Gardein Offers a Healthy Fast Food Alternative

Recently, my family had a chance to sample the new gardein (garden + protein = gardein) chick’n and beef sliders. These mini sandwiches are intended as a quick yet healthy alternative to traditional fast food.

The chick’n ones were definitely our favorite. No one in my house particularly cared for the beefless sliders, but we’re accustomed to eating actual beef. Generally speaking, I tend to have better luck with faux chicken type products when we’re going meatless.

There are four gardein sliders in a package. Two sliders and a piece of fruit was enough for my lunch. One slider was a sufficient after school snack for my son.

One of the chick’n sliders with a bun has 190 calories, 6 grams of fat, 3 grams of dietary fiber, and 11 grams of protein. The sliders are certified vegan, dairy free, and made with non-GMO ingredients.

Like many microwaveable sandwiches, I found it a little tricky to get the patty in the middle cooked all the way through without getting the bun too hot or having it end up rock solid. However, if you have a cloth bag that is used for microwaving baking potatoes, cooking the slider inside the bag seems to help a bit. (I’ve never seen these fabric bags in stores, but they’re a popular craft show item where I live. You can also buy them on Etsy from sellers like Thread Basket.)

Gardein products can be found at a number of supermarkets, including Kroger, Shop Rite, Harris Teeter, Publix, and Whole Foods. Many Target stores also carry a select of meatless items from gardein.

Disclaimer: Product samples were provided by the manufacturer for the purpose of preparing this review.

Photo credit: Gardein