Meat analogs can be a nutritious source of vegetable protein and add variety and good nutrition to the vegetarian diet. A vegetarian diet should include a wide variety of foods, and the inclusion of meat analogs in the diet helps to provide multiple sources of protein to insure a balance of essential amino acids. The diets of most vegetarians usually contain an adequate variety of proteins. Scientific studies have confirmed the adequacy of plant proteins in the human diet. A variety of plant proteins from legumes, grains, nuts, and vegetables will provide adequate quantity and quality of protein in the vegetarian diet.
Meat analogs are a convenient way to add additional sources of plant protein to the vegetarian diet.
Fat Meat analogs do not contain animal fat and therefore are low in saturated fat and cholesterol free. They are also typically lower in total fat and calories when compared to the meat counterparts. Meat analogs contain only vegetable oils, principally corn oil and soy oil, which are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids and are cholesterol-free unlike animal fat, which is high in saturated fat and cholesterol. Recently, the American Heart Association, the Surgeon General, and the National Academy of Sciences have recommended that a daily diet contain less than 10 percent of calories from saturated fat and less than 30 percent of total calories from fat. The General Conference Nutrition Council recommends that 20 to 30 percent of calories come from fat for optimal health.