I’ve noticed these little brown bags of gluten-free snacks on the shelf of one of my local grocery store. I noticed them immediately because I had never seen them before. They are El’s Gluten Free Snacks…and there are two different varieties…Medleys and Snaps.
Well, while frequenting a couple of my favorite blogs, a giveaway was happening for the chance to win a bag of El’s Gluten Free Snacks Cinnamon and Sugar Snaps. So, since I was there…and reading…I figured why not enter? I do this all the time, actually…I just never win.
But then, Anna from the Gluten Free? Give Me Three blog sent me an e-mail. I had actually won the giveaway. So, she was going to wing a bag of El’s Gluten Free Snacks Cinnamon and Sugar Snaps. I was thrilled. I never win these things…but here…here I had actually won. WOOHOO!! I provided my shipping address…and a couple of days later, a box arrived containing a bag of El’s Gluten Free Cinnamon & Sugar Snaps.
I was so excited about these. But…I had a few more snacks ahead of this one…so I set this in my pantry and worked my way through the other items first.
But…this past week…the big day arrived.
So, here is the thing about gluten-free snacks. They can either be really, really amazing…or not be good at all. And these, at first glance, look as though they might be in the latter category. After all, they are little bagel crisps (think of the highly off-limits Gardetto’s snack mix…the rye chips that people usually love the most) that are lightly dusted with cinnamon and sugar. I normally have my roommate try my snacks…but she just had her last wisdom tooth out, so this time…the opinion rested all on my shoulders.
Based on feel alone, I noticed that these weren’t heavy like Gardetto’s rye chips were. These were very light and airy. I loved that. I hate when gluten-free snacks are dense and hard and…bland. I haven’t gotten to that yet. These are very light and it makes you feel good about the snack as you dole out a serving.
Snack time arrived at work and I popped open the lid of my container holding a serving of this product. The moment of truth had arrived. One bite. A crunchy, crispy, delicious bite. The texture was awesome. You get this great snap with each bite. And the cinnamon and sugar that is lightly dusted over these doesn’t overpower the rest of the crisp itself. In fact, the taste and crunch is identical to the bagel chips I used to be able to eat. Not to mention, these are baked, which help keep them light, airy, and savory. It’s hard to not devour the entire serving in one quick flick of the wrist. These are honestly that good.
So…let’s talk ingredients and nutrition. As far as what these snaps are made from…its a gluten-free flour base, water, non-GMO canola oil, flax seed, cane sugar, and cinnamon. It’s that simple. Not a whole lot going into this, which I appreciate as I’m trying to cut back on processed foods…and when I do eat them, I try to limit the number of ingredients. Speaking of ingredients, not only are these products gluten-free, but they are also free of eggs, milk, soy, peanuts, and nuts. Love the allergy-friendly snacks!! This means I could share them with my nephews if I so choose. I think they’d like them.
Nutritionally speaking, a serving is 1 ounce (28 grams). From this serving, you will be receiving 100 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. These crisps are low in sodium, with a serving only providing 240 mg. There are 9 grams of sugar in one serving of the Cinnamon & Sugar Snaps, so it’s not too bad. That’s better than most cereals on the market. And you will also be given 2 grams of fiber and 1 gram of protein.
If you are a fan of chips, but don’t want to snack and feel guilty…I highly recommend replacing those chips with these Cinnamon & Sugar Snaps from El’s Gluten Free. Trust me…they go above and beyond as a replacement. I was already looking forward to snack today when I helped myself to another serving of them. Honestly…one of the best gluten-free snacks out on the market. Why? Because at El’s…they believe that good taste matters.
I believe they have created the ultimate gluten-free snack foods…and with their focus on taste, texture, and flavor…it’s no wonder I fell in love with them.
A long while back, I purchased a Gluten-Free Saver deal (sort of like Groupon for the gluten-free) that gave me more than half off a certain dollar amount of products ordered from Katz Gluten Free. If you have never tried Katz Gluten Free…get thee to their Web site now and order their sampler pack. It’s a great way to get introduced to their products. And if you don’t think that’s for you…trust me…order the doughnuts. Especially the powdered sugar and cinnamon ones. You can’t go wrong.
The thing is…I have yet to eat something that Katz shipped to me that I haven’t liked. There are some products I have liked better than others, but when it all comes down to it, Katz is honestly the top-of-the-line when it comes to baked goods. And, thanks to the magic of Internet ordering…you can have their amazing products shipped right to your door.
