I hate being trendy part 4 - "They are out to get me!"

    Thanks to the wonders of algorithms if I try to eat a little healthier or try to eat a bit more plant based, my social media feeds (have you checked out our Facebook page yet) explodes in a variety of articles and recipes.  Which I don't mind so much in that I like to learn about different things that interest me.   What I do mind is that I have more than one interest and my feed is full of nothing but vegan and plant based info now.   

    For example, Kentucky Fried Chicken's new plant based nuggets.  No, I've not tried them yet but I'm planning on it.  My social media feeds are full of stories, reviews and general information about this one product right now.

    Any company that is offering plant based foods I think deserves kudo's and our cash; because if they see it's a profitable market, they will continue to support it.   It's not a bad thing as such, although please note that KFC's plant based offering is technically not vegan or vegetarian because they are being cooked in the same fryers as their usual chicken products.  Hopefully that will change in the near future.

    That frankly doesn't bother me, but then again I'm not vegan or vegetarian and I think KFC missed the mark because they would have expanded their market by making one fryer dedicated to just the plant based nuggets.  I just want to eat good food and I've heard nothing but good things about the KFC plant based nuggets.   I am on a journey to eat healthier and better and I'm doing this for the environment and for me.  

    The journey however is full of pitfalls. I try to eat a healthy snack like Veggie Straws and up pops the Food Network website with a story how maybe they are not as healthy as I may like.  

    Even in my day job, where I work in insurance and banking, is not free from the influx of plant based news.   The highly respected Motley Fool financial newsletter recently published an article about the top Vegan brands that we should be looking to invest in.  

    Plant based and healthier products are the wave of the future.  Most of the small brands like Amy's and Evol foods are now owned by larger multinational food companies.   That being said I generally like both of these companies and have purchased the Evol brand several times.

    Evol generally are not vegan or vegetarian products but do offer good tasting food that is generally lower in sodium, calories and sugars than other similar brands.   So when I found they made a plant based Veggie Burrito bowl, I was excited to try it.  

    So why didn't I care for their Veggie Burrito Bowl?  It is something that I can't place my finger on.  

    I like a touch of spice but this was not spicy, or had much of a taste at all.   It was simply...bland.   As someone that praises taste above all us, this is a cardinal sin.  Which is a shame, I generally love the Evol foods brand and would recommend nearly all of their products.  Just not this one.

    

Power Bowl

    Another product that I had mixed feelings about was the Healthly Choice Falafel and Tahini Bowl, which is also owned by the Conagra Brand.   Being a "Power Bowl" the falafel and some greens are basically served over a mix of brown and red rice, red quinoa, and black barley.   That, I suppose, is what creates the "power."  

    I actually enjoyed the falafel and tahini sauce although I wish the veggies were a bit more plentiful.   The rice, quinoa and barley mix was actually the disappointing part for me, as it turned into a 1 note bland taste that reminded me of paste.  No, it did not have that consistency but it just was one bland note.  Reading some of the reviews, it appears that some hot sauce or lemon might have been a good option to add to the dish overall.    

    Like everything in life, you do have to understand how to read the nutritional label and be sure that you are buying a product that meets your needs.  In my case for example, I'm trying to watch my salt intake and my tran fats.   Eating prepackaged food, even if it is vegan, is not a good choice but I do find it to be quick and convenient.  

    For example the Healthy Choice item was higher in calories than the Evol meal but higher in protein, calcium and iron.  Other wise the two were close to being identical in nutrition.   I know I'm not comparing apples to apples but it's still a fair comparison to make.  

    One day I may become a better cook and actually try to create or recreate some of these dishes, for now however I'm okay with eating the per-made stuff.  Plus, like I mentioned before, the only way to get a large company to continue to make something is to show that there is a market for it.   

    Waiting in the wings (pun intended) is a meal from the Jackfruit Company, some plant based burgers made from mushrooms and a few other things.  So my journey will continue...and I suppose these brief little reviews will as well.

    Your feedback is always welcome..