For those of us on diets, protein, calories and carbohydrates are something that we have to watch on a daily basis. My physician had suggested adding soy to my diet. These days, I now find myself indulging in vegetarian dishes that have all the punch and half the calories of a regular meat dinner.
One of my favorite soy products are the Boca meatless burgers. A 90 gram Boca Burger patty is about the same size of a small McDonalds hamburger patty, the kind you buy in a kid’s Happy Meal. The hamburger patty measures in at 275 calories while the Boca Burger patty is a mere 90 calories. That’s a significant difference.
How do the nutritional labels compare?
The kid sized hamburger patty contains 106 fat calories with 11.8 grams of total fat.
It also has:
35 mgs of cholesterol
387 mgs of sodium
30.5 grams of total carbohydrates
12.3 grams of protein
6% of daily calcium
13% of daily iron.
By contrast, the Boca Burger patty contained 25 fat calories and only 3 grams of total fat.
The Boca Burger nutritional ingredients provide:
5 mgs of cholesterol
280 mgs of sodium
320 mgs of potassium
4 grams of total carbohydrates
3 grams of dietary fiber
14 grams of protein
15% of daily calcium
10% of daily iron
There’s an incredible difference between the two products; with the Boca Burger containing significantly less calories, cholesterol, and carbohydrates while providing more protein and calcium. Just from looking at the label, one can see that the Boca Burger is a healthier product.
But what about the taste?
The first time I served Boca Burgers at my house, I grilled them on the barbecue and didn’t tell anyone that the burgers were soy. My family fixed up the burgers in their regular fashion with lettuce, pickles, sliced cheese and tomatoes and not a one of them noticed a difference. Even the texture seemed similar. They were surprised when I let them know that we weren’t eating “real” hamburger.
The Boca Burgers have a flame grilled flavor that makes then taste quite similar to grilled hamburgers. When barbecued or broiled, it’s really tough to tell the difference between a Boca Burger and a hamburger patty, especially with condiments. Microwaved though, the difference is a little more obvious. The texture of the patty is a little strange, like a processed loaf product. There’s also a strong nutty, taste that you don’t notice with grilling.
How does the cooking compare?
The Boca Burgers come shaped in small patties that can be placed on the grill, pan fried, broiled, or cooked in the microwave. They only need to be heated for about 2 minutes in the microwave; all other methods takes about 8 minutes for cooking. They don’t shrink nor splatter grease which can flare up on the grill. For a quick, little meal, they are extremely convenient.
It’s hard to find hamburger patties this size without making them yourself or buying in food service quantities. Most patties at the grocery store seem to come in a 4 oz size which can range in the 400 to 500 calorie range, depending on the fat content. Regular hamburgers take longer to cook, and splatter grease. They aren’t as convenient for making a quick lunch unless you own a Presto hamburger machine.
Nothing can really compare with a genuine hamburger, for that good old American barbecue taste. However, if you have to watch your calories, fat, and carbs, Boca Burgers are definitely a tasty and healthier alternative.