Well, as I said, awhile back I latched on to this deal. And as I was pressed for time, I gave my roomie carte blanche to log onto Katz Gluten Free and to go ahead and pick out some items for us. So…she went for a few of our favorites (hello doughnuts, doughnut holes, English muffins, and pizza crusts) and then put in a few surprises. One of these surprises was none other than…their newly introduced Gluten Free Sponge Cake.
I was elated when I received the box via UPS. But…as it goes in this apartment…there is always something else that needs to move out ahead of the item I’m dying to try. So, for months now, the Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake has sat in my freezer…just begging me to make something with it. To eat it. To just try it. It was silently vowing not to let me down.
Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake (unwrapped)
After a very busy winter and spring, the perfect opportunity to dig it out finally came around when our good friend, Greg, had space in his calendar to head this way and visit for the weekend. I had a plan…I’d make gluten-free baked ravioli with my gluten-free cheesy onion pull-apart bread…and then for dessert…I’d whip up some Vegan whipped topping, use some fresh blueberries provided to me by a good friend of mine, and put all of that over some of the Sponge Cake from Katz Gluten Free.
It sounded like a plan to me. Now…time to put it into action.
Dinner went well. The ravioli was a huge hit, but the bread still needs to be paired with the perfect cheese as it tends to get a little lost. But now I’m digressing. The fact was…dessert time was nigh.
While I do love cooking and baking and even just bringing out gluten-free goodies for guests, I always get nervous that they won’t like it. And this was a new product. I had no idea what it would be like. All I knew was that it was made by Katz Gluten Free. And, that was actually a relief. Because, if I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a trillion times…I TRUST KATZ GLUTEN FREE!!
But…there are just some people you don’t know how they will take to something that they know is gluten-free. There are so many preconceived (and often correct) notions about gluten-free food. And when people are unfamiliar with it, they automatically assume that it will be heavy, dense, and probably taste like cardboard.
Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake (sliced)
Let Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake prove all of that wrong. It was love at first slice. I mean, despite the fact that this loaf had been chilling in the freezer for months now…after I set it out to thaw, it didn’t dry up, nor did it become hard, brittle, or just fall apart. It was beautifully moist. My knife slid through the cake easily, and I could tell how soft it was with texture. Just like any moist sponge cake, I pressed my fingers against the center and it bounced back. Beautiful.
So…it was passing on texture and looks alone. I mean, beautiful golden crust with a gorgeous creamy white center that was moist, fluffy, soft…and just perfect to gaze upon. But…it was time for dessert. So, I sliced the three of us up a serving and topped it off with some of the vegan whipped topping. Then, fresh blueberries were scattered over the top and voila…dessert was served.
And…oh…it lived up to expectations. One bite and it was like eating a lightened up version of a shortcake. Airy, fresh, and just beautiful. It had this great flavor on top of it all…vanilla with a hit of citrus. It was a fluffy, filling dessert and one that I returned to in the nights following until the entire cake was used up. I even experimented with it slightly on a couple of nights, tossing the slice into the microwave for about 20 seconds and then topping it off with the vegan whip and berries. And, it was like taking a bite out of a freshly baked sponge cake. If you didn’t tell someone this was gluten-free, they would never know. Honestly.
Let’s talk nutrition on this baby, shall we? The Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake serves 8 people. One sizable slice will serve you up only 90 calories and 4 grams of fat! Loving those numbers so far, aren’t you? In addition, this fluffy cake will provide you with 40 mg of sodium, 7 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein. It’s a lightened up version of a regular sponge cake. And I’m loving these nutritional facts. You almost don’t feel guilty about indulging a little.
As for the ingredients used to make this amazing dessert…it’s a combination of Katz Gluten Free Four (a mix of white rice flour, corn flour, and tapioca flour), sugar, eggs, canola oil, orange juice, water, baking powder, xanthan gum, and vanilla. That’s it. And the end result is one of the finest, softest, lightest sponge cakes you will find out there. I’d stack it against any regular sponge cake and still believe this one would come out on top.
Katz Gluten Free puts quality at the head of their business and it honestly shows with their products. I’m proud to say that I would be more than happy to order this from Katz again. And I intend to. In the very, very near future.
Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake (topped with vegan whipped topping and fresh blueberries)
Last month, I was overjoyed to actually win a contest that I entered online. It was one of those…”Sure…I’ll enter it. I’m interested in the product, so it would be awesome to win…but if not, I’m not out anything…” And so, I put my name in and I was one of two people selected by random draw to receive an exciting product.
