Mushrooms Instead of Meat | Foodie

When you think of something thick, meaty, and juicy to bite into, are you imagining a mushroom? Maybe not, but perhaps you should. Mushrooms as a meat alternative is a growing trend that is not showing any signs of slowing down. This begs the question: why? Why specifically are mushrooms gaining so much popularity? The answers range from health to environmental reasons and many in between.

As we all know, meat alternatives have been booming and gaining popularity over the last decade, with complex substitutes that almost taste like the real thing. However, one of the main questions is the nutritional value of these alternatives; are they good for us? Are they nourishing our bodies? Or are these simply ways to avoid eating meat and feel better about our impact on the environment?

Mushrooms are an interesting alternative choice that could just be the ticket to avoiding animal products and receiving excellent nutritional value at the same time.There are several possible health links to mushrooms, including immune boosting and cognitive function enhancement properties. One answer to why mushrooms are being used as a meat alternative is mycelium — the main root-like structure of fungus — which is rich in protein, fiber and B vitamins.

Born from science and a desire to help the environment, Eat Meati is a local company making a splash in the meat alternative industry. In 2015, Tyler Huggins and Justin Whiteley were Ph.D. students in Boulder researching mycelium. By 2023 they were launching their first mega ranch (a massive operation to grow mycelium) and today they are available at Sprouts, Target, Meijers and Whole Foods, among other establishments.

Eat Meati, which “provides delicious, nutritions, and Earth-friendly nutrition to everyone,”  is blowing up. With the launch of their Mega Ranch in January 2023, they are quickly becoming a leader in the industry. Boulder country is the perfect place for their homebase, but they are reaching far beyond local retailers and restaurants.

There are environmental as well as health related benefits to their products, including the minimal processing. Many alternative meat products are highly processed which not only means they are not as healthy, but they also use more natural resources simply to grow and produce. Eat Meati created the first-ever alternative protein steak, as well as chicken analogs.

Several restaurants in the Front Range are capitalizing on this trend. Snooze,the popular local breakfast chain, says they hopped on the trend because it is popular with Gen Z and Millenials, and most of their customers fall into these generational categories.

According to the American Mushroom Institute, pound per pound, mushrooms produce less than one sixth of the carbon dioxide produced by chicken, and an eleventh of the amount produced by pork. In addition, they contain a flavor protein called umami  that not only has flavor qualities similar to meat but also enhances meat. Umami is the reason mushrooms are so often served on burgers and steak.

Last but not least, unlike meat, mushrooms are a carbon neutral food source. They do emit methane, but at the same time they increase the carbon uptake of trees, so they are considered CO2 neutral.

Although mushrooms have long been a part of many cuisines, their use as a meat alternative is a newer trend. Their health and environment benefits are many and some even argue that they surpass meat sources, such as beef. Even if you’re a die-hard carnivore, I’d encourage you to give mushroom alternatives a chance. If you choose Eat Meati or something similar, you might even have a hard time telling that you’re not biting into a big, juicy beef burger.