Packed eats…
You know the drill: Strawberry Pomegranate Odwalla bar, Apricot Clif bar, Stretch Island Fruit Co. strawberry fruit leather, gala apple x2, the most massive salad I have ever made, random wheat roll (stolen from el hospital) and a steamed brocc/cauli side salad.
After I photographed the above pic, I decided to add some raisins to the salad.
The ingredients read longer than Heidi’s latest plastic surgery bill:
- spinach
- steamed kale
- steamed coleslaw mix
- steamed broccoli
- steamed cauliflower
- steamed carrots
- steamed asparagus
- raw red bell peppers
- raisins
I was definitely feeling the less more is more approach. Since I had leftover brocc and cauli that didn’t fit in that tupperware, I threw it into another container. Both salads were hosed down with Bragg’s liquid aminos, too.
The fruit leather wasn’t anything special, but I had it leftover from some random race (love me some swag) and just found it as I was reorganizing our pantry coat closet that has groceries shoved in it’s nooks and crannies.
[Insert 12 hours of work here]
When I got home I knew exactly what I wanted.
I saw this product on Ellen a few weeks ago, and since then I have been very intrigued by their products. Gardein was kind enough to send me some coupons, so I chose the Tuscan Breasts to try out first.
The package comes with two breasts in a tomato and basil sauce. Here’s the nutritional info (along with some super complicated instructions):
As you can see, they are pretty much ready to go.
Since I was starving when I got home, I put mine on a plate covered with a glass top (call me crazy, call me paranoid, but I’m not so keen on microwaving things in plastic). I also steamed some broccoli on the stove.
Odd packaging aside, the final product came out pretty fab. The extra sauce was decent; so, naturally it made it’s way on top of my steamed broccoli.
Yum. So here’s the deal:
PROS: It was the easiest thing EVER to prepare and took all of 5 minutes from package to plate. The flavor was good. A bit salty, but overall, it was nice to be able to have a completely no-brainer-of-a-meal. The ingredients are REALLY great…no shady crap, whatsoever. In fact, not only do I recognize all components in the product, but I know exactly what each and every item on the label is. That makes me happy.
CONS: The texture of both the “meat” and the sauce was a bit weird. Actually, the non-meat’s consistency was the less bizarre part. Despite how chicken-like it looks, it wasn’t tough like meat is. It was chewy and try as I might to figure out something to compare it to, I’m drawing a total blank. I guess it was sorta similar to Quorn’s meatless meatballs, but that’s only texture-wise. For some reason, the sauce had a far more odd consistency. I don’t understand how something as basic as sauce could be the black sheep, but it was way more gel-like than I expected. Maybe I didn’t heat it up enough? Or maybe I will try cooking it on the stove or in the oven next time. I have a feeling that will change the texture for the better.
Would I buy it again: It’s definitely a simple dish to whip up after a long day of work, but the price is a bit steep. Still, I think I would buy them again to have on stand by because sometimes you do need a quick and easy mindless option. Typically I’m not a huge fan of the processed vegan substitutes, since I prefer to feed my body whole foods, but I know not everyone (myself included) has the time to put together well thought out meals with fresh ingredients.
I had FOUR of these. FOUR. Vermont’s organic soft wheat bread is so deliciously fluffy. And the roasted red pepper hummus is just as pleasing to the taste buds. Furreals, is there such a thing as serving size intolerance? Because I think I have it.
Dessert? Apples, duh.
“Furreals, is there such a thing as serving size intolerance? Because I think I have it”.
haha, love this. Your eats look delish as always 🙂
Wow, interesting gardein review! I have the cookbook The Conscious Chef and a few recipes include gardein products. I’m afraid that if the texture was too much like meat I would be skeeved out.
I definitely appreciate the more is more approach!
SSI (Serving Size Intolerance)- SSI most often occurs due to the idiots over at USDA creating ridiculous set portions that are hardly enough to feed an infant. The human body requires nutrition and it is often very common to completely ignore said suggested serving sizes and satisfy ones needs regardless of caloric value! Symptoms often include; consuming more than a frickin’ tablespoon of nut butter, >15 raisins at a time, or 1 piece of bread (who eats ONE piece of bread, it’s called a sandwich…idiots!)
Wow–Wikipedia can be harsh… 🙂 But apparently it does exist because i’m pretty sure no happy individual follows their guidelines!
As for the Gardein sauce… you hit the nail on the head with the gel comment! The first time i ever tried that “chicken breast” i steamed it until i thought at least some of the sodium would be lost in the process, i still found it too salty…
Bread looks awesome though, and i need to try that Odwalla Bar!
