Grilling season is here and that means all kinds of meat get char-broiled. I love a good burger, but that leaves a growing segment of the population out of luck: vegans and vegetarians. Grilled vegetables are great, from asparagus to zucchini, but some people love the sensation of chowing down on a burger. They miss out.

There are veggie burgers out there. I’ve had Boca Burgers and black bean burgers as well. They may be shaped like a burger, but the taste often leaves me feeling cheated. That may not be the case any more with two new additions: the Impossible Burger and the Beyond Meat Burger. Even before I could dig into the background of each, there have been a number of articles questioning whether these burgers are actually healthier than regular burgers. That’s what we’ll focus on this week: what’s in these burgers and whether they’re healthier than a regular burger.

In checking the labels, one difference is the protein source. The Impossible uses soy-based proteins while the Beyond uses pea protein. One thing to note is that they’re both proteins because they have all the necessary amino acids or can make them from the essential amino acids contained within. I’ll get into the rest of the ingredients on Thursday to check whether they’re healthier than beef burgers.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet