Is gardein good for vegetarians?!


Question: Is gardein good for vegetarians?
i have been wanting a good meat substitute to put into tacos and other foods to add more protein to my diet and i was wondering if gardein "chicken" is good, what is the best chicken subst. for vegetarians?

Answers:

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

My dad bought their chicken strips for me... when I was babysitting, I don't like preparing meat, so I heated some up in the oven for my little sister (omnivore), and she had them with ketchup and didn't even notice. I still haven't told her, or she'll never trust me again :)

They're good with bbq sauce.
I have always preferred homemade dishes from chickpeas, beans, tempeh, seitan, etc, though- not the processed stuff- so its probably just me.

Nutrition wise, they're ok- high in sodium, but not as bad as some.

vegan



It's better for you than the alternative (real chicken). but it's still a very processed food. So I'd avoid it except occasionally. Personally I didn't care for the flavor, but the texture is okay. I prefer tempeh in dishes like tacos, burritos, and ground "meat" pasta dishes like spaghetti and lasagna.
You crumble the tempeh up, then sautee with oil and onions/mushrooms (your choice), add a little soy sauce or vegan worcesthire while you're sauteeing. This helps eliminate the trademark bitterness that tempeh has. One it's cooked about 7-9 minutes, you can add your flavorings like taco seasoning with water, or pasta sauce. I usually end up adding almost double the amount of liquid I normally would, then let it simmer anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour. Works great in chili too, and sloppy joes. The longer you let it simmer, the less chewy the texture will be.
Seitan is also a meat substitute. You can buy it in the refrigerated section where you would find tofu usually. You can dredge it in flour, and pan fry it. Add to stir fry. There's lots of recipes with seitan. It acquires the flavor you put with it. It's not processed to the extent the gardein products are.
Not so much for protein, but for variety, portabella mushrooms make a really nice "burger". You can either grill them, or drizzle with oil, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce and worcesthire. Then bake til tender.



Gardein (combination of the words "garden" and "protein"), pronounced (gar-DEEN) is a line of plant-based foods with a meaty texture. It is made from a blend of soy, wheat and pea proteins, vegetables and ancient grains (quinoa, amaranth, millet, and kamut).]

gardein is free of cholesterol, trans fats and saturated fat; the majority of gardein foods are low fat. gardein products are vegan-friendly.Gardein is available in a variety of forms and flavors, both 'fresh' and 'frozen' styles,


It is healthy for vegetarians but I never tryed Gardein chicken



I'm not sure why you are so concerned with protein, perhaps it has to do with a culture that obsesses over this. Protein deficiency is rare in the US. In the US, we all suffer from excess protein, cholesterol, fat, salt, and sugars. It is better to avoid dairy and all forms of animal flesh so that you come in low on the protein side and your vital organs don't have to deal with excess protein. Go whole plant based diet for optimal health.

Vegetarian sources of protein include a combination of:
- Leafy Green Vegetables (kale, collards, spinach) cooked or raw (well chewed).
- Whole grains. Not over-processed cereals.
- Legumes (peas, beans) that are sprouted or cooked.

To complete a diet, you should also include Omega-3 (flax seed), B12, D, fruits, and colorful whole vegetables. Avoid excess oils, even olive oils have the unhealthy fats. The healthy part of the oils don't make up for it completely.

T. Colin Campbell
Caldwell Esselstyn, Jr.
Dean Ornish



If you are eating enough calories, than odds are you are already getting plenty of protein. Protein is found is almost all foods, and the average person needs only 50 grams per day.

If you are looking for a taste review of the Gardein products, they taste good. I don't eat too many processed foods, but on occasion I have had this brand.

Chicken Tenders
-I would probably say these are one of the better tasting nuggets. They got the taste and texture very good when making this product.

Santa Fe Good Stuff
-This is of average taste. The "chicken" does not taste very good in my opinion. It does not have the right consistency and feels too soft. The inside of ok, but the fake chicken ruins the taste.

Sweet and Tangy BBQ wings/Manderine Orange Crispy Chick'n
-I have not have the sauce for either of these. I have used them in a stir fry and the taste/texture was good.

Beefless Tips
-These do not have a beefy taste or texture, but the taste is very good.

Chick'n Scallopini/Chick'n fillets
-I do not like the taste or texture of this product. It is too soft, and the taste is odd.

Buffalo Wings
-I tried these and the sauce ruined them. They are too hot in the sense that the spiciness lingers to the point of burning.

Chipotle Lime Crispy Fingers
-I also found the spiciness of these nuggets to be too much. They would have been fine if not for the lingering taste.

It is not a bad brand. The chicken tenders are one of the best I have tasted. Another good brand is veggie patch.



I don't know if it's the best but chickpeas are great.




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