Morningstar Farms...processed?

Hi!!! I have been doing a pretty good job of avoiding processed foods, per Doctor's orders. But.....lately I discovered Morninstar Farms and really enjoy it. Is it considered processed? Tryingn to follow a low carb and high protein regime... Is it healthy to consume each day? Would like your input; many thanks:)
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Replies

  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    yes it is processed and yes it is OK to consume..

    why are you on low carb...medical reasons?
  • MyaPapaya75
    MyaPapaya75 Posts: 3,143 Member
    i love morning star I believe its ok just make sure the sodium is fine for you
  • thisismeraw
    thisismeraw Posts: 1,264 Member
    Of course they are processed! They are premade and packaged for you = processed and filled with preservatives. Something as close to it's natural state is not processed, or very little. Any packaged burger, bacon, noodle, cereal, soup, meal, etc etc is very processed.

    Processed food is fine to consume.. just not everyday all day. If your doctor has said to limit processed foods those products would be included along with anything in the frozen section, canned section, etc.

    I would ditch the low carb routine (unless its for medical reasons as low carb isn't better for weight loss than a calorie deficit) and just stick to eating well.
  • PaulHalicki
    PaulHalicki Posts: 576 Member
    They are making vegetables look and taste like meat; of course it's processed. You can't even tell what it's made of by looking at it. That said, yeah, eat it. Compared to a lot of other foods, it's not that bad (since it's vegan).
  • srgtbiggles
    srgtbiggles Posts: 170 Member
    Anything with an ingredient list is processed.....
  • angelique_redhead
    angelique_redhead Posts: 782 Member
    You could cook bean, veggie or tofu burgers that YOU make and it would not be considered "processed". There are a lot of good vegetarian recipes out there. You can even adjust your salt with them.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I can't believe this is a real question.
  • purpleipod
    purpleipod Posts: 1,147 Member
    Of course it's processed. Does that mean you're going to keel over if you eat it? No.
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    Kind of a vague recommendation from a dr. I would ask them specifically what the goal is. If it's "eat less processed foods because the inherent sodium" then take that into consideration... since morningstar stuff is full of salt.
  • Brige2269
    Brige2269 Posts: 354 Member
    Very processed. Have them once in a while, you can make you own. Look on line for great recipes. You can find them made out beans, lentils, or quinoa. Don't worry, most sites have step by step instructions. You will be much better off.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    LOL, yeah, soy meat alternatives are pretty well processed.

    But if they help you meet your nutritional goals and you like them, who cares? I guarantee you won't find any high-protein vegetarian meat substitutes that aren't processed. To do low-carb, unprocessed vegetarian your only real option is eggs.
  • So glad you asked.. I have been wondering the same thing!! WAY to go with all that weight loss! Can I ask how tall are you?? I have been on this program (myfitnesspal) and have only lost 1 or 2 lbs in a mos. NOT sure what I am doing wrong.. staying under my calories and exercise a lot??
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    Your doctor specifically said "no processed foods"?
  • darkguardian419
    darkguardian419 Posts: 1,302 Member
    Is McDonald's processed? Seriously... Veggies turned into burgers, patties, "ground beef"... How is this even a ruttin question?
  • zcheeze
    zcheeze Posts: 25
    It's very processed but I love them anyway!
  • FitzyFitzpatrick
    FitzyFitzpatrick Posts: 188 Member
    Google "planet burgers". They are very good and easy to make. Watch the sodium in those Morningstar products!
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    Very processed. Have them once in a while, you can make you own. Look on line for great recipes. You can find them made out beans, lentils, or quinoa. Don't worry, most sites have step by step instructions. You will be much better off.


    Beans, lentils and quinoa all have too many carbs for a low-carb diet.
  • Otterluv
    Otterluv Posts: 9,083 Member
    Processed and yummy!

    They are a great source of protein and really convenient, I'm not seeing the bad :flowerforyou:
  • MrsFowler1069
    MrsFowler1069 Posts: 657 Member
    I like them, too. And there is a place for them in a diet.

    I personally got tired of buying them. Started experimenting and made super easy, cheap lentil and brown rice tomato basil burgers and "meatballs" once, garlic curry burgers another time. The last batch I made, I got I think 52 servings out of it, 100 calories each, and about $4 or so for the whole thing.

