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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to ask if Quorn is healthy or unhealthy....

151 replies

loveyouradvice · 02/02/2018 18:57

I've a 15 year old DD who wants to be veggie...and adores Quorn. We're cooking lots with it and seems surprisingly versatile ... love Bolognese sauce made with it

But friends have told us to find out what's really in it and that we should avoid it if we want to eat healthily

I'd just thought low-fat mushroomy thing - seems brilliant invention

Whats so bad about it?

OP posts:
Efferlunt · 02/02/2018 19:30

I’m being thick but what is ‘processed’ food and why is it considered unhealthy? We eat a lot of Quorn and find it’s pretty good really

specialsubject · 02/02/2018 19:33

No food is healthy or unhealthy. Some things you can eat are unhealthy but they are commercial smoothies, cereal bars, sugary diet shakes, fizzy pop - classed as rubbish, not food.

Quorn is processed fungus. The crocodile Dundee quote on insects comes to mind.

Mrsknackered · 02/02/2018 19:33

I can't stand the cocktail sausages! I think they have such a strange after taste, the kids love them though.

I really like their Swedish meatballs

Ylvamoon · 02/02/2018 19:34

I only have 2 problems with Quorn:

  1. it's highly processed - I have to question the whole healthier claim.
  2. it tries to be meat like in every way!

Both reasons for staying well clear of it.

loveyouradvice · 02/02/2018 19:36

Thanks Averyyounggrandma... we'll try that

Sadly DD loves it much more than tofu or tempeh - which DH and I love (we're not veggie but eat a pretty varied diet with not too much meat).... I can see how they are different and do think Quorn has the texture just right!

But think I'm going to go for the in moderation thing just in case... DH and I thought we'd found a great solution of DD having Quorn burger, Quorn sausages, Quorn pretty much everything alongside our non-veggie option.... Now its back to reflect and twice a week... which aint a bad option in any case, as we're keen for her to like more bean and pulse recipes...

Going to try those cocktail sausages...

And thanks Gatehouse... that's absolutley the conundrum Im facing... they are processed - but is processed bad in itself? Jam is processed... so is chutney - just with wholesome stuff (and okay, sugar!!! that's a whole different story...)

OP posts:
anothersuitcase · 02/02/2018 19:37

Is it actually food? I know it's edible but what the hell is it? Have googled and either get marketing promoting it as healthy, or horror stories about how it's a Frankenstein food!

Oysterbabe · 02/02/2018 19:39

If it's good enough for Mo...

Ylvamoon · 02/02/2018 19:45

anothersuitcase:
Mycoproteinâ„¢ (92%), Rehydrate Free Range Egg White, Natural Caramelised Sugar, Firming Agents: Calcium Chloride, Calcium Acetate, Gluten Free Barley Malt Extract

Maplessglobe · 02/02/2018 19:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Graphista · 02/02/2018 20:15

I've been veggie 30+ years and must admit I love it. But still don't have it every day. Meat subs are not the only source of protein as has been pointed out, there's protein in most foods actually and we don't even need that much.

On a weekly basis what I tend to have for dinner is a mix of pasta dishes (creamy sauces also provide a good deal of protein, but also Quorn bolognese), stir fry (sometimes with Quorn pieces sometimes 'just' veggies - actual mushrooms also high in protein, or with tofu, protein also in egg noodles), casseroles (again either with quorn or 'just' veggies but that can include beans and pulses - also high in protein), soup (I'm a Scot our soups are quite hearty) which can be lentil, beans, peas etc based with cheese rolls so additional protein in cheese (also very tasty dipped in my tomato and basil soup). Occasionally will resort to a from freezer to oven meal which will often be Quorn (fillets, steaks, pies, fish less fingers) but also things like veggie tartlets or veg pie made with a cheese sauce, or frittata (eggs packed with protein AND iron for the poster with anaemia)

And I'm quite boring and limited in what I eat at home. If you're a good and adventurous cook there's tons more you can do.

I've read about people having problems with Quorn but then lots of people have intolerances to natural and healthy food - doesn't automatically mean it's unhealthy - if that were true that would mean milk, eggs, fish etc were unhealthy, they're not just some people can't eat some foods.

I went veggie for ethical reasons but found stomach issues I'd had all my life GREATLY improved and on the odd occasion - especially when I first turned veggie and didn't know certain foods contained some meat proteins and also idiots who "tricked" me into eating things eg cooked in lard, I ended up with horrendous upset stomach within a few hours. So I seem to be intolerant to meat (I seem to be ok with poultry and fish it seems to be red meat proteins set me off, no idea why).

But yes as with any diet all things in moderation.

For the anaemic poster - Quorn has never to my knowledge claimed to be a good source of iron and most veggies know that best sources of iron are eggs, milk, dark green veggies and also that you need to have vit c at same time to help absorb it. I hope the anaemia is sorted though, I had it bad when younger due to endo it does leave you feeling really rough - and I was a meat eater then!

Graphista · 02/02/2018 20:18

www.quorn.co.uk/products/vegan

It's a specific range within the brand

babyccinoo · 02/02/2018 20:20

Thansk @Vitalogy

brownelephant · 02/02/2018 20:24

its ok. highly processed and some people get farty don't tolerate it well,

if you do get on with it, great, just let visitors know if you serve it to them.

Fosterdog123 · 02/02/2018 20:26

Agree that the cocktail sausages must have crack cocaine in them!

newtlover · 02/02/2018 20:27

I'd say moderation is the key
DP had a nasty attack of gout triggered by eating a lot of quorn

SuburbanRhonda · 02/02/2018 20:28

Ooh yes - I am addicted to the cocktail sausages too - what do they put in them?

A shitload of salt. Seriously, I’ve never tasted anything so salty.

FuzzyCustard · 02/02/2018 20:29

The Quorn "pieces" (I'm sure they used to be "chicken -style pieces") make excellent curry.

SuburbanRhonda · 02/02/2018 20:30

I would avoid eating too much quorn if you’re a teenage girl because of the low iron content.

Soya mince and burgers (Tesco own brand for example) are higher in iron and brown lentils are even better because they have fibre too.

Shadowboy · 02/02/2018 20:31

My mother spent 4 years working with the team that created it! I remember the prototypes - it’s great now. Not so much at the start. It is safe and healthy. I ate if from about 4 years old in its basic form and I’m still alive!

Oliversmumsarmy · 02/02/2018 20:38

I love Quorn. The cocktail sausages are definitely made of something addictive.

I do find the white products a bit indigestible and I get the same reaction with the pepperoni slices. However the mince, steak strips and peppered steak I have no problem with

honeyroar · 02/02/2018 20:49

I used a lot of it when I first went veggie, my family didn't even notice. But it didn't agree with me and i didn't look forward to it. I don't like the sausages etc. Nowadays I just use beans, veg or lentils to make things, they're much tastier and feel more natural.

hibbledibble · 02/02/2018 20:54

It is all relative, so it depends what you are comparing it too. Quorn is much healthier than meat (less fat, less saturated fat, less calories, less salt, less cholesterol, simlar protein), but not as healthy as a plant-based meal cooked from scratch (eg a lentil and veg bolognaise sauce, instead of mince)

Silvercatowner · 02/02/2018 20:56

a mycoprotein grown in large, sterile tanks

Shudder

ManicUnicorn · 02/02/2018 20:59

It makes me fart like mad.

Cavelady67 · 02/02/2018 21:00

If I eat quota more than once every couple of weeks I feel rough. Really rough. It makes me feel unhealthy!

Personally I wouldn't use it as a substitute for meat!

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