8/09 TVP The Real Update
TVP sounds like something you would want to pour in to the engine of your car. Its more glamorous name is Textured Vegetable Protein. When you have been cursed with such a utilitarian name, you really have to come through in other ways, which in some ways it does.
Photo By: S. Duquet
You can find TVP in most bulk food stores and health food stores. It is dry and wants to be reconstituted with the liquid of your choice. If you are making a sauce or a soup, you can throw it in dry while it is cooking and it will be infused and revived by flavors of your dish. TVP is a great source of fiber, protein and has zero cholesterol. It is also low in sodium and fat. For every 1/4 cup of crumbles, TVP contains 59 calories, 11g protein, 7g carbohydrates and only 2g fat. After reading all of this I was pretty much hooked…until I read further. TVP is also highly processed and is produced in a factory. It is not made from vegetables and really has no business calling itself vegetable protein…textured or otherwise. It is made out of de-fatted soybean flour and is the by-product of the creation of soy oil. The websites Savvy Vegetarian and Answer Fitness share some pretty compelling reasons why you should avoid TVP like the plague. As I read on, TVP became more menacing than the hour before.
Photo By: S. Duquet
Sandy made TVP nachos for dinner this evening. They were good, really good. I left the table thinking, this is an inexpensive protein packed yummy, vegan way to eat nachos. Here is the rub…. I had only read the good stuff before dinner. I read the other half of the story after dinner. Now that I know a bit more about TVP , I will choose to consume it sparingly. It will help make a fantastic crock pot full of Sloppy Joe’s or beefy nachos on occasion, but I don’t plan on stocking the pantry full of TVP.
TVP nutritional facts from Gertrude Elizabeth Green at Ehow.com Have a sensibly delicious day.
Tags: compassionate eating, dairy free, going veg, textured vegetable protein, trying vegan, trying vegetarian, TVP, TVP nachos, vegan, vegan challenge, vegan entree, vegan experience, vegan products, vegan recipe, vegan wannabe, vegetarian recipe
August 17th, 2010 at 10:40 pm
I don’t eat TVP myself but I’m not really sure why. Does it do something funky to you if it’s not in sloppy joes. Years ago I used to eat a sloppy joe tvp mix from a box that was really good, but then it was discontinued.
August 18th, 2010 at 10:12 am
You could add it to Manwich. You dont have to be a man or a witch to eat Manwich.