Easy as Lunch

I tried one of Gardein's newest meals today, the Burgundy trio with beefless tips, veggies and rice. At only 230 calories for a full serving, it deserves high marks as a healthy, easy-to-prepare lunch.

The ample serving of beefless tips--which are very high in protein--have one of the best, most steak-like textures of any vegetable protein I've tasted right out of the package. My only suggestion would be to substitute the white rice with brown or multi-grain rice. I'm also hoping that Gardein packages the low-fat, cholesterol-free tips separately in family-size servings. I'd like to incorporate them into other recipes with quinoa and couscous or as vegetable kabobs (sans the rice).

Also look for the Sicilian and Thai trios at Whole Foods, Kroger and Safeway stores.

Beefless Beef Stew

I made this dish recently and it's given me a new reason to invite friends over for dinner. Even the most finicky beef eater wouldn't guess this is actually a very hearty vegan dish.

Welcome to Vegenation!

Another food blog? Not exactly. While Vegenation will feature plenty of food reviews and recipes, I'll also share stories, links and other anecdotes related to meatless eating. You may want to bookmark this link if you're interested in innovative content about eating healthier and more creatively, whether you're a hardcore vegan or an adventurous carnivore.

Things you should know: I am a fan of cheese (but many recipes are vegan or can be substituted with dairy-free ingredients). And I recreate lots of traditional, meat-heavy recipes into vegetarian-friendly dishes, which has become easier than ever thanks to tasty veggie proteins from Gardein, Morningstar Farms and Tofurky, three of my favorite brands.

What you won't find here: Politics on the dinner plate. I'm an animal advocate, but not a political one. I welcome meat eaters, vegans and vegetarians alike.

I also welcome comments, questions and suggestions.