Review: Veggie Shreds by Galaxy Nutritional Foods

I have to confess I am a cheese-o-holic; a meal just isn't complete without some form of cheese included. So I was pretty much dragged kicking and screaming to the dairy free section of my local grocery store to see what was available. Okay, I wasn't dragged kicking and screaming; it was more of along the lines of a whimper and a really slow stroll. I really didn't want to go there, but I've been having one sinus infection after another for months without end and I was told if I went dairy free that would help. I desperately wanted to be able to breathe clearly again and to stop dripping. So dairy free I went.

I also need food that is gluten free because I have Celiac Disease; which is a genetic condition that has no cure. I and any one with Celiac Disease can lead a normal life by just avoiding all gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye. If you want to know more about Celiac Disease read AC producer Barbara Lee Norris' article "Celiac Disease Diagnosis: Gluten-Free Living: Tips for Starting a Gluten-free Lifestyle." If you want to know more about the gluten free lifestyle, please watch my video called "Gluten Free Lifestyle: An Introduction."

I just couldn't have a salad without shredded cheese, so I bought the Veggie Shreds Cheddar Flavor because it looks like shredded cheese and it states right on the package "Lactose and Gluten Free." I opened the package like I would a regular bag of cheese, big mistake. The smell was horrible. It reminds me of smelly gym socks that have been left in a dark locker over the summer in a room without air conditioning. I immediately moved the bag as far away from my nose as I could and still be holding it. It was a knee-jerk reaction. I didn't know I was going to do it until I did. Despite the smell, I couldn't help, but to laugh at myself. Since, laughing put me in a good mood I went ahead and added the Veggie Shreds to my salad.

It actually tastes pretty good. It's not cheese, but if you don't or won't eat cheese this is a great substitute. Since the Cheddar Flavor was so good, I went back the grocery store (at a faster pace than before) and got the other two flavors they sold: Mozzarella and Cheddar & Pepper Jack. My mama made a pepperoni pizza using a 7 oz bag of Veggie Shreds Mozzarella Flavor. It looked a little thin so she added a 7 oz bag of Veggie shreds Cheddar & Pepper Jack Flavor and that looked just right. It melted like regular cheese. The pizza was wonderful!!!

One thing I don't understand is that it has in big print in a couple of places on the package the words "lactose free," however in small print is has an allergy alert that states it contains milk and soy ingredients. I find that confusing. Does that mean there is a certain percentage of lactose you can have in a food product and still be considered lactose free? The good news is that each package has a recipe on the back of it. The recipes I got on the three different bags of Veggie Shreds were Cheesy Veggie Broccoli Soup, Veggie Pasta Salad and Veggie Quesadilla.

I'm going to keep eating Veggie Shreds not just because they taste great and have basically the same texture as cheese, but because my sinuses are cleared up. I'm back to thinking clearly again and nothing is draining. I finally can put down my box of facial tissues and start writing again.

Nutrition Facts:

Veggie Shreds Cheddar Flavor
Serving size is ¼ cup and each 7 oz bag contains about 7 servings. Calories: 70 (35 from fat) ; total fat 4g (saturated fat 0g, trans fat 0g, polyunsaturated fat 1g, monounsaturated fat 2.5g), cholesterol 0mg, sodium 260mg, total carbohydrate 1g (dietary fiber 0g, sugars 0g), protein 6g.

Ingredients: Soy base (filtered water, isolated soy protein), casein (a dried skim milk protein), canola oil, modified food starch, salt, rice flour, contains 2 percent or less of tapioca starch, sodium polyphosphate, enzyme-modified cheese flavor (cultured milk, salt, enzymes, calcium chloride), tricalcium phosphate, natural and artificial flavor, sodium phosphate, dried yeast, potassium sorbate (preservative), carrageenan, lactic acid, citric acid, sodium citrate, food color (carotenal), vitamin A palmitate, Vitamin C, Ferric Orthophosphate, Vitamin B₁₂), butterfat, riboflavin (vitamin B₂), vitamin E, potato starch and powdered cellulose added to prevent caking, natamyon (a natural old inhibitor).

Veggie Shreds Mozzarella Flavor
Serving size is ¼ cup and each 7 oz bag contains about 7 servings. Calories: 70 (40 from fat) ; total fat 4.5g (saturated fat 0g, trans fat 0g, polyunsaturated fat 1g, monounsaturated fat 2.5g), cholesterol 0mg, sodium 260mg, total carbohydrate< 1g (dietary fiber 0g, sugars 0g), protein 6g.

Ingredients: Soy base (filtered water, isolated soy protein), casein (a dried skim milk protein), canola oil, modified food starch, salt, contains 2 percent or less of rice flour, natural flavorings, tapioca starch, sodium polyphosphate, powdered cellulose, tricalcium phosphate, sodium phosphate, mono and diglycerides, sorbic acid (preservative), carrageenan, sodium citrate, citric acid, lactic acid, vitamin a palmitate, vitamin C, ferric orthophosphate, vitamin B₁₂, Vitamin D₃, folic acid, vitamin B₆, riboflavin (vitamin B₂), vitamin E, potato starch and powered cellulose added to prevent caking.

Veggie Shreds Cheddar & Pepper Jack Flavor
Serving size is ¼ cup and each 7 oz bag contains about 7 servings. Calories: 60 (35 from fat) ; total fat 4g (saturated fat 0g, trans fat 0g, polyunsaturated fat 1g, monounsaturated fat 2g), cholesterol 0mg, sodium 280mg, total carbohydrate 1g (dietary fiber 0g, sugars 0g), protein 6g.

Ingredients: Soy base (filtered water, isolated soy protein), casein (a dried skim milk protein), canola oil, modified food starch, salt, jalapeno peppers, contains 2 percent or less of rice flour, natural flavorings, tapioca starch, sodium polyphosphate, enzyme-modified cheese flavor (cultured milk, salt, enzymes, calcium chloride), tricalcium phosphate, natural flavor, sodium phosphate, red bell peppers, butterfat, sorbic acid (preservative), dried yeast, carrageenan, sodium citrate, lactic acid, citric acid, food color (carotenal and titanium dioxide), vitamin B₁₂, Vitamin D₃, folic acid, B₆, riboflavin (vitamin B₂), vitamin E, potato starch and powered cellulose added to prevent caking, natamyon (a natural old inhibitor).

Distributed by:
Galaxy Nutritional Foods, Inc. (Amex-GXY)
2441 Viscount Row
Orlando, Florida 32809
407-855-5500
www.galaxyfoods.com