    There are lots of black bean burger recipes and the like online, too. Num!
  • TheSlorax
    TheSlorax Posts: 2,401 Member
    They are making vegetables look and taste like meat; of course it's processed. You can't even tell what it's made of by looking at it. That said, yeah, eat it. Compared to a lot of other foods, it's not that bad (since it's vegan).

    say what??? Is being vegan the only criteria for a "good" food now? If that's the case I eat very very bad, I must not be losing any weight. Oh wait....
  • skullshank
    skullshank Posts: 4,323 Member
    I can't believe this is a real question.

    wait wait wait....you tellin me soy doesnt look like hamburgers, or breakfast sausage, or chicken nuggets, or pizza cheese, or hot dogs, or ribs NATURALLY???

    iQuitOcean.gif
  • autumnsquirrel
    autumnsquirrel Posts: 258 Member
    yes it is processed and yes it is OK to consume..

    why are you on low carb...medical reasons?
    Hi there, and thank you:) I am hypothyroid and have been advised to follow low carb and high protein diet. I wasn't able to lose unnecessary weight for a long time, then the Doctor told me it would be good to stay away from white bread, flour pasta, rice, etc. It was difficult at first, but I don't miss it at all.
  • I think most of the "vegie" and no meat products taste horrible but I love the Morningstar Farms spicy black bean burgers...on the plate with some nice homemade salsa on top---yummy!
  • autumnsquirrel
    autumnsquirrel Posts: 258 Member
    So glad you asked.. I have been wondering the same thing!! WAY to go with all that weight loss! Can I ask how tall are you?? I have been on this program (myfitnesspal) and have only lost 1 or 2 lbs in a mos. NOT sure what I am doing wrong.. staying under my calories and exercise a lot??
    Thanks:) I guess I should have reworded my question. I know it's processed, but is it considered unhealthy is what I was going for. My doctor is vegan and wanted me to go that route...I did try for a month and didn't like it. Someone on here had some nerve saying they 'can't believe this is a real question'....Shaking my head over that. I am 5'1. I was exercising 2 hours a day every day at the gym and scaled back to quality instead of quanity. Also, I was eating too little calories; the body needs more if you are lifting, for instance. I am hypothyroid, so it has taken quite a journey to lose weight. But......currently I am doing Shaun T's T25 program and am losing more inches than poundage. They say that's a plus.
  • autumnsquirrel
    autumnsquirrel Posts: 258 Member
    Your doctor specifically said "no processed foods"?
    He doesn't believe in them; he is vegan and refuses to eat anything packaged:/
  • autumnsquirrel
    autumnsquirrel Posts: 258 Member
    I can't believe this is a real question.
    Really? Conversely, I can't believe you took the time to reply:/
  • autumnsquirrel
    autumnsquirrel Posts: 258 Member
    Is McDonald's processed? Seriously... Veggies turned into burgers, patties, "ground beef"... How is this even a ruttin question?
    I didn't ask about McDonalds. I was wondering if MorningStar farms is a healthy food to consume. Are you normally this pleasant when answering someone's question?
  • GODfidence
    GODfidence Posts: 249 Member
    Anything with an ingredient list is processed.....
    Ahaa...

    Op,yes,basically everything in a box,can,wrapper is processed,some exceptions but if there is
    Words that you've never heard before on the ingredients then that means it's definitely not unprocessed.
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    Your doctor specifically said "no processed foods"?
    He doesn't believe in them; he is vegan and refuses to eat anything packaged:/
    don't rely on his dietary advice concerning veganism or processed foods being inherently bad. Morningstar is pretty high in the sodium and the are better options out there.
  • marniesworld
    marniesworld Posts: 74 Member
    I can't believe this is a real question.
    Really? Conversely, I can't believe you took the time to reply:/

    I haven't been on this board very long, but I think I have yet to read a thread where there isn't at least one person who is outraged/bored/offended or downright elitist about the question or topic being discussed. The term "The only stupid question is the one you don't ask" doesn't seem to exist here!

    That aside, I'm a vegetarian so I eat loads of Morningstar and the like (also you might want to try Quorn brand things) and like many here said, I just make sure I stay within my sodium levels and if I do go over at all, I make sure to drink loads and loads of extra water, to help flush it and get rid of that bloated feeling. In the absence of meat in my life, they've been a lifesaver, but I don't consider them an "everyday" food! Hope that helps.