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The Nutritional Value of TVP

Textured vegetable protein, or TVP for short, is a meat alternative made entirely from defatted soy flour. It's an excellent substitute for ground beef in many recipes, after it is boiled and flavoring is added, and you can store it longer than beef, since it usually comes in dehydrated form. This makes it ideal for vegetarians as well as for frugal shoppers and bulk food buyers. It is commonly found in commercial vegetarian prepackaged food products.

  1. Macronutrients and Fiber

    • One quarter cup of dry TVP, which is equivalent to about 24 grams, contains 80 calories, 12 grams of protein, 3 grams of sugar and 7 grams of total carbohydrates. It also contains 4 grams of fiber, which is equivalent to 16 percent of the U.S. recommended daily allowance of fiber.

    Minerals

    • A 1/4 cup serving of dry TVP contains 594 mg of potassium and almost no sodium. While TVP does not contain measurable amounts of vitamins, it does provide 8 percent of the U.S. recommended daily value of calcium, along with 15 percent of recommended iron, 18 percent of magnesium and 17 percent of phosphorus.

    Estrogen

    • TVP contains small amounts of the hormone estrogen in the form of phytoestrogens. According to the National Institutes of Health, the most prevalent phytoestrogen in soy products has been found to cause reproductive problems in lab mice. However, it is not yet known whether the amount of phytoestrogens found in TVP is high enough to be a concern. People have eaten soy in Asia for thousands of years with no obvious side effects.

    Variety of Options

    • Since TVP is a manufactured food product, and it is relatively easy to manufacture, there are minor (and occasionally major) variations in the nutritional value of any particular TVP product. The information given here is accurate for standard unflavored TVP granules, but different brands of the same product vary slightly, and there is even more variation when you look beyond plain TVP and into flavored meat substitutes. Although these products may still be TVP based, they often have additional fat or carbs added. Check labels of any commercial products for details on their specific nutritional information.

    Dietary Restrictions

    • Since TVP is made entirely from soy, it is free of animal products and suitable for consumption by vegetarians and vegans. Some commercial TVP-based foods may contain animal products, however, so read the labels carefully if you are avoiding meat. People who are allergic to soy should not consume TVP, for obvious reasons.

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