Nutrition picks

PCC Nutrition Educator Nick Rose, M.S.

This article was originally published in January 2018

lamb burger with veggies

In efforts to take action on climate change, some consumers are reducing their meat consumption by either swapping proteins or adopting a plant-based diet altogether. There are many meat alternatives on the market, but nutritionally some are smarter choices than others.

Here are some of the healthier options to fuel your Meatless Mondays and climate-conscious diets:

Tempeh – Unlike many other meat replacers, tempeh is made without thickeners, fillers or isolated proteins. Tempeh is a whole food, rich in protein, fiber, iron, calcium, manganese and B-vitamins. You can marinate tempeh prior to grilling or baking to maximize flavor, or you can fry tempeh first to create a golden brown crust and then add sauces such as barbecue, teriyaki or honey mustard. Learn more about this soy superfood online here.

Sunshine Burgers – Brown rice and sunflower seeds create a complete protein, while added carrots, mushrooms and other veggies boost the vitamin profile of these whole food patties. These ready-to-heat-and-eat burgers are best warmed in the skillet (not microwave) or crumbled into savory sauces.

Ground turkey (available fresh or frozen) – Replacing beef with poultry (or pork) can make an impact on the environment, as white meat contributes only a fraction of the environmental impact of beef production. A 2011 analysis by the Environmental Working Group showed the carbon footprint of a pound of turkey is about 60 percent less than beef. A 4-oz. serving of ground turkey provides 22g of protein, and a good dose of iron, zinc, selenium and B-12. Incorporate into meatloaf, chili, meatballs, sloppy joes and stuffed peppers for a lower impact meat alternative.

Pro tip: Packaged meat alternatives can be quite high in sodium, so look for products with a 1:1 ratio of kcal to sodium to keep your sodium levels in check throughout the day. (Most adults should strive to consume approximately 2000 calories and 2300mg of sodium per day.)

Also in this issue

Our food system and changing climate

Climate change is among the greatest threats to our generation and future generations — impacting public health, ecosystems and economies around the world.

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In November PCC joined a group of more than 100 other concerned businesses called the Climate Collaborative. The Climate Collaborative was developed from a shared vision by leaders in the natural foods industry who saw the potential to act together on climate by leveraging the resources and power of influential companies.

PCC's GE Labeling Update

One of our longstanding commitments is that PCC will identify genetically engineered (GE) products in our stores by 2018. This is still our goal, yet, there have been legislative setbacks around transparency and customer education at the federal level.