FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is gardein™?
gardein™ is a line of tasty, plant-based foods with a meaty texture. Our products are made from a blend of soy, wheat and pea proteins, vegetables and grains.
gardein™ is good for you; it is high in protein and easy to digest; the majority of our products provide you with a good source of fiber too. gardein™ is free of cholesterol, trans fats and saturated fat; the majority of gardein™ products are low fat too. gardein™ products are also vegan-friendly, meaning they are free of animal and dairy ingredients.
What do you mean when you say gardein™ is ‘meaty’?
Lots of foods beside animal-based proteins have a meaty texture like portobello mushrooms for example. gardein™ has a similar meaty texture; it just happens to be made from plants, vegetables and grains.
What is the origin of the gardein™ name?
gardein™ combines “garden” and “protein” in its name to remind us all that plant-based diets are not only good for you but also for the environment.
Why do you make gardein™ look like animal-based protein?
We’re appealing to people who have experienced the taste and texture of animal-based protein and providing them with a “memory food” that is a great tasting alternative: healthy plant-based protein.
Is gardein™ good as part of an everyday diet or also for someone that is calorie-conscious?
Absolutely, gardein can be eaten everyday and comes in a variety of forms and flavors to meet your lunch, dinner and appetizer needs. gardein is free of trans and saturated fats. The majority of gardein products are low in fat, low in calories and a good source of fiber. Look on the back of our packaging or visit http://gardein.com for all the nutritional information.
How do you make gardein™?
Think of how bread or pasta is made. gardein™ is made using a similar approach. We mix water, veggies, grains, flavors and spices together to create the ‘dough,’ form it and bake it in special ovens to give gardein™ a fibrous look and its meaty mouth-feel.
Where do the ingredients come from that are used in gardein™?
The majority of gardein™ ingredients come from North America. We use all non-GMO ingredients and some organic ingredients. We like to diversify our proteins by using wheat, soy and pea proteins. We are also the first company of our kind to add ancient grains—quinoa, amaranth, millet and kamut—to our foods. Some of our spices come from India and some of our grains from South America.
How do you flavor gardein™?
We use vegetable-based flavors, spices and concentrate that offer an “associate flavor” to animal-based protein.
How do you cook gardein™ products?
gardein™ can be barbequed, prepared on the stovetop or cooked in the oven or microwave. Our packaging gives the best cooking instructions for each style. You can find great recipes on our website too. Please go to www.gardein.com/recipes.php.
Who buys gardein™?
People buy gardein™ for different reasons. For health reasons – gardein™ is free of cholesterol, trans fats and saturated fats. For ethical reasons – gardein™ is animal and dairy free.For environmental reasons - eating less meat can help reduce individual carbon emissions. And for convenience reasons – some gardein™ products can be prepared in two minutes.
Where can I find gardein™?
Currently, gardein™ is sold in more than 5,000 grocery stores and supermarkets across the United States and Canada. Our fresh line is sold in the “produce section” and available in both the US and Canada; our frozen line is sold in the “freezer section” and available today only in the US.
We expect our frozen products to be sold in Canada in early 2010.
We also manufacture products for other companies. Look for gardein™ as an ‘ingredient’ on other people’s labels/packaging.
I can’t find gardein™ at my local store; what should I do?
We encourage you to talk directly to the grocery store manager at your neighborhood store. In addition, you can download a letter listing all of our products that you can take with you so the grocer knows which products you like and how to follow up with us.
What is the major source of protein in your products?
gardein™ is made from soy, wheat and pea proteins.
Garden Protein International, a privately held food manufacturer located in Vancouver, Canada, is the maker of gardein™.
What’s next for gardein™?
Our vision is to see gardein™ in homes and on menus worldwide: simply as the healthier protein option. We look forward to the day you can order a salad with chicken, shrimp or gardein™. We believe eating more plant-based foods builds good health and is good for our planet too. It is part of the reason we like to say “goodness grows.”