we should consider if the question of goodness or badness is being asked in terms of personal health, environmental sustainability, and/or personal beliefs and values related to animal rights. In addition, instead of trying to assess goodness or badness, we should consider what these plant-based “meats” are replacing. Are they being used instead of animal products or plant-based whole foods?

This way of framing the question is helpful when, for example, a reporter asks, “Are you concerned about children eating faux meats?” it’s impossible to make a simple “yes” or “no” response. Am I concerned if a child eats an occasional veggie burger or unchicken nuggets? No, not at all. Am I concerned if that’s pretty much all they eat for long periods of time? Yes, but my concern is with what’s missing and the lack of variety, just as I’d be concerned if a child only ate bread or eggs or hamburgers.  If the veggie burgers and unchicken nuggets are being used to replace hamburgers and chicken nuggets, I’d consider that to be a positive switch for health, environmental, and ethical reasons as well as from a food safety standpoint. If the veggie burgers and unchicken nuggets are replacing bean burritos or tofu and vegetable stir-fries most days, that would not be a positive move, in my opinion.

The next time someone asks if plant-based “meats” are good or bad, think about the many ways that this question can be answered.

To read more about plant-based “meats” see:

Vegan Processed Foods: Embrace Them? Shun Them?

How Do the Newer Meat-Like, Plant-Based Burgers Compare Nutritionally?