Vegan Product Review: Beyond Meat The Beyond Burger

I finally managed to pick up a package of Beyond Meat The Beyond Burger.  My local Whole Foods in Marlboro, NJ did not have them, because they suck and have a super limited amount of vegan products unlike the Whole Foods in Cherry Hill, Princeton, or even out in Philly.  Do I sound annoyed by that?  Yes, just a little.

They're packed like a standard beef burger.

Here's a close up.  They look real, right?

I used a little coconut oil, but it didn't need it.  It leached out a lot of its own oil.

Wowza, does it smell like I'm cooking a regular beef burger.  Don't know that I like that, but if you were an omnivore, that's probably a good thing. After a few minutes, flip them over.

And voila!  A meatless burger that tastes like meat.  (Served with Alexa onion rings.)

Does it Taste Like Meat?:  It really does taste like meat.  From the look to the smell to the texture. Now, if you ate this alongside a beef burger, you wouldn't have a hard time figuring out which was which.  But if you needed a burger option that's not a veggie burger, but won't contribute to you having a heart attack, then this is the way to go.

  

Will Meat-Eaters Eat it?:  Absolutely.  I think it's smart that this product is being marketed for meat eaters.  Even if they don't want to go vegan, for people with high cholesterol or other health issues, this is an easy swap for something they already eat. 

Is it Healthier for You?:  Clearly, it is.  For the record, to the people who say, you shouldn't eat things with ingredients you can't pronounce....there are no weird ingredients in here.  If you look at the list of drugs pumped into cattle, and the weird crap they use to preserve that meat...I'm sure you can't pronounce much of that.  Furthermore, if you're eating fast food burgers, then please, go educate yourself a bit on what they're putting in those. They're barely meat.  That's not a laughing matter, it's a disgusting level of filler and grossness because they know they're consumers will eat anything they put in there, no matter how bad.  You should want better.  You should demand better.

Would I Buy It Again?:  My husband and daughter liked them a lot, but it's not for me.  The whole time I was eating it, my brain was spinning out of control, like this internal barrage of lights and sirens, screaming, "Danger Will Robinson! Danger!"  My brain just couldn't reconcile the fact that even though I knew it was plant based, it just didn't taste plant based and that weirded me out.  I'm going to keep buying myself veggie burgers, but I'll pick these up for my family on special occasions. I think burgers like this are going to be the wave of the future.  I'd imagine it's significantly cheaper to produce this plant-based burger, than it is to raise cattle and kill it.  Fingers crossed. 

Vegan Product Review: My Favorite Non-Dairy Milk! Silk Nutchello

One of the hardest parts of being a vegan, is figuring out what stuff is worth buying. Do these vegan products taste like what you grew up with?  While I have only been vegan for a relatively short time, I was mostly vegetarian for a very long time.  So I can still remember the taste and texture of dead animals (not very appealing when you think of it that way, is it?) enough to know if these faux versions are any good.  (I bought this item myself. No one is paying me for this review.)

Todays Subject for Review: Silk Nutchello

Does it Taste Like Dairy Milk:  No, it tastes so much better!  I am quite literally obsessed with this stuff.   Its viscosity is similar to dairy milk.  It has a smooth clean taste, not too nutty or with too strong of a coconut taste.

I use the Silk Toasted Coconut + Cashews Nutchello when I need a plain non-dairy milk for cooking. It's also what my Hubby prefers to drink.

I like the Silk Caramel Almonds + Cashews Nutchello to drink.  I could drink the whole bottle in one sitting, it's that amazing.  It's sweet, but not too sweet.  Something about it reminds me of drinking Kahlua and cream.  Which I haven't done in over twenty years, so maybe I'm remembering it wrong...

The Silk Rick Dark Chocolate + Walnuts Nutchello is like drinking liquid chocolate pudding. Literally.  I have it in place of dessert when I run out of my favorite ice cream.

Will Dairy Milk Drinkers Drink It:  Yes, I think not only will they like it, but they'll be surprised at how good it is.

