Diet Food Reviews

Morningstar Farms Meal Starters Veggie Protein Strips Review

I am what you call a last-minute cook. I almost never plan exactly what I am going to eat for dinner until five minutes beforehand, when I realize that I am famished. Because of this lack of forethought, I often rely on brands like Morningstar Farms to provide healthy, meat-free protein sources.

Morningstar Farms produces a line of meat alternatives called Meal Starters, which, as the name suggests, makes mealtime much easier for spontaneous cooks such as myself. They come in four varieties: Chik'n and 'Steak' strips and Sausage style and Ground Beef style crumbles.

While the crumbles are versatile in their own right, I much prefer the strips for creating more inspired dishes. The strips mimic the real deal so closely that I have had my family members ask me, "Oh, are you eating chicken again?" and "Since when do you eat steak?" They smell and look just like their intended meat counterparts. The texture is similar, although they might be a bit chewier than meat. Taste wise, the strips present a pleasant saltiness to the palate, and the chik'n strips have a slight southwestern seasoning to them.

Both the chik'n and steak strips lend themselves particularly well to fajitas, stir-fries, casseroles, and pastas. Most recently I used the chik'n strips to make a vegetarian version of chicken and gravy over rice; I often use them to top salads as well. All it takes is a quick zap in the microwave and a little inventiveness to make a delicious and healthful meal

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Not only are these strips convenient but they are "figure-friendly" as well. For a generous 12 strip serving, there are 140-150 Calories, 3.5 grams of total fat and only 0.5 grams of that is saturated. Each serving also delivers an astounding 22 grams of protein, a fact that makes them mighty attractive to all the vegetarians out there. In addition, these strips boast several vitamins and minerals, including 30% of the RDA for iron, 30% for vitamin B-12, and 30% for zinc. The sodium content is a tad high, providing 22% of the RDA, but salt is decidedly ubiquitous in most frozen fare.

The price is slightly higher than the budget-conscious might prefer, but I frequently find coupons for Morningstar Farms in the Sunday paper. Often the company attaches coupons to the products themselves, so be sure to keep your eye out for possible savings.

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