| Author | Message |
Jupiter6 Near Media, Pa- South of Philly, NJ Member Since: 11/16/03 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 11/15/08 2:36 pm Last Edit: 11/15/08 2:40 pm TVP is the greatest thing to come into my kitchen in decades, and I know many people here (present company included) used to live life from Dorito to Dorito and don't know much about "health food", so let me explain (some of this is from online sources.) Textured or texturized vegetable protein (TVP), also known as textured soy protein (TSP) is a meat substitute made from defatted soy flour, a by-product of making soybean oil. It is quick to cook, high in protein, and low in fat. It's made of little crunchy dried flakes-- needs no refrigeration-- and it looks like this: ![]() The reasons TVP is great for us are many, but here's the highlights: 1) It's very high in protein and has no fat, and is low in carbs. A quarter cup of TVP has 80 calories, 7 carbs and 12 proteins 2) While it's mostly protein, it behaves like a carb. When put in a fluid, it absorbs the flavor of it, like rice does. When used dry (as on yogurt) it's crunchy and kind of meaty like coconut. 3) It's very hearty and filling 4) It's less expensive than meat so it's excellent for stews and chilis and taco meat-- make a ratio of 1:1 and you will likely not even notice a difference 5) It's relatively inexpensive-- $2.50 for a pretty big bag-- and available in any health food store-- and these days in most major chain stores (I know Wegman's carries it). 6) It's great for baking (I used it in place of the coconut on my pb balls and they're just as meaty/fudgy) and in oatmeal it seriously cuts the carb damage and ups the protein considerably. I use a half packet of instant oats, two tbsp of TVP, dried apples and some cinnamon and make a big hearty bowl of oatmeal for under 120 cals....with 8.3g protein. Most oatmeal doesn't have much in that department. Here's more info: https://www.usaemergencysupply.com/information_center/all_ab out_textured_vegetable_protein.htm ******** "Oh sweet and sour Jesus, that is GOOD!" - Stephen Colbert******* |
|

Lady Lithia Member Since: 08/07/07 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 11/15/08 2:39 pm $250 or $2.50 I'm thinking a $250 bag would have to be REALLY big! Thank you for the inforamtion... how do I find out what stores in MY area carry it? ~Lady Lithia -- AT GOAL!!! |
|

Jupiter6 Near Media, Pa- South of Philly, NJ Member Since: 11/16/03 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 11/15/08 2:41 pm I'd google "health Food" and the name of your town. I fixed the typo, thanks. ******** "Oh sweet and sour Jesus, that is GOOD!" - Stephen Colbert******* |
|

Lady Lithia Member Since: 08/07/07 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 11/15/08 2:47 pm Thanks.... there's a fairly close health food store. I'll probably check it out next time I'm downtown. ~Lady Lithia -- AT GOAL!!! |
|

Tara K. Kuna, ID Member Since: 07/14/07 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 11/15/08 2:51 pm Yes, I was looking looking looking for this. I was looking for the Bob's Red Mill bag of it, never found. Then I was browsing the very large section of bulk foods and I found it! So for those of you not finding it in the cereal isle - check bulk foods too. I've only used it once so far - cooked it into my oatmeal with all kinds of other good stuff. It was yummy and even better - made it high in protein to balance out the oat carbs. These things are best made in a batch and portion them out for later meals (like breakfast all week - so fast and easy to grab) I want to try it in some chili soon. Do you think I would just dump it in to cook? Or do I have to reconstitute it first? I usually make my chili in a crockpot. Would love some other ideas to. |
|

Jupiter6 Near Media, Pa- South of Philly, NJ Member Since: 11/16/03 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 11/15/08 3:00 pm Nah, just dump it in. I even just dumped it into the warm peanut butter when I made the pb balls and it softened right up. Miracle stuff! I should make real oatmeal but i am a cheeseball, so I take a packet of SF instant oatmeal with flax, 2 tbsp TVP, 2 tbsp dried apples and a pile of cinnamon and Splenda--I put it all in baggies and put it back in the oatmeal box. A favorite Sunday AM breakfast is apple cinnamon oatmeal, three strips of pre=cooked bacon (LAZY!) and a couple ounces of greek yogurt-- keeps me full most of the day! ******** "Oh sweet and sour Jesus, that is GOOD!" - Stephen Colbert******* |
|

PMarie Member Since: 06/23/08 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 11/15/08 3:11 pm Thanks for this tip! About 'real oatmeal'-- here's my shortcut-- I use real McCann's Irish Oats. The shortcut is right on the package. Boil 2 cups of water. Turn off heat. Add 1 C oats. Cover, let stand overnight. In the morning, simply cook 9-12 minutes! I make a pot of this on Sunday night, and refrigerate the left overs-- then on mornings when I want oatmeal, I measure out my portion and microwave. Yummy! |
|

Jupiter6 Near Media, Pa- South of Philly, NJ Member Since: 11/16/03 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 11/15/08 3:17 pm See, you lost me at "overnight." That would require premeditation! ******** "Oh sweet and sour Jesus, that is GOOD!" - Stephen Colbert******* |
|

Tara K. Kuna, ID Member Since: 07/14/07 [Latest Posts] | |
|

Mrs. Scarlet KS Member Since: 06/19/08 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 11/15/08 3:06 pm It is available online as well. Just google TVP or soy protein. We substitute part of the meat in dishes, and the kids don't even know it. If you presoak it in broth or something you like, the unflavored takes on whatever flavor you add to it. It's awesome! |
|

Baseball-Mom Pittsburgh, PA Member Since: 04/13/07 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 11/15/08 3:46 pm I made a huge pot of turkey chili with 4 different kinds of beans,yesterday and added about 3/4 cup of TVP and no one in the family even noticed. I add it to veggie soup right before I eat it and it softens right up. I even carry a little baggie of TVP in my purse and when I go out to eat if I get soup I pour a little in. mary |
|

