New Foods - Taco Night

Monday Night we tried a few prepackaged vegan alternative foods. I try to eat very little prepackaged or pre-prepared food. So, even though I am embarking on a radically different plant-based diet I have been leaning heavily on whole foods and have been cooking.

Unfortunately, Sunday Night was a bust at home. I made Quinoa, Cabbage, Black Eyed Peas, and Butternut Squash. I underseasoned everything. Although I was ok with the combination, John mentioned on Monday morning that it was less than satisfying and really didn't seem like a meal to him. Fair enough.

On Monday afternoon I added roasted tomatoes and finely chopped kale and turned the leftovers into a well-seasoned vegetable stew. I also decided that I would try some of the vegan alternatives that people talk about.

I tried taco night.

Started w/ Mission Gluten Free Spinach & Herb Tortillas. I will say that most gluten-free tortillas do not wrap and hold well. They are dry and break apart. These heated well and held together adequately. At 120 Calories a piece they will not be a staple in my house but for a treat, I may work them in. Tacos have always been my weak spot.

Inside my soft taco, I used 4 prepackaged ingredients: Amy's Organic Chili, The Jackfruit Company Tex-Mex Jackfruit, Daiya deliciously dairy-free cheddar style shreds, and Avocado Ranch Cashew Almond Dip. I also added sliced tomato and lettuce.

For John, I grilled some Turkey.

So how were they? Great. But Expensive. Highly Processed. Way, way over my calorie allowance for dieting. But Great!

What will I keep, delete, or do differently? Although I find the cheddar style shreds to be tasteless and the most unnatural item of the night I will keep some around. They were not bad. John liked it and at least while I am transitioning it can't hurt. I will probably not eat them.

The Jackfruit was interesting but expensive. I will probably not buy that brand again because the packages are small and it seems somehow too slick. I don't know. I am interested in learning to cook w/ Jackfruit and Breadfruit. The Asian grocery store in town has them seasonally. I can also buy it in bulk on Amazon if I don't want to go to the store. The packaged stuff was a treat and thought me that I really just need to season better and plan better. The Jackfruit added a good chew and mouthfeel. The tex-mex seasoned Jackfruit was great. I may buy some it was super easy to just cut open the bag and cook w/ it.

I loved the Avocado Ranch Cashew Almond Dip!!! It was also expensive and I did not need to layer it in my Taco but I will buy definitely buy it again or make something similar in a small batch as I am cooking. I will not waste the calories or flavor in a Taco again. But oh yes what a yummy fat. Next time I make Taco's I will just add avocado or guacamole.

I always have Amy's items on hand. As I cook more and need fewer last-minute rescues I will purchase less of them. As it is, they go on sale and I know where all of the calorie and nutrition counts are so if I am hungry they are easy.

Monday night was a cheat night. Not a cheat against eating plant-based but definitely not a calorie-controlled night. I feel good this morning so I'm ok with the day off.

Links to all of the items I tried are below. I purchased them all at Publix.

www.missionfoods
.com/products/gluten-free-
spinach-herb-tortilla-wraps/

thejackfruitcomp
any.com/products/tex-mex-j
ackfruit/

hopefoods.com/pr
oducts/avocado-ranch-cashe
w-and-almond-dip

www.amys.com/our
-foods/organic-medium-chili

daiyafoods.com/o
ur-foods/shreds/cheddar/