HECKA GOOD

could have been 1/3 bigger, even 1/4

I'm no waif





As much as I love being able to have certain dishes w/o eating meat (veggie patties, lasagna, spinach nuggets, etc) & the more of it I eat, I'm getting concerned about the amount of processed food I'm consuming. Outside of salads & some fresh veggies, I just don't have the energy to keep garden fresh food in the house all the time. I guess that's a problem for everyone, but do you ever worry about it? The processed veggie foods? It's better than meat in a lot of instances & less fat, but just the processing of it. I'm starting to feel like a cheap food whore, if that makes any sense

I worry, but not that much.
I'd rather a processed veggie product than a processed meat product. And I'm not even vegetarian.
And veggie products aren't even that cheap! Often meat would be cheaper. Especially Morning Star Farms. But dammit if I'm not addicted to their "buffalo wings" and parmesan "chick" patties.

CarrieMpls said:

TRUE, same here



I know! They're actually pretty expensive w/ the exception of the stuff I can find @ Trader Joes, priced WAY lower

I think this lasagna was somewhere around the 4$ mark Is it too much to ask to feel satisfied afterward It's just too friggin' small, but I will buy more. GREAT flavor

Yeah, veggie food can be very expensive. I like to buy MorningStar products. Love the buffalo wings and parmesan chik n patties!! I also love the corndogs:)

Smooches;)

I have yet to find a meatless "chicken" product I like I've tried a lot of them too

CalhounSq said:

I don't have a Trader Joe's here.

CalhounSq said:

Qorn makes a super yummy chicken nugget. In fact it grosses out a veggie friend of mine cause he thinks it tastes too much like what he remember actual chicken to taste like.

And there are these asian chicken nugget-y things that are really good that I can get at my local co-op. I'll have to look at the name, I don't remember it...

You can always make some at home.. Try veggie stir frys, or some spinach pies (made without eggs or anything) in a philo dough..

Also I have a wonderful side dish using spinach.. frozen spinach with some breadcrumbs, (you can use some egg beaters) some seasoning... combine and lightly fry or bake in the oven.. Just a suggestion!

Not for nothing, those meatless pre-packed foods are OK once and a while, but eating them all the time is NO good.. your putting a lot of processed chemicals in your body.

CarrieMpls said:

I buy the breakfast patties & the pizza burgers there - they're like $2 cheaper

CarrieMpls said:

Never had that brand. I've only tried Boca & Morning Star Farm, hated them!

I buy the ground Boca and I make my own lasagna.

BabyCakes said:

I know I feel like I'm eating too much of it It's just another way to pollute my body

dreamfactory313 said:

I buy it too but I usually make burritos w/ it:

Boca ground meatless crumbles
whole wheat tortilla
grated soy cheese
light sour cream
black beans
olives
lettuce





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[Edited 3/1/05 7:00am]

CalhounSq said:

Why did you choose not not/and or stop eating meat? Health reasons? Becuase if so, your doing more harm by putting that crap in your body, than eating a piece of bacon once and a while

BabyCakes said:

I'm not a vegetarian, but I do avoid meat whenever possible. I have to be in the mood for it to eat it.

CalhounSq said:

I understand, that is my question.. WHY do you avoid meat whenever possible? Health reasons? Trying to remain healthy? Or because of an animal cruelty thing?

BabyCakes said:

Because it just grosses me out sometimes. I understand that processed veggie is not necessarily better than meat, I'm not deciding which one to choose. It's about liking the processed veggie foods & scaling back on them. Not in favor of meat, but in favor of healthier veggie choices



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[Edited 3/1/05 7:43am]

I try to avoid processed foods..

I'd rather steam veggies, or just make me a salad with tuna..

Pasta is good. Fresh fish...

I love rib eye steak, and that is about all I eat, once in a while.

Buying organic things like zucchini, broccoli, can be cut up put in a plastic freezer bag and ready to cook anytime.

CalhounSq said:

My favorite so far is Schneider's new 'Oh Natural' meatless chickn nuggets and patties. Unfortunately, they're pretty expensive and not particularly healthy (190 or 180 calories for 4, and about 10 grams of fat), but I love them. Even my meat-loving boyfriend likes them, though he says they don't really taste like chicken...
Weird since I was turned off by them at first because I thought they tasted TOO much like chicken (granted, I haven't had any in 7 or 8 years).

Surprisingly, because a lot of the veg frozen stuff is aimed at the natural/organic crowd, they don't put a lot of chemical crap in them, just food. I don't think there's anything wrong with most of it. Just freezing (or canning/drying) something doesn't make it bad for you. Read the labels.

It is absurdly expensive, though. People who claim that being vegetarian is too expensive are obviously hanging out in the frozen food isle rather than the produce section.