I’m always asked about my vegetarian story. It goes something like this:

What Kid Falls Asleep At McDonald’s?

Age 0-4- Completely vegetarian growing up on a wholesome, nutritious, Indian diet of dals (lentils), rice, vegetables and fruits.

Age 4-10- I was introduced to meat during elementary school. I ate pretty much everything and absolutely loved McDonald’s hamburgers and Oscar Meyer hotdogs stuffed with cheese (ugh, my stomach just turned typing that out….gross).

Elementary School Thanksgiving Lunch

Age 11-13- As I learned more about Hinduism, I stopped eating beef and narrowed it down to only eating turkey and chicken at school or out with friends (my mom never cooked meat at home). As fate would have it, some tainted fast-food chicken provided me with some of the worst food poisoning ever. Like really bad. Like the kind of bad that you can’t fathom EVER having the thing that got you sick, ever again. (Ok, I know as adults we’ve all sworn off alcohol at some point, but this food poisoning was clearly way more impactful than a bad hangover).

Age 13- Decision to become vegetarian (who knew it would become a lifelong decision at that point?)

Age 13+- I always wondered if I would “lapse” one day and start eating meat again. But each year that passed, the further that thought became. The more I learned about meat, how it is processed and what it in fact actually is, there was no way I was coming near meat again.

Sometime in my 20’s- I was introduced to several fake meat products like the Morningstar brand of chicken burgers and veggie hot dogs. Admittedly, the first time I had these types of products I was a little weirded out because the taste and texture were so close to the real thing. But, after a few tries, I began to really like some of these products as new, satiating options for my vegetarian diet.

Then come all the articles on how bad soy as well as genetically modified foods are for you and I’m left in a quandary. I like these fake meat products but in the end, they probably aren’t much better or healthier for you. What’s a girl to do? While I enjoy the occasional “chicken burger” I begin to cut back drastically on these frozen products and search for healthier options out there.

Quorn Meatless Products

{Cue trumpet music} – A friend tells me about a brand called Quorn, that is not soy based and is not genetically modified and more so, tastes really good. Hmmm, ok, I have to try this. I head out to Whole Foods, buy this product, try it and really like it! Quorn becomes a great alternative, while still trying to move towards eating “a diet of plants versus things made in a plant.” (The operative word in that statement is “trying”).

The great thing about Quorn is that it is made up of mycoprotein, which is a plant-based protein and so there is no soy whatsoever in it. While it is vegetarian, it is not vegan since egg is used to make the products.

Quorn Sausage Patty Breakfast Sandwich

I was invited to the Quorn US headquarters here in Chicago to meet the staff and try out some of their products. Of the items I tried, I was blown away by the sausage patties which were absolutely delicious and had a great texture. Every now and then I get the Morningstar sausage patties and in comparison, the Quorn ones are hands down way better in flavor, juiciness and texture. (FYI, the Quorn sausage patties will be available in the US starting in August 2014; definitely keep your eyes peeled for them.)

I still get asked if I would ever consider eating meat, and my answer is still a resounding NO! Being vegetarian is who I am. Enough said.

Please Note: All opinions are my own; I was provided products by Quorn but was not compensated.