Veggie tots (burger, substitute, healthier, meals)

[gypsychic]

Wondering if anyone here buys/eats "veggie tots" and what do you think of them? I am trying to watch my carbs and also don't love regular vegetables and while I realize these are processed and not "fresh" wonder if they are a better choice or at least a SOMEWHAT healthier choice than fries, etc.

I have tried a few and I really like them. I don't eat a whole lot of them or anything, but a few kind of satisfy the craving for fried potatoes.

[TimAZ]

Tried the cauli-tots and IMO they are not a worthy substitute. The texture wasn't crisp and the carb count is too high to make them part of our regular meals. If I’m wanting tots, I’d rather just eat the regular kind made from potatoes.

Maybe these are intended for kids who won’t eat anything unless it’s shaped like a nugget and fried. I suppose if you put enough ketchup on them they could pass that brutal test, and mom could claim they ate a vegetable.

[nmnita]

Have tried 3 of them, including cauliflower; in our opinion just one level up from awful..

[gus2]

I don't buy them, but I make my own. I usually use carrot, zucchini, or broccoli.

[evening sun]

I will admit to liking them lol We eat a ton of veggies already, I just got a bag, because they were on sale for only .69 a bag. We had some with a turkey burger the other night, & enjoyed them for a change, I call them broccoli sticks. These are mixed with some potato. Broccoli & potato sticks.

[gypsychic]

Better than tots but very hard to find are eggplant fries and portabello fries. Used to get the portabellos at Trader Joe's but don't see them anymore. The eggplant fries I get at ALDI, but again they aren't available all the time.

[emm74]

I've never bought prepared ones but I make zucchini tots and they are delicious.

https://www.skinnytaste.com/zucchini-tots/

[blueherons]

I buy them all the day as a somewhat healthier alternative to tator tots but keep in mind, they are still loaded with carbs and are deep fried.

However, they are a better option than regular ones.

We also like the sweet tator tots.

[Cliffie]

You can make oven fries out of carrots, parsnips, turnips, sweet potatoes, etc. I love parsnips rolled in cracker crumbs (glued on with either a beaten egg or 1 tablespoon of flaxseed meal + 3-4 Tbsps water) and baked in the oven. They satisfy the texture craving for fries without being fried. Beets would also be good that way. You can make veg patties out of baked and mashed potato mixed with other finely-chopped vegetables or soup beans, starting with a little and working your way up to mostly vegetables, as a side dish.

[tnff]

Funny thing is I generally love vegetables. Always have, even as a kid, including things most kids hate like broccoli, cauliflower, turnip greens, and beets. So you'd think I'd love the veggie "rice" and "tots" but found I hated them. Almost like the ruined what was good in the veggie while making something that was an awful imitation of a tot.