Beefless Burgers Deliver on Nutrition and Taste

You may not be a vegan, but that doesn't mean that you aren't looking for vegetarian-like ways to reduce the amount of bad fats you're eating. What is an easy step to reduce your fat intake? Going meatless with your burgers.

Unlike a steak, best enjoyed simply prepared, you'll barely miss the meat once you pile on a burger's fixing's (lettuce, tomato, onion). Really. Eating meat-free burgers can also be considered "green," as many options are also organic.

The choices are many. Among the frozen meatless offerings are ready-to-grill or microwave-ready burgers made from soy or vegetables. You can also find seafood and poultry options, like delicious salmon burgers made fresh at Reasor's seafood counter.

Some are not low in fat and sodium, so read the nutrition label first. Lastly, although veggie-based options are higher in fiber, they are lower in protein than poultry and fish-based burgers.

• Opt for soy, poultry or seafood-based burgers if you want more protein.
• Choose salmon burgers often to get heart-healthy omega-3-fatty acids.
• To save calories, select the "skinniest" burgers, which are veggie-based.
• Enjoy with a whole grain bun or wrap your burger in leaf lettuce and skip the calorie-rich add-ons like mayo or aioli sauces.
• Note that flavor accents, like Asia pizza or cheddar signal more sodium.