For one month my friend Chris was raving on how he became a vegetarian and how much better he feels. Raving and ranting on how much energy he has and most importantly how tasty being meatless can be. It got to the point where it was ridiculous. I finally told him I would NEVER be a vegetarian nor would I even try the tasteless, cardboard, veggie grossness he so claimed was so extraordinary. I felt like Sam I am in Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham.” I will not try your veggie patty, here or there or anywhere!
Today during our lunch break Chris asked if could make me lunch. I told him he could but absolutely no meatless stuff, I am a carnivore and I’m proud of that. Chris just did his normal I’m ignoring you smile to me. He made me this awesome chicken strip wrap. I was being greedy and took a chicken strip off of the cookie tray before it was even placed in my wrap. Once I got to the last bite, and ready to ask for seconds. Chris smiled and asked how I liked it, I figured he was just fishing for a compliment. Everything Chris makes tastes wonderful so I said it was fabulous and I was searching for more of the delicious chicken strips that he made that I so delicately devoured. I was later informed that they were in fact veggie strips. I was in shock, I couldn’t believe it. He had to show me the packaging because I did not believe him. How could a veggie something taste just like a crispy chicken tender? I grabbed the bag and I had to keep looking it over and over. My eyes were in doubt with what I was seeing, my stomach was satisfied with what I had just tasted. With the low calories and high protein, I am hooked! It was anything but tasteless.
I could be a vegetarian if the food tasted this good! With that said I was now singing a different tune. “ I would eat these GARDEIN strips here or there or anywhere.” My friend just smiled and said, “I told you so.”
I then had to go to the store right away so I could buy a package of my very own GARDEIN meatless meal to try on my children. I had the greatest idea. To substitute four meals a week with meatless dishes, that are high in protein and low in calories. I know my boys don’t get enough veggies in their diet and its hard to always monitor what they eat as I share custody. So this is the perfect sneaky, healthy, yet tasty way to incorporate into their diets.
So I bought this and made it for tonight’s dinner
I heated it up
I served Gardein beefless tips over rice, our sides were edamame, salad, and fruit.
My older one cheated he looked at the bag on the counter without me knowing. As he took his second bit he looked up with a smirk and said, “I know whats in this so called beef.” I just looked at him dreading he would say he didn’t like it just because it was meatless and it would cause the middle child to scream and claim he didn’t like it either. To my surprise he said, “Can you please pass more of this delicious meat?”
I asked my boys to tell me the truth on what they really thought after our meal, and it wouldn’t hurt my feelings. They said it was different but they enjoyed it and would eat it again. SCORE for MOM!
I can’t wait to try GARDEIN’s seven grain crispy tenders, which are meat free. This time I will hide the evidence (throw the bag away) and see what they have to say.
This meal was MOMMYJAM approved!
