I've been a vegetarian for 9 years and a vegan for 2. Books like The Food Revolution and The China Study are quite convincing in linking animal protein (e.g. meat) to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and a myriad of other health problems. Luckily giving up meat doesn't mean giving up meat-based dishes.Gardein is a new imitation meat made from wheat and soy protein, and it is really good. The flavor and texture are excellent. So much so that when Yahoo! cafeterias rolled it out last year, the head chef would consistently get two types of email: those praising the fake meat, and those lambasting him for "accidentally" serving real meat by mistake.
Morningstar Farms Meal Starters is Gardein with some additional seasonings marketed at consumers. The big advantage is in distribution. You can get Morningstar Farms' products at almost any major supermarket. If you want to pay a bit less, Trader Joe's also has their own TJ-branded Gardein product.
Meal Starters come in both chicken and steak versions. It definitely works best as a component to a dish. My favorites: add the chicken to a mixed greens salad with balsamic vinaigrette; and combine the steak with grilled onions, peppers, and seasonings wrapped in a tortilla for fajitas.
| Get Morningstar Meal Starters at a store near you |
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