Readers who’ve been vegetarian or vegan for a long time likely remember the early versions of meat alternatives. I’m not talking about straight-up tofu, tempeh and seitan. I’m referring to those alternatives we may have turned to when we were trying to figure out “where to get our protein” or how to eat like we used to, but without putting a creature on our plate. Call them Mock Meats or Fake Meats, perhaps. Remember? First of all, it wasn’t likely you would find these foods anywhere but at the local food co-op, or maybe on the bottom shelf somewhere in the grocery store. Online wasn’t an option, since we didn’t have the internet back in the old days.

Are you with me? Do you see how things have changed?

We have a long way to go, yes, but it’s 1,000% easier to find vegan food today. There are tons of varieties, some healthful and some not so much. But it’s pretty hard to not find something. And for that, I am so grateful.

Loma Linda

Back to the early versions of meat alternatives. There on the shelves, many years ago, you probably saw some items, such hot dogs in a can. These were most likely courtesy of Loma Linda, a company that’s been making sustainable foods since 1890.  Even if you didn’t try the hot dogs – and I never did – you may have thought it was pretty interesting/odd/unusual/cool that someone came up with mock meat in a can. And it is pretty amazing to see a company hang on for over a century and still come up with new product lines. Not too long ago, Loma Linda introduced a new line of Plant-Based Protein Meal Solutions and Plant-Based Meal Starters, and asked Chic Vegan to provide a review.

The products are non-GMO, gluten free and contain 6-9 grams of plant-based protein per serving. All can be prepared in 60 seconds in the microwave, making them pretty good options for quick meals that won’t break the bank (cost is $2.99-$4.49 per pouch).

There is a really great variety in this line. Options include Tikka Masala, Thai Green Curry, Pad Thai,  Hearty Beef Stew, Taco Filling, and even a Chipotle Bowl. The Chipotle Bowl was pretty tasty on its own and I’m sure it could be enhanced with some greens and guacamole. The Beef Stew wasn’t chunky like I remember beef stew, but it did have that look and smell.

The taco filling is intriguing. I love the idea, the taste was good, but the texture was a bit off. In a pinch, it would be fine.

Food in pouches is handy

It’s not the same as fresh food, but it can be great for camping. It’s handy to keep in your desk at work, and sometimes it’s necessary if you lose power. So, maybe it isn’t part of your daily diet, but it’s not something you should completely write off. And if gets someone you know to try a meatless meal, it’s so worth it. Buy a pouch for your desk or give one to your die-hard meat-eating hiker friend. See what happens.

The post Loma Linda Brings Convenience in a Pouch appeared first on Chic Vegan.

The Purple Carrot is a vegan meal delivery service. Each week they mail the all of the raw, premeasured ingredients needed to make delicious plant-based meals and snacks right to your door. Every week they give four new dinner options, and customers get to pick the two that they like the best. The pre-measured ingredients for the dishes are sent along with recipe cards. Ingredients to make a healthy snack are included too. All of the ingredients are fresh, organic, and non-gmo, and once they arrive you just need to chop, mix, and cook. Meals take around half an hour to make, and they serve 4 people.

I was impressed with The Purple Carrot as soon as I opened the box. The ingredients for each meal were premeasured, labeled, and packaged in little containers, and each meal’s ingredients were packed together in a labeled bag. Recipe cards came along with the food, and each one listed the preparation requirements, such as a large skillet, as well as the cook and prep time.

The meals I choose for my delivery were Linguine with Creamy Tomato Sauce and Vegan Sausage and Korean Eggplant Tacos with Kimchi Mayo. The snack that came along with the meals was Cookie Dough Hummus with apples and graham crackers for dipping. Both meals were quick and easy to prepare, as well as quite delicious. There are only two of us, so we had leftovers of the linguine dish, and we actually got three meals each out of it, rather than two. There’s something quite comforting and soul satisfying about pasta, (veggie) sausage, and tomatoes.

The Korean tacos were so incredible that we ate them all in one go though. The dish was so original that I’m going to hang on to that recipe card and make them again in the future. I loved the spicy eggplant strips paired with the creamy kimchi mayo. Kimchi mayo – pure genius!

I’m going to have to admit that I was skeptical about the Cookie Dough Hummus at first. Do I want to eat hummus that tasted like cookie dough? I quickly realized that the answer was an absolute yes! It was super fast to put together, and I found that the flavors came together after sitting in the fridge for about an hour. I was impressed that the two apples and four graham crackers that came with the snack was the perfect amount for dipping – the hummus was finished with the last apple wedge. (I know how difficult it is to figure out the dip to dipper ratio!)

The Purple Carrot is a perfect for busy families who want a healthy home-cooked meal but don’t have much time in the evenings. It’s also great for kitchen novices just learning to cook or seasoned cooks who are suffering from kitchen burnout like I was. It’s much healthier and more delicious than take-out and in some cases probably even faster. I’m definitely going to be ordering from The Purple Carrot during weeks that I know I’m going to be too busy to deal with dinner.

The Purple Carrot is generously offering a discount for Chic Vegan readers who would like to give the meal delivery service a try. Use the code “CHIC” at checkout to save 50% off your first order. Place your order on ThePurpleCarrot.com.

The post The Purple Carrot to the Rescue! (And a special offer for Chic Vegan readers!) appeared first on Chic Vegan.