Is it Healthier?:  Yes.  (As per their site) Compared to dairy milk, it has 50% more calcium, no cholesterol, lower calories, and less fat.  And as per my own research (references to studies not
that were not dairy-industry funded can be provided) dairy milk has been linked to obesity, dementia, depression, osteoporosis and its production is directly linked to the destruction of our environment and a lifetime of torture, abuse and misery for cows.  Go ahead and Google "dairy industry abuse."

Would I Buy it Again:  Um...Hell yeah!  I buy it all the time.  I know this is a little more expensive than other non-dairy milk.  For me. it's worth it, because I just love how amazing they taste.  If I have to use a lot of unsweetened non-dairy milk for a recipe, I'll buy whatever is on sale.  Or I'll whip up a batch of soy milk.  It's also more expensive than a gallon of milk, I get that.  But, considering the health benefits and the lack of animal cruelty, it's worth it.

Vegan Tieks Review

Let me start by saying, I did not receive these Vegan Greystone Tieks by Gavrieli shoes for free.  I paid for these with my own money.  I was not solicited by anyone for a review.  I noticed most of the rave reviews online are from bloggers who received them for free.  I'm not saying that influenced their opinions.  I just want to be clear that I bought these Vegan Greystone Tieks myself.

My other disclaimer is that I have crappy feet.  Well, not really, but kind of.  I was one of those girls in the 90's who liked to run around town in pointy toed stilettos.  Then I had a baby, and my already bleh feet got a little flatter and wider, and that was the official end of me wearing those shoes.  That led me to a hunt for the perfect flat shoe.

As I started to research, it became clear that the online world's favorite flat shoes were Tieks.  At first, I wouldn't consider buying them because the bulk of the line is made out of leather.  Maybe you're into wearing dead animals, I am not.  I was surprised to find that they carried a line of vegan shoes.  Their site description of their Greystone Vegan Tieks is as follows:

"Timeless texture, classic color and modern design come together to create a one-of-a-kind staple.  Our vegan interpretation of wool in neutral grey is soft, durable and breathable.  Greystone Tieks will become your go-to pair to add warmth and a unique style to any outfit."

My first thought is that these are expensive as all get out.  In fairness, I also normally buy shoes on clearance from Target for under $10.  Sneakers are the only things I splurge on, and even then I won't go over $50 maybe $60.  These shoes were definitely above what I'm normally willing to pay.  My husband pointed out, that if they were really good, and I could wear them all day without my feet hurting, then wouldn't that make them worth the price tag?  I had to agree.  Maybe it is a better idea to buy one pair of expensive shoes that make you feel great, instead of five pairs of crappy shoes that hurt your feet. I was also hesitant to buy shoes I couldn't try on in real life, but they have a great policy of exchanging shoes to make sure you get the right size.  I bit the bullet and ordered them.

They come in a Tiffany-ish blue box with a pretty bow.  All the information inserts were about their leather-line, not their vegan shoes, which seemed weird, but no big deal.  Have you noticed the crease in the middle of the shoe?  Part of the Tieks by Gavrieli schtick is that these shoes are foldable, so you can bring them in your bag to...I don't know, throw on after a long day of walking in heels? I didn't mind the crease that much, but honestly, I was kind of unimpressed with the material used for the bottom liner.  It had the feel and appearance of laminated cardboard.  I'm not saying that's what it is, I'm just saying that's what it seemed like.  I didn't let that deter me, I was determined to like these popular shoes.  I did like the color a lot.  I felt like you could dress it up or down easily.  Their entire vegan selection consists of three solid colors and two patterns.

The soles look weird, but I did like the added cushion.  When you wear these shoes, the extra lift of the cushion is slightly noticeable at first, but you quickly forget about it.

 

 Let's start with the good points:

1. They are vegan and pretty, which is harder to find than you would think.
2. Tieks really does have great customer service.  When the first pair of Tieks I ordered were too tight, they happily, and quickly, sent out a larger size.  They didn't charge me for that pair, and wouldn't charge me, as long as I returned one or the other within (I believe) thirty days.
3. When I did return both pairs (spoiler alert, I didn't keep them) they were very nice about it and I received my refund quickly.
4. Even if you return the shoes, you can keep the pretty flower bow.