What was it?
Ripped Cream.
Don’t you just love that name?
What is it? Coffee Creamer. Yes…coffee creamer that is gluten-free, all-natural, and high-protein.
In other words…it’s a coffee creamer that was made for me, yes? You betcha!
So, yeah…I was overjoyed. We were asked to choose which flavor we preferred, as Ripped Cream comes in two different varieties: Lean Vanilla Bean and Chizzled Chocolate. It was on a first response basis, meaning whoever replied first got first choice of the flavor. I was sort of late getting that e-mail, but I put in for the Chizzled Chocolate. The other winner beat me to the punch, because when my package arrived…the Lean Vanilla Bean was waiting for me. No big deal. I was just thrilled to be trying out this product.
Now, you are all rather aware of my sports nutritionist moving me more towards a clean eating diet. I’m thrilled to be heading that direction. So, how does this fit in? Well, I will never be able to drink my coffee black. And as we are aiming for around an 80% clean eating as far as my food goes…so this would definitely move into the 20% that isn’t heading that way…but we all make those decisions on our own, yes? It’s not that this creamer is horribly bad. It’s not . The ingredients really are all-natural. But…most people would say…drink the coffee black. NEVER!
Well, as I was working the artificial sweeteners…including the flavored syrup…out of the kitchen…and I had used up my So Delicious Coconut Creamer…this was up. Time to give it a try.
Let’s start with what this coffee creamer adds to the coffee itself. A serving size of Ripped Cream is 2 tablespoons, although I just drop 1 tablespoon in the coffee in the morning. It’s all it needs. A serving, however of Ripped Cream Lean Vanilla Bean adds only 90 calories to your coffee and only 2.5 grams of fat. Aside from that, you get 8 grams of sugar in a serving. But you also receive 5 grams of powerful protein. This coffee creamer also serves up a nice dose of Vitamin D. You feel good about drinking it. As someone who often struggles to meet their daily protein allotment, this creamer is amazing. According to Ripped Cream’s Web site, experts recommend consuming protein within 30 minutes of waking up each morning as a way to promote optimum healthy. This makes this creamer a great addition to the morning routine as it contains as much protein as an egg.
So…how does this all work in the coffee itself?
It’s delicious. No. Really. It is. I’m actually glad I ended up with the Lean Vanilla Bean variety from Ripped Cream. It ranks right up there with other vanilla creamers I have had in the past. The only difference is…this one is actually quite good for you. I mean…just compare them. I am a huge fan of the flavor. I love how quickly it blends into the coffee…nothing lumpy left swimming in my morning wake-up mug. And it’s refreshing. It just heightens the other flavors in the coffee. When your product does all of that, plus adds a bit of nutrition to the mix…you better believe I’m on satisfied customer.
So, thank you to Rather Be Runnin’ for your blog on Ripped Cream. It caught my attention for sure. And, more thanks to Ripped Cream, for making a product that beefs up the morning brew and makes it a healthier choice for flavor. Goodbye bitter coffee…I’m getting ripped every morning.
Ripped Cream Lean Vanilla Bean Protein Coffee Creamer…in coffee
Product: Arctic Zero Mint Chocolate Cookie Frozen Dessert – $4.99+
You know, when I first heard about Arctic Zero, I was elated. I mean, how could you not like the idea of eating an entire pint of “ice cream” for 150 calories. Yep. One pint…150 calories. It sounded too good to be true. And when I finally started to see it crop up on shelves at various local grocery stores that I frequent, I couldn’t wait to work it into the budget and try it.
I think, at first, the hype got to me. Because when I first reviewed the Chocolate Peanut Butter variety, I was all about it. Thinking back, I realize it really wasn’t all I made it out to be. Even worse…it only went downhill from there.
Welcome to the land of epic frozen dessert fails.
In concept, it’s great. Especially if you are dieting and still want a little sweet, cold, ice cream-like treats in your food regimen. However…I want you to know cast aside any preconceived notions of just how amazing this dessert could be…because the fact of the matter is…it’s not. It’s not amazing at all. It’s a little…sickening actually.
First of all, it’s sickening that I bought three pints of three different flavors without first trying it and making sure it was…you know…actually consumable. That means I was out over $15. Live and learn, I suppose. Secondly, it is sickening because it just doesn’t pan out. It doesn’t work. It isn’t what it seems. Not at all. The flavor…the texture…the taste…the mouthfeel…it’s just all wrong. COMPLETELY WRONG!
