Ankeny, Iowa, January 29, 2019—Soyfoods and the Mediterranean Diet go together like, well, tempeh and olives, or lightly salted soynuts and cheese. When U.S. News recently convened a panel of experts to rate diets, the Mediterranean Diet emerged as their 2019 choice for the #1 Best Diet Overall. Consider the ways that soyfoods fit into this healthy eating plan that is focused on plant-based foods. The Mediterranean Diet incorporates more legumes, nuts, fruits and vegetables, and whole grains into your diet. When you replace saturated fats with healthy unsaturated fats to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, soyfoods are right there with you. Soyfoods provide high-quality protein, are low in saturated fat and high in polyunsaturated fat, and are one of the few good sources of both essential fatty acids. Soyfoods offer approximately seven to fifteen grams of high-quality plant protein per serving.

​Convenient soyfoods include: protein-rich soymilk; tempeh (a high fiber and high protein fermented soybean cake, ideal for sandwiches and appetizers); edamame to add protein to salads and vegetable dishes; and high fiber canned soybeans for soups and stews. Other ingredients include Textured Soy Protein (TSP) or Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP), shelf-stable high protein granules made of defatted soy flour.  Tofu is available in several forms and textures, making it ideal for a variety of applications ranging from smoothies and sauces, soups, dips, salad dressings and desserts. Stir silken tofu into polenta or mashed potatoes to add a creaminess and protein.

​How can you incorporate versatile soyfoods into The Mediterranean Diet?  Let us count the ways:

​1. Soy-ize your family’s favorite recipes without giving up all those Mediterranean foods and flavors you love. Replace half of the ground turkey, beef or chicken in recipes by replacing it with (TSP) that provides protein without adding saturated fat or cholesterol. This economical ingredient provides a protein boost to canned soups and your favorite pasta sauce recipes. There’s no need to rehydrate it; when you add it to the pot, it will absorb liquid.

​For new Mediterranean-inspired main courses, visit The Soyfoods Council website. You’ll find ideas like Tempeh and Edamame Pizza with a crust that incorporates soy flour. The pizza protein features crispy stir-fried cubed tempeh that has been marinated in a soy-garlic-ginger-soybean oil sauce. After adding pizza sauce, sprinkle with toppings such as edamame, mushrooms, green pepper, green olives and shredded mozzarella and provolone cheeses. Other soy-rich Mediterranean recipes range from Soy Italiano Spinach Pasta Rolls with Soy Protein (TSP) Marinara Sauce to Easy Stuffed Shells that you can make in an electric pressure cooker or multi cooker. The stuffed shells are filled with mashed soft silken tofu, shredded cheese, an egg or egg substitute and fresh parsley.

​2. Turn to soyfoods to add a natural complement to the clean eating and simple ingredients found in the Mediterranean Diet. Pair extra firm smoked tofu cubes and feta with an assortment of olives on your antipasto plates. Create silken tofu-based salad dressings for fresh vegetable salads. To make Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Vinaigrette, blend together soft silken tofu, chopped roasted red peppers, minced garlic, freshly squeezed lemon juice, smoked paprika and soybean oil; season with salt and pepper. Other salad ideas include Edamame with Dried Cranberries, Feta and Basil, drizzled with a touch of olive oil and a bit of freshly ground black pepper.

3. If you’re looking for flexitarian friendly foods, say hello to soy. The blend of flexible and vegetarian eating is a diet of moderation and modification. Drink soymilk lattes or heat chocolate soymilk for a quick hot chocolate. Try adding equal amounts of TVP/TSP to ground beef, pork chicken or turkey before you make meatballs or meat sauce. To create more healthful salad dressings and dips for fresh vegetables, start with silken tofu. To make Tofu Ranch Dressing, for example, add a drained package of silken tofu to a food processor or blender with 5 Tbsp. soybean oil, 2 Tbsp. lemon juice, 1 tsp. garlic powder, 1 tsp. parsley, 1 tsp. onion powder, 1 tsp. black pepper and 2 tsp. salt (or to taste). Blend, and add a little water if the dip consistency is too thick.

