Nutrient-dense meat structured protein products
Provided are nutrient-dense meat structured protein products providing complete sources of protein and essential nutrients. Also provided are methods and processes for producing such nutrient-dense meat structured protein products. Also provided are nutrient-dense condiments that can be packaged with meat structured protein products or nutrient-dense meat structured protein products.
1. A process for producing a nutrient-dense meat structured protein product comprising protein fibers that are substantially aligned, wherein the process comprises:
a) combining a non-animal protein material and water with at least one heat stable nutrient to form a dough;
b) shearing and heating the dough so as to denature the proteins in the protein material and produce protein fibers that are substantially aligned in a fibrous structure;
c) setting the dough to fix the fibrous structure previously obtained, thereby obtaining a nutrient-dense meat structured protein product having a moisture content of at least 30% by weight and comprising at least 5% by weight of a non-animal protein material and at least 0.25 mg of heat stable nutrient per ounce of the nutrient-dense meat structured protein product; and
d) as a post-processing step, adding at least one non-heat stable nutrient to the nutrient-dense meat structured protein product.
2. A process of claim 1 wherein the at least one non-heat stable nutrient comprises at least about 0.4 g of omega-3 fatty acids per ounce of nutrient-dense meat structured protein product, at least about 1,841 ORAC of antioxidants per ounce of nutrient-dense meat structured protein product, and at least about 0.7 ug of vitamin B-12 per ounce of nutrient-dense meat structured protein product, and wherein the at least one heat stable nutrient comprises at least about 30 mg of calcium per ounce of nutrient-dense meat structured protein product.
3. A process of claim 1 wherein the heat stable nutrient is iron.
4. A process of claim 3 wherein the nutrient-dense meat structure protein product contains at least about 0.2 mg of iron per ounce of nutrient-dense meat structured protein product.
5. A process of claim 3 wherein the nutrient-dense meat structured protein product contains between about 0.5 mg and about 1.25 mg of iron per ounce of nutrient-dense meat structured protein product.
6. A process of claim 1 wherein the heat stable nutrient is calcium.
7. A process of claim 6 wherein the nutrient-dense meat structured protein product contains between about 10 mg and about 110 mg of calcium per ounce of nutrient-dense meat structured protein product.
8. A process of claim 1 wherein the non-heat stable nutrient is an omega-3 fatty acid.
9. A process of claim 8 wherein the nutrient-dense meat structured protein product contains at least about 0.1 g of omega-3 fatty acids per ounce of nutrient-dense meat structured protein product.
10. A process of claim 8 wherein at least a portion of the omega-3 fatty acid is the omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).
11. A process of claim 8 wherein at least a portion of the omega-3 fatty acid is the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
12. A process of claim 8 wherein the nutrient-dense meat structured protein product contains between about 0.2 g and about 0.5 g of omega-3 fatty acid per ounce of nutrient-dense meat structured protein product.
13. A process of claim 1 wherein the non-heat stable nutrient is an antioxidant.
14. A process of claim 13 wherein the nutrient-dense meat structured protein product contains at least 1,841 ORAC of antioxidant per ounce of nutrient-dense meat structured protein product.
15. A process of claim 1 wherein the non-heat stable nutrient is vitamin B-12.
16. A process of claim 15 wherein the nutrient-dense meat structured protein product contains at least about 0.3 ug of vitamin B-12 per ounce of nutrient-dense meat structured protein product.
17. A process of claim 15 wherein the nutrient-dense meat structured protein product contains at least about 0.3 ug of vitamin B-12 per ounce of nutrient-dense meat structured protein product.
18. A process of claim 15 wherein the nutrient-dense meat structured protein product contains between about 0.5 ug and about 1.1 ug of vitamin B-12 per ounce of nutrient-dense meat structured protein product.
19. A process of claim 1 wherein the nutrient-dense meat structured protein product of has an alkaline pH of between 7.4 and about 10.0.
20. A process for producing a nutrient-dense meat structured protein product comprising protein fibers that are substantially aligned, wherein the process comprises:
a) combining a non-animal protein material and water to form a dough;
b) shearing and heating the dough so as to denature the proteins in the protein material and produce protein fibers that are substantially aligned in a fibrous structure;
c) setting the dough to fix the fibrous structure previously obtained, thereby obtaining a protein fibrous product; and
d) subjecting such protein fibrous product to at least one post-processing step wherein at least one non-heat stable nutrient is added to the protein fibrous product during such post-processing step so as to obtain a nutrient-dense meat structured protein product having a moisture content of at least 30% by weight and comprising at least 5% by weight of a non-animal protein material and at least one non-heat stable nutrient.
21. A process of claim 20 wherein the non-heat stable nutrient is an omega-3 fatty acid.
22. A process of claim 21 wherein the nutrient-dense meat structured protein product contains between about 0.2 g and about 0.5 g of omega-3 fatty acid per ounce of nutrient-dense meat structured protein product.
23. A process of claim 20 wherein the non-heat stable nutrient is an antioxidant.
24. A process of claim 23 wherein the nutrient-dense meat structured protein product contains at least 1,841 ORAC of antioxidant per ounce of nutrient-dense meat structured protein product.
25. A process of claim 20 wherein the non-heat stable nutrient is vitamin B-12.
26. A process of claim 25 wherein the nutrient-dense meat structured protein product contains between about 0.5 ug and about 1.1 ug of vitamin B-12 per ounce of nutrient-dense meat structured protein product.