More Food "Subs"...

This is a substitution that I stumbled upon thanks to my dear friend, Bethany. Unlike the SnowDash and the Steamboat half-marathon, this is something to which Bethany has introduced me for which I am actually grateful . . .

Bethany and her family adhere to a meatless diet, so when they were coming over to attend a barbeque heavily featuring meat, I panicked briefly and asked, "Well, what are you guys all going to eat?" In her usual unflappable style she replied, "Oh, just pick up some Boca burgers." Cool, problem solved! And, EUREKA! Thanks, Bethany!
Because I am a compulsive Costco addict, I was incapable of just grabbing 4 or 6 Boca burgers at the normal-family-size shopping location, and had to get a 100-pack, 'cuz that's how I roll. "Knowing" full well that three or four would be eaten by Bethany's family at the party and I'd be stuck with a case of these things in my freezer for eternity, as my Nebraska-born-and-raised husband would eat his own hand before he'd eat a "veggie" burger....

The exact facts and figures escape me, but I think it's a box of about 20 patties for less than $20. Now, if you know me, you know I am all about finding the good, cheap protein. I am also all about finding quick, low-calorie, filling meals, and I am definitely all about anything that can be logically smothered in cheese.

So, despite my initial hesitation, one day after the BBQ I was very hungry and pressed for time (oh, you mean like every day, all the time? Yeah, like that!) and I had remembered Bethany saying it was like a 90 seconds freezer-to-mouth meal. So I popped one of those babies in the microwave and it was pretty dang good. Especially so covered in sliced tomatoes, avocados, hot sauce, honey mustard or whatever delightful vegetables and/or condiments one would normally have on a regular burger.
Here's the deal, though: Less than a buck a serving, 13g protein, 70 calories, 4g fiber! 6g carbs, negligible fat and a good source of iron. Now, I know some of you are all, "Eww, veggie burgers, gross," but these taste quite good and for those stats, the time it takes to cook them up and the price, you can not go wrong.

I've experimented a little and have also used some chopped up Boca burger in my spicy lentils (yum oh!!) and if you go on the website there is also a "chicken" patty product and there are loads of recipes where you can sneak Boca into your casseroles and dishes to bump up the protein power punch, which I love to do!

I was so hungry tonight after class that I ate a Boca burger while my Tilapia was cooking -- at 70 calories, you can do that! My dinner was still just 200 cals with a TON of protein! Yay, me!

So, if you've never tried them, you haven't tried them in awhile, or you've never tried Boca brand, give it a shot! Might be your new favorite thing . . . !

Happy Grilling!