00:00 Speaker 1: The advice and informational content does not necessarily represent the views of Mother's Market & Kitchen. Mother's recommends consulting your health professional for your personal medical condition.

00:11 Kimberly King: Hello, I'm Kimberly King, and welcome to the Mother's Market Podcast, a show dedicated to the truth, beauty and goodness of the human condition. On today's show, these days, there are plenty of plant-based meat alternatives that can help you eat less meat and get more veggies in your diet. But are they all good for you? We'll get to the latest info on these popular no meat food options, plus later we'll tell you what's going on around town. But first step, Kimlai Yingling is a food and travel writer, culinary producer and host. She can be seen on Home and Family on the Hallmark Channel, one of my favorite, KTLA, The Today Show, and as a culinary expert on cooking channel's Food and Fact or Fiction. She was featured on Hello Giggles and Ford Motors 2018 new real life influencers list. Her work has appeared in Huffington Post on MSN, AOL, Entrepreneur, The Daily Meal, Dirty and Thirty, and eatinasian.com. Kimlai loves sharing her food and travel experiences and writes, produces and host a weekly cooking show called Chomp on This with Kimlai. She previously wrote, produced and hosted 23 episodes called Practically Cooking, which were featured on MSN and AOL along with Daily Food News content for AOL and The Savory. We welcome... My goodness, that's a mouthful. You've done a lot, congratulations.

[laughter]

01:32 KK: We welcome you to the Mother's Market Podcast Kimlai, how are you?

01:35 Kimlai Yingling: I'm good, Kim, I'm so happy to be here. I'm excited.

01:38 KK: Yay! Well, first of all, why don't you fill our audience...

01:41 KY: I forgot that was all in my bio...

01:43 KK: Dang. I don't know, we didn't leave anything out, I don't think...

01:45 KY: No, you didn't.

[laughter]

01:48 KK: I can't wait to talk to you. So tell our audience a little bit about your mission and your vision for what you do and who you are.

01:56 KY: I consider myself a culinary producer because I produce food content, so whether it's writing the content or creating videos of food content, eating food, going out, checking out new restaurants for different PR companies, it's all based around food. The past couple of years, I've been on this mission to just... I'm starting to care more about what goes into my body, and so from that, educating myself on what sugar is, what sugar, what's added sugar, what fat means, and just learning how to eat just healthier. And so I've been sharing that with a lot of people through my writing and through my social posts as well as the videos I create. I just wanna show people that there is... It is not as difficult. I know a lot of people struggle with trying to eat healthier. And so, I see that continuing on. [chuckle] I think I'll be going down that path for quite some time, and I like bringing people along with me, so as I learn, they learn.

03:11 KK: That's... I was just gonna say you're an influencer and you make a difference, and so doing it the right way, I think that's really kind of how we talk about... And this is... Today's show, we're talking about whether Beyond Meat is healthier than beef. And so what are the benefits of eating red meat?

03:28 KY: Red meat... Okay, back in the day, centuries ago... We've been eating meat for so long. Our bodies are meant to be able to digest meat. How far back was caveman days? You know when... Hunters and gatherers. When there's the people that are almost naked and they're out hunting and gathering for the people that are in their tribe. Cavemen. So back in the day, that's what they're going for, is meat. And red meat has a lot of antioxidants, it has a lot of the vitamins and the minerals and the nutrients that our bodies need to survive. It's also a complete protein. But not all meat is created equal. And because as we evolve as a human species, the cavemen obviously don't exist anymore and they don't have that land available to them to go hunting and gathering. And so now meat is more mass-produced, which means it's not necessarily... Well, it's not organic, it's not eating... They're not grass-fed, they're being fed more grains. And we've all seen those videos of the poor cowsies that are mass-produced, and then they're all scrunched together and their muscles can't move right, and they're being grain-fed, so get them in, get them out. And that meat isn't necessarily as healthy for us anymore. That was long. Wow, I feel like I just went cuckoo on a tangent with that one.

[laughter]

05:00 KK: But yeah, I was following you. I understand what you're saying. So it's Beyond Meat a healthier protein alternative?

