Vegetarians rejoice!

If you are a vegetarian (I’m ovo-lacto…I eat eggs and dairy but no animal products or meat), you know that it can be difficult to find “grab n’ dash” food. I became a vegetarian in 1997 and I was not aware of Morningstar Farms or Boca products (or they weren’t around yet).

As the years have progressed, I have become more adventurous on what I will try and have been quite pleased for the most part. Here are a few products that I like both for taste and nutritional content.

Lightlife Products are sold in your grocer’s produce section, as opposed to the freezer section where most pre-made veggie items are found. There are 2 products that I really like: Gimme Lean Sausage and Smart BBQ. The Gimme Lean Sausage is sold in a roll-shaped package, much like the pork-based sausage. The awesome thing…no fat! Absolutely 0 grams of fat…hard to believe, right?! Here’s the nutrition info (retrieved from the Lightlife.com website) for the Gimme Lean Sausage:

This is in a box rather than a tube, but the product is the same, the ground “sausage”.

Calories: 60/2 oz serving

Fat: 0 grams   Sodium: 380 mg  Potassium: 460 mg  Carbs: 6 grams  Protein: 7 grams  Soy protein: 7 grams

Can’t beat that with a stick! The texture of the uncooked product is a bit different…on the sticky side, actually. After you form it into patties, you do need to put a bit of oil in a frying pan and then simply brown them on both sides and enjoy!

The Smart BBQ is sold in a “Heat n’ Eat” packet…simply tear off the top and microwave for 1:30. I ate mine on a hamburger bun. It tasted just like a BBQ pulled pork sandwich, the sauce

was very tangy and nice. Here’s the nutrition info:

 

Calories: 70/ 1/4 cup serving

Fat: 0 grams  Sodium: 380 mg  Potassium: 80 mg  Carbs: 13 grams  Protein: 6 grams

Wow! Now you don’t have to subsist on a salad and whatever sides are offered at a conventional BBQ—simply take a package of Smart BBQ with you, nuke if for a little over a minute, and have your own delish feast! And, forget toast for breakfast…now you can have scrambled eggs and sausage…or a “sausage” egg and cheese biscuit for breakfast and take it on the go if you need to.

Hope these 2 tips add some variety and convenience to your wonderful, animal-friendly, lifestyle. And, if you are vegan, they will fit in nicely with your food choices as well.