Fast Food - A "Guilty" Pleasure….
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Apologies in advance for the OT rant, but this topic is an area of interest and passion, believe it or not (I hope this isn't considered political):
If you look at the chart of obesity* rates in the US, the spike originates at exactly the same time the FDA pursued a "growth for growth's sake" policy (translation: grow corn because we can get high yields, then figure out how to use it all) and the USDA updated its dietary recommendations based on Ancel Keys' junk science demonizing fats. Whatever you're seeing in this thread, many calories in many diets shifted from fats to carbs, and the effects have been catastrophic. It is discouraging that government policy has led to a sick and suffering populace.
*Obesity, metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes, hypertension, and a host of other maladies fall under a complex of diseases related to poor diet
Compound this with a healthcare philosophy and economics that is more about treating symptoms than addressing root causes of diet-related issues and we have a public health crisis of incomprehensible scale. Check out this article by a cardiologist who wanted to use food to prevent instead of statins to treat high cholesterol–it has been a hugely uphill battle for her, because our healthcare economics are perverse--what we do in the States is more like sick care than health care.
What is heartening, if way late, is that there are ever more healthy, or less unhealthy, fast food options, such as fast food salad and poke joints and fast casual health-themed restaurants.
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I've had that Impossible Burger- it's pretty good. They don't serve it here, but this place near my house, Earth Burger has an entirely vegetarian/vegan menu. The food's excellent.
Weird to talk about multiple vegetarian burger options in San Antonio…
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The impossible burger (2.0 is rolling out now) is all over Denver. I've had acceptable burgers made of beans, sei-tan (and I see wheat protein, or gluten, is a prominent ingredient in Impossible), and all kinds of substitutes, but I would prefer not to substitute something unhealthy like wheat gluten or beans for meat. Similarly, I don't like how Impossible includes more saturated fat (coconut oil–unlike many fellow believers in ancestral diets, I believe it's hazardous), wheat, soy, sodium, and other ingredients. Whatever moral advantages it may carry, hopefully we can find meat replacements that don't rob Peter to pay Paul from a health perspective.
One other thing about vegan and vegetarian simulations of meat bothers me, and that is, if you believe that we shouldn't be eating meat, then why approximate it? Wouldn't it make more sense to try to adapt your preferences to be in line with your diet rather than torture yourself with approximations? Why would a vegetarian want a burger patty to "bleed?" I quit drinking soft drinks years ago and lost the taste for them--if I were a vegetarian, I would hope for the same thing to occur with meats. And I would probably eat a lot of Indian and other foods that have managed to elevate non-meat ingredients.
When vat-grown beef becomes sustainable, I'll be first in line. I'm an omnivore, but if the animal portion of my diet could truly be cruelty-free, I would absolutely prefer, and pay a premium for, that.
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In terms of Denver/Boulder, I can find that impossible burger with ease. It is truly unbelievable. I don't eat much meat outside of some salmon here and there and chicken when I feel like I'm craving it enough. Love cows, so couldn't do red meat or burgers, but this more than suffices as a replacement.
Anyone love Popeyes? I went through a long phase like Seul where I was eating super healthy, etc.
I am fortunate in that I'm tall and skinny (=/= health, i know) so I do partake here and there now, in regards to the whole obesity thing. -
@mclaincausey i hear you on that approximation thing - i wouldn't fancy a bloody vegetarian mess, sounds quite opposite to what we're all trying to accomplish by staying away from meat.
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A NYC pizza place called Koronets was some of the best (and largest) pizza I’ve had
Yup..I've been there.. I love that place.
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Wouldn't it make more sense to try to adapt your preferences to be in line with your diet rather than torture yourself with approximations?
I used to think the same… I've been vegetarian for over 20 years now... Back then (lol @old fart) we didn't have all these choices... But now we do... And it's a shitload of fun... A bleeding vegan burger?.. Why the hell not: as long as it tastes good and is healthy!..
