Review of 'Gardein' Chick'n Strips

Gardein -- Chick'n Strips (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3/5
Summary: the low sodium was definitely noted...and appreciated! There was very little flavour and seasoning/salt, but I really liked this because I could add my own seasonings, based on whatever I was in the mood for. It really had that authentic chicken texture and would be really good with a bbq sauce. And, it's a pretty versatile product--it would be good in wraps, stir-frys, and fried rice/noodles. It's too bad that Gardein products do not guarantee GMO-free ingredients, because some of their products are really great. Because of this uncertainty, I wouldn't recommend them.

Where to buy: Freshco, Fortinos

 

Ingredients: water, soy protein*, Canadian wheat protein*, natural flavours (from plant sources), yeast extract, expeller pressed/ canola oil, organic cane sugar, sea salt, organic ancient grain flour (kamut®, amaranth, millet, quinoa), onion powder, garlic powder, pea protein, carrot fibre, beetroot fibre, extractives of paprika and turmeric. rub: dehydrated vegetables (red bell pepper, garlic, onions), spices, organic cane sugar, salt.

Nutritional Facts*

Serving size: roughly 8 strips (67g)

Calories: 100

Fat: 1.5g

     Saturated: 0g

     Trans: 0g

Cholesterol: 0mg

Sodium: 170mg

Potassium: 380mg

Carbohydrate: 3g

     Fibre: 1g

     Sugars: 1g

Protein: 19g

Vitamin A: 2%

Calcium: 4%

Iron: 35%

*Full nutritional profile available here.

So although I'm bummed out that the ingredients aren't verified non-GMO (e.g. canola oil), the majority of the ingredients are solid and the nutritional profile is pretty darn good.

For about 1/3 of the package, it's 100 calories of high protein, low-fat goodness. It's packed with nutrients and vitamins that you can check out by clicking above for the full nutritional profile. It's not very high in fiber, but once you pair it with a stir fry of side of high-fiber veggies or whole wheat noodles, you've got a solid, well-balanced meal.

Other fresh (ready in minutes) Gardein products (all vegan):

• Chick'n Good Stuff
• BBQ Skewers
• BBQ Riblets
• Meatless Ground
• Beefless Burgers
• Chick'n Filets
• Dijon Breasts
• Tuscan Breasts (reviewed here)
• Beefless Strips

Brand (quoted from gardein.com):

• The majority of gardein ingredients come from North American farms.
• Uses non-MSG yeast extract to enhance gardein™'s flavor.  
• "...wherever possible, we use the best organic and certified non-GMO ingredients..."
• "...we like to diversify our proteins by using wheat, soy and pea proteins..."
• Contains no preservatives or artificial flavors.  
• "Our soy is grown in the United States and Canada."
• "...our suppliers ensure that all our ingredients do not contain pesticides or herbicides - in line with all federal, state/provincial, and municipal regulations."
• "... we only use 'identity-preserved' soy protein (which basically means, it helps to ensure us that our soy protein is not genetically modified)."