Product: Element Dark Chocolate Rice Cakes – $1.99+
It came inside the New Year 2015 (aka: January Cube) Cuisine Cube. It is the height of New Year’s Resolutions and it seemed that that box, in particular, was aimed at new beginnings and healthier choices. God, I love that theme. Because I love making healthier decisions about things I do and what I eat. Granted, I do treat myself here and there, but that’s not only human…that’s normal. But with the theme of New Year Resolutions in January, a lot of what was inside was on the healthier side. Love it. Yes…even dessert.
But…I’m jumping ahead. Because first I need to tell you a thing of two about Cuisine Cube! Cuisine Cube is a subscription service that brings a surprise to your doorstep each month. This unassuming brown box arrives and is packed with an assortment of hand-picked gluten-free goodies, featuring imported and local goods, from smaller artisan companies…rather than the larger gluten-free corporations you find on every grocers shelves these days. You will receive treats for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, dessert…and sometimes…an added bonus. Each month you receive a themed cube of some sort, with only gluten-free items inside. Love it! Subscriptions start as low as $29.99. And, trust me, you’ll wonder what you did before it was in your life.
January = Healthy Life Healthy You…New Year…New Start…so…let’s get healthy, yes? YES!! I stand 100% behind this theme.
Well, what says healthy dessert like…rice cakes? Right? Yes? Excited? No? Why not? You should be. Because in the January Cuisine Cube, I found my dessert choice to be Element Dark Chocolate Rice Cakes. Yep. Dark chocolate covered rice cakes. Now…does that sound a little more like dessert? Yeah…I thought so.
If not…stay with me…
Element Snacks was created by Nadia and Fred, both of whom hail from Europe (Nadia from Italy and Fred from Sweden). They both grew up on real food, no Twinkies or Kool-aid. They believe in feeling great and nurturing our bodies and minds at the same time. They also believe that food should be simple…yet flavorful. It doesn’t mean we have to be 100% all the time. We’re human. But, we can control what we splurge on, and if something tastes like a treat, but carries some healthy benefits with it…well…added bonus.
Enter…Element Dark Chocolate Rice Cakes. These are just what they sound like, rice cakes, made from non-GMO Italian rice, that are coated with premium Italian Chocolate. Everything in this treat is naturally nutritious and good for you. These chocolate coated snack cakes are gluten-free, vegan, contain no hydrogenated oils, no trans fats, no high fructose corn syrup, no yeast, no preservatives and are non-GMO. Oh yeah…loving every word of that, how about you?
So, it all sounds good in theory, yes? But how is it really?
AMAZING!! Yes…I know, I am the girl who gets excited about rice cakes…but even Cathy (the roomie!) liked this one. The rice cake tastes savory, without any salt. But it is that layer of chocolate that just makes these explode with flavor. Cathy said, “drizzle dark chocolate on anything…” HAHA!! Truth. These are so amazing. Delicious. Nutritious. And YUM!! Dark chocolate only sweetenes the deal. SOLD! I only wish I had more.
Let’s talk ingredients. It doesn’t get more simple than this. The Element Dark Chocolate Rice Cakes are made from 60% dark chocolate, 40% rice cakes (wholegrain brown rice, rice). Yep. That’s it. That easy. Real ingredients. Real food.
How about nutrition? Well, a serving of Element Dark Chocolate Rice Cakes is 1 rice cake. This one chocolate coated delight will serve up 80 calories and 4 grams of fat. This one rice cake will provide you with 20 mg sodium and 5 grams of sugar. Love that. They are cholesterol free. And, finally, you will be taking in 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. So, these won’t fill you up, but you will have the sweet and savory taste to leave you feeling fulfilled.
I give huge kudos to Element Snacks and to Cuisine Cube for these delightful, and surprisingly delicious treats. As a known lover of rice cakes, this just took them to the next level. I think I’m in love. With a healthy dessert. We all win.
The Celiathlete 