05:07 KY: Okay, there's so much information in regards to meats that don't necessarily come from an animal. And Beyond Meat, I wouldn't say it's a healthier protein option, it is a good protein option, but it's like, "Well, what's healthier? Is it healthier than eating an egg, which is a complete protein?" Beyond Meat is actually a complete protein because with all of the incomplete protein ingredients, they all combine together to make a complete protein. But, it's a good alternative if you don't wanna eat meat and you want that texture, but is it a better protein? I guess it just depends on what it's being compared to. Something that's all natural whole protein compared to something that's created. Does that make sense? Like I said, there's so much information.

06:06 KK: Well, so let's go back a step and talk about, what is Beyond Meat?

06:11 KY: So Beyond Meat. It's the future of protein [chuckle] It replaces animal protein with a plant protein.

06:21 KK: Okay, it's plant-based.

06:22 KY: So yes, it is plant-based and it's made from soy. It's a soy-based protein.

06:29 KK: And so, when people are being asked to consume more plant-based products, that would be obviously the alternative, the Beyond Meat, so if we're on a plant-based diet, that's...

06:39 KY: Absolutely, or you can just consume more plant-based soy, legumes. What is around the earth, the carbon footprint, but...

06:53 KK: Global warming?

06:54 KY: Thank you.

06:55 KK: Okay.

06:56 KY: Okay. It's easier to grow plants, they don't take up as much space, they don't have as big of a carbon footprint as beef, and the numbers are projected to be millions, millions, millions of people, and it's just... I feel like scientists are trying to get us to go to a plant-based diet because we might run out of space for farming. And this is obviously way down the road, so they're starting now with finding different options for us humans to be able to get protein in other ways. It doesn't mean you have to give up meat by any means, because they are doing more grass-fed organic livestock, going back to, I feel, the traditional way of the cavemen, but we are encouraged to eat more plant-based things because of where our numbers are projected to go in the future. So even if you're just switching out one meat meal a day... Say you eat three meals a day and all three have meat, you replace one of those meals with a plant-based diet and you're already helping the environment. So no one is saying you have to become a vegetarian or a vegan, that's not... I don't take it like that. When they're trying to say that, "We're trying to move more to a plant-based diet." It's because we're trying to protect the Earth.

08:24 KK: So you kind of just answered a question, which is do plant-based...

08:29 KY: Did I? [laughter]

08:30 KK: Well, my next question, I should say, but do plant-based products mean consumers should eat more meat alternatives? So I know it's a personal question, if you're going to be vegan or a plant-based or a raw or what... But does that mean that we should be more aware of meat alternatives?

08:46 KY: Absolutely. Let me tell you something, I went grocery shopping last week. And I had a rotisserie chicken in my basket, and I had Beyond Meat hamburger patties. So I'm not trying to become a vegetarian, I love meat. I can't see... If someone wanted to go in with me and buy a cow, I'm all for it.

[laughter]

09:10 KY: Going and split it out. But the products that are... The meatless products are... They are so delicious.

09:21 KK: That's what I was gonna ask you. The taste... Does it taste... So you had the Beyond Meat patties and it...

09:25 KY: Oh my gosh.

09:26 KK: So you wouldn't know, if I were to do a blind taste test, I would know.

09:30 KY: No, and you know what? Well, okay, but then not all plant-based meats are created equally. [chuckle]

09:34 KK: Okay, okay.

09:34 KY: Beyond Meat is really good, and so is the other one, their competitor that's very large as well. Neck and neck. And I've had Vietnamese sandwiches called banh mis, that are traditionally made with pork, and I've had them with a fake meat, I didn't even know. And it was... I couldn't believe it. Not that I'm trying to give up meat, but it was so good. Or I've had a salad, that instead of hamburger meat... What do you call? Ground. Ground hamburger... It's a fake meat.

10:04 KK: Right, and you had no idea.

10:06 KY: It could have been Beyond Crumbles, Beyond Meat crumbles. I had... It was so delicious. And so I actually like eating it, I'm not trying to replace anything, I like the texture and I like the flavor, and I think that it's just... Well, I don't think, I know, it's getting better and better and better. They're finding more ways to make this as close to meat as possible, in regards to texture and smell, and even the insides. You know how rare meat, real meat, you make it rare, and then there's a little bit of that warm blood from the animal still in there. They are now doing that with the fake meat products.

10:46 KK: Oh so it even looks the same?

10:48 KY: It looks just like... There's blood inside this fake meat. I think it's turnips or something. I don't know, turnip juice. But...

