www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Easy, Tasty Fasting Foods

I don't like cooking; and I'm tired of tofu, peanuts and bread. So, I thought that I would start a thread on vegan packaged foods that actually taste good.

Please don't post recipes. Instead, please just post a short description of packaged, strictly vegetarian (vegan) foods that actually taste good.

If you can, please post a link to the company's website, too, so we can an idea of what the product looks, so we know what to look for in the grocery store.

Bon Appetit !

-- John

Here are two packaged vegan foods that I can recommend.

Ka-Me [kame.com] brand noodles are good. They come in a little red box. Inside are two plastic, sealed bags. One bag contains noodles that are already cooked; the other one contains the sauce. First you empty the noodles into the box. Then you pour the sauce over them. Then you reclose the box top, and you microwave it for 2 minutes. You get a hot, cooked main course for a meal (or a really good snack). The peanut satay noodles (noodles in a thick peanut sauce) are delicious and satisfying -- even for a man's appetite. And the peanut noodels are not too spicy, either. Each box costs about $3.60 (USD) in the grocery. I was able to find this in our local Kroger's (our local, average grocery store) in the "international" section.

Zio Foods [gourmetfoodmall.com] offers a selection of dried vegan meals. Each thin, tall box contains grains and spices. Boil about 2 cups of water, add the contents, bring to a simmer, and let cook for about 15 minutes. You will get about 3 cups of delicious food. I had the Tandoori Spicy Rice and Lentils for lunch today: Yum ! Each package costs about $3.60. I found them is a high-end grocery story, not in the average grocery store.

OK, that's it for now; more recommendations later.

-- John

Slava Isusu Christu!

I've found http://www.amys.com to have some great foods.

The black bean vegetable burrito is very good and a lenten staple for lunch ... http://www.amys.com/products/category_view.php?prod_category=10

Many of her other dishes are great too.

That burrito looks really good !!!

Amy is awesome. She cooks a good Indian vegan dinner too:
Indian Mattar Tofu [amys.com]

-- John

If you like Indian food, many prepackaged Indian foods like curried chickpeas, that simply need a couple of minutes of microwaving, are vegan and very filling with a bowl of rice.

There are some veggie burgers that are vegan.

If you have an organic supermarket like Whole Foods near you, they have lots of vegan foods, both ready prepared and frozen. They even have stuff like vegan stuffed ravioli, and vegan chocolate chocolate chip cookies which taste better than the real ones!

One of our best vegan friends is hummus. It is very tasty and can be used as a spread on bread or some gourmet shops even use it as a spread for other types of sandwiches. It tastes good on some of those vegan veggie burgers which aren't always all that tasty. It adds extra protein to the diet for you guys, since you men seem to need it most!

Hummus in better supermarkets is usually found in a refrigerated section with other prepared middle eastern foods like tabouli (bulgur wheat and parsley salad), stuffed grape leaves, etc. All such middle Eastern foods are generally vegan. Frozen potato and spinach pierogi are vegan, and you can fry them in oil.

These are just a few no or little preparation ideas....

Ofcourse, dried fruits, nuts, and fresh fruit can be filling.

Last year I went to a Japanese market and found a very good dressing from Japan for salads which is tasty and vegan. I like sesame, but ginger is also good. American supermarket versions of Japanese dressings and foods are never as good as the real stuff. I would then buy a bag of prepared bagged Dole coleslaw and mix it with it, and it was really tasty, and I turned my whole family on to it--even those who weren't fasting liked it!

I really, really like Mornignstar brand (in all supermarkets, web site is: http://www.seeveggiesdifferently.com/products.aspx?coid=23&family=363 ) chik patties. Their different veggie burgers are also really, really good, except that they have some egg white in the ingredients to bind them. Whether one thinks this significant or not is up to them, their scrupolisity or lack of it, and ofcourse, their spiritual father. They are very filling, however.

For a quick and easy meal: boil, cook and drain a thick cut of pasta like ziti, open a can of small white beans, rinse them, add them to the cooked pasta and mix together with a good marinara sauce. Beans can be very filling.

Just some ideas for now....

Alice

P.S. When all ideas fail or you are just sick of them, think: Chinese, Pan Asian or Japanese, which always has great vegan options such as shrimp, lobster, crab, etc., and their sauces are completely vegan...

Now get eating...there is nothing as grumpy as a hungry man on the Lenten fast...LOL!

John,

HMMM!

I just saw your other posts and realized that you knew alot already. Are you being a forum baiter? (baiting others for their ideas) LOL!

Alice, who thought she was answering a poor, hungry and defenseless and clueless man!

JOHN:

Somewhere we have a thread about fasting recipes if you need to find things to make at home.

I'd have to look, but the vegetarian chili that Irish Melkite (Neil) and I managed to put together is a sure winner.

In Christ,

BOB

Bless you, Alice, for those delicious sounding ideas !

Hummus is so good, when it can be found. The best that I have found (so far) in the store is Tribe's "Two Sheiks." [tribehummus.com]

I have never been inside a Whole Foods store; I hear that they are really cool.

Spinach pierogi ? Never thought of that. Sounds good . . .


LOL ! What, did you see me this week . . .

-- John

ROFL !

I agree with you about the noodles. I have eaten them, and indeed, they are really yummy. They are also good for those who need something to take with them to work, etc. The only downside is that they are very high in calories (for women) and sodium (for everyone)...That is generally the downside of all such prepared foods.

Alice

Did anyone else remember chocolate???

Alice, your fasting suggestions are great, but your terminology is a bit off; vegans are the ones who don't use animal products at all, so while seafood may be acceptable fasting food, it's neither vegan nor vegetarian.

OOPS, thanks! You are right...the Eastern fast is both vegan and non-vegan!

So what do you call it when no animal products are allowed, but seafood is?!? I looked it up and couldn't find any such exact definition.

So how about such a diet simply being classified along with the others as: 'Orthodox'...it could be like 'kosher' for the Jews.....just imagine 'certified orthodox'!!! LOL!

Regards,
Alice

Eastern fasters?

Charles


How could anyone forget that glorious food ?

That's what keeps us going in our struggles