Burger Bliss

Five years ago, I announced to my mother that I would no longer be eating meat. After recovering from the surprise, she took me on a very necessary trip to the grocery store, where I bought the essential neophyte vegetarian item: the veggie burger.

They're quick, convenient, and tasty, plus they provide an easy meatless form of protein. While I no longer eat them with the same regularity as my initial days of vegetarianism, I still keep a box (or two) on hand for those times when I simply haven't the motivation nor the time to prepare an elaborate vegetarian feast. Boca was my first brand of choice, but since then I have broadened my horizons. Yes, since my early days as a veg, I have graduated to brands such Sunshine Burger, Health Is Wealth, and, of course, the mistress of veggie burger expertise, Amy.

Sunshine Burger
This past year, in the midst of summer barbecues and grill-out sessions, I was on the hunt for a new variety of veggie burger, specifically one that was both meat- and soy-free. I of course ventured to Whole Foods for the answer to my burger-prayers. After a quick jaunt down the frozen foods aisle, I found these: Sunshine burgers. Made simply with raw ground sunflower seeds, whole grains, vegetables, and a dash of sea salt, Sunshine burgers are the epitome of an all-natural burger. I love that these burgers are completely free of unnecessary ingredients.

Sunshine burgers are available in 4 varieties: Garden Herb, Original, Barbecue, and Southwest. Nutritional stats vary accordingly, but most are between 200-259 kcalories with a moderate (6-8 grams) of protein, and 12-13 grams of fat. Most varieties also provide an impressive amount of vitamin A, ranging from 50-90% of your daily RDA.

While these burgers are tasty any way you eat 'em, I recommend the old fashioned way, in a whole grain bun with your favorite toppings, such as salsa or avocado.

Feel free to eat them sans bun, as well; I regularly enjoy them this way as a fish substitute when my family is having a seafood-centered meal.

Finally, if you'd rather use your creativity, consider slicing one up as a salad component. I especially like them in combination with my homemade sweet dill dressing.

Health Is Wealth Chicken-Free Patties
As a girl raised (mostly) in the South, I've enjoyed a few Chick Fil A sandwiches in my day, and I do occasionally get a craving for a deliciously breaded patty (couldn't care less about the chicken part!). Fortunately, there is a relatively healthful alternative. While many breaded "chik" patties exist on the market today, many still contain high amounts of fat and a few questionable ingredients. Health Is Wealth, however, produces a chicken-free patty that is low in fat (1.5 grams) and breaded with whole grain bread crumbs. Plus, they're vegan--no egg whites are used to provide that breaded crust.
These can be difficult to find, although Whole Foods carries the brand; only large stores carry this particular product. Look for it at health food stores as well. If you can't find the patties, the chicken-free nuggets are just as good!

These patties also lend themselves well to the traditional whole grain bun route. My condiments of choice are a mixture of vegan mayo and mustard, even better if it's agave-mustard! For Chick-fil-A authenticity, you could throw a few pickles on top:)

Try using these in place of chicken in your favorite Chicken Parmigiana recipe. Yum.

These patties can also easily be sliced and used as a salad topper or wrap stuffing. The possibilities are endless!

Amy's Bistro Burger
If you've taken a look at the frozen food aisle lately, you've probably noticed a proliferation of products emblazoned with the notorious "Amy's Kitchen" label. Aside from her delicious burritos, pizzas, and breakfast items, Amy also produces a wide variety of burgers, made from whole grains, veggies, and soy. This particular item caught my eye due to its relatively low sodium content for a frozen food (14% RDA) and abundance of vegetables in its ingredients list.

Each patty contains 90 kcalories, 2.5 grams of fat, and a slightly disappointing 5 grams of protein. I would hope for more protein in a meat alternative. Nonetheless, these burgers provide a satisfying alternative to your regular beef burger. As a bonus, they are made from 93% organic ingredients--score!

Warning: if you do not like mushrooms, you may not like these burgers. The shroom' flavah is strong, which is just fine by my tastebuds, but others may be overwhelmed by its presence.

I like mine best with mashed avocado...

But they're pretty awesome with organic K + M as well.

Just as good in a wrap!

The Amy's website also recommends adding BBQ sauce...perhaps we should try the humbecue combo as well?

Amy's Texas Burger
Speaking of barbecue, these burgers are specifically designed to have that distinctive smoky flavor.

This variety is decidedly less 'shroom-ey and more tomato-ey. There's also some bell peppers and a kick of molasses. Tasty.

Each patty contains 120 kcalories, 2.5 grams of fat, and a respectable 12 grams of protein.

I like mine with lots of spicy salsa!
They're also pretty tasty as a salad-topper...especially with Woodstock dressing to play up that tomato goodness. Best served with some sweet potato fries!
These few burgers represent just a selection of my veggie burger samplings and an even smaller portion of those available on the market. What are your favorite meatless patties? What do you look for in a veggie burger? Let me know...I'm always searching for a new favorite:)