Hehe, love this post. And your pictures always make me hungry! Note to self- have a meal before reading…
“Dessert: Apples duh!” Haha too cute! I just bought truck load of apples myself and thought of you.. I figured you would have been proud! That fake chicken looks like the real thing, I’ll give ya that.. I’m kind of scared of fake meat products though… but at least you were somewhat pleased, and it was certainly quick to prepare!
If the meat like taste skeeves you out, just a warning, don’t try the Gardein beefless tips! Those are the ‘real’ deal. I haven’t tried the chicken yet, but it does look good. The sauce is gel like–try sauteeing it on the stovetop next time, if you have time. I want to tried the pulled ‘pork’…that looks pretty good.
Apples, DUH! 🙂 But where’s the fork!? 🙂
I agree, Gardein products can have a weird texture when microwaved. I have tried their crispy tenders, and their stuffed “chicken” breasts which were both great cooked in the oven. Thanks for the review!
What a lovely set of breasts you purchased.
I want to try Gardein’s pulled pork! I was thisclose to buying it the other day but put it back…if you try it before I do, you better fill a sister in!
The bread/hummus combo looked so yummy. 😮
What brand hummus is that? I’ve been trying to find one that I really love to no avail.
I hatttte serving sizes! They are never right for me so I tend to ignore them.
And is that apricot clif bar good? I’m always scared to try…
felt the SAME WAY with those chicken breasts! tasted kina funky.
i say dessert should be (or should have been) apples with a side of apples to apples. we need an intense game of that someday.
hmmm the fake chickenish looks actually good! if i ever saw it for free or for on sale obvi i would pick it up. thanks for the tip girlfrinnnnnnnn
Haha! I just bought some hummus to try!
MmmM! That chicken looks good! And I’m with ya on the serving size intolerance! 🙂 Haha.
Your eats are so phenomenal. Loving the product reviews 🙂
I’m a more is more gal myself! I often have to bring extra containers to hold all of my veggies.
Thanks for the review… always looking for things to eat in a pinch.
Also: good for you for not microwaving in plastic! It’s BAD! I just read another article on Rodale.com today about how bad foods stored in plastic (even cans, which have a plastic-lined top) is for babies in utero.
So glad that you’re back (shady)!
I stay away from serving sizes. They are only there to shame us. And I’m pretty sure most are wrong. Do you think the people at Stacey’s Pita chips are cackling with laughter when they write out “one serving = 9 chips”? Cruel.
Thanks for the Gardein review! I have a box of their BBQ skewers in my fridge that I have yet to try, so I am quite interested to hear how their other products rate.
all of your eats look so fresh & delicious ! thanks for the review, too!
xoxo
shelley
http://findinghappinessandhealth.wordpress.com
I LOVE Vermont bread…partifularly cinnamon raisin, smothered in PB. Yum! Roasted red pepper hummus is one of my faves, too though 🙂
Have you ever tried Larabars? For someone who eats so many bars, I just had to suggest them because they have super ‘clean’ ingredients.
Also, I’ve recently started eating Prana and Boomi bars and they are a tad sweet but delicious besides!
For a split seccond I reconsidered having cauliflower sometime soon since it made an appearance in this post, but then again…I’m partial to broccoli only. Bad childhood experience with being force fed cauliflower…bleh…I like your simple and easy eats. A whopping 5mins is a def plus!
your blog name is so cute btw – love it 🙂
of course!
your cauli is my bombitter 🙂
hahaha – love it 🙂
well, i can PROMISE you won’t mistake gardein “breasts” for real meat…its just nothing like it (well, ive actually never had much meat aside from fish or chicken, but i dont think its like any of those). that said, its not like any normal (read: natural) product either, so despite the decent ingredients, its hard to not feel a bit weird about consuming something thats so fake…
i totally agree…fake meat products are so weird because while you dont want them to replicate real meat, the fakeness is only heightened when they dont resemble anything found in nature at all…
good to know! (to be honest though, anything with the word beef skeeves me out since i wasnt raised on it)…ive at least tasted chicken before. i agree though, the pulled pork intrigues me…let me know if you DO give it a try.
to the oven it is then…thanks!
cedar’s roasted red pepper
yeah, i like the apricot flavor a lot. its one of my faves – just after blueberry crisp. give it a shot 🙂
right? oh well, at least vegan goods are getting some face time…
i know!!!! i dont know why more people dont know about this…i suppose it doesnt help that products have instructions involving plastic and microwaving on the back of the box still. scary!!
my mom has always demanded that i use glass if i ever microwave anything. aside from that, microwaves should be used minimally (and you should stand far away and always close the door after using it)…sounds kinda paranoid, but why take chances?
hmmm…cant wait to read what you think
man i havent had cinn raisin bread in sooo long. thanks for the reminder…im thinking i may have to get on that.
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