FitSugar

Veggie Burger Breakdown

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:00:00 -0700

The Fourth of July is just around the corner, and I'm sure you're gearing up for some BBQs. If you're watching your saturated fat and cholesterol intake, veggie burgers are a great option. And according to my burger poll many of you prefer veggie burgers, too. There are so many different brands and flavors out there now, the selection can be a little overwhelming. Some burgers are made with soy and others with grains. Other veggie burgers are just that and made from veggies. Sunshine even makes their burgers with sunflower seeds. Depending on the main ingredients, all your options will differ in calories, sodium, carbs, and protein, so check out this breakdown to see which one satisfies your needs.

Veggie Burger (1 patty)	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Amy's Kitchen All American Veggie Burger	120	3	0	390	15	3	10
Amy's Kitchen California Veggie Burger	140	5	0	430	19	4	6
Boca All American Flame Grilled	90	3	5	280	4	4.5	14
Boca Original Vegan	70	.5	0	280	6	4	13

There's plenty more and to see them just read more.

Veggie Burger (1 patty)	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Boca Grilled Vegetable	80	1	0	300	7	4	12
Boca Cheeseburger	100	4.65	10	360	5	4	13
Boca Garden Vegetable Made With Organic Soy	130	3	0	400	9	4	15
Boca Roasted Garlic Made With Organic Soy	130	.5	0	470	9	4	16
Gardenburger Original	100	3.5	5	420	14	5	5
Gardenburger Sun-Dried Tomato Basil	100	3	5	310	15	5	5
Gardenburger Portabella	90	2.5	5	360	15	5	5
Gardenburger Black Bean Chipotle	80	2.5	0	250	13	5	5
Gardenburger GardenVegan	100	1	0	230	12	3	10
Gardenburger California Burger	90	3.5	0	380	12	2	3
Morningstar Farms Cheddar Burger (contains partially hydrogenated soybean oil)	150	7	10	480	10	3	13
Morningstar Farms Mushroom Lover's (contains corn syrup solids)	110	6	0	220	8	less than 1	7
Morningstar Farms Veggie Medley made with Organic Soy	120	4	0	260	11	2	11
Morningstar Farms Classic Burger made with Organic Soy	150	6	0	280	9	3	14
Morningstar Farms Spicy Black Bean Veggie	120	4	0	350	13	4	11
Sunshine Burger South West	240	12	0	240	26	9	6
Wildwood Tofu-Veggie Burger, Original	180	13	0	330	8	1	12
Wildwood Tofu-Veggie Burger, South West	190	13	0	320	9	2	11

I'm curious what your favorite flavor is? Tell me in the comments section below.

Food Review: Morningstar Farms Chicken Patties

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Although I'm not a full-fledged vegetarian, I do like to eat black-bean burgers, soy milk, and tempeh every once in a while because I like that they are cholesterol free. I never really go for meat alternatives that strive to look, taste, and feel like meat though, but since a good friend recommended Morningstar Farms Chik Patties, I reluctantly agreed to give them a try.

To see what I thought, just read more.

Serving Size	1 patty
Calories	170
Total Fat	5g
Saturated Fat	.5g
Cholesterol	0mg
Sodium	480mg
Carbs	22g
Fiber	2g
Sugar	1g
Protein	10g

I've got to be honest. I wasn't expecting to like these one bit, but these vegetarian chik patties (made of a mix of soy and wheat gluten), were surprisingly good. I loved that the breaded outer layer was really crunchy and the inside was chewy and kind of shredded to make it look like real chicken (nice touch). The Italian herb seasonings were very flavorful and the overall texture was very much like a real chicken patty. As I was eating this as a sandwich, I was thinking about how good it would be in a chicken parm recipe.

Truthfully speaking, although I liked the way these tasted and the fact that each small patty contains 10g of protein, I probably wouldn't buy these again. Why? On the list of ingredients, it says "natural and artificial flavors from nonmeat sources." Um, gross. It also contains corn syrup and caramel color, which really surprised me. I guess it's a good reminder that you can't judge a food by its box - just because it's vegetarian doesn't mean it's healthy.