I understand that Arctic Zero is not ice cream. When heavy cream is not in your ingredients, you really can’t call yourself ice cream, right? Right. And they don’t. They call themselves a frozen dessert. But the look, the packaging…it all equates in your mind as…ice cream. So…it should at least be close…oh so close to that. Yes? Of course.
First of all…you have to let this thaw for about 10 minutes before even dreaming of being able to get a decent scoop out of this container. That’s fine. I’m sort of used to that, being that I eat a lot of non-dairy based, ice cream-like frozen desserts. No problem. But once it gets beyond that…that’s where the trouble begins…and never seems to end.
Let’s talk flavor first. Once it’s scooped and in your bowl…ready to eat…you take a bite. And…YES…you actually get the flavors of chocolate and mint. It’s amazing. It’s as advertised. It’s not quite like eating a Thin Mint cookie…but…it might be close. It just might be.
But once it starts to melt…it all goes terribly wrong. Already you’ve let the Arctic Zero frozen dessert thaw to be able to scoop. You’ll probably notice this frothy film forming on the product. You ignore it, thinking it’s just the melting ice cream. No product should froth…and here’s why…
Arctic Zero Mint Chocolate Cookie frozen dessert begins to take on this slimy consistency. And it’s not just in the bowl. It’s in your mouth. Even if you are eating the more solid parts of this dessert, the moment it hits your tongue and starts to melt, you get this slimy film. It’s unappetizing. It’s disgusting. And no amount of mint or chocolate flavor can keep that texture away. It’s unappealing to look at and even more so to taste. It really turned me off. I had so many high hopes for Arctic Zero’s frozen desserts, but none of them have been any good. They’ve had issues with flavor. Texture. Taste. And now…SLIME! I’m sorry, but no dessert should be slimy. No food should ever be slimy. While this one might have won me over with the flavor…the rest of it was so unappealing and such a turn off, eating the 1/2 cup serving was hard enough to stomach.
So let’s talk about the ingredients and nutrition for a moment. A serving size of Arctic Zero Mint Chocolate Cookie Frozen Dessert is 1/2 cup. From this serving, you will be taking in only 37 calories. You will also be ingesting 80 mg of sodium and 5 grams of sugar. You will also be consuming 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. This dessert is fat free, safe for the lactose intolerant, and gluten-free. The ingredients include purified water, whey protein concentrate organic cane sugar, chicory root, dutch processed cocoa powder with alkali, guar gum, xantham gum, natural flavors, sea salt, and monk fruit concentrate. It all looks good in print…
…but once you taste it…you’ll wish you had just splurged on an actual dessert that tastes good.
Do NOT waste your money on these products. None of the three flavors have impressed me at all with flavor, with taste, with texture…and I’m now out over $15 that I could have spent on something much more appetizing. It’s dessert. Spurge and get something worth treating yourself to eating. Don’t waste it on a product that gets everything wrong. Trust me. DO NOT BUY THESE!
Product: The Good Bean Sweet Cinnamon Chickpea Snacks – $2.99+
I love snacking. No really…I do. And, it can be done in a healthy manner too. Oh yes. Snacks don’t have to mean chocolate and chips…not all the time. In fact, one of my favorite snacks these days come in these little 2-serving pouches. They are nothing more than roasted chickpeas. Yep. Roasted chickpeas. You read that right. Made by The Good Bean, these snacks have a lot going for them. And I was not the least bit hesitant to snatch up a couple of different flavors this last time…because the Sea Salt variety I tried a month or so again rocked my world. I was prepared to once again be wowed.
You see, I’m moving into a Clean Eating diet, prescribed by my sports nutritionist. Less processed food, more natural food. It’s an easy balance to strike for me, as I much prefer fresh produce and and fresh ingredients. I don’t even mind making my own snacks. In the past I have baked up my own granola bars and the like. Currently, however, the problem is I don’t have a lot of extra time…between working full time, training, and everything else I’m already trying to squeeze into the time I am awake to the time I go to sleep…well…I’m out of hours before even I know it.
Sometimes…you just have to find the cleanest, healthiest choice out on the market.
