Veggie Burger Tips for a Healthy Meal

Photo: sxc.hu

What's hiding in your veggie burger? Chances are that if it tastes a lot like a real burger, what's not hiding in your burger is veggies.

Everyone wants their veggie burgers to taste good -- after all, what's the point in eating something if it doesn't? But when it comes to processed food -- and let's be clear, veggie burgers and hot dogs are processed foods -- sometimes making a food taste "good" means taking out the good stuff.

So instead of vegetables, what you might be eating in that burger is a mix of soy, eggs and wheat gluten. An improvement over a Big Mac, sure -- veggie burgers are inherently lower in calories and fat than meat burgers. But if you're a health-conscious veggie burger and hot dog lover, you should take a moment to make sure your favorite barbecue staple is as nutritious as you think.

Forbes has some tips when looking over the label:

• Look for a burger with 10 grams of protein or less, an indication that it contains more vegetables and less soy.
• Find a brand that's low-salt, because veggie burgers contain a notorious amount of sodium.
  
• "Vegan" does not mean "more vegetables" or "healthier." It simply means no animal products were used.
• Veggie burgers can contain allergens -- soy, wheat and eggs, for example.

Beans and legumes are excellent low-fat, high-fiber vegetarian source of protein. They're also whole foods. Homemade burgers made out of a variety of fresh, whole ingredients are far more nutritious than the kind you'll find in your freezer section. Check out About.com's top six vegetarian burger recipes, or give these southwest-style black bean burgers a try.

What's your favorite recipe or brand of veggie burger?