Veggie Burger Breakdown

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:50:16 -0700

If you're watching your saturated fat and cholesterol intake, veggie burgers are a great option when grilling. According to my burger poll, many of you actually prefer them. There are so many different brands and flavors out there now, the selection can be a little overwhelming. Some burgers are made with soy and others with grains. Other veggie burgers are just that and made from veggies. Sunshine even makes gluten-free burgers with sunflower seeds. Depending on the main ingredients, your options will differ in calories, sodium, carbs, and protein, so check out this breakdown to see which one you might want to grill up at your next BBQ.

1 Patty	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Amy's Kitchen All American Veggie Burger	120	3	0	390	15	3	10
Amy's Kitchen California Veggie Burger	140	5	0	430	19	4	6
Boca All American Flame Grilled	90	3	5	280	4	4.5	14
Boca Original Vegan	70	.5	0	280	6	4	13

There's plenty more, and to see them, just read more.

1 Patty	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Boca Grilled Vegetable	80	1	0	300	7	4	12
Boca Cheeseburger	100	4.65	10	360	5	4	13
Boca Garden Vegetable Made With Organic Soy	130	3	0	400	9	4	15
Boca Roasted Garlic Made With Organic Soy	130	.5	0	470	9	4	16
Gardenburger Original	100	3.5	5	420	14	5	5
Gardenburger Sun-Dried Tomato Basil	100	3	5	310	15	5	5
Gardenburger Portabella	90	2.5	5	360	15	5	5
Gardenburger Black Bean Chipotle	80	2.5	0	250	13	5	5
Gardenburger GardenVegan	100	1	0	230	12	3	10
Gardenburger California Burger	90	3.5	0	380	12	2	3
Morningstar Farms Cheddar Burger (contains partially hydrogenated soybean oil)	150	7	10	480	10	3	13
Morningstar Farms Mushroom Lover's (contains corn syrup solids)	110	6	0	220	8	less than 1	7
Morningstar Farms Veggie Medley made with organic soy	120	4	0	260	11	2	11
Morningstar Farms Classic Burger made with organic soy	150	6	0	280	9	3	14
Morningstar Farms Spicy Black Bean Veggie	120	4	0	350	13	4	11
Sunshine Burger Southwest	240	12	0	240	26	9	6
Wildwood Tofu-Veggie Burger, Original	180	13	0	330	8	1	12
Wildwood Tofu-Veggie Burger, Southwest	190	13	0	320	9	2	11

I'm curious to know what your favorite veggie burger is, so tell me in the comments section below.

Label Able: Guar Gum

FitSugar — Tue, 06 May 2008 11:00:00 -0700

I wasn't exactly wowed by Morningstar Farms Chik Patties and was particularly turned off by the long list of ingredients, which included guar gum.

I have seen this particular ingredient listed on labels before, and although I am fairly certain that guar isn't as scary as the band GWAR, my curiosity was piqued. I did a bit of research on the substance, and to see what I found just read more.

The mysterious ingredient, guar gum, is a fiber from the seeds of the Cyanopsis tetragonoloba bean. It's added to foods to act as a swelling or gelling agent. It's also used as a thickener, and compared to corn starch it has eight times the thickening power. You'll find guar gum in baked goods, dairy products, meat, dressings, sauces, and other processed foods.

It is generally recognized as safe in the US, and since guar gum is a soluble fiber, it can actually be helpful in relieving constipation. Some studies show that it could also help lower cholesterol. In the '80s, guar gum was used and heavily promoted in many weight-loss products, but large amounts may cause esophageal blockage or GI obstruction. As a result, it's no longer approved for over-the-counter weight-loss aids in the US. It's not recommended to have more than 15 grams of guar gum a day. So check your food labels. It sounds like guar gum is OK in moderation, but you don't want to be consuming a ton of foods that contain it.

Source

Label Able: Gum Acacia

FitSugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:30:00 -0700

I recently reviewed Morningstar Farms Chik Patties, and when reading the way-too-long list of ingredients I came upon gum acacia. Great. Another ingredient that sounds weird and unhealthy.

So what is it? If you're curious read more.

