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When I want a big old burger do I choose the Paleo, Vegan, or fake meat burger?

I’m going to tell you today because it’s the perfect way for me to truly explain to you my different phases of gut healing. If you don’t remember what that’s all about, refer HERE for gut health vs. gut healing.

Amanda Meixner, aka @meowmeix, has an awesome Instagram. It’s not a gut-health ‘gram, but it is “healthy lifestyle” focused. She does it up in a way that I enjoy!

Some time back, she shared this graphic.

The Burger Graphic

The context for her post was to share that a fake meat burger isn’t necessarily always healthier.

But the context for my post is to share which burger I would choose during which phase of healing and why.

Paleo, Vegan, or Fake Meat Burger

Click HERE to save this post for later.

So that we are all clear, the burger on the left is the Paleo burger. The one in the middle is the Vegan burger (aka bean burger), and the one on the right is the fake meat burger (aka “Beyond” burger).

The Paleo Burger

Ingredients: grass-fed beef

The Paleo burger was exclusively chosen during my gut healing phase. This is because there is only one ingredient in it, and the beef provided the B12 I needed. Grass-fed beef is low-FODMAP and fits on almost every single protocol except those which don’t believe in the use of meat for healing.

I do believe in meat for healing. And when I was healing, I ate it daily. Even when I was healing, I longed to be on a Vegetarian diet, but it did not work for me. 

And you know what? That’s okay! I survived. I’m still here…..in fact, I’m healed! 

For me, the Paleo burger 100% of the time during the gut healing phase.

Vegan Burger 

Ingredients: black beans, quinoa, onion, flaxseed, olive oil, sea salt

The Vegan burger is what I choose 85% of the time now that I’m healed. I believe in the Vegan burger for gut health. 

Why?

Well, black beans are nutrient dense and filled with fiber. But they are high FODMAP, and beans are difficult to digest for many (with or without gut issues).

Quinoa is a pseuo-grain and while it’s also one of my BFF’s now, while healing my gut I didn’t eat grains and/or psuedo-grains frequently. Quinoa is low-FODMAP, though, so from time-to-time I enjoyed a bowl. 

Onions are part of the nightshade family. They are also high-FODMAP. For those with severe IBD and/or SIBO, including them in burgers might not work while healing.

Flaxseed, olive oil, and sea salt are usually fine for most. Though, the flaxseed can also provide issues for those with diverticulitis and other digestive issues.

No, I’m not saying the Vegan burger should be avoided for everyone while in the gut healing phase, but it was for me. 

I believe the Vegan burger is packed with all the right things that continue to have my gut thriving today!

p.s. Even during the gut health phase I’m in now, I will eat a regular grass-fed burger from time-to-time. My body tells me when I need it; I listen. I simply just don’t enjoy them the way I used to.

Fake Meat Burger

Ingredients: Water, Pea Protein Isolate*, Expeller-Pressed Canola Oil, Refined Coconut Oil, Rice Protein, Natural Flavors, Cocoa Butter, Mung Bean Protein, Methylcellulose, Potato Starch, Apple Extract, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Vinegar, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Sunflower Lecithin, Pomegranate Fruit Powder, Beet Juice Extract (for color)

These ingredients are slightly different than the one in the graphic, but I got them right from the Beyond Meat website.

And finally, the fake meat burger. 

I would never eat this during the gut-healing phase. Now that I’m maintaining in the gut-health phase, I still would rarely eat it.

Nope, I would not buy it. If you lined all three burgers up, I would not choose it. If there was nothing else to eat, yes, only then would I eat it.

No matter how they try to spin it with marketing (YES, remember that food marketers are doing a job – and they are good at it!), the Beyond Burger is not for gut health and certainly not for gut healing.

There is literally no reason to eat a Vegan burger that contains Methylcellulose – a thickening agent (which is also used to treat constipation and to help maintain regular bowel movements, but does come with caution if you have IBS) – when the burger with black beans has natural thickening agents.

Conclusion

They always say, “You can have it all, just not all at once.”

I believe the same is true with healing the gut and food. You can and will have it all, but you must be aware of the healing phase you’re in. And if you’re eating the Vegan burger, but still feeling like junk, reconsider – go back and read through this post.

If you’re eating the Beyond burger and feeling great, that’s your choice, and there is no shame. 

And if you’re keeping a food journal for your gut-healing journal, your body will be telling you which burger is or is not working for you. Because remember, my journal forces you to understand ingredients vs ingredient(s).

These are just the facts via ingredients. 

So, which are you choosing today? How about once you’re in gut-health maintenance mode? Do you like the Beyond burgers?

By the way, I could do this breakdown for any food. So if there’s one you’d like me to share thoughts on, just leave it in the comments below.

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:

1. 1. FREE 21-Day Gut Healing Inspiration Journey HERE
   2. Master Guide to Emulsifiers in Food
   3. Healthy Fat

Xox,
SKH