​4. Enjoy more sweet endings to your meals with desserts featuring soyfoods. The Soyfoods Council offers recipes such as Spiced Fruit Dip and Tiramisu Shots.  For a fresh spin on tiramisu, create small desserts featuring firm silken tofu, brewed espresso, sugar, lemon juice and vanilla sponge cake. The dessert is finished with a dusting of cocoa powder and a garnish of chocolate-covered espresso beans.  For a simple Mediterranean-style dessert of fruits like pears, figs or grapes, make Spiced Fruit Dip. In a blender, combine firm silken tofu, brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla extract. Chill before serving with fresh fruit.

​To learn more about soyfoods in general and the ingredients that can easily tweak your favorite recipes, visit The Soyfoods Council website at www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com. You’ll also find diet and health information, soy cooking tips, and detailed soy-based recipes for food and drinks your whole family will love. 

Ankeny, Iowa, January 4, 2019—Keep enjoying soyfoods! With the rise of plant protein and meat alternatives, healthful eating, and dairy-free diets, soyfoods are poised to be one of the food stars of 2019. If your own eating preferences are driven by any of the following food trends, you’ll want to know the following about soyfoods.

Soyfoods are healthy, easy-to-incorporate ingredients for batch cooking and meal prepping. You can simplify your busy lifestyle by keeping versatile, lean soy protein on hand in your pantry, refrigerator and freezer. Choose from frozen edamame, refrigerated water-packed tofu, or shelf-stable TSP (textured soy protein). For example, you can prepare ready-to-add protein in advance by combining ground beef with TSP, then browning the meat mixture and freezing it in zip lock freezer bags. That way, you’ll have it on hand to add to batches of chili, pasta sauce, or lasagna.

Soyfoods make it easy to control portion sizes, too. Package ground meat/TSP crumbles or cubed tofu for cooking healthy single meals. TSP is a fiber-rich, zero fat food that offers approximately 11 grams of protein per ¼ cup serving. A 3-ounce serving of firm tofu is about 70 calories, offering approximately 8 grams of protein with no saturated fat.

Soy is the plant protein of choice. It is the only plant protein equivalent to meat. Soyfoods are high-quality plant protein, and provide all of the essential amino acids in the amounts needed for health, without the large amount of saturated fat that typically comes with animal sources of protein. One serving of soy—such as soymilk, soy nuts, edamame or tofu—offers approximately 7 to 15 grams of plant protein.

Soy is your go-to plant-based milk if you’re going dairy-free. One cup of soymilk is a nutrition powerhouse, providing approximately 8 grams of plant protein. According to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, soy beverages like soymilk — fortified with calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin D— are included as part of the dairy group because they are similar to milk in nutrient composition and use. Doing dairy-free is easy with soymilk, soy yogurt and soy versions of sour cream, ice cream, cream cheese, coffee creamer and more.

Soyfoods make it simple to create better-for-you versions of favorite recipes. Healthful eating is easier with soyfoods. Ingredients such as tofu, edamame, TSP, and soymilk are low in saturated fat, and none of them contain cholesterol. Soy-ize family favorites by replacing up to 40 percent of the wheat flour with soy flour in cookie and brownie recipes, or making dips and dressings with silken tofu in place of sour cream or mayonnaise. Start the day off right by adding TSP to oatmeal, or making smoothies with vanilla soymilk, frozen berries and honey. Enjoy steamed edamame in the pod as a protein snack, or sprinkle shelled edamame into salads or stir-fry dishes to add plant protein.

Ankeny, Iowa, November 9, 2018—This year, discover how easy it is to eat healthfully, yet luxuriously, during the holidays with soyfoods. Soy is a plant protein that provides all the essential amino acids, with a protein quality that is comparable to animal protein. Soyfoods such as soy flour and soymilk also have the advantage of being low in saturated fat and contain no cholesterol.