Well lo and behold, gum acacia is a natural gum or sap taken from the acacia tree. It's added to foods to act as a stabilizer, emulsifier (binds ingredients together that ordinary don't mix well), or thickener, and it's totally edible. You may also see it called gum arabic. Besides veggie chicken patties, you'll also find it in sodas (like Coca-Cola), hard chewy candies like gumdrops, marshmallows, and chewing gum. Pharmaceutical companies use it to keep medicines from separating into their different ingredients. It's used in shoe polish, the lickable adhesive on stamps and cigarette papers, and newspaper ink to prevent smudging. Well at least now we know it's made from a plant, and not something we need to worry about.

Who Owns Organic Food Brands?

FitSugar — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:45:00 -0700

When buying organic and natural-food brands, such as Kashi and Naked Juice, you may think you're supporting small, independent companies. But often these brands are actually owned by major conglomerates: Kellogg, in the case of Kashi, and Pepsi for Naked Juice.

I was excited to find this very cool chart in the latest issue of Good magazine, which breaks down most of the major natural brands by their corporate owners. For the details, read more.

Some of these definitely did not surprise me: I figured that Morningstar Farms had a corporate owner, and I've read before that Muir Glen is owned by General Mills. However, I had no idea that the Heinz subsidiary Hain Celestial owned so many small companies! Westsoy, Casbah, Shariann's, and more. Check out the entire chart here.

I'm not suggesting you should avoid these brands just because they have corporate owners. But it might help you decide where to put your money if there are certain companies whose policies you disagree with. I'm curious, does corporate ownership affect your buying habits?

Source

Weight Loss Tips for Vegetarians

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 09:30:00 -0700

Contrary to popular belief, just being a vegetarian does not mean you're automatically going to be skinny -- Far from it actually. In fact, some vegetarians smother their food with cheese, which happens to be a big ticket item when it comes to calories.

To give those vegetarians an edge on weight loss, CalorieLab.com has come up with a few great tips on eating without the meat and the extra pounds:

Embrace tofu. A longtime vegetarian staple, tofu makes a great low-calorie alternative to meat. Try Nasoya Lite Tofu for even more calorie savings. Each 3-ounce serving contains 7 grams of protein and 1.5 grams of fat, all for a mere 40 calories. Add it to stir-fry, wrap it up in a tortilla with some veggies, or mix it with pasta and marinara.
Make a meal of veggies. All-vegetable meals don’t have to be rabbit food - there’s so much more than celery and carrot sticks. Ratatouille, a French dish of stewed vegetables, makes eating your veggies anything but boring. Chop up some fresh tomatoes, garlic, onions, zucchini, or whatever vegetables you have on hand. Fresh not available? Canned can be just as good, and the myriad frozen vegetable blends available make the possibilities endless. Other meal options include easy pasta primavera or supermarket vegetable sushi.

There are three more great calorie cutting ideas, so just read more

Bring beans to the table. Members of the legume family, such as beans and lentils, are all great sources of protein and fiber - both helpful in making you feel full. Although most varieties are available dried, canned beans make meal preparation much more convenient. Dried varieties often require overnight soaking while canned varieties are precooked; however, the canned varieties frequently contain high amounts of sodium. Look for low sodium canned varieties to top salads or stuff burritos. Canned beans also make whipping up meatless chili a snap.
Skip the cheese. Unfortunately, opting for a meat-free diet does not give you license to dump cheese on everything you eat. While cheese is a good form of vegetarian protein, it is still a good idea to keep an eye on your saturated fat consumption. When dining out, standard vegetarian dishes, such as Eggplant Parmesan and Fettuccine Alfredo, typically contain high amounts of cheese and cream. Consider ordering a hearty salad or soup instead. At home, use low fat cheeses to sprinkle on salads or pasta. Choose other low-fat dairy, such as yogurt and cottage cheese, for a satisfying and protein-rich snack. If you opt for a vegan weight loss plan, there are now low-fat soy versions of cheese, yogurt, and milk available.
Don’t be afraid of faux meat. In recent years there has been a noticeable proliferation of meat substitutes introduced to the supermarket. Brands such as Boca and Morningstar Farms make a wide variety of meatless wonders, ranging from deli meat to breakfast sausage. While these products often contain a hefty amount of salt, most are high in protein, low in fat, and almost always low in cholesterol. For example, if you substitute an original vegan Boca burger for the real thing, you’ll save 13.5 grams of fat and about 140 calories. With stats like that, it’s clear that faux meat makes slashing calories a cinch.

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