We are all busy. Creating a delicious and healthy meal at the end of a long day can be challenging. Gardein (garden + protein) has been a part of my meal planning for as long as I’ve been vegetarian, and I’m always happy to recommend any of their products for new vegans and vegetarians, or for anyone who is trying to eat healthier.
I spend a lot of time introducing people to the joy and ease of a plant-based diet. You don’t have to be a vegetarian to enjoy a meat-free meal! Joining up with Meatless Monday is a great way to discover many delicious new foods and to enjoy some of the benefits of following a diet that contains less meat.
Gardein is made with non-GMO soy, wheat, ancient grains, and vegetables. It provides the taste, texture, and nutrition of meat with less fat and calories. Many Gardein products are also gluten-free! One serving of the Mini Crispy Crabless Cakes provides 9 grams of protein (or if you use it for dinner for two like I did, closer to 14 grams), no cholesterol and are an excellent source of plant-based Omega 3s. They make a great appetizer, or you can do like I did and serve with rice and Mango Avocado Salsa and make a meal!
Going meatless one day a week is not only great for your health, it is good for the environment. The meat industry produces more greenhouse gasses than the entire transportation sector combined. If all Americans ate meatless one day a week, it would be the equivalent of taking 1/2 million cars off the road. And for Californians in the midst of a drought, here’s a fact that will hit home: A pound of beef uses 1,799 gallons of water to produce. A pound of Gardein takes just 52.8 gallons (source: Water Footprint Research Methodology for beef usage).
To be honest, I had shied away from the Crabless Cakes because I wasn’t sure that I’d like them. I was afraid of a “fishy” taste. When I was chosen for this campaign I decided to give them a try and I’m so happy that I did! They were light, crunchy, delcious, and not fishy at all!
Gardein Crabless Cakes with Mango Avocado Salsa
While the Crabless Cakes make a great appetizer, I decided to make them a meal, so I served them with wild rice, vegan tartar sauce and I whipped up a fresh Mango Avocado salsa for a side. They were delicious!
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In the past, it could be difficult to find plant-based products at mainstream markets, but not anymore. You’ll find Gardein right in the frozen food section of most supermarkets (I found mine at Ralphs!). New to preparing vegan food? Here’s a tip: Try substituting Gardein for the meat in your favorite recipes!
You can save a $1 on any Gardein product (through May 31).
Do you participate in Meatless Monday? Have you tried Gardein products?
My weekly linkups! Please stop by and check out all of the great recipes, workouts, and information that all these awesome bloggers share every week!
Sunday Blog Hop with Jenn
Meatless Monday with Sarah and Deborah
Meatless Monday with Annmarie
Inspire Me Monday with Janice
Anything Goes with Marilyn
Bonnie, the Pin Junkie
Tip Tuesday with Debbie in Shape
Wild Workout Wednesday with Annmarie, Michelle, Sarah, and Angelena Marie
Wednesday Wisdom with Nanna’s Wisdom
The Running Coaches’ Corner with Rachel, Suz, Lora Marie, and Me!
The Blogger’s Pit Stop with Kathleen
Let’s Get Real with Karen.
Friday Fitness with Jill
Fitness Friday with Miranda
Wow! These look so good! I’ve never seen them in the store before.
I think they’re fairly new. I found them at Whole Foods, but now I’m hat I know how good th y are I’ll keep my eye out at other stores that carry Gardein (which is most of them these days!).
Your salsa sounds amazing!! You had me a avocado. 🙂 The crabless cakes are so good. I was pleasantly surprised how tasty they were!
Me too! Before I tried them I wasn’t interested in anything ‘fishy.’
Those do look like real crab cakes! I’ve not tried the Gardein products yet maybe I should? Thanks for linking up for Meatless Monday today always great to have you
Thanks D bo ah. Yes, you must try Gardein. So convenient and they really are good.
Looks like a delicious meal Debbie! btw- after the Carlsbad 5000 we drove home and ate at Joi cafe in Westlake. It reminds me of you, I know how much you loved it. We crave their food!
I love the Joi Cafe! I will definitely go back next time I’m in the area. Which will probably be in November for the Malibu half.
This really looks quite delicious! So wish I could have avocados!!!
I can’t imagine life without avocado! 🙂 I’m sorry you can’t eat them.
Whoah this blog is great i love reading your articles. Keep up the good work! You know, many people are hunting around for this info, you could help them greatly.
Thank you.
I have been using Gardein products for a while and really haven’t found any that I don’t like. This looks like a really good combo!
I agree. I love that they keep coming up with new ideas.
Looks delicious, I will have to check those out, do they contain soy? The mango avocado
salsa sounds like the perfect pairing for them.
Thank you for linking up with us for Meatless Monday!
Yes, most Gardein products contain soy. I’m not sure if they have any that are soy free.
Meatless can be good! 🙂
Yes, it can! Thank goodness!
Love that salsa! Looks awesome. Thanks for linking up!
We’ve actually bought Gardein a few times when our youngest went through a vegetarian phase. I would taste everything before serving it to her and most of it didn’t taste bad at all! Those crab cakes do look really good…we didn’t get those.
That looks like a very nice meal and easy to prepare. Mango avocado salsa sound like it would be delicious. I make a mango salsa but it does not have avocado in it, I must try that.
This looks like a great recipe for someone who doesn’t eat meat. I’d never heard of crabless cakes before. Thanks for sharing your post at the Over the Moon Link Party.
I haven’t tried the crabless cakes yet but this recipe convinced me to go get some 😉 And this salsa looks like the perfect topping!