# 10 Reasons to Opt for Veggie Burgers Instead of Meat Burgers **By Neal Barnard, MD, FACC** · 2020-06-01 ![veggie burger](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0319/0960/9603/files/veggie-burgers.jpg?v=1614287727) Last Friday week was National Burger Day and we celebrated cooking up healthy and delicious plant-based veggie burgers. And recent data shows that we’re not alone: Over the past few months, veggie burgers and other plant-based meat substitutes have skyrocketed in popularity by 35%, outpacing the growth rate of meat products! Keep reading to hear 10 reasons why the rising popularity of veggie burgers is great news. **1\. Helps heart health:** Swapping red meat for plant-based proteins can boost [heart health](https://www.pcrm.org/news/health-nutrition/replacing-red-meat-plant-protein-lowers-risk-heart-disease)! In fact, one recent [Harvard study](https://www.pcrm.org/news/health-nutrition/replacing-red-meat-plants-reduces-risk-heart-disease-and-early-death) found that those who ate the most plant protein were 29% less likely to die from heart disease, compared with people who ate the least. **2\. Reduces risk for colorectal cancer:** A World Health Organization [report](https://www.pcrm.org/news/health-nutrition/red-and-processed-meats-cause-cancer) found that eating just 100 grams of red meat – that’s less than the average burger – per day can raise the risk for colorectal cancer by about 17%. **3\. Good for your wallet:** Throughout the United States, meat prices are on the rise. As of April 2020, a pound of ground beef cost approximately $4.05, while a pound of beans – a common ingredient in homemade veggie burgers – cost just $1.49, according to the [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/regions/mid-atlantic/data/averageretailfoodandenergyprices_usandmidwest_table.htm). A recent [survey](https://thebeet.com/study-shows-going-meatless-saves-an-average-of-23-per-week-on-groceries/) found that going meatless can save up to $23 per week. **4\. Accessible:** No need to worry about meat shortages! Combining simple pantry staples – like beans, oats, and spices – with vegetables you may already have on hand will give you a delicious veggie burger. **5\. Versatile:** When it comes to veggie burgers, there’s something for everyone, whether you love beans, soy, oats, rice, sweet potatoes, greens, or other vegetables. Check out [Engine 2'](https://plantstrong.com/plant-strong-recipes/top-engine-2-recipes-plant-strong-burgers)s guide to building the perfect veggie burger from your favorite ingredients! **6\. Saves water:** Producing just one pound of beef requires 1,800 gallons of water (that’s the equivalent of about 100 showers for the average American!) One [study](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/food/) estimated that if the United States replaced even half its meat consumption with plant-based alternatives, our food production would require 37% less water. **7\. Reduces greenhouse gases:** Swapping beef for beans would help the U.S. reach targeted greenhouse gas emission reductions, according to a report published in [_Climatic Change_](https://www.pcrm.org/news/health-nutrition/substituting-beans-beef-beneficial-environment). **8\. Keeps you feeling full:** In one [study](https://www.pcrm.org/news/news-releases/vegan-diets-are-best-gut-hormones-and-satiety-according-new-study), participants ate either a plant-based burger or a meat-based burger. Study participants self-reported that the veggie burger increased satiety and had them feeling full longer than the meat-based burger. The researchers noted that the veggie burgers were rich in fiber – a nutrient found in plant foods that adds bulk without adding extra calories. **9\. Good for workers:** Opting for veggie burgers is an opportunity to boycott the meat industry’s disregard for workers’ safety and human health. Meat processing plants have become hotbeds for the spread of COVID-19. Workers in these facilities reported a lack of protective gear, lack of social distancing, inadequate sick leave policies, and inadequate testing. **10\. Veggie burgers are delicious!** Plant-based burgers have dramatically risen in popularity among consumers in recent years. [Data](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/more-meat-eaters-are-ordering-plant-based-burgers-when-dining-out-2019-07-17) shows that in 2019, 228 million servings of plant-based burgers were sold at quick-service restaurants! Why? Because they’re delicious! Here are two great vegan burger recipes! - [Portabello Mushroom Burger](https://myvillagegreen.com/blogs/post/dinner-tonight-portobello-mushroom-burger) - [Chickpea Burger](https://www.pcrm.org/good-nutrition/plant-based-diets/recipes/sunshine-chickpea-burgers) _Photo from [here](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Veggie_burger_flickr_user_divinemisscopa_creative_commons.jpg), with thanks._ **Tags:** burger, Category_Diet, Category_Health Concerns, meatless monday, vegan, vegetarian --- > Source: [Village Green Apothecary](https://myvillagegreen.com/blogs/post/10-reasons-to-opt-for-veggie-burgers-instead-of-meat-burgers)