My dinner last night was an amazing salad with lots of greens and chopped vegetables, almonds, quinoa, chickpeas, and strips of plant-based chicken. Plus a splash of red wine vinegar and a drizzle of olive oil. It was super-satisfying and healthy. Yes, healthy even with the processed plant-based chicken.

There is a lot of fear around plant-based meats and their ingredient lists. It’s a fear that is exploited by the meat industry and by pro-meat wellness influencers. But even some advocates for a vegan diet suggest that these foods should be avoided – or at best, that they are valuable only as “transition foods.”

I disagree and so do many plant-based nutrition experts. A group of us recently published a paper to offer some perspective around these foods. Given their nutrient profiles and their practical appeal, we concluded that for most people, a daily serving of a plant-based meat fits well within the context of an overall healthy diet.

But the discomfort around these foods is understandable. Plant-based meat alternatives are labeled as ultra-processed food (UPF). This term ... Read More >