Now the not so good points:

1. They just weren't comfortable for me.  I've heard of people wearing the leather ones with thick shoes to stretch them, but I didn't think that was the way to go with these faux wool ones.  I didn't take a picture of my feet in them, but you could see my toe making a lump in the top of the shoe.  The size 8 was just too tight, and the size 9 was too big.  My foot would slip out of the back when I wore them.
2. They also say you should wear them around to break them in.  Well, if you think you might return them, you can only wear them inside.  Returned shoes must be in like new condition.  Even though I wore them around for a month, they never felt more comfortable.
3. After wearing them inside for a day, my feet felt just as crappy at they did with my usual cheap Target flats.  I know these are not miracle shoes, but reading the reviews online, I expected a little more comfort than my cheap shoes.

I had read so many glowing reviews and watched so many YouTubers regale in the wonders of Tieks that I thought I was crazy.  Is it just me?  Everyone seems to love these shoes!  So I did a little more digging, and guess what?  I'm not the only one!  The blog with the most comments seemed to be here at Mommy Gearest where there were a surprising amount of people that sounded like me!  We all wanted to like them but they just weren't the miracle shoe that other people said they were.

Maybe my post-stiletto, post-baby feet aren't the kind of women they're designing these shoes for.  Or maybe they're just not for everyone.  So if you're on this side of the Tieks-don't-fit-me fence, you are not alone.  You're not crazy.  Maybe we should start a support group....

Vegan Product Reviews: Gardein Golden Fishless Filets

One of the hardest parts of being a new vegan, is figuring out what stuff is worth buying.  Do these faux meats and fish taste like what you grew up with?  While I have only been vegan for a short time, I was mostly vegetarian for a very long time.  So I can still remember the taste and texture of dead animals (not very appealing when you think of it that way, is it?) enough to know if these faux versions are any good.  (I bought this item myself. No one is paying me for this review.  I include Amazon affiliate links, but they only sell grocery in bulk and I don't expect anyone to buy ten boxes at once...)

Today's Subject for Review:  Gardein Golden Fishless Filet

Does it Taste Like Real Fish Filets?:  A  While they are not necessarily flakey like real fish, the outside coating is perfect (and that comes from someone who makes her batter from scratch).  They were nice and crunchy on the outside, deep fried or baked.  When I deep fried them, the coating didn't absorb the oil, and stayed light and crisp (*the key to deep frying is a really good thermometer and the maintaining the right oil temp).  The inside texture is good, not exact, but still good enough to feel like you're eating fish and not a chunk of tofu.

Can You Feed it to a Meat Eater?: B/B+ When you dunk them in tartar sauce, you can only barely notice the difference in texture if you're playing close attention.  If you use them in a fish taco, or make a fish sandwich, you would not notice the difference, because, hopefully, you're also putting cabbage slaw or other fresh veggies on it.  I say B/B+ because while I think it easily works to replace fish, if you're feeding them to someone resistant to non-meats/fish, they would probably bitch about the flakey factor.

Is It Healthier?:  For the record, I am not a nutritionist.  But when I see Gorton's Crispy Battered Fish Fillets Nutrition Facts compared to Gardein's Fishless Filets, I'd say Gardein's version appears healthier. Heck, Gardein has almost half the sodium, zero cholesterol, more than twice the fiber, and even a gram more of protein! Yes, Gardein's has more ingredients, but nothing that appears more unappealing than dead fish, just saying. Also, they are good fried, but they are even better baked...and I never say that about anything.

