Meatless, Low Carb, and Gluten Free Foods Review
Here I will give an honest review of “healthy” products I have or will try. I remember when I did this in the late 90’s / early 00’s it really help both myself and other people. I will start this as a list with review underneath but if it gets too hard to find things I will change this page to an index page.
Impossible Italian Meatballs
Rating: 😸 😋
I seriously had my doubts about these. I am a beef lover (reformed I hope) and Italian is one of my favorites, especially spaghetti. Having grown up in an Italian neighborhood in West Side Buffalo, I know my way around good italian food.
These are delicious. One serving is 3 good sized meatballs, and the package says it contains 4.5 servings and I paid $7.28 at Walmart. I thought the price was pretty decent; have you priced ground beef lately?
One caveat – foods like these are highly processed, so I would suggest eating these meat substitutes sparingly, maybe just a couple of times a week. But then again, everything we eat these days has a down side, you just need to weigh the pros and cons for yourself and decide how often to make fake meat the center of your meal.
Gardein Mandarin Orange Vegan Crispy Chick’n
Rating: 😸 😋 😋
Oh my goodness, these chick’n strips serious haunt my dreams! So unexpectedly delicious, these will be a standard part of my shopping list!
The first time I made them, I had them with brown rice and green beans. Seriously good. But then, I had an idea 💡
One of the dishes I love and miss is the Chinese Chicken Salad from the Cheesecake Factory. Not only is that restaurant nearly 40 miles away from my house, it’s not exactly in keeping with my eat less animal protein goal.
SO – the next day, I made the rest of the package (1 package = 2 servings), and I served it over salad made with romaine, shredded broccoli, carrots, some cashews, mandarin oranges, and a sprinkle of crunchy chow mein noodles.
It’s safe to say that I no longer feel deprived of my favorite salad; this was every bit as good, if not better!!
Impossible Plant Chicken Nuggets
Rating: 😺 🫤
I decided to try these in made with a bit of barbecue sauce for a BBQ Chicken Salad made with plant-based chicken. While the idea was good, I was only MEH 🫤 about the chicken nuggets. They were good, but the crust got soggy, unless the Gardein Chick’n which stayed crispy even in a salad.
I have 3 serving left, and I may trying making them a few different ways to see if they hold up better. I gave it a kitty smile but not the full kitty smile, because they are only so-so compared to the Gardein brand… sorry…
Kodiak Chocolate Chip Protein Power Waffles
Rating: 😺 😋 😋
I was rushing through Food Lion the other day (in the hour I had between sessions), I had to swing by the vet and then decided to pop into the grocery quick for one item – when I decided to quickly cruise through the frozen isle to see if anything looked good. Well, hello, these Power Waffles screamed at me to buy them and give them a try.
I love a good waffle!
I had one for breakfast this morning, and wow are they ever good! Be careful not to over-toast them though, like I did. My toaster is set on high since I like my bagels to be a bit browned when they are toasted, so I will be sure to set the time for a bit less next time.
There are many other flavors, and I can’t wait to try them all. I had some cottage cheese and fresh fruit along side, and it made a nice, healthy, but slightly naughty feeling, breakfast!
Quaker Gluten Free Instant Oatmeal
Rating: 😾 🤢 🚫
RUN AWAY!!!
While I love oatmeal, and Quaker has been my go-to brand for years, avoid these at all costs! I would rather stick with good old fashioned oats that might have a bit of gluten cross-contamination in them than to ever eat this wall-paper-paste again.
There may be other gluten free oatmeal brands that are good, but no thank you very much to this one. YUCK!!!
Kind Peanut Butter Breakfast Bar
Rating: 😺 😋
These are very delicious. I had them as a snack the day of the horrible gluten free oatmeal breakfast, and I wish I had eaten these for breakfast instead.
There are 2 bars in a package, 12 packages per box. Good, moist, and peanut buttery without being too over powering.
For mornings when you can’t sit down to eat breakfast, or when you are on the go and want a nice snack that tastes good but isn’t “bad” for your diet, these bars are a great choice!
Pure Protein Gluten Free Peanut Butter Caramel Bar
Rating: 😺 😋
Ah now THIS is what I want from a Gluten Free food!
Dense not full of air, you feel like you’re really biting into something when you eat one of these, almost but not quite like biting into a chocolate bar. Chocolate, nougat, caramel, what’s not to like!
GREAT to keep on hand if you know those candy craving will come. Take that, Milky Way! You’ve met your gluten-free and nutritious match!
Gardein Plant Based Meatballs
Rating: 😸 😋
Having already tried the Impossible Italian Meatballs, I knew right away this was going to be not just a taste test, but a taste comparison since I loved the other ones.
These are just as good, and perhaps lend themselves better to use in non-italian dishes. The meatball texture has a mouthfeel that is closer to a home made meatball that is often made with beef and pork combined. The spices are also milder, so I could see myself using these in a Swedish Meatball dish, too.
I will be keeping these on hand!
