People who decide to become vegetarians, or who at least want to limit the amount of meat in their diets, often find it difficult to give up certain foods they've been long accustomed to. The idea of maybe never eating another hamburger is a daunting one for anyone who has grown up eating them.
Working in a health-food store, I encounter a lot of newer vegetarians, and also people who've been living without meat for years, who are looking for more options to add to their diets. Many vegetarians eventually just start making most of their meals from scratch, but for those who desire convenience or don't possess the kitchen skills to get beyond mixing a salad, there are plenty of choices that are either ready out of the box or just need to be warmed up.
I asked a couple of good friends who have lived for decades without meat in their diets for good suggestions to seek out at the grocery store. Here are some vegetarian foods to check out:
8. Amy's Kitchen Quarter Pound Veggie Burger
My pal Tommy Thunders (Yes, that's his name) swears by these large veggie burgers. Amy's Kitchen seems to be a major player in the vegetarian convenience food market, and everything I've ever had from them has been tasty, particularly their enchiladas and Indian dishes. The Quarter Pound Veggie Burger is described this way on Amy's Kitchen's website:
"Amy's Quarter Pound Veggie Burger combines fresh organic grains and vegetables with protein-rich soybeans and a hint of barbeque sauce to create a firm, great tasting burger that's perfect for barbecuing or grilling." That, combined with Tommy's endorsement, is enough to steer me towards this burger the next time I'm at the store.
7. Field Roast Brand Sausages
Tommy also suggested these, and I sell them at the store where I work. They really are exceptional vegetarian alternatives to meat sausages. The flavors are great, and they have a texture similar to that of meat sausages, something that can be difficult to achieve. The sausages come in three flavors, and the description from the company's website is mouthwatering:
Italian - made with fresh eggplant and packed with fennel, red wine, garlic and sweet peppers.
Mexican Chipotle - a spicy-hot blend of smoked Chipotle peppers, Chili de Arbol peppers, fresh chopped garlic, sweet onions seasoned with cumin seed and oregano.
Smoked Apple Sage - a savory combination of apples and sage anchored with Yukon gold potatoes with a subtle hint of hickory smoke.
Pro tip from Tommy: These sausages are awesome eaten like hot dogs, on a bun with barbecue sauce and cheddar.
