Considering vegetarianism. Is it bad to eat too much Quorn?

[Goshdarn]

I use Q sausages and mince anyways.

But have recently been snacking on their cocktail sausages, faux scotch eggs and chicken dipper type things.

I really need to keep my protein up but have really gone off meat.

Would it be unhealthy to eat, say 50g worth of quorn protein a day?

Quorn has been around for over 30 years. If it was anywhere near as unhealthy as red meat we would have heard about it by now.

If the NHS link I posted earlier that recommends limiting meat intake wasn't clear then there's this:
www.theguardian.com/society/2019/apr/17/even-moderate-intake-of-red-meat-raises-cancer-risk-study-finds

OP if you are enjoying eating Quorn then carry on, as things you can grab from the fridge go, it's one of the best options out there.

Just because it’s been around for 30 years it doesn’t mean it’s any good.

It really isn’t one of the best options to grab from the fridge. PP have mentioned loads of alternatives the OP could buy ready made instead or at least very easy to prepare.

eating a Quorn scotch egg is unlikely to have much nutritional benefit at all.

@heathspeedwell

This is from the article you posted from the guardian:

"A five-year study of half a million men and women who have signed up to the UK Biobank research project found those who were more or less keeping to the guidelines, eating on average 76g of red or processed meat per day, had a 20% increased risk of bowel cancer compared with those who averaged 21g a day."

Do you see what happens here? The study is unable to distinguish between red or processed meat. No study really has ever achieved that absolute distinction.

If you truly believe a steak straight-up is bad for you, that's great, but there is no evidence for that.

Almost everyone understands that processed meat is bad for you, and I would never eat it but I also do not lump fresh straight red meat into that category.

Just because the evidence on processed meat is definitive - it’s classed as a Group 1 human carcinogen - doesn’t mean the evidence on red meat isn’t strong - it’s classed as a Group 2A probable carcinogen. It’s specifically linked to bowel and rectal cancer, prostrate and pancreatic cancer.

In fact, one particular study indicated that processed meat and red meat produced the same mutational signatures in tumour tissue, including an alkylating signature that was associated with red meat consumption.

Yes I have protein items daily. Protein water. Protein milk. Protein puddings. Bars etc

Did the hospital that do the surgery not offer a dietician appointment/dietary advice? Relying so heavily on processed stuff and Quorn snacks isn’t good long term. You will end up with malnutrition!

Yep. They advised on meat proteins but am feeling differently now.

I went privately and my follow ups have finished now.

The nutritionist I know are not fans of Quorn, and refer to it as fake food.

"But have recently been snacking on their cocktail sausages, faux scotch eggs and chicken dipper type things."

I have been a pescatarian for 16 years and a veterinarian for a few years and can honestly say I never eat these things regularly as it's bad for you. I eat eggs, dairy and tofu for my protein.

I never snack except for nuts (more protein) and fruit.

There is also the fact that quorn convenience food is expensive!

Well you're obviously much healthier than me. Congratulations :)

OP, I feel like the only answer you will be happy with is " Yes, quorn and processed food are fabulously healthy and good for you." No one can tell you that. If you don't want to cook and don't want to eat real food like cheese, eggs, nuts or dairy for protein ( all quite fast and easy) and don't want to eat meat, there aren't that many options left.

for me, quorn is not tasty & costs a lot.

If you find it's a cheap source of food you like, then fine.

For comparison, £1.50 for 300g quorn, 48 g protein. But that's half price.

4 pints (2270 ml) of skim milk for £1.45 (not discounted). 82 g protein. So the skim milk is a much cheaper way to get protein.

I suppose quorn has slightly more iron.

micronutrient deficiency is OP's really tricky problem to solve, post batriatric surgery. it's so difficult. Good luck OP.

There are tonnes of easy protein options for vegans, let alone veggies. Lentils and beans are great and are delicious in chillis, stews etc. Chickpeas and therefore hummus. Oats including porridge. Nuts and seeds - sprinkle some hemp seeds on your cereal or better yet porridge. Wild rice and quinoa are good sources.

There are lots of vegan body builders now who find plenty of protein sources.

You eat 'protein water, protein puddings, protein milk'. This is all ultra processed food as is Quorn.

The best thing you can do post surgery is eat whole, real, natural foods. One of the reasons I'm not vegetarian is I've had that surgery too and there's no way to eat the amount of protein I want without eating shite.

For example last night I ate a cod fillet - 112 calories, 25g protein.

To get the same protein from a Quorn escalope I'd have to eat two (which I couldn't stomach anyway) for 460 calories and it's UPF.

If you’ve ever driven past a factory that makes Quorn you’d never eat it again, the smell is vile and lingers everywhere. I feel sick just thinking of it.

it’s processed and I don’t think it’s a healthier option - they have a hefty marketing budget and the lobbyists behind them.

bakewellbride · Yesterday 22:50
"But have recently been snacking on their cocktail sausages, faux scotch eggs and chicken dipper type things."
*I have been a pescatarian for 16 years and a veterinarian for a few years and can honestly say I never eat these things regularly as it's bad for you. I eat eggs, dairy and tofu for my protein.
I never snack except for nuts (more protein) and fruit.
There is also the fact that quorn convenience food is expensive!

Well you're obviously much healthier than me. Congratulations :)

I'm not sure of you are being sarky there but it sounds it.
Bakewellbride is right, there is absolutly no need to eat quorn and still get a good protein intake. I only have them if I am a visitor somewhere and people don't know what to feed a veggie! Loads of things are a lot cheaper, high in protein, taste better, more versatile and better for you.

You've had loads of advice and you can always google veggie, high protein recipes.

Interesting to see people defending the meat industry so whole heartedly while arguing that the vegetarian meat companies are taking advantage of high profits. If you believe that you really need to have a look at which is more profitable - meat or veggie meat? What's more protected? What do governments allow rainforests and previously protected natural environments to be destroyed to produce? And of course that would mean attempting to keep the news that red meat is a carcinogen out of the public eye. The international meat lobby is extremely powerful.

A quick Google tells you that rainforest is destroyed by soy farmers.

I don't think either option is perfect but personally I'd rather avoid ultra processed food.

Doesn't most of the soy go to feed cattle though?

@superloud honestly I don't know. I should be much better informed. If anyone has a link to some brilliant unbiased facts I'd love to read it

Nuts, chia seeds, pulses, quinoa etc are great sources of protein. Dry frying nuts and seedz then adding soy sauce is v tasty.
Tofu is great but has to be marinated and fried for best flavour.
I would vary your diet more and that way you can easily avoid meat. On ethical grounds if nothing else

Meat substitutes are highly processed and very unhealthy. If you're going to be veggie, try not to replace meat with processed crap or you won't be doing your body any favours.

(Unless you used to eat processed, crap meat. In which case I guess you'll be the same!)

Also be careful with soy! A diet with a lot of soy (I was living in Asia at the time where soy is used in a lot of food) gave me thyroid problems. Soy is very bad for your thyroid.

I'd look through these and try and find other snacks as well as Quorn.

Personally while I can eat Quorn I can't eat it regularly without stomach complaints one or twice a week is fine but every day isn't.

Plus more varied your diet more likely you are to get all essential nutrients.