10:54 KK: But you know what, going back to how many fruits and vegetables we should be consuming, I guess we're always deplete in the vegetable department. So for being a plant-based Beyond Meat product, that's another way to check the box, I suppose. So are there potential health risks if you eat Beyond Meat products?

11:15 KY: Okay, see this is where there's so much information that it's hard... There's no just simple, quick answer, because while it does have, from all their ingredients, it's a complete protein and it is a healthy option, if you eat 10 of them, it no longer becomes a healthy option. So this now is not just about, "Is Beyond Meat healthy for you?" It is with any kind of food, if you overeat... Everything is in portions.

11:47 KK: Everything in moderation.

11:49 KY: Everything in moderation, that sounds better than how I just said it. So well, yes, it is a healthy option, if you are craving meat. You're trying to not eat so much meat and you want meat, that's not real meat. Yes. In moderation. Everything is in moderation.

12:10 KK: So, is eating Beyond... Thank you.

12:12 KY: You're welcome [chuckle]

12:14 KK: Is eating Beyond Meat better than eating a small portion controlled lean piece of meat. So again, everything in moderation, but now, we're talking about the portion controlled lean piece of meat. Do you see any difference in that?

12:25 KY: Well, see I... Okay. A small piece of meat. Here's the thing, it's... I don't think us as Americans really know what proper portion sizes are. But if you have a grass-fed piece of beef, it is higher in antioxidants items, vitamins, the conjugated linoleic acid, which improves our immunity system? No. Do I think Beyond Meat is it healthier? Absolutely not. But again, it's a good option if you're trying not to eat meat. But then there's other proteins that are also good options. But a lot of people that don't eat meat still want that texture and that smell and that mouth feel of meat.

13:07 KK: Of meat.

13:08 KY: I think it's as healthy as they possibly can make it right now. But again, it's getting better and better and better. Did that answer your question? I have a thing about people being asked questions and not actually answering the questions.

[laughter]

13:25 KK: That's funny. Is it important for consumers to do their research?

13:29 KY: Yes. Yes, yes, yes. And you wanna know why?

13:32 KK: I do? Tell me.

13:34 KY: I think that... Again, there's so much information and so much science. I just went to a panel with these food scientists and CEO of other not Beyond Meat companies. And I was very interested in everything they had to say because one, they were educated, they had the experience to back everything up. But if you listen to the news and you see things on the internet and you're just trying to get some information really quick, you're gonna get little tidbits. So you're not gonna get the whole complete... The complete thought. Maybe you're just gonna get a little tidbit. So it's not gonna be correct information because you're trying to get information so quickly. I know it can be hard to figure out who is reliable to listen to or to hear. But you know what? Go to some of these, go to Beyond Meat, go to their website. Take a little bit of time. Your body is a temple. You should care about what goes inside your body, because you only have one, and it's like, "Hello, this is... What do you...

14:37 KY: I don't know what you call those Egyptians, like they're all old, gold and pretty? I so just went off on something else. Okay. Anyways, your body is a temple and you should care about what goes inside of it. But go to Beyond Meat and check out who are some of the scientists that are putting these foods together, and then Google these scientists and find out. They have years of experience and education. And yes, it's... Okay, it's very important to do your research to help with that.

15:07 KK: To do your research, and as you say, it keep getting better and better. Last question for you. The fast-food chains or jumping on the bandwagon with the Beyond Meat types of... What do you think about that, more and more of these fast-food chains offering different meat options? Is it healthier and what do you think?

15:23 KY: Okay. You know how I said that when we were talking about red meat that not all meat is created equal anymore. Okay. That is the same thing because some of these restaurant chains are not using Beyond Meat. They're using some other kind of fake meat and it is... Some of it is not very good. So that's why it's important to... If you do like Beyond Meat, make sure it is... Wait, should I not mention a food chain? So say like KimLai's Drive-in, serving Beyond Meat burgers. Obviously, you know it's Beyond Meat, and you know the flavor profile that you're gonna get. But again, like with everything in moderation, you can take a Kimlai Burger that is a regular red meat Burger loaded with the ketchup and The Thousand Island and the mayonnaise and all the other stuff that makes it not a healthy burger anymore, and you could do the same thing to a Beyond Meat Burger, the bun and the mayonnaise and the ketchup. And all of those things have sugar. So it now becomes not healthy.