            Soymilk makes it simple to create warm, welcoming beverages during the holidays, with regular, vanilla or chocolate soymilk. One cup of soymilk is a nutrition powerhouse, providing approximately 8 grams of plant protein. According to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, soy beverages like soymilk — fortified with calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin D— are included as part of the dairy group because they are similar to milk in nutrient composition and use.

            Baking with soy flour adds plant protein to your favorite holiday cookie recipes. Soy flour, made from defatted and lightly toasted soy flakes, contains an average of 50 percent protein. By contrast, high protein wheat flour contains 15 percent protein. Because soy flour does not contain gluten, which is necessary for dough elasticity, it should be combined with wheat flour for baking cookies. (For gluten-free baking tips, visit The Soyfoods Council website at www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com.)

            You can replace up to 40 percent of the wheat flour in a recipe with soy flour. Proportions will vary, depending on the desired texture of the finished product. For example, recipes might call for equal amounts of soy flour and wheat flour, ¼ cup or ½ cup soy flour to 1 cup of wheat flour, or ½ cup soy flour to 1½ cups wheat flour. The Soyfoods Council offers the following two cookie recipe ideas, paired with holiday-worthy drinks to complement them.

            Toffee Bars: You might have to hide these bar cookies from your family until it’s time to serve them. They are made with protein-rich soy flour, and layered with rich flavors and textures. Toffee bars are made by spreading toffee over cookie dough that is baked and then topped with melted milk chocolate and a sprinkling of chopped soy nuts. To make the dough, combine ½ cup soy flour with 1½ cups wheat flour. Serve toffee bars with kid-friendly soymilk hot chocolate.

            Luxurious Soymilk Hot Chocolate: Make this rich but simple hot chocolate in a small pan on the stovetop, or in a microwave-safe bowl. Melt a 1.5 oz. milk chocolate or dark chocolate candy bar in enough vanilla soymilk to fill a mug.

            Busy day alternative: On truly busy days, especially snowy ones where children are playing outside, make a quick but festive warm chocolate drink by heating chocolate soymilk in the microwave. Serve warmed chocolate soymilk in a mug garnished with a candy cane.

            Holiday Apricot Oatmeal Cookies: These cookies are ideal for seasonal celebrations. They’re a break from the usual cookie tray selections, too. Filled with dried cranberries, chopped dried apricots, coconut, slivered almonds, oatmeal and Textured Soy Protein (TSP), apricot oatmeal cookies are like the pastry version of an energy bar. The recipe calls for a mixture of ½ cup of soy flour and 1 cup of wheat flour. Pair these cookies with soymilk-rich eggnog.

            Soymilk Eggnog: This no-cook and no-egg spin on the classic holiday drink is made in a blender. Combine extra-firm silken tofu, soymilk, honey, water and vanilla extract with ice cubes. Flavor this rich beverage with rum, brandy, or apple juice with rum flavoring added. Garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg and you’re ready to celebrate.

            Busy day alternative: Keep ready-made soy eggnog on hand to serve to last-minute guests. It is available in cartons, sold in the dairy section of your supermarket.

Find recipes for these easy cookies and drinks on The Soyfoods Council website at www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com. You’ll also find more tips for cooking with soy flour, recipes for holiday entertaining, and information about the health benefits of eating soyfoods.

#

About the Soyfoods Council: The Soyfoods Council is a non-profit organization, created and funded by Iowa soybean farmers, providing a complete resource to increase awareness of soyfoods, educate and inform media, healthcare professionals, consumers and the retail and foodservice market about the many benefits of soyfoods.  Iowa is the country’s number one grower of soybeans and is the Soyfoods Capital of the world.

About the Role of Soyfoods in a Healthful Diet: Soyfoods have played an important role in Asian cuisines for centuries.  In recent years they have become popular in Western countries because of their nutrition and health properties.  Soyfoods are excellent sources of high-quality protein and provide a healthy mix of polyunsaturated fat.  In addition, independent of their nutrient content, there is very intriguing evidence indicating soyfoods reduce risk of several chronic diseases including coronary heart disease, osteoporosis and certain forms of cancer.  All individuals are well advised to eat a couple of servings of soyfoods every day.