Friday, January 23, 2015

Do Not Compromise On Organic Veggie Burgers

By Janine Hughes


Not that long ago, being a vegetarian was considered a dietary quirk, a nuisance. Organic veggie burgers were few and far between and very expensive. Today, they are an essential item on most restaurant menus, fast food and otherwise. Not all commercially-prepared vegetable patties are healthy for you. Instead of having to phone restaurants head and order a special meal, there is always a vegetarian option available.

Organic farmers are committed to not using chemical fertilizers or pesticides and no genetically-modified seeds or other stock. But there is more to organic farming than fresh horse manure. Today's standards are set by national governments and incorporate provisions for conserving resources, promoting ecological balance and preserving biodiversity.

Commercially available burger patties frequently use a soya meat substitute as the basis of their mixture. Now that soybeans have gone mass-produced, food manufacturers find it cheaper to use hexane in the extraction process. Hexane, a six-chain hydrocarbon found in crude oil, is a known carcinogen. For some reason, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration has not yet ruled on how much hexane may be put into food, so nobody knows how much is safe.

Another advantage of organic fruits and vegetables is they haven't had all taste and nutritive value bred out of them in the interest of increasing yields and resistance to pests. Organic growing methods preserve these. Going organic used to mean going broke. Now, with wide interest in healthier eating, prices have come down. Think of it as an important investment in your health. A healthy worker is a productive workers, attractive to well-paying employers.

If you want to know exactly what is going into your patty mix and you want it to be both tasty and healthy, it is easy to make it yourself. Experiment with different base mixtures, like potatoes and breadcrumbs, or chopped nuts and vegetables. While soy-based mixtures are popular, read the label carefully to make sure it does not contain hexane. Most recipes can be prepared ahead and either refrigerated or frozen. This way, you can give the hostess a break when you go to a dinner party or barbecue.

Nut-based mixtures are popular, healthy and tasty. Toss a handful of shelled nuts into the blender or food processor, add a few vegetables and maybe an egg to hold it together if you are not a vegan. Lentils also make an excellent base for a patty mixture. Find a recipe or two to guide you on the basics and have fun experimenting.

Potatoes, either white or sweet, make an excellent bases for a patty mix. Add breadcrumbs, a few chopped vegetables, herbs and spices and there you go. Another recipe that is making the rounds uses quinoa as a base, along with sweet potato, chopped onions, cilantro, garlic, some basic Indian spices and coconut oil. These can be made ahead and placed in the freezer until needed.

The beauty of preparing your own organic vegetarian patty mixture is you can tailor it to your own needs and tastes. If you have a nut allergy, for instance, you can bring your own and know exactly what you are getting. Vegetable burgers are here to stay. As more and more people are gravitating toward healthy eating plans, they can be part of a nutritious, satisfying diet.




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