If you’re a vegetarian or happen to be watching your diet it is likely that you’ve heard of soy meal before. However, do you know what it is as well as all the benefits it can provide in terms of health, nutrition and taste when used as an ingredient? Soy meal, once understood can prove to be an amazing source of nutrition and a great way to add some protein to your meals and snacks.
What Is Soy Meal?
Soy meal, in its most basic form, is a type of pulverized and powered soybean used in a variety of applications. It is a key ingredient in certain vegetarian foods like tofu, miso and other items. It can also be used as a meat substitute in meals like veggie burgers and other items. Soy meal can also be used as a plant-based protein powder or an ingredient when baking or cooking a variety of foods.
Nutrition
When it comes to its nutritional value, soy meal is a great source of protein for those who are looking for an alternative protein source. As far as essential amino acids go, soy meal is very rich in lysine and isoleucine, two important ones that our bodies need. It also contains a good amount of palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and stearic acid.
In terms of minerals, soy meal is a great source of magnesium, calcium, potassium and phosphorus. It’s also a great source of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and folic acid. It also contains vitamins A, E and K. All of these micronutrients combined create a powerful nutritional package that the body can really benefit from.
Health Benefits
In addition to its nutritional benefits, soy meal has been studied for its potential health benefits as well. The research suggests that it may have certain medicinal benefits that can be beneficial for certain conditions. Research indicates that soy meal may have anti-cancer agents, lower cholesterol, help with bone health and protect against cardiovascular diseases.
It has also been found to offer protection against certain autoimmune diseases due to its effects on inflammation. Studies also suggest that it can be beneficial for those struggling with hormonal imbalances. In particular, research indicates that soy meal may help reduce menopausal symptoms in post-menopausal women.
Uses
Now that you know more about soy meal, let’s look at how you can use it in your daily life. It can be used as an ingredient in a variety of dishes, baked goods, sauces, dressings and even snacks. It can also be used as a substitute for meat in vegetarian dishes. It can be cooked into will forms similar to ground beef or cut into cubes and marinated to make kebabs.
It can also be added to soups, casseroles and salads as a protein source. It is also a popular ingredient in vegetarian burgers, which adds an extra layer of flavor while also supplying a good dose of protein. You can also grind soy meal into a flour and use it as a base for breading, or to thicken sauces and gravies. Finally, it can be added to smoothies for an extra boost of protein.
Overall, many people can benefit from including soy meal in their diets. It is an excellent source of protein and provides a variety of nutrients and vitamins as well. It can be used as an ingredient in a multitude of dishes, snacks and baked goods, giving you plenty of options. We highly encourage you to try incorporating soy meal into your meals, as it might become one of your favorite go-to ingredients!
Soy meal is a type of food product made from soybeans, legumes that have been widely used in Asia for centuries and only recently embraced in the Western world. Soybeans are rich in nutrients, making them a healthy source of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, as well as essential vitamins and minerals. Soy meal includes all components of the soybean, providing a versatile ingredient for many applications. Although soy meal is used in a variety of ways, it often appears as an integral part of a meal due to its nutritious content and easy preparation. In this blog post, we will take a look at how soy meal is created and travels to a dinner plate to illustrate the complex process that occurs before a delicious meal can be enjoyed.
Soy beans are the primary ingredient in soy meal, so it’s important to understand the structure of the soybean and its journey from the field to the kitchen. Soybeans are a type of legume with a hard outer shell, and the inner seed consists of three main components: the germ, cotyledon, and radicle. The first steps in creating soy meal involve harvesting the soybeans from the field and then subjecting them to a series of processes to separate the cotyledon and germ from the seed coat and hull. The hull is then discarded, and the cotyledon and germ are further ground, which facilitates the extraction of their oil content. These components that remain are what creates soybean meal.
Once the soybean meal has been created, it needs to make the journey from the factory where it was processed to its destination, where the meal will be served. This may require long-distance shipment, depending on the location of the factory. Soybean meal is stored and transported in bulk containers or large sacks, and can be shipped using air, rail, or ocean transport. To ensure quality, both moisture levels and temperature of the shipments must be carefully monitored as the meal is transported.
