MorningStar Farms Veggie Bacon Strips

Following a low-carb diet is working well for me, but it can be challenging to find tasty food choices that are low in carbohydrates. I recently purchased some MorningStar Farms® Bacon Strips to add to my few breakfast menu options.

MorningStar Farms® 100% vegetarian bacon strips are available at my local WalMart at a price of $3.72 for a 5.25 oz package. I've tried the MorningStar Farms® Original Sausage Patties and MorningStar Farms Veggie Sausage Links and enjoyed them both, so was expecting similar satisfaction from the bacon strips. That was not the case.

The veggie bacon strips did smell a little like bacon due to the spices and flavorings added, but there was no chance that I would mistake it for real meat bacon. The package directions allow for preparing in a skillet or microwave, and I chose to use a small skillet.

The vegetarian bacon strips have a marbled look to them, but because they have no fat content, they didn't curl when cooking like pork bacon would. I found the physical appearance of MorningStar Farms® Bacon Strips to be less than desirable, more akin to a dog treat than real bacon.

The veggie bacon strips did stay somewhat crisp and the texture was similar to pork bacon, but that's as far as the similarities went. I didn't think the MorningStar Farms® Bacon Strips tasted much like real bacon and would not recommend them to a meat-lover. If used in another dish or a BLT sandwich, the lack of a real meaty taste might not be as noticeable. The package contains a recipe for a Veggie Medley Frittata which might be palatable prepared with veggie bacon strips.

MorningStar Farms® Bacon Strips claim to have 44% less fat than cooked pork bacon and only 60 calories per 2 slice serving. Additional nutrition facts as noted on the package:

Total Fat: 4g
Cholesterol: 0g
Sodium: 230 mg
Potassium: 15mg
Total Carbohydrates: 2g
Protein: 2g

Thiamin: 50%
Niacin: 6&
Vitamin B12: 4%
Vitamin B4: 4%
Trace amounts of Iron and Riboflavin

While MorningStar Farms® Bacon Strips may be healthier than real-meat bacon, I'd rather do without bacon at all. If your love of bacon is more about the crunch than the meaty flavor, you may find the vegetarian bacon to be acceptable. I'll finish the package in my freezer, but will stick with MorningStar Farms® Original Sausage Patties and MorningStar Farms Veggie Sausage Links. I will not buy the veggie bacon again.

Sources:
Personal opinion
MorningStar Farms Bacon Strips packaging