Information is from Gorton's site:  http://gortons.com/product/crispy-battered-fish-fillets

Information from Gardein's site: https://gardein.com/products/golden-fishless-filet/

Would I Buy it Again?:  YES I actually started buying this at BJ's Warehouse a while back (they no longer carry it at my local store) because I wanted something easy to make for a quick dinner.  I also have concerns about sustainability, wild caught vs. farm raised, etc., but, honestly, when I first bought it, I mostly just wanted a quick meal.  This turned out to not only be a quick dinner (paired with Alexia Sweet Potato Fries, and cabbage slaw if I'm not trying to get anything else done while it all bakes), but it's also become a family favorite.  

Product Review: Morning Star Farms Buffalo Wings

For the record, we do not eat a lot of processed food.  Really, we don't.  I make our bread, pasta, condiments, sauces, ice cream, tofu...you name it, I'm making it.  I am a true believer in knowing what's in my food.  The only way to do that, is to make it yourself.

The only reason I 'm doing all these product reviews is because we were at the store and I thought, let's buy a variety of stuff.  This way, if we need a quick weeknight meal, we won't need to get take out.  It's hard to find vegetarian take out around here, even harder if you want vegan take out.

I had higher hopes for these Morning Star Farms Buffalo Wings....why don't they call them nuggets, I don't know....than I did for the Morning Star Farms Riblets.  Considering they grind up chickens into a paste to make chicken nuggets, my guess is that starting with plant-based paste would be easy enough.  Oh, you didn't know that's how they make chicken nuggets?  Yeah....you really should paying more attention to what you're eating.  I could do without the fake vomiting noises of this non-gory video, but it illustrates how gross chicken nuggets are.

So back to the Morning Star Farms Buffalo Wings.  They really do taste like chicken nuggets, but better.  Probably because there's no ground up chicken bones and feet included....just saying.

These were spicy, but not too spicy for the average American.  I do like my wings sauced, so I had some weird buffalo sauce in my fridge, that while the color of wing sauce, somehow contained no butter.  I don't usually eat it, it's more of my husband's thing.  But I dunked these in that weird sauce, and voila!  I was exactly what I would come to expect from a boneless chicken wing.

WOULD I BUY IT AGAIN:  Yes...but only if I was a vegetarian, not a vegan.  Both taste and texture were on point.  I think even meat eaters would accept this an acceptable substitute for the meat paste version. Heck, they probably wouldn't notice the difference.   (FYI: No one paid me for this review and I bought these wings with my own hard-earned cash.)

UPDATE:  No, I would not.  I never realized how carefully you had to read labels.  I took for granted that this product wouldn't have eggs or dairy, but apparently they do.  Why would you put nonfat milk in chicken nuggets?  Super disappointed Morning Star.  I feel like I was bamboozled.

Product Review: Morning Star Farms Hickory BBQ Riblets

I will admit, my expectations were incredibly low when I bought the Morning Star Farms Hickory BBQ Riblets.  While I only recently became vegan, I actually gave up pork about seven years ago.  My daughter loves pigs, so we stopped eating them.  People thought we were crazy.  Every thing's better with bacon, right?  Guess what, it's not.  It's more unhealthy.  It clogs your arteries more.  If that's your idea of better, then yeah...

Anyway, I used to love eating ribs a million years ago.  I didn't believe for a moment that these would be the same.  I was sure it would just be mushy, weird nuggets shaped liked ribs.  Man, was I wrong!

The texture was close-ish to ribs.  The BBQ sauce was really good!  Like, lick your fingers good. The hubby said they tasted like a McRibs with better BBQ sauce.  I can't confirm that since I haven't eaten a McRib in, quite literally, over twenty years.  He used to live primarily on fast food, so I trust his opinion on that.

With that said, it will not fool any of your meat eating friends into believing they are boneless ribs. They were good on their own, but I bet they'd make an amazing rib sandwich.  They recommended microwaving them over baking them in the oven, which surprised me.  I'll have to try them in the oven next time and see the difference.

WOULD I BUY IT AGAIN?:  Yes.  The only downside was there were only two, I guess you could call them, half racks of ribs.   If you're feeding a few people, you'd need a few boxes.  (FYI No one paid for me for this review, and I bought this box with my own hard earned cash).