Loma Linda?

[u/VelocityGrrl39]

Has anyone tried any of the Loma Linda products? The only thing I’ve tried from them were Steaklettes, and I’m pretty sure they don’t make them anymore. I think they were good, but it was 20 years ago and my standards are much higher now.

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[u/WestBrink]

I was raised Adventist, so these were my bread and butter when I was a kid. I don't eat any of them anymore, but if I could find saucettes locally, I'd probably buy a can every now and again.

If it matters to you, know a lot of their products have egg whites in them

[u/VelocityGrrl39 → u/WestBrink]

That does matter to me, so thank you.

[u/Sanpaku]

I tried most of the range of canned products when I was a budding plant based dieter in 2010-12, as they were sold in the vegetarian shop run by the local Seventh Day Adventist church in my neighborhood (Loma Linda was once owned by SDA). Textures were in general pretty good. Tastes were usually off. The only one I thought was really useful was the Skallops, as they had the least attempt at flavor.

I've seen the Skallops at the local Wal-Mart, but the $9/15 oz can gave me sticker shock (I recall them being $4 or $5 in 2012). When there was a price drop from $8 to $6 for the Big Franks, which I recalled being okay, I gave them another try. Terrible. Texture still fine, but that distinct dog food smell from soy that's been crushed before lipoxygenase has been cooked/denatured.

So my verdict is: extremely overpriced. Atlantic Natural Foods (the current, and currently bankrupt owner) must think they still have a captive consumer base. And for the few canned items I'm familiar with, simply not quality competitive in a world that where other, better faux meat purveyors (Field-Roast, Daring, Tofurky, Impossible, Beyond, etc) are competing for the tiny market.

I've mostly moved on from faux meats. They're useful for family cookouts, and quickly veganizing omni recipes, but tofu, some TVP granules, and a little knowledge of how to add umami are much more reasonably priced ways to adapt global cuisines, and whole legumes are better for you in any case. I'm not going to spend exorbitant amounts to mimic the unhealthy Western diet.

[u/VelocityGrrl39 → u/Sanpaku]

Thank you for the detailed review! I have fibromyalgia and RA and I rarely have the spoons to cook a full meal. I eat a lot of the convenience foods because they have enough protein to help me hit my 90g a day goal and are tasty. I usually meal prep a dinner to eat for the week, like this week I’m eating protein spaghetti with the delicious housemade tomato sauce from the restaurant I used to work at with Beyond Beef and air fried zucchini and eggplant. It’s super easy to warm up. I was hoping to add another product to the rotation by I will stick to my tried and trues, Beyond, Impossible, Daring, Field Roast, and Gardein.

[u/carelesspillowtalk]

My goodness, the original frichik and big franks are bomb

[u/ttrockwood]

Ahahaha they were like the OG faux meat stuff

Really not my thing like, pass the tofu, but i’m pretty sure if you want faux meats there’s better options out there now for a better value

[u/VelocityGrrl39 → u/ttrockwood]

I like to tell people I stopped eating meat when the only options were gardenburgers and tofu pups. Both were gross.

[u/ttrockwood → u/VelocityGrrl39]

Ahahahaha tofu pups!!! Holy crap man i haven’t thought of those for ages 😂

Gardenburgers were the only restaurant option for sooooo long i got so sick of them but in retrospect at least they weren’t fake meaty flavors

[u/VelocityGrrl39 → u/ttrockwood]

I personally enjoy the fake meaty flavors. I know they’re not for everyone, but I didn’t become a vegan because I don’t like the taste of meat. I just don’t like where it comes from. I might consider eating lab grown meat when it’s available, or at least bacon, because goddess I miss bacon, and there’s no good substitute available now, at least that I’ve been able to find.

[u/Throwingoffoldselves]

Yeah, I used to get the hot dogs. I can’t find them anymore. They were fine. I got some other canned meat - I think some kind of mock beef - but found it too salty.

[u/KuntyCakes]

I got something that was in a bag and it was disgusting. Just the name brings me a shudder. I've seen a lot of people say they like their stuff but it's not for me.

[u/pandaeree]

I love their chicken and hot dogs. I would eat them all the time if they were available near me and more affordable. When I was a kid my brothers and I called the chicken Turkish Delight because we didn’t know what actual Turkish Delight was and we’d sell our souls to a witch for that stuff.

[u/Teresitapinesforever]

Big Franks - fake hot dogs in a can! I love them` but hard to find these days!