When it comes to following a Clean Eating lifestyle, I have discovered that The Good Bean’s products fit the bill. In fact, on their Web site, The Good Bean points out the fact that they use clean ingredients, meaning their products contain ingredients that are non-GMO, Hexane-free, fair trade, and follow good manufacturing practices…so that cross-contamination is not an issue with their products. It’s a snack food I can trust from a company that has high standards and actually cares about the quality of the product they are putting out on the shelves.
With the success I had with The Good Bean Sea Salt chickpea snacks, I was very excited to be giving their Sweet Cinnamon vareity a taste on Friday. After all, everyone benefits not just from the healthy aspect of the chickpeas, but the added health qualities of cinnamon. Nutritionally speaking, this snack is a powerhouse of awesome ingredients that are beneficial to everyone. A serving size is 1/4 cup (or 35 grams if you weigh your food like I do), which is exactly half of the contents of the pouch. In this serving you will be getting 140 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. Not bad for a snack, right? It gets better. This serving also only sets you back 160 mg of sodium and 6 grams of sugar. But, because these are made from actual chickpeas, you get a healthy 6 grams of fiber and a protein punch of 6 grams in each serving.
As for ingredients…it’s so easy and basic…no wonder these are clean eating. All that go into The Good Bean Sweet Cinnamon chickpea snacks are roasted chickpeas, brown rice syrup, Sumatra cinnamon, vanilla, coarse salt, gum arabic, and non-GMO expeller-pressed canola oil. Seven ingredients definitely falls into the clean eating profile. All of which are ingredients I recognize and don’t question. Nothing fake. Nothing processed. Just a whole lot of flavor and good ingredients in one small package.
So…how about taste?
Crunchy. Sweet. Savory. It’s everything packed in one very healthy 1/4 cup. Tons of flavor. And it hits every note on the flavor palate. It’s what the ultimate snack should be. Great crunch, fantastic texture, sweet but not too sweet, with the savory note of the chickpeas themselves. It’s like eating cinnamon toast without having to toast, butter, and dust the bread. This snack basically captures the very essence of cinnamon toast, but leaves out the fat, the white flour, the unnecessary carbs, the calories, the gluten, the sugar, and yes…the butter. This low-fat, gluten-free, high in filling fiber, and have less fat than nuts. How can you not like that? Every crunchy bite leaves me reaching for more. As much as I’d love to savor them…they just beg you to keep popping them. Better than popcorn and chips…The Good Bean totally wins with their chickpea snacks. Even more…the sweet cinnamon is a tasty, sweet, but sinless treat that will leaving you returning to your serving and devouring until the very last one is gone.
I am so impressed so far with the two flavors of The Good Bean chickpea snacks. I absolutely fell in love with the Sweet Cinnamon. The spice of the cinnamon and allspice with the sweetness of the vanilla makes this snack everything your taste buds could ask for. Trust me. I’m ready to rush out to the store and buy more.
Enjoy Life Boom CHOCO Boom Ricemilk Crunch Chocolate Bar
Product: Enjoy Life Boom CHOCO Boom Ricemilk Crunch Chocolate Bar – $1.99+
Dear Enjoy Life:
You really do make life enjoyable. When food allergies strike…there you are…waving a white flag of sweet goodness. Just when we think we have to eliminate something from our life…you step in with an allergen-free version that makes is okay for people like me to indulge every now and again. You bring products so close to things I used to eat…that I don’t ever have to stare longingly at something in a grocery aisle and remember the days when I could simply snatch it up without a care in the world.
In other words…you take my life that was turned upside down when food allergies and intolerance happened…and you set it right again.
I will always be thankful to have you in my trusted gluten-free brands.
Especially when it comes to…vegan chocolate!
Yes, fellow readers, you read that right. VEGAN. CHOCOLATE. Not only that…but chocolate that is free of the top 8 allergens. Yes. This chocolate bar is gluten-free, wheat free, dairy free, peanut free, tree nut free, egg free, soy free, fish free, and shellfish free.
Loving it.
Enjoy Life Boom CHOCO Boom Ricemilk Crunch Chocolate Bar (unwrapped)
So…remember Nestle Crunch bars? Remember? That sweet taste of chocolate combined with the crispy rice crunch that you got with each bite? This was my second favorite Nestle chocolate bar growing up (Mr. Goodbar being my favorite). And while Nestle doesn’t list gluten in their Crunch bars, the fact that it does have crisped rice and is made on equipment that it shares with other products that do have gluten…it means I have steered clear of this bar for a long while now. It’s sad…but necessary.
