Mushrooms As Meat Substitutes – Pros and Cons

Worldwide meat consumption stands at 350 million tons per year. With the global population increasing at an exponential rate, expected to reach 10.3 billion people by 2080, the situation seems dire in terms of food security and the preservation of the environment.

Meat is a major food group and is a source of essential nutrients. Meat contains all essential amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins. This makes meat a necessary component of our diet. However, there are issues with meat consumption.

Why Not To Consume Meat?

Some people do not consume meat for personal reasons, including religious or moral beliefs. Still, the large majority of the global population enjoys meat. Yet there are several problems with eating meat, including:

Many meats are high in saturated fats and other unhealthy chemicals. Excessive consumption of meat can result in health complications.
Production of meat requires a lot of resources, like water and fossil fuels.
The meat industry is a major contributor to the global climate crisis. Cow dung, specifically, produces a lot of methane which is a greenhouse gas.

It is necessary to seek alternatives to reduce our dependence on meat to fulfill our daily dietary requirements.

Mushrooms As An Alternative For Meat

Mushrooms are a great substitute for meat for many different reasons.

Pros

Here are just a few advantages that mushrooms enjoy over meat or other meat substitutes:

They are rich in proteins and essential vitamins and minerals, while still being a low-calorie food.
Mushrooms come in many different varieties and are inexpensive, so you can enjoy many kinds of mushrooms like white button, Shitake, or Portobello mushrooms. You can enjoy a variety of new dishes and experiment with different flavors and textures.
Production of mushrooms is much less resource intensive, especially when compared to meat production.
Mushroom production and consumption cause very little harm to the environment.
Is much healthier than all the ultra-processed meat alternatives that are commonly available.

Cons

There are, however, downsides to using mushrooms to substitute meat and these include:

They still lack some nutrients that must be derived from other foods.
Mushrooms lack the unique taste of meat. Switching from meat to mushroom may not be easy and will take some getting used to.
Incorporating mushrooms may require revising cooking methods and searching for new recipes.

Cutting back on meat and relying more on natural meat alternatives, like mushrooms, is a step in the right direction in terms of better health and the environment. Relying on a single food for all your nutritional needs is a mistake. We all need a balanced diet for optimal results.

Bariatric patients can consider a variety of meat alternatives, including plant-based proteins, lean meats include chicken, turkey, and ground beef, and dairy and eggs, low-fat cottage cheese, and Greek yogurt. Plant based proteins include tempeh, seitan, peas, lentils, quinoa, nuts, nut betters and soy products. Schedule a consultation session with The BariGirls to provide personalized guidance with her diet needs.

Let The BariGirls assist you with your meal planning and learn how to get your protein in daily.

Schedule a consultation by going to the “SHOP” tab and scroll to purchase.