MorningStar Veggie Burgers: Spicy Black Bean Burger and Grillers Prime Veggie Burger

My husband and I are on a quest to find healthy "quick cook" foods. By "quick cook" we mean that there isn't much preparation and it can be eaten within 10-15 minutes of taking it out of the refrigerator or freezer. In the standard grocery store these options are limited. You either find quick unhealthy foods or healthy foods that just don't look appetizing or cost an arm and a leg. Well, we found a healthy quick cook option from an unlikely source, my mother in-law. She raved about MorningStar's veggie burgers. She specifically mentioned the Grillers Prime Veggie Burger. I must admit I listened to her rave about the burgers with some hesitation. I wasn't sure if this would be as tasty as she touted it to be but we decided to give it a try anyway.

On our next trip to the grocery store we picked up a box of these veggie burgers. The burgers come four to a box. After checking out the price (which wasn't too bad), I immediately read the nutritional facts, which read: Calories: 170, Total Fat: 9g, Sodium: 360mg, Protein 17g. Some ingredients were vegetable protein, soy, egg whites, spices, dry milk. I'm not sure if the inclusion of the egg and milk would make this product a no-go for some vegetarians. I am not a vegetarian so this didn't affect me. After checking out the nutritional facts, we dropped the box in the cart.

It took a few days to try the burgers. The burgers were brown, very light weight, and looked similar to a beef burger. There were a few cooking options: microwave, grill, or skillet. I opted for the microwave, which takes 45 seconds for one patty. These burgers were suprisingly delicious. Did they taste like a real burger?? No...but still delicious! They did taste as though they were cooked on a grill and were very flavorful. These burgers can be eaten with or without bread. You can also place any kind of topping on them that you would a regular burger. We have kept these burgers in rotation.

We even tried the Spicy Black Bean Burger. Nutritional facts: Calories: 120, Fat 4g, Sodium 350mg, Protein 11g. The packaging states that this burger has 73% less fat than ground beef. Ingredients: brown rice, black beans, tomatoes, roasted onions, corn, chili peppers. Many of the ingredients can be seen in the patty once you remove it from the packaging. You kind of feel like you're eating something healthy. You can cook this burger the same way you cook the Grillers Prime. This burger has a bit of a kick to it, like a southwestern flare. I definitely prefer this one over the Grillers Prime. I like to eat it without bread and typically with a side of veggies and rice, even though it is comprised of veggies and rice.

Pros of both burgers:

• minimal preparation and cook time


• healthy ingredients


• filling


• flavorful


• many ways to be eaten (with or without sides, on a bun, can use any topping)


• inexpensive


• low in calories


• high in protein

Cons of both burgers:

• Only similarity to a real burger is the shape


• Only four burgers per box

Overall, these two burgers get 4.5 GyMrAts out of 5. If you're tired of eating the same old healthy alternative open up your wallet and give MorningStar a try. I know veggie and burger just don't sound right together but give it a try anyway. You might get a tasty surprise like I did.

Picture: www.morningstarfarms.com/products_grillers-prime-veggie-burgers.aspx

Quickie: I am a Half Marathoner

So, yes I completed the McDonald's Half Marathon. It was a great experience!! My official (clock) time was 1:59:50, my chip time was 1:59:02. If you remember, my goal was to come in under two hours...and ladies and gentlemen I did just that!! Considering I was running on a bum foot I did pretty damn well!! Go me, go me, go me!!!



The race wasn't as overwhelming as I anticipated. It wasn't easy but it definitely wasn't overwhelming. The night prior to the race my in laws cooked me a tasty spaghetti dish with whole wheat pasta and ground turkey (yummy). I was carb loading in preparation for the race. My husband also gifted me with a massage gift certificate and an edible fruits arrangement (nice gesture). When I got home I made sure all of my gear was at the ready, shoes (check), bib (check), hat, gloves (check)...I was ready!! I woke up race morning, ate my standard oatmeal, drank a little water and waited for my ride. I carpooled with three other ladies to the race because parking was horrendous. It worked out well because one of the ladies worked downtown and we could use her parking pass and chill out in her building until it was time to race.



As we made our way from the building to the starting line I started to get a little anxious. I wasn't confident that I would meet my time goal, especially with a sore foot. I immediately started to amp myself up, I turned up my Ipod and got focused. At the starting line I was blasting "Monster" by Kanye West because dammit I was going to be a monster and devour that race!! The four of us ladies are standing there as they begin the countdown to start the run. Shirts start flying everywhere from people getting rid of their cold weather attire. Swish, we all take off running. Two in the front, two in the back, blocking out all the thousands of people around. Mile 1, Mile 2, Mile 3...uh oh...my foot is causing pain that is shooting up through my right leg. I slow down but keep it moving. One of the carpoolers whom I was running with tries to stay with me but decides to catch up with the two ladies in the front. Cool with me, she was talking too much anyway. One of the coaches from the training team spots me in my lime green 1/2 marathon singlet and runs about 1.5 miles with me. Just what I needed. He took me over the hill and I would see him again at the home stretch.



Mile 4, 5, 6, 7,8, wait a minute the pain has shifted to the other leg. Can a girl get some reprieve here?!?!?! I guess not. I'm still running through the pain. My carpooling ladies are no longer in my sight, but that's okay. My pace is steady, there are plenty of people yelling out supportive words and plenty of funny signs. One sign read "You are so getting laid tonight" and another "If your nipples aren't bleeding you aren't running hard enough". Hilarious!! At this point I'm thinking I've already gone this far, you can do this, you can do this!!



Mile 9, Mile 10...now I'm thinking why did I sign up for this. The pain has subsided in both legs but now I was getting kind of bored and my music just wasn't helping me any. Then a running angel started to run next to me. He only said a few words then took off but those words rejuvenated that fire to run. I got back in my groove and next thing I knew I was on mile 12. The coach showed up again at about mile 12.5. The clock was in sight, so I knew I was almost there. Once again, doubt started to settle in. I just wasn't sure if I could meet my time goal as I watched the clock tick away. I glanced down from the clock and a few feet ahead of me was a little old lady in a pink running outfit. I thought to myself, there is no way this old lady is going to beat my time. So I made my move...I tripped her then hopped over her body...just kidding...I sprinted the rest of the race!!! I looked up as I crossed the finish line and read 1:59:50 and grabbed my participation medal (that medal broke that same day you know, so cheap)



My husband greeted me at the finish line, I grabbed a banana and some Powerade and took my happy, little, aching body home to rest. What a memorable day it was!