MorningStar Farms® Teams Up With Chef Carla Hall To Make Going Meatless On The Grill Irresistible

BATTLE CREEK, Mich., July 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a recent MorningStar Farms® survey[1], 63 percent of Americans agree that backyard barbecues are the biggest temptation to stray from better-eating efforts when compared to summer dining opportunities like road trips and food festivals. This summer, MorningStar Farms is battling the allure of heavier barbecue fare with its flavorful meatless burgers and assistance from Chef Carla Hall, cohost of ABC's "The Chew" and former "Top Chef" competitor and fan favorite.

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"It's all about the flavor," said Chef Carla Hall.  "The MorningStar Farms veggie burgers give people a variety of meatless options while adding sizzle and spice to any summer barbecue or party."

According to the survey, veggie burgers are the No. 1 choice for people considering a meatless version of popular foods such as hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken patties. Additionally, half of the survey respondents feel that opting for meatless meals as little as one to three times each week would improve their diet.

With so many reasons to give meatless a try, MorningStar Farms has introduced the Burger Back Guarantee, which provides a full refund for those who purchase the product and decide it's not for them.  Details are available at www.morningstarfarms.com.

Chef Carla Hall lends the following tips to ensure outdoor gatherings sizzle with flavor:

• Spray some nonstick cooking spray on the grilling surface before turning up the heat. It makes flipping food easier than ever.
• Take the salad out of the bowl and use it to top grilled burgers. Whether it's a slaw or Caprese salad, consider this the adult version of playing with your food.
• Use the grill to take advantage of summer's wide produce selection. Marinate fresh vegetables in light salad dressing and grill until tender for a tasty side dish. After the meal, add slices of angel food cake and stone fruit or pineapple to the grill for a simple, crowd-pleasing dessert.

With 11 varieties of meatless burgers like Spicy Black Bean and Garden Veggie Patty, there's a delicious option for every summer grill-out guest.  To learn more about the Burger Back Guarantee and check out the complete roster of MorningStar Farms products, visit www.morningstarfarms.com.

[1] The survey was conducted June 15-17, 2012, by GfK Roper, a division of GfK Custom Research North America, on behalf of Morningstar Farms/KrisPR. Random digit dialing phone interviews were completed with 1,012 adults 18 years old or older. The raw data were weighted by a custom designed computer program that automatically developed a weighting factor for each respondent, employing five variables: age, sex, education, race and geographic region. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points on the full sample.

About Carla Hall
Carla Hall is a co-host of ABC Daytime's lifestyle series, "The Chew," and she is also best known as a competitor and fan favorite on Bravo's "Top Chef." She is the owner of Alchemy by Carla Hall, an artisan cookie company that specializes in creating sweet and savory "petite bites of love." Her approach to cooking blends together her classic French training and Southern upbringing for a twist on traditional favorites. Carla is committed to health and balance in everyday living. Carla attended L'Academie de Cuisine in Maryland where she completed her culinary training, going on to work as a Sous Chef at the Henley Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. She also served as Executive Chef at both The State Plaza Hotel and The Washington Club and has taught classes at CulinAerie and her alma mater L'Academie de Cuisine.

About Morningstar Farms
If there's one thing you need to know about us, it's that we love a good meatless meal. That's why, for more than 25 years, the MorningStar Farms® brand has been offering creative meatless solutions that inspire people to eat well. We want to make meatless eating a part of everyone's life. And we won't sacrifice flavor or fun. So take a moment to check out our variety of meatless products. Then get adventurous and try some of our recipe ideas. There are lots of delicious ways to create dishes you can feel good about eating and serving.

About the Burger Back Guarantee
Guarantee to be awarded in the form of a check, up to the value of the purchase price. Guarantee requires proof of purchase with an original receipt dated between 6/28/2012 and 11/30/12 (up to $4.99 value), the bar code from the MorningStar Farms ® box, and a printout of the Official Form. Request must be postmarked by 11/30/12. The offer is valid on the MorningStar Farms ® product except rebate club products. One guarantee per name, address or household. Void where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law. No P.O. Boxes allowed; only street or rural route addresses are acceptable. Fraudulent submissions could result in federal prosecution under the U.S. Mail Fraud Statutes (18 United States Code, Section 1341 and 1342). Not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, illegible or undelivered responses. Duplicate submissions will be disregarded and will not receive a response. Official form must accompany your request and may not be reproduced. Please allow up to 8 weeks to receive a refund check. Available to U.S. residents only. Must be 18 years or older to participate. Keep copies of material submitted.

SOURCE MorningStar Farms