And then, while on sale one day, I spotted the gluten-free equivalent…or so I hoped. It was on the top shelf of my local grocery store’s gluten-free section. And it called to me…beckoning to me to try it out. See if it compared. So…for the sake of science, of course, one happened into my shopping cart, was paid for at the register, and taken home.
Last week…it became my 2 p.m. chocolate hit.
Last week…I discovered I no longer have to miss Nestle Crunch bars.
Because Enjoy Life’s Boom CHOCO Boom Ricemilk Crunch is everything a Nestle Crunch bar was…if not even better. Trust me on this one. This candy bar is packed with crispy rice and made with non-dairy rice milk. What this means is you get this great combination of crunchy, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth goodness. And trust me…that’s exactly what this chocolate treat offers. The rice milk is sweet and a great replacement for dairy. You can’t even tell the difference. This bar is sweet and has that savory crunch in each bite thanks to the gluten-free crispy rice that is prominent throughout the entire bar. It looks just like a Nestle Crunch…but it tastes even better than Nestle’s version.
So how does this allergen-friendly chocolate bar stack up in the nutrition department? Really well. A serving is the entire bar, which would give you 170 calories and 10 grams of fat. It is a candy bar, after all. I ended up breaking mine up and spreading it out over four days, cutting that calorie and fat down to 43 calories and 3 grams of fat. I only needed a square for a snack, not the entire bar, after all. But…given that the serving size is the entire bar, the rest of that nutrition info is that you also are getting 25 mg of sodium and 14 grams of sugar. Remember…this is a candy bar after all. The entire bar also gives you just 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein as well.
As far as ingredients go, Enjoy Life seeks out some of the safest and allergen-friendly ingredients out there. It starts with evaporated cane juice for the sweetness. To that it adds non-dairy cocoa butter, natural chocolate liquor (non-alcoholic), rice crisps (rice flour, rice bran, raisin juice concentrate, honey, salt), rice milk powder, and salt. I love that I recognize every ingredient that is listed. No guess work as to what anything might be that is put into this chocolate bar. I love that.
And I love the crispy bite that comes with each nibble I gave to this bar. It’s perfectly sweet. It’s perfectly crunchy. And it truly did melt-in-your mouth with this heavenly sweetness. It invites further indulgence…but it gives enough that it leaves you satisfied after just one little square. This was really good. Normally I prefer a dark chocolate…but the rice milk really meshed perfectly with the crispy rice. It was a perfect bite each time.
Enjoy Life definitely makes sweets that make life enjoyable…for everyone.
The crispy view of Enjoy Life Boom CHOCO Boom Ricemilk Crunch Chocolate Bar (unwrapped)
Product: Freedom Foods Maple Crunch Cereal – $2.99+
Eating clean…is not always easy. Especially on those busy, busy, busy mornings when you have a limited amount of time and breakfast has to happen. I am a firm believer in breakfast. Skipping breakfast is, honestly, one of the worst things you can do to your body. It kick starts your metabolism and it gives your body your first real boost in energy.
The difficult part is making sure you make smart decisions when it comes to what you eat for breakfast.
On gym mornings, I start off with just a bowl of cereal. After hitting the gym, I have my main breakfast (usually a breakfast banana split these days) at the office. The key to my cereal these days, however, is less sugar, more natural ingredients. When it comes to cereal…this can be tricky. Even more so when you have to eat a gluten-free cereal. So often the gluten-free products are laden with sugars and fats to compensate for being gluten-free and lacking some natural grains.
Thankfully, Freedom Foods has made its way to the shelves of my local Whole Foods store.
Why does this make me happy? Because, as I stated when I reviewed their TropicO’s cereal, Freedom Foods sets a high standard for themselves. They aim to create delicious food that is free from the “stuff” that your body doesn’t need. Why? Because they believe your body can work better without it. Basically, their goal is to make it easier to eat better food by making their customers more aware of what is actually in the food they are eating. They focus a lot on nutrition, using nothing artificial in their products. Yes…you read that right. Nothing artificial. The company took on the task of crating food that eliminates the bad stuff found in most pre-packaged and processed products. They keep their products free from gluten, free from artificial stuff, free from artificial colors and flavors, using less sugar and salt…which in turns, makes for a healthier, better feeling body. It’s science…and they do it deliciously well.
With my sports nutritionist putting a strong emphasis on moving me more toward Clean Eating…I wanted to find a cereal that would fit the bill. Immediately I thought of Freedom Foods. Their TropicO’s cereal impressed me and I knew my Whole Foods carried other varieties of their cereal. This time…I went with the Maple Crunch.
