Are Impossible Burgers in the Spirit of Lent?

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I’ve never tried a meat substitute that was even close to the real thing, no matter how much people try to claim that they taste the same, they just never do to me
 
This really depends on your liturgical rite. In the Byzantine RItes, where rules are more strict, we do not eat dairy, eggs, or meat. We also are supposed to abstain from their substitutes. Some even more strict traditions eliminate all oil too. So, Impossible Burgers would definitely not slip in there. 😉

I do eat vegan most of the time now for my health. Impossible Burgers are in the Vegan junk food category. Really, they are made to be just like meat, so they are the equivalent health wise in a lot of ways (like having saturated fat), but DAMN are they good!

Someone on the thread said something about animal protein being better than plant protien. That is just not even true. Plus, all protein comes from plants. Animals do not make their own proteins. They just recycle proteins.
 
Yes, just as uncharitable as people thinking you’re not fasting right. As if they can assume your intents.
 
To me it ultimately gets to the intent… I admittedly am not familiar with the doctrine on this though.

In regards to intent though, it’s the letter of the law or the spirit of the law. Imho adhering to the spirit of the law is as important for the actions. So again while I don’t know the doctrine, I personally err on the side of not having it. If the goal is ultimately a penance then I would go for both the letter and spirit. Just my .02, best regards.

Btw I’ve tried one of the burger replacements and tbh they weren’t perfect but I was impressed!
 
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At the market today, I saw an expensive Macaroni and Cheese with Lobster dish - wow! I could have this on Friday during Lent! But then I thought, why would I indulge on such a gourmet dish on Friday? I will eat seafood every day of the year over meat. My parish fish fries seem indulgent to me. Eggs, peanut butter sandwich, tuna and crackers, soup seem more in line to me.
 
TK421 said:
I understand being cautious about a new product that hasn’t been consumed by the public for a long time, but chemicals are simply chemicals and there’s nothing good or about them just because they have a long name. Any substance consisting of matter is a chemical and it includes air and water. I recognize almost everything on that list and there’s nothing special about them.

Not that I’m saying it’s healthy. You can eat vegan and still get a ton of calories in your meals.
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Noted food expert, Michael Pollan, would disagree with that assertion. If you haven’t done so, I would highly recommend you read his book, “In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto”

The book is full of helpful advice about eating healthy, including tips like eating only those things that people of his grandmother’s generation would have recognized as food.

https://www.amazon.com/Defense-Food-Eaters-Manifesto/dp/0143114964/
 
PeterT said:
Noted food expert, Michael Pollan, would disagree with that assertion. If you haven’t done so, I would highly recommend you read his book, “In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto”

The book is full of helpful advice about eating healthy, including tips like eating only those things that people of his grandmother’s generation would have recognized as food.
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Yeah, I went through a phase where I was on vegetarian, vegan, ethnic foods, and plant-based groups on Facebook and saw lots of posted articles by people who are experts.

I’m not saying they’re wrong or right but I just know from experience that experts are completely all over the board in terms of what is or isn’t dangerous or how dangerous something is. I wouldn’t personally be eating an Impossible Burger everyday (or a regular fast food burger everyday) but I really doubt the occasional one makes much an impact in the big picture. If a person abstains from fast foods or processed foods completely I respect that, but it is pretty tremendously difficult without immediate support from family and friends who have the same lifestyle, or unless you are genetically predisposed to be squeamish towards certain foods. How easy it is to adopt a certain diet does depend significantly on genetics. People who have real life people that model the same diet make it much easier for other people in their life to do the same.

Ideally, I agree that whole foods are the way to go, but a lot of that has to do with a person’s country of origin, economic class, and other unearned privileges. Diets on a large scale aren’t going to change too much in Chicago or New York or London without some pretty big societal changes. Eating unhealthy is simply too easy and too convenient.
 
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Good luck getting your B12 on a vegan diet. You’re gonna need it.

Plant protein is also harder to absorb.

Meat is also more efficent. You get all your vitamins in a smaller meal than you would with a plant based diet.

So yes, animal protein is far superior.
 
B12 can be supplemented. Even omnivores should be supplemented. There is no different in absorbtion as long as you cook your food. Raw veganism is not healthy. Meat does not have all your vital nutrients, and is more calorie dense. For someone like me, who wants to reduce the calorie density of their food, eating whole food plants does that.

B12 is naturally occuring in water lentils that are used for a protein supplement, but I am not working out, so supplementing will work for me.

I did my research before I switched.
 
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Pattylt said:
As for the spirit of Lent, wouldn’t that fall to each individual to discern?
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It certainly would.
There are a huge variety of reasons why someone might or might not eat what amounts to a “veggie burger” (and no, it does not taste “just like meat” - I normally eat beef burgers and I have had one of these and it tastes like a grilled bean burger loaded up with flavoring of some sort) on a Friday in Lent.

It is up to each person to personally decide if eating it, or eating it regularly, falls within the spirit of whatever they personally are trying to accomplish for Lent.

Some people’s Lent is not about food fasting/ abstinence beyond what is required by the Church, as in letter of the law required, not what some priest or layperson thinks would be nice or that we “should” do. And if that person has chosen a different focus for their own Lenten observances, then that may be perfectly okay for them. If another person chooses to not eat the Impossible Whoppers, then that’s also okay, for them. Where the Church does not impose a requirement, it’s up to each person to choose, and then not impose their own choices on everybody else.

Honestly, if we take Jesus’ words at face value, people shouldn’t even know we are fasting or abstaining unless they absolutely must have that information, such as they invited us to dinner and we have to tell them we can’t eat meat that night so they don’t knock themselves out making a roast. So if you choose to not eat the Impossible Whopper, don’t eat it, and don’t tell me about it.
 
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Pretty much. I know an Russian Orthodox family, (they actually do vegan fasting), that won’t allow any vegan analogues into their home because their personal motives would be to replace the meat that they so dearly miss.

As a 20+ - year vegetarian, I don’t miss meat, and I don’t feel guilt for eating a product with a meat-like texture, (unless I eat too may - processed meat analogues are not the healthiest food choice).

For Catholics and the Orthodox alike, this is one of those contextual, prudential-judgment areas.
 
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For what its worth, I’m allergic to mollusks…shellfish, squid, octopus, etc…and regular fish leaves a strange metallic taste in my mouth, so I avoid it all.

But I refuse to eat Impossible Burgers. Have you looked at the ingredients? Its like eating some kind of frankenfood from a dystopian science fiction novel. They’re almost entirely water, genetically modified soy protein, and oil.

https://faq.impossiblefoods.com/hc/...-it-contain-genetically-modified-ingredients-

https://faq.impossiblefoods.com/hc/en-us/articles/360018937494

https://faq.impossiblefoods.com/hc/en-us/articles/360018939274

Those things have so few calories that you’d have to eat at least 2 or 3 just to get one complete meal, and with all the salt they contain you might very well experience some pretty rough digestive issues all night.

How about some eggs instead? If you feel a cheese omelette isn’t in the spirit of sacrifice you could always just have some plain hardboiled eggs.
 
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