This is, of course, why I'm filing these new fast food burgers under, well, fast food… As they're just as unhealthy... And the added cheese and fat won't help...
However: I don't crave meat... I honestly, hand on heart, haven't craved meat since I stopped eating it... Why do I buy look-alike alternatives to sausages, chopped pork, pulled pork, quarter pounders, beef steaks, chicken nuggets, cordon bleus, etc etc... Cause it doesn't contain meat, cause it tastes good nowadays, and cause it's healthy (healthier)... I've stopped caring about the fact that they àre trying to make the products recognisable or relatable to meat-eaters... Why not!.. See Chris' post: most people who purchase the Impossible Burger are generally meat eaters!..
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Don’t they put the fries on sandwiches?
I always get the fries on the side. I don't like them on the sandwich. Also, I only eat there twice a month or so. And when I go there I usually get pizza.
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Anyone love Popeyes? I went through a long phase like Seul where I was eating super healthy, etc.
I am fortunate in that I'm tall and skinny (=/= health, i know) so I do partake here and there now, in regards to the whole obesity thing.Popeye's is friggin' amazing for the fast food category. Love the biscuits, spicy fried chicken, mashed taters and gravy, and many more of their dishes. I fervently hope that their acquisition by Restaurant Brands Inc doesn't ruin them. Then again, if it does, we're talking about probably 1-2 meals a year that I'd lose out on. Fried chicken is a perfect example of something I'll dine out on over doing at home–I have no interest in deep frying anything.
I THINK we discussed Post's fried chicken, @canoeclub , which is gluten-free and delicious. I could soldier on in a post-Popeye's world as long as that's around.
@Seul , I wonder how typical it is for folks to lose the taste for meat so readily. I did that with cigarettes, so perhaps it's not as uncommon as I would expect. Perhaps these approximations are good for people making the transition, even if I think it would be a frustrating tease if I were transitioning.
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Geez I love you guys. I'm vegetarian now but eat a pretty much vegan diet. Was vegan 25 years ago and it was difficult. It's what made me learn to cook pan Asian food. I remember Red Veg in London and Brighton, an amazing proto veggie fast food joint.
I read an article last week that identified 1 in 2 25 year olds have considered going Vegan. There are now over 3 million vegans in the UK. I'm proud of the leg work put in 20 years ago. It's about education. That said, I've never advocated food fascism. Make your own choice, just make it an informed one.
I'm going to have to track down one of these impossible type burgers and have a good read of the ingredients, only because some of these products use questionable binding agents.
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Perhaps these approximations are good for people making the transition, even if I think it would be a frustrating tease if I were transitioning.
And that's why you're not a vegetarian!.. For some people it seems like a task, a transition, an effort… To others it comes natural!..
That being said, when it comes to food, my point of view has always been the same: eat whatever the fuck you want...
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@mclaincausey we did chat briefly about Post - I thought of you the other day when we ordered it in for lunch at the shop
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@Stuart.T there is also the Beyond Burger. It says gluten-free, and they appear to use pea protein instead of gluten for protein (far preferable IMO). It also has less instead of more saturated fat than ground beef. Again, coconut oil gives me pause, as well as the canola. But overall it sounds healthier to me than Impossible: less saturated fat, sodium, and carbohydrates.
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The best burger in NYC is indisputably Emily in Clinton Hill. Their sister restaurant in Williamsburg, Emmy Squared, comes in a close second. Shake Shack was great when it was a special thing and you had to wait on line for 40 min in Madison Square Park. But now that they're everywhere, the luster has worn off and the quality control has declined. Burger Joint in the Parker Meridien is pretty good. There's also one in Industry City in Sunset Park, but I haven't tried that location yet. Never tried the Corner Bistro, but I did frequent the Stone Crow years ago (before it closed) which was said to have been started by one of the old chefs at Corner Bistro. Solid burger there.