16:19 KK: So it's what you put on it. And people don't know that that's part of the research that you have to realize what it is. If it's just the Beyond Meat burger, then you don't load it up with all of the sauces that come along with that.

16:29 KY: But again, I love the flavor, the taste of it. So I'm down to be... I will just make a patty and just eat the... It's so delicious on its own. I cannot believe how good these things taste.

16:41 KK: I'm gonna have to go run out and test it. [laughter] Well, this is great information. Right now, we have to take a quick break, but we will be right back more with Kimlai in just a moment.

[music]

16:52 KK: Welcome back to the Mother's Market podcast, and we wanna remind you that if you missed any portion of today's show, you can find us on iTunes, by searching Mother's Market or download the show from our website, www.mothersmarket.com. Click the link for podcast and listen to past shows, plus download our healthy recipes and money savings coupons, all available at www.mothersmarket.com. And now, back to our interview with food expert and culinary producer Kimlai Yingling. And we're...

17:19 KY: Hi.

17:19 KK: Hi. We're talking about whether plant-based meat, is it better than beef, and really, what is plant-based meat made from?

17:27 KY: Okay. There is a long list of ingredients that plant-based burgers are made from in order to make sure that they do contain the nutrients, the vitamins, and the minerals. I mentioned earlier that our bodies need complete proteins like... And red meat is a complete protein. And so let me see, an example like rice and beans, those are two incomplete proteins that are put together and actually make one complete protein. So it's a good mix. If you're not gonna eat one solid thing that is a complete protein, you're going to... This all ties in, by the way, with what I'm getting ready to say. If you don't have one complete protein, you wanna take some a few things that are incomplete, which will then make them a complete protein. And that is what happens with the... What did we call them? Not fake meat. What did we call them?

18:27 KK: Plant-based.

18:28 KY: Plant-based. God, that sounds much better than fake pho-meat. The plant-based burgers is they're taking a lot of... Which you have to obviously, because they're making plant-based burgers. So you're taking a lot of incomplete proteins, putting them all together, and it makes a complete protein. So that's the plant-based burgers, well, because they are a complete protein, they do give us the vitamins and the minerals and the nutrients that our bodies do need and our bodies require. But some of the things, you guys... I'm just gonna run through, so we're not gonna talk about these individually because that is like a different topic, but like plant based burgers, there's p-protein, there's canola oil, coconut oil, bamboo, there's potato starches, there's yeast extracts, the vegetable glycerine, dry [19:15] ____, gum, Arabic, citrus extracts. And the list goes on.

19:20 KK: In plant-based.

19:22 KY: In plant-based burgers. When you have grass-fed organic beef, it's beef.

19:31 KK: So let me ask you this, do consumers need to worry about pesticides on plant-based burger products like they do... Like we worry about that on regular beef?

19:41 KY: I don't think you need to worry about it as much, and to be honest with you, I am not sure, because a lot of the things are organic, the ingredients that are in the plant-based, they try to make it obviously as healthy as possible, you're definitely not... You can't compare to like the meat that is being mass-produced, so I'm gonna say my own opinion that... No, I don't think we need to worry about that when it comes to plant-based products, you definitely need to worry about that when it comes to meat products, but I think that's why now there is such a push for the grass-fed organic, like I've got my cow in my backyard, I know what's going in his mouth.

20:25 KK: So are plant-based meats organic?

20:31 KY: Some are.

20:33 KK: Okay, that's a great question.

20:34 KY: I think just like with fruits and vegetables, some are organic and some are not organic. And it depends on the brand as well. That's a good one to look up, and I think that you just think naturally, it's healthier, it's plant-based, that you would just naturally think that they are organic.

20:56 KK: That it's organic.

20:56 KY: But you know what, maybe they are not organic, all of them.

21:01 KK: What about, are plant-based meats just a trend?

21:05 KY: No. I definitely don't think it's a trend. These guys, all the different companies, they've been around for... I know it is still new, but they have been around for a bit, and as they continue, as the science continues to get better and better, the meat tastes better and better, the ingredients that they're using is better and better. That's a lot of betters. It's not a trend because again, we're trying to find options to protect our earth and protect the animals, and so we have to have other options.