Let’s start with nutrition. This cereal, living up to their promise, is made with all-natural ingredients. These ingredients include a gluten-free flour mix (containing rice, whole grain sorghum, and non-GMO corn flour), cane sugar, apple juice concentrate, psyllium, salt, palm oil, tricalcium phosphate, natural flavors (maple and butterscotch), as well as natural vitamins from their ingredients. That’s…not too bad on the ingredients although the tricalcium phosphate is a bit…eh…chemical sounding. But it is actually a natural mineral. Believe it or not.
Aside from that, a serving of Freedom Foods is a cup of this cereal. This serving will provide you with 170 calories and only 1 gram of fat. Loving this already. This cereal only contains 120 mg of sodium, which is very low. In addition, there is only 7 grams of sugar per serving of this cereal as well. This cup of Maple Crunch also provides a filling 3 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein.
So…how does it taste? Really amazing. No, honestly. It sort of reminds me of a maple-y Alphabets Cereal. Remember Alphabets Cereal? I ate the hell out of that as a child. I love that the maple crunch isn’t overly infested with salt. Freedom Foods attests that they only ever put a pinch of salt in their Maple Crunch cereal. The quality of the ingredients they choose really shows because the texture and flavor are spot on. This cereal has a great crunch and that perfect level of sweetness, so that you feel like you are eating a cereal…without it feeling like a sugar-fest. I love the focus they put on their products, because the fact that this cereal tastes amazing, sweet, and crunchy says a lot about the level of focus they put on their products.
It’s like their box says…these days it’s not enough to be health conscious, people also need to be allergen-conscious. And for twenty years, Freedom Foods, based out of Australia, has been amking great-tasting, nutritious, and allergen-free foods. If you say something is gluten-free…immediately people assume that it is going to taste bad. I can say, from experience, this isn’t true. And it is far from true when it comes to Freedom Foods Maple Crunch cereal. In fact, this cereal isn’t just gluten-free, it is also free from soy, lactose, dairy and egg. The psyllium adds a great source of fiber. It’s sweet. It’s tasty. It’s just a really healthy and non-guilt inducing cereal to start off your day.
I’m hooked.
And, for the very near future, it looks like Freedom Foods may be my go-to company for cereal that suits my new eating style. It’s honestly good food that makes quality a top priority. And when you cater to the food allergic…this sort of attention really should be applauded.
I’m offering my round of applause now. Go to Whole Foods. Try Freedom Foods for yourself. The Maple Crunch gives that sweet, healthy start to your day…naturally. After all…who wants to fill their body with chemicals and processed junk when you can get proper nutrition from amazing natural ingredients. Thank you Freedom Foods!
So…here is the vicious cycle. I dislike cold weather runs. So, during the winter all I do is talk about how I can’t wait for it to get warm again. Then, in my area, we usually have about three days of spring and then the dog days of summer set in. Living in the Ohio River Valley makes for some rather intense humidity. And, wow, has Mother Nature ever been throwing the wet towel on me for every run this past week.
But…there are so many things I have learned in the past two years about running in the heat. First of all, I do understand that when there are heat advisories…it is best not to push it. Either take it inside or slow it down. That’s the next thing…when running in hell-like conditions…slow your pace. Just do it. There comes a point where your body will tell you it has had enough…and it won’t be pretty. Slow it down, make it through the run.
HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE!!
I can’t emphasize that enough. I’ve been doing a lot of practice with hydrating while out on the run. Both with water and, yes, with Gatorade. The Gatorade came as a suggestion from my sports nutritionist, whom I am meeting up with again today. Why? Carbs, sugar, and electrolytes. I tend to sweat salt. When I get done with a run on a hot, hot day…I’m caked with white. This means dehydration is a huge risk. So, I hydrate often and rotate between water and Gatorade.
