Archive for the ‘Vegetarians’ Category

Another Reason To Eat Your Veggies






Source: Environmental News Network

Meatless Monday

Food for thought……

If you aren’t ready to commit to a vegetarian or vegan diet full time, consider opting for a meat-free meal once each week, which can save 84,000 gallons of water per year.

Source: Earth911

Wordless Wednesday

Lilac breasted Roller


Meatless Monday

I have never had a veggie burger (turkey yes, veggie no) so I can’t weigh in on this one but I thought the commentary was pretty interesting. Enjoy!




Even if you’re not a vegetarian, you’ve probably tried or at least eyed the veggie burgers in the frozen aisle.

I’ve been a vegetarian for over 25 years, and while fake meat doesn’t make up a big part of my diet, there is no denying that I’ve consumed an ungodly number of veggie burgers over the years. I thought it was high time to do a head-to-head taste test, so you could know what brand to buy when you have me over for a barbecue.

The ground rules for this tasting:

  • Only widely available national brands.
  • Only “original” or “flame-broiled” flavors (or the simplest flavor available).
  • Each burger would be prepared according to the package instructions.
  • Each burger would be tasted twice: once naked, and once with a bit of Heinz ketchup.



Frankly, I was a bit surprised at how bad most of them tasted without a bun, cheese, onions, and all the other fixins’. Maybe a burger made with top-notch meat doesn’t need much adornment, but these simulacra will benefit from big, bold-flavored condiments. Texture really is the critical element that makes a successful veggie burger.

Strangely, putting them out on six separate plates and using a mini legal pad to take notes didn’t confer quite the air of cool scientific detachment I was aiming for (should have gone for the lab coat). But here are my decidedly opinionated results. Let us know if you agree, disagree, or think we missed the best ones.


Best Overall


Morningstar Farms Grillers: These were my hands-down favorite. I know I haven’t eaten a real burger in a long time but these take me right back to the fast-food experience of my youth. Or maybe more like the school lunchroom experience. They are dark brown and meaty in texture with a more assertive soy flavor than the other brands, and no identifiable vegetable bits. This is the only one I would voluntarily eat without condiments.


Decent Runners-Up


Gardenburger Originals: Many folks associate this with the iconic “veggie burger.” They have a natural-tasting, mildly sweet flavor and a satisfying bite. The texture is more of mushrooms and grain than soy. Be sure to cook them thoroughly though, otherwise you risk a slime factor.

Boca Burgers Original Vegan: Though a little dryer than Gardenburger, it has a mild and pleasant taste. I give the nod to Gardenburger but choose Boca if you need vegan.


Hideous Smoke Flavor


Boca All-American Classic and Garden Burger Flame Grilled Vegan: In contrast to brands’ original varieties, these are appalling. The idea behind having a “smoke style” is to emulate a charcoal-grilled burger, right down to the grill marks. Unfortunately whatever they use for the smoke is acrid, bitter and chemical-tasting. Which is bizarre, since there are all manner of delicious, vegetarian smoked ingredients they could use instead. C’mon guys. Lose the chemistry lab and add some pimenton de la vera (smoked paprika), and you’d have a good product.


What Did I Do to Deserve This?


This has to be one of the worst things I’ve put in my mouth

Amy’s: And then there’s Amy’s. Now to be fair to Amy, I had to try the Amy’s Bistro Burger, which is gluten-free and vegan. Their All-American Veggie Burger contains walnuts, which can never darken our doorstep. Still and nonetheless, this has to be one of the worst things I’ve put in my mouth, and that includes the time my housemate blended some splinters off a wooden spoon right into the pesto. That I managed to try the second bite, with ketchup, is a testament to my dedication to you, the loyal reader.

But I digress. This patty, cooked in a skillet like all of the others, was spectacularly mushy, which in my book is unforgivable. Also, it is filled with bits of identifiable vegetables, including carrots. What this has to do with a burger, I can’t say.

Just sit there on the bun, tasting bland but providing a toothsome counterpoint to the condiments and we can get along. But go all soggy on me and gum up every bite, and you are banished. Banished I say.

Whats your favorite veggie burger?

Source: Serious Eats

Meatless Monday

Infographic: Vegetarianism


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Meatless Mondays


 (in no particular order)










Source: MNN

Meatless Monday


 Fried Vegg



Meatless Monday



 Check out this post from  

Quinoa Nutrition facts

What is Quinoa?






 How to Prepare:





Source: My Thin Eats


Meatless Monday



 And now….an interview with a vegan.

 How long have you been a vegan?

I’ve been a vegan for 5 years

How/why did you become a vegan?




Was it a difficult transition?



Any advice for people who are considering a vegan lifestyle?




Meatless Monday


Today’s Meatless Monday post has two parts, both my thoughtful ramblings.

Part 1: I was reading an article and discovered that WWE World Heavy Weight Champion Daniel Bryan is a vegan! When I think of vegans, a wrestler is the last person that comes to mind. Imagine all the strength and stamina he needs in the ring (whether tv wrestling is “real” or “perceived” he has to be in tip-top shape). To me this proves that with the right balance, a vegan diet can be very nourishing.

Part 2: In the article Bryan says, “My vegetarian diet allows me to lead a healthier lifestyle, reduce my carbon footprint, and save the lives of more than 100 animals every year. I’m stronger and healthier than ever, and I feel good about doing something positive for myself, animals, and the planet.” He calls himself a vegetarian but not a vegan! Walk with me for a second….a vegan is a vegetarian BUT a vegetarian is not necessarily a vegan. So why would he refer to himself as a vegetarian?

Do you think that vegetarians are more widely accepted than vegans? Are vegans deemed to be extremists while vegetarians are thought to be simply health conscious? Let me know what you think.