21:41 KY: I do not think it's a trend, I think it's going to be around for a long time, and plant-based in general whether it's meat or other types of... Who knows what they're gonna come up with in five years from now, you know, it's kind of an exciting thing, I feel. The fact that we're trying to find options that protect our animals, protect our earth, protect us as a human society. It's great. So I welcome it. If you don't like it, don't like it. But taste it and you might like it.

22:08 KK: Anything that I can...

22:08 KY: Plus, it makes us healthier. It does encourage us to... Plant-based meals do make you feel better. They do... It is healthier.

22:18 KK: Okay, I love that answer.

22:20 KY: Thanks. Did I answer that? [laughter]

22:21 KK: You did. What about... Does plant-based meat affect climate change?

22:28 KY: Well, let's wrap this right back around to an earlier question. Absolutely, because animals, gas is emitted from their mouth and their behinds, and that goes out into the atmosphere, and that is what? That's one part, obviously, our cars, and there's a lot of other things that affects climate change, but the animals, that is one thing that does affect climate change as well. I don't know the percentages, but it's there. With plants, and because there's so many new ways to grow plants, you can grow them in containers that are the size of 100 acres farming, they are not emitting the gas that is affecting our climate. You know, when you have that circle and like, boom there's a bubble, like a pin hole that's making the... [laughter] Creating holes. Plants are not doing that.

23:30 KK: They have their own pizazz, I guess.

23:31 KY: If this were a visual podcast, it would be better because then you could visually see you what I am doing right now.

23:38 KK: You can see your hands moving. You're funny. Do you need to eat red meat to get zinc and iron, or can you get that from a plant-based meat?

23:46 KY: You can get it from plant-based meat, absolutely, and you can get it from more plant-based products, not necessarily meat. Yes, you can get zinc and your magnesium and all of your vitamins and minerals from complete proteins, eggs, legumes, soy products, which the plant-based meats, a lot of them are based from soy products. Your dairy products. So yes, there are other ways to get what your body needs on other items than just meat.

24:24 KK: Fantastic. So another question for you, humans have been eating meat for centuries and they've sustained, you know, pretty healthy lifestyles, but why all of a sudden does it seem like red meat is considered possibly not good for you?

24:37 KY: Because of the mass production, because of the pesticides used. Because the beef are being fed grain-fed diets, it's like you're getting them in and getting them out because the demand for meat is high, and so you're not necessarily... Remember back in the caveman days, the cows, the cattle, they were allowed to just graze and they were eating grass, and they were getting their muscles worked out, they were getting exercise, and now you see animals that are in very tight quarters, it's dirty, it's not a safe environment for them, a lot of bacteria and a lot of... Gosh, there's a word for all of bad stuff. So there's a lot of germs and bacteria and things that are created when you're keeping an animal in such a confined space, they're walking around in their own poop and their pee and eating not good foods, and now we're eating this.

25:31 KK: Right. Because whatever happens to them, gets transferred unto us.

25:34 KY: Exactly, and so, of course, red meat, like that is not good for you, but again, that's why I feel people are moving more towards... And it is more expensive because it's not as mass-produced, but the grass-fed diets. No, the grass-fed cows that are on the diet, get it? [laughter] Just kidding. Just kidding. So the cows that are being allowed to just graze and are home-farmed, did I just... Did I just make that term up like home-farmed? Ugh that's...

26:09 KK: Organic, maybe?

26:10 KY: Organic, home-farmed, yeah. People are moving more towards that. It's taking meat back to how it used to be back in the day of cavemen. I don't know why I keep referring to cavemen, but that just seems like the most authentic way to hunt and eat your meat.

26:25 KK: So now talking about red meat, and so is there more healthy alternative to red meat that's comparable?

26:35 KY: That's not a meat?

26:36 KK: Right.

26:36 KY: Oh, well, it could have been like an organic kind of meat, I don't know if you meant meats in general.

26:44 KK: Okay, meats...

26:47 KY: Yes, that is where again, the complete proteins come in with the dairies and... The dairies... The dairy and the eggs, more plant-based, the soy, the legumes, the plant-based burgers, plant-based products, the meatless products. So yes, there are definitely alternatives to eating red meat.

27:07 KK: And so we talked about this a little bit, and that's the flavor. And so the plant-based meats are good for people that don't wanna eat animal products, but... Really? Do people really buy into that? Does it taste like the meat that we were talking about? Hamburgers, whatever, but the meat cravings, are we gonna crave those plant-based meats?

