Dining In - Gardein Mandarin Orange Crispy Chick'n

Mandarin Orange Crispy Chick'n  - Gardein

Here's an example of a quick, affordable at-home meal. I got my first taste of Gardein last year at the Vegetarian Food Festival in Boston. My initial reaction was that this brand comes closer to the real thing than all the other mock meats I had tried at the time; although the long list of ingredients is a little unsettling (see photo at the end). It's the brand that a few restaurants have even started to carry, like Yard House, Veggie Grill, and Sublime. While I've mentioned before that I try to stay away from soy-heavy, processed mock meat products, sometimes I want a little "junk" food. I feel better knowing that my new junk food is far better for me than non-vegan junk food. 

                                

This entree packs a lot of protein, 17g for one serving, while still being low-calorie. If you happen to eat the whole package (without sauce, which is really the best part!) it's 450 calories. Usually I cook up the whole package and add brown rice and steamed mixed vegetables and create two meals out of it. The Gardein website even offers a couple of recipe ideas - check it out here. I've also had the Trader Joe's version (and blogged about it). It is slightly less expensive, but the texture is a little chewier and not quite as good. For a "quick & easy meal," like the package promises give this a try.

      

Dining In - American Flatbread Vegan Harvest Pizza

Vegan Harvest Pizza - American Flatbread

I picked up this frozen pizza at Organic Basic Food in Hoboken, NJ, but I'm sure they are available in other grocery stores (in fact, here is the American Flatbread Product Locator so you can check it out yourself). I wanted something quick, but still tasty and a little bit indulgent and while I didn't plan to eat the entire pizza... I did. Indulgent? Check! This pizza reminded me of Naked Pizza (which sadly seem to be closing quite rapidly, including the two Boston locations). It had a nice thin crust, tomato sauce, seasonings, and a generous amount of Daiya cheese.

This was very easy to prepare. All you have to do is preheat the oven to 425 degrees and put the pizza on the rack (no pan needed) for about 6-8 minutes until crispy. It's a thin crust so it will crisp up, which I loved since the frozen pizzas I remember had thicker crusts that were soft or soggy when done. Try not to eat the whole thing like I mistakenly did, but do know that if that happens, stay calm. Here's the overall damage - 520 calories and 18g fat, not good, but not awful for a whole pizza. 

Check out the American Flatbread website for more details on this vegan-friendly variety!

Dining In - Kashi Mayan Harvest Bake

Mayan Harvest Bake - Kashi

Mayan Harvest Bake - Kashi

For a busy workday I like to have a few quick vegan lunch options available and stored in the office. I've posted before about a few other frozen vegan meals that I've enjoyed, like Amy's Light & Lean Spaghetti Italiano Bowl. Here is another. This one is from Kashi, like Amy's it is less processed and though frozen, still a meal you can feel better about eating.

I tried the Mayan Harvest Bake entree which has plantains, black beans, sweet potato, kale, Kashi 7 whole grain and sesame pilaf, amaranth, polenta, spicy ancho sauce, and pepitas (pumpkin seeds). The taste is unique in a good way, sweet with a kick of spice, but the texture is a bit mushy once you mix it all together. I wish it had a bit more protein (9g.) but the fiber is there (8g.). Overall I would get it again, but only if it's on sale. At some grocery stores these cost as much as $6, and I'd rather go out and get a fresh meal that's a bit more filling instead. Glad to have the vegan option and see it's labeled though!

Kashi Vegan Entrees - Black Bean Mango & Mayan Harvest Bake

Kashi Mayan Harvest Bake - Nutrition Facts

Dining In - Trader Joe's Chickenless Crispy Tenders

Trader Joe's Chickenless Crispy Tenders

Nutrition Facts

For those nights when I don't feel like cooking a full meal or even ordering take-out, it's nice to have a few quicker options to turn to that are still fairly healthy. Trader Joe's to the rescue! I love their Chickenless Crispy Tenders. They are low in calories (only 150 for 3 nuggets), quick to cook up in a toaster oven, tasty, and cheap (only $2.99)! After dabbing off a little excess oil, I eat these with ketchup and a vegetable side dish. You can find them in the frozen food section. Enjoy!