Once the soy meal arrives at its destination, it can then be used in the production of food items. This can involve a wide variety of processes, depending on the meal's end-use. Soybeans are already high in protein and contain key vitamins and minerals, and some products may be used in their more natural state. Alternately, the meal may be sent to a food processor, where it is subjected to a number of different treatments to enhance its flavor and texture. These treatments often involve the addition of various seasonings and ingredients to form a product like textured vegetable protein (TVP). The resulting TVP can then be blended with other ingredients to form more complex dishes, such as vegetarian burgers and meatless meatballs.
After the food product is created, it must be prepared for sale to consumers. This usually involves packaging the product as well as creating shipping labels and other necessary documentation. The food item must then be shipped to its place of sale, whether that is a grocery store, restaurant, cafeteria, or other foodservice outlet. Generally, the food item can be expected to arrive within a few days to a few weeks after it left the factory.
When the food product arrives at its place of sale, it must be carefully stored until it is purchased. This is especially true with perishables, including items that contain soy meal. In this regard, food handlers must take precautions to prevent food spoilage by monitoring temperatures, cleaning and sanitizing surfaces, and safely putting away foods. Products that are sold ready-to-eat, such as meat substitutes, should also be handled with care by food handlers.
Finally, once the product is purchased, it is ready to be enjoyed! Depending on the product, the preparation process can be rapid and simple, such as microwaving a prepared meal. Or, the product may require slightly more effort to prepare, such as baking or heating a veggie burger. Either way, cooked soy meal ultimately ends up on the dinner plate and can be appreciated for its delicious flavor and nourishing properties.
In conclusion, soy meal is a versatile ingredient that can be used in many different applications from burgers to faux meatballs. It takes time, effort, and careful handling to get from the soybean field to the dinner plate, but this process makes it possible for us to enjoy healthy and delicious meals crafted from this amazing legume.
Vitamin A | 0.002 mg | |
Vitamin B1 | 0.69 mg | |
Vitamin B2 | 0.25 mg | |
Vitamin B3 | 0.00259 grams | |
Vitamin B5 | 0.00198 grams | |
Vitamin B6 | 0.57 mg | |
Vitamin B9 | 0.303 mg |
Calcium | 0.244 grams |
Daily Value 1.3 g
|
Iron | 0.0137 grams |
Daily Value 0.018 g
|
Magnesium | 0.306 grams |
Daily Value 0.4 g
|
Phosphorus | 0.701 grams |
Daily Value 1.25 g
|
Potassium | 2.49 grams |
Daily Value 4.7 g
|
Sodium | 0.003 grams |
Daily Value 2.3 g
|
Zinc | 0.00506 grams |
Daily Value 0.011 g
|
Copper | 0.002 grams |
Daily Value 0.9 mg
|
Manganese | 0.0038 grams |
Daily Value 0.0023 g
|
Selenium | 0.0033 mg |
Daily Value 0.055 mg
|
Tryptophan | 0.653 grams | |
Threonine | 1.952 grams | |
Isoleucine | 2.18 grams | |
Leucine | 3.66 grams | |
Lysine | 2.991 grams | |
Methionine | 0.606 grams | |
Cystine | 0.724 grams | |
Phenylalanine | 2.346 grams | |
Tyrosine | 1.7 grams | |
Valine | 2.243 grams | |
Arginine | 3.487 grams | |
Histidine | 1.212 grams | |
Alanine | 2.117 grams | |
Aspartic Acid | 5.651 grams | |
Glutamic Acid | 8.705 grams | |
Glycine | 2.078 grams | |
Proline | 2.629 grams | |
Serine | 2.605 grams |
Total Sugars | 0.131141 grams |
per 100g
|
Myristic acid (14:0) | 0.01 grams |
|
Palmitic acid (16:0) | 0.2 grams |
|
Stearic acid (18:0) | 0.07 grams |
|
Total Saturated fatty acids: | 0.28 g | |
Oleic acid (18:1) | 0.4 grams |
|
Palmitoleic acid (16:1) | 0.01 grams |
|
Total Monounsaturated fatty acids: | 0.41 g | |
Linolenic acid (18:3) | 0.12 grams |
|
Linoleic acid (18:2) | 0.92 grams |
|
Total Polyunsaturated fatty acids: | 1.04 g |