27:25 KY: Okay, well, from experience, I can tell you, I don't crave meat, fake meat products. You know just when I think I'm... I just want a little change where I'm trying to be healthier by switching out one of my meat-based meals with a plant-based meal. I don't think it's to... Okay, people that don't eat me, that crave meat, this is obviously a very good option for them. But again, just like with red meat, not all plant-based meat products are good. I mean you have a couple that are in the forefront right now, and they are in the forefront because they keep testing new products and they've got the funding backed, the funding behind them to be able to offer that.

28:09 KY: And like I said, I've had some like the banh mi sandwich with the fake meat... What do we call them again? Plant-based meats? That's so terrible to say fake meat. With the plant-based meat that it's like I wouldn't have even known, but there's a lot of different things in a banh mi sandwich too, so it obviously would cover it up anyway, but... What was the question again?

28:33 KK: Well, we're just talking about the flavor, the flavors, but you know what, we'll move on, 'cause you did talk a little bit about that earlier.

28:41 KY: I did? Okay, as long as we covered it. Okay, go rewind, go back to the top if you didn't quite get that while we're talking now.

28:47 KK: So is a balance of plant-based meats and the grass-fed beef, is that the solution that we should just eat both?

28:54 KY: If you're not trying to be a vegetarian. I mean, absolutely. Again, just switching out one meal a day, you have three meat meals, switch one out with a meatless option, it's just you're... Really, you're helping the welfare of the animals, you're helping the earth, you're helping you as a person and what you put inside of your body.

29:14 KK: What about some, like off the top of your head recipes? I know you talked about banh mi, but what about the spaghetti with meatballs, can you have that with a plant-based meat?

29:22 KY: Oh my gosh, yes. Oh my gosh, okay, so even with the spaghetti, you can take one of the spiralers, oh my goodness, and you can use... What do people use? Don't tell me. Like the spaghetti squash...

29:34 KK: Squash?

29:34 KY: Well, you don't use a spiraler for that, but you could take spaghetti squash, but I don't think that tastes like noodles, but you can take a spiraler for like Zucchini and then the plant-based... Like you were talking about earlier, like people... Someone was here earlier that was making their own plant-based meat, I mean you could play around with that stuff at home as well, beans. I told you earlier that I had these black bean burgers that were so flipping delicious, so yeah, you can crumble that up.

30:00 KY: Oh my gosh, I'm not kidding. I don't even think... You could test that, make some spaghetti and meatballs using... They have meatless meatballs everywhere, so get some brands. I would not start off with like a not named brand, a known brand, because it's probably not gonna be very good, so I would definitely stick and you can Google, but I would stick with the top two brands, 'cause you can Google that and those two will come up and try their meatless meat balls because I'm sure they make them. Make that for people and they wouldn't...

30:29 KK: They have no idea.

30:30 KY: You're having dinner over... They would have no idea. What did I just have meatless meatballs? Oh my God, a restaurant in Studio City. I could not believe it, it was spaghetti and meatballs actually.

30:38 KK: Was it?

30:39 KY: Weird, okay. And it was so delicious, like I couldn't believe. The whole thing, every single meal that they brought out was vegan, I didn't know that was gonna happen. So delicious.

30:49 KK: And it's always how you dress it up too with the sauces and everything that you put around it, but you couldn't really tell.

30:55 KY: Right.

30:56 KK: That's great.

30:56 KY: And that's another thing, just because something is vegan or meatless doesn't mean it's necessarily healthy, so you also... You still have to be aware of what's going in, don't load it up with ketchup and don't load it up with the mayonnaise or the Thousand Island, eat it like it's meant to be eaten and... Yeah, it's healthier.

31:12 KK: That's good. Well, Thank you so much for your time, and you know what, you did have some great advice and we really appreciate your knowledge, and we look forward to having you on again, but in the meantime, you can get more information on Kimlai the website is eatinasian.com I love that. And then some, right?

31:29 KY: Yes.

31:30 KK: We look forward to your next Visit.

[music]

31:36 S1: The advice and informational content does not necessarily represent the views of Mother's Market and Kitchen. Mother's recommends consulting your health professional for your personal medical condition.