Eating Textured Soy Protein To Enhance Your Meatless Food Plan

By Cynthia Holzapfel

Meat is often cited as the most missed thing from a meal when someone starts a meatless diet. It can be hard for many to stick to a meatless eating plan, and a meat substitute is a great solution to help someone stick with the diet and still be able to enjoy their favorite meals. There are many kinds of meat substitutes, many of which are textured soy proteins that come from soybeans.

When manufacturers remove the oil from the soybeans, there is a flour that is left over that has a high protein content but is low fat. Soy oil producers wanted to be able to use more of the bean, and they researched techniques for turning the low-fat soy flour into different foods. What they found was that it could be shaped to look like meat and still retain all the nutritional value of the whole bean.

Textured soy products that are unflavored can be used in a number of dishes. They work very well in recipes that are already highly flavored and spiced, since they readily absorb the flavors of other foods. Varieties that contain meat-style flavors can also be purchased. These are 100% animal-product free, which allows you to create many traditional favorites while still following a vegetarian or vegan diet.

The first TSP on the market were granules. They're about the size and shape of granola and are used to create foods that are bound together, like meatless loaf and burgers. Anything that ground beef can be used for would be a good candidate for this size of textured soy.

There are also larger sizes of textured soy that are similar to stew meat, or large enough to emulate a chicken breast. These are typically used for dishes that need larger pieces of meat and can be skewered, stewed, or added to casseroles. Strips can also be found to give the perfect texture to stir frys and fajitas, allowing you to enjoy your favorite dishes.

There are even more varieties of textured soy that can allow you to eat the things you love, from hot wings to bacon. The wide range of flavors provide something tasty for everyone and every occasion. Soy concentrates contain fewer sugars and therefore may be easier for some people to digest. Organic products are also on the market now, and even though they are a little higher in fat than other types of textured soy, they still make an excellent choice for anyone watching their calorie intake.

TSP can last on your shelf for a long time. Those that have added flavors may last up to a year and a half, while those that are unflavored can last for years. Always make sure that you note the use-by date.

Because TSP are low in fat and high in fiber, they're a good choice for people who want to lose weight. Textured soy can also be effective in battling diabetes, as the high fiber content helps control blood sugar levels.