I am not a perfect vegan. Just like many other busy people, sometimes I depend on convenience foods to get dinner on the table. I don’t feel guilty (too much) about this, because my motivation to eat a plant based diet is ethical, not for health purposes. That being said, I try to eat mostly whole foods, stay away from over-processed, chemical-laden packaged food. But…
Driving home from work recently, I was feeling pretty tired and drained. The time change, combined with a busy weekend, left me low on energy. Since I tend to do my dinner planning on the drive home, I decided to stop by Ralphs and pick up some vegan chick’n fillets. I envisioned serving them with a mushroom gravy and Brussels sprouts.
As I was grabbing the package out of the freezer, I happened to notice some packaged food that I’d never seen before. It was a brand called Simple Truth and they offered a variety of meat free choices (see the picture below). There was no “V” for vegan on the package, but a quick look at the ingredients indicated that they were definitely animal product free.
When I pulled out a package to check the ingredients, I got an even bigger surprise when I saw the Kroger label. I can’t tell you how excited I was to see that a mainstream grocery chain like Kroger, which operates the Ralphs supermarkets in my area, plus Smiths, Baker’s, City Market, and many others, is selling what is basically a generic version of vegan convenience food.
From the Simple Truth website:
Ironically, I couldn’t find any of the vegan food listed on the web page. They must be really new.
So, loaded with my Simple Truth purchases, I changed my meal plan. Well, almost the same, but this meal was total comfort/diner food. I used the Simple Truth Crispy Patties, grilled them on the stove top, then made a mushroom gravy. If a 50s-style diner served vegan food alongside their meatloaf, this would have fit perfectly on the menu. Crispy “chicken,” served with the baked potato and mushroom gravy. Very tasty.
Just to show that there is no limit to my laziness creativity curiosity interest in new and amusing foods, I also found a new Gardein item, Meatless Sliders. I’ve never had a “Meat” slider, but I thought these sounded kind of fun. I haven’t tried them yet, but I suspect I may have a new addition to my standard “football fare.”
Okay, so I’m not a perfect vegan or perfect “clean” eater, but overall I eat pretty healthfully, harm no animals, and certainly enjoy my food.
How about you? Do you give in to “tired mom syndrome” or “working woman condition” from time to time? What is your favorite “easy” food?
I saw these the other day! I do wish the Kroger here had better prduce, becasue they do a great job of getting/making some alternative products.
No shame in lazy food! I used to be “worse” about it, but after watching sodium I do much less prepared food… which means I became a champ a freezing leftovers! That said, I love Lightlife veggie burgers.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted..Quick Breakfast Bread Pudding + WIAW
I tend to use leftovers as lunch the next day, so I don’t have much to put in the freezer. After I read your comment, I check the sodium in the patties. They each have 350 milligrams. Not great, but not too bad.
Debbie recently posted..What I’m Eating: The Simple Truth
I am glad you can find some tasty vegan food that has enough protein to feed your body
PS: Lazy Food – sometimes we all jut need to do it!
GiGi Eats Celebrities recently posted..The Bachelor: Here Come The Crazies!
Ain’t that the truth. Protein is really not too much of a problem, but I do appreciate the tasty part
Debbie recently posted..What I’m Eating: The Simple Truth
I, too have felt the time change as I ZZzzzzz my way through the afternoon. Glad you found a good alternative for your action packed life. Hope we both are awake and back on energy track in 3 weeks when Alexandra and I return from our Thailand trip. Stay healthy!
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That’s great! My favorite go to is veggie burgers from Dr. Praeger’s. No junk with real veggies in it! Sometimes convenience wins and it’s great that retailers/grocers are getting in on the vegan train.
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted..Lately
I definitely give into the tired mom syndrome! Sometimes convenience is the way to go, happy you found some convenient vegan food.
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YES YES YES I HAVE THIS!!
and then I poach.
fish.
Sorry
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I always have frozen chicken breasts in the freezer…for the just in case moments
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I’ve bought stuff from the Simple Truth line but never seen the frozen vegan options. I’ll definitely have to check next time because I too can be a lazy cook.
I just noticed that they were carrying their own line. I do like to keep stuff like that on hand for super fast meals from time to time. I think that’s perfectly ok!
That’s so awesome that grocery stores are moving to accommodate more eating styles. I love seeing this! I have to admit, everybody eating super fresh and raw all the time sometimes makes me feel bad. But frozen food is there for ya when life gets a little TOO crazy.
Amanda @ Run Principessa recently posted..Bring On the Adventure
We have spaghetti issues at my house. When we don’t know what else to make then you get spaghetti,. And, yes, the sauce is from a jar. I wish we still had Krogers out by my hojse so I xould check this out.
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I am not vegan, but I like to buy the Simple Truth line of products at our Kroger store. They have a good and affordable variety of natural foods, and sometimes organic. I am all for more affordable health food!
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I was also thrilled to find the simple truth line at Kroger. I am not vegan but they have a all natural PIZZA made with whole ingredients and whole wheat crust! If I’m gonna eat pizza this is the way to go! I am buying so many of these simple truth products now.
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I am the queen of lazy cooking!! Has to be few ingredients for me to cook & EASY clean up – I may hard core it in the gym but not the kitchen!
Jody – Fit at 55 recently posted..May I have a Cup of Coffee with that SUGAR Please
I love to see mainstream grocery stores coming around to offer better-for-you food. Yes I have those days where dinner barely comes together. Lots of scrambled eggs and protein shakes happen those nights!
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mmmm these sound good! I will have to google to see if I can find close to home! maybe at an earth fare or a whole foods…I like the morning star farms chik n patties, and knowing what a real chicken patty tastes like, I am always amazed at how close to the real thing they taste like, minus all the “mystery” parts of an animal! I keep meaning to tell you I finally tried tempeh….i liked it FAR better than tofu, but I still don’t know if i prefer it over processed soy product like a vegan burger, etc…at least I finally tried it!
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