Zena L. Member Since: 06/06/07 [Latest Posts] | |
|

Jupiter6 Near Media, Pa- South of Philly, NJ Member Since: 11/16/03 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 11/16/08 7:11 am It's sort of meaty-- reminds me of the meat in a Wendy's chili, sort of. ******** "Oh sweet and sour Jesus, that is GOOD!" - Stephen Colbert******* |
|

Not the Same Dawn BEE EFF EEE, CA Member Since: 08/09/06 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 11/15/08 3:47 pm Preachin to the choir here Shari...I LOVE TVP...I think I need to make me a T-Shirt with that on it. LOL. The on line place that I found was harmonyhousefoods.com. They have different flavors: Beefish, Hamish and Chickenish, along with plain...Good stuff. The price for it on line is a bit more than it is at my local health food store. I was just there today (Whole Wheatery) and they had organic turkeys on sale for Thanksgiving so I ordered one...They also have turkey breast roasts and I think we're going to take part in the Organic revolution.. LOVE TVP.. Yes, RNY worked for me! Before Surgery: 214 Highest Weight: 240 Now: 127.1 Goal: 130 |
|

Baseball-Mom Pittsburgh, PA Member Since: 04/13/07 [Latest Posts] | |
|

Not the Same Dawn BEE EFF EEE, CA Member Since: 08/09/06 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 11/15/08 6:36 pm Check out the dehydrated beans! Fully cooked but dehydrated. I love stuff that doesn't need refrigeration and I'm getting so that I'm anti-canned stuff too...Dehydrated is so nice...Just rehydrate and cook...AND GO... I'm gonna get an order for harmony house ready here soon...Watchout credit card...I'm gonna bend it, if not break it..LOL. Yes, RNY worked for me! Before Surgery: 214 Highest Weight: 240 Now: 127.1 Goal: 130 |
|

Not the Same Dawn BEE EFF EEE, CA Member Since: 08/09/06 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 11/15/08 3:56 pm I got this from harmonyhousefoods.com: Ingredients: Textured vegetable protein (soy flour, caramel color), soybean oil, water, salt, hydrolyzed corn-soy-wheat protein, autolyzed yeast extract.Description & Directions: Beefish Bits are a textured vegetable protein product with a beef-like, flavor, aroma, and color. Rehydrate with water at a 2 to 1 ratio for use as ground beef, or use directly in soups, stews, and other dishes.Storage & Shelf-life: Store in original container in a cool, dry location, for 24 months. You may also reseal product in a vacuum type storage bag forextended storage. Once hydrated this product should be handled as fresh meat. Nutrient Per 28g (app. 1/4 cup) Energy (Calories) 87.64 Yes, RNY worked for me! Before Surgery: 214 Highest Weight: 240 Now: 127.1 Goal: 130 |
|

Cleopatra_Nik Member Since: 01/21/08 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 11/15/08 4:16 pm I LOVES me some TVP!!! I've done TVP oatmeal, put it in chili (and, for what it's worth, the damn pot of chili won't run out!!! I froze it in portions and I'm still not out of the stuff!), fake friend rice and I'm experimenting with a TVP oatmeal raisin cookie for Christmas using Splenda. I figure if I'm gonna eat a cookie this Christmas (and, let's face it, I will) then it might as well be a cookie that's working for me. So far my success has been ok. I have to figure out a way to get the cookies browned without using maple syrup (Splenda doesn't brown cookies and I like them browned). Perhaps SF breakfast syrup will do the trick? And the quest continues... My other quest is a cookie bar...also oatmeal raisin but I think it'd also probably work with sugar-free chocolate chunks. |
|

november baby Jamestown, NC Member Since: 05/20/07 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 11/15/08 11:42 pm Cleo, Browning occurs with brown sugar or molasses. SF substitutes don't caramelize (and brown), so they don't give the browning effect. Using a bit of molasses or brown sugar, mixed in with Splenda, will help acheive your goal of nice, browned cookies. Highest ('06): 375 Pre-Surgery: 322 Current (11/5): 215 Goal: 150? i'm a blogger! ![]() |
|

Geminidream Spokane, WA Member Since: 03/16/06 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 11/15/08 10:47 pm Oh my gosh, thank you for this thread...I have learned so much! Till now I've only used TVP in my homemade protein bars to cut down on the oatmeal carbs but I can see that I will seriously have to branch out with the stuff. Woohoo!!! |
|

BOS02215 Member Since: 07/25/08 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 11/16/08 7:56 am I love TVP!!! I am convinced it's the main ingredient in Jack in the Box tacos but I'm sure they'll deny it. Our local natural store sells this in bulk and it's dirt cheap. I like to add mine to 9 grain hot cereal (instead of straight oatmeal) along with a dab of peanut butter.... and then top with a single strawberry or a couple of raspberries. Tastes like a PB&J! I also add a bit to my Black Bean Red Pepper soup i make every week. Caveat: If you ever run across a recipe for roasted cauliflower soup and think to yourself that adding TVP would make it just perfect... don't. That is the nastiest thing I've ever made in my life... hahaha |
|

platinum_garb chicago, IL Member Since: 08/18/08 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 11/16/08 12:40 pm Sweet. My hubby works at Whole Foods. He told me that have the Bob's and they have it in the bulk. I'm super excited! Thanks for the ideas. |
|

whitespots Pittsfield, NH Member Since: 01/15/08 [Latest Posts] | Post Date: 11/16/08 3:06 pm Thank you, I keep seeing it in your posts and wondering what it was! |
|






