This coming week, I am praying for a break in this stifling humidity. There is nothing worse than feeling like you’re breathing through a wet towel on each and every run. That being said…let’s take a look at this week’s training and see what I have learned…
Sunday is normally my easy run or rest day. BUT…not this Sunday. This Sunday was The Boilermaker 15K in Utica, New York. Race day! My rest day last week fell on Saturday, as I rearranged the training schedule to fit this race in. And trust me…this one was brutal. For one thing, it wasn’t supposed to be as hot as it was that morning. I woke up and it was already in the high 70s with a very high humidity. This meant I went running in my company running skirt and a bra top. The less fabric on me…the better. Along with the heat and humidity…was hills. This course was hilly, especially in the first half of the race. This turned out to be a tough race. I brought Gatorade and water for the route and there were over 20 aid stations on the 9.3 mile course. I finished with a new 15K PR…surprisingly, as by Mile 7, I realized I should have been fueling better when the heat started to get me…so I took a GU and kept on trekking. This was hard. And afterwards, as my schedule had me set for 10 miles for my long run, I did a slow, easy shake-out run in an alley for the remaining mileage that day. Then, I had to shower, get in a car, and not move for a very long time…which my legs and body didn’t appreciate. I was so sore by the time I got back into Columbus, Ohio early Monday morning. And with fatigue settling in, I didn’t bother to foam roll either. Live and learn. More stretch breaks…even if it means more time on the road.
Monday morning I was up just a little past 6:30 a.m., despite my late night/early morning return to Columbus, Ohio. My training plan still had me on schedule for a 6 mile easy run, and despite very sore legs, I was determined to get it done. This meant looping Jenn’s neighborhood, which is the route I usually do when I’m in town visiting her. That particular morning…I felt defeated on the run. My legs were screaming at me from sitting so long in the car after racing. The humidity was draining. I found myself stopping every half mile to catch my breath, hydrate, and at mile 3, fuel. It was just hard that morning to even get going and I just felt like crying every time my legs told me to stop. But, I got through it. And then, after grabbing breakfast…had to climb back in the car for the drive back to Louisville. Upon arriving back at home, I had to change and get ready to get back into the car and head out to my Monday fun run. I thought about skipping it, but Cathy told me it would be good to go, especially after being forced to sit in a car that long again. That was part of the problem…my legs were hurting. But I went. And, due to the high humidity and heat, it was decided that we were going to run trails. Now, I have never run trails before…and the very thought of doing so while I’m in training for a marathon scared the daylights out of me. But, Cathy encouraged me to just do it and I was told we would go easy. Natalie, who I run with often, said that if I felt uncomfortable on the trails, we could hop off in Cherokee Park and simply run the loop. Here’s to good friends looking out for me. I actually did okay and rocked out just under 3 miles of trail running. Trails keep the pace slower, which was good in that heat. And the tree cover meant no hot sun beating down…and there was actually a breeze on the trails. I’m glad I was convinced to go along.
Tuesday is the usual cross training day. This week I was scheduled for 40-50 minutes of cross training. That’s rather normal on Tuesdays now. So, I got on the Arc Trainer for 45 minutes, using the cardio setting on Level 5, and managed 2.38 with various intervals, resistance, and inclines. It felt good and I was quite happy with how I felt on there. I was trying to be very cautious with my legs, which were still not happy with me from the previous two days of sitting in the car. I then got on the stationary bike for 10 minutes and managed a whopping 3.91 miles. I guess I was trying to prove to my legs that I was boss and they would just need to shake it off and feel better. I hit up a few strength machines before calling it a day. That night…yoga to stretch everything out.
Wednesday is my speed work or pacing day and this week called for a 7 mile Tempo run. I used the first mile to warm up and then began to turn up the speed to just under my 10K pace. It was another intensely humid day…the worst one we had all summer. And it was 4 a.m. So, I figured I would do the best tempo run I could manage. It was a little slower than my last 7 mile tempo run from the week before, but you adjust to the conditions. No sense doing damage to myself by pushing too hard in weather that I shouldn’t be pushing through. I kept the speed build gradual and really pushed for a strong finish. This tempo run took a lot to get through, but I did manage, and that was the important part. The key was hydration and fueling. It gave me a strong finish and I felt good at the end of it. Then, that evening while dinner baked in the oven…circuit training. Working on building up some muscle.
Thursday called for 5 easy miles. It was another hot, humid, sticky, and gross morning. I really kept the pace easy because it just felt like I had a wet towel draped over me. It was hard to breathe and really hard to convince my legs to keep going. They were starting to feel better from the days of sitting in the car and more sitting at the office (I wasn’t taking lunches because I was making up time for being off on Monday). Despite all of that working against me, I managed beautiful negative splits that morning. And when I saw that…I felt so much better about that run. I stretched out again that evening with about 20 minutes of yoga.
Friday brought about the dreaded day of rest. I have such a hard time with the rest day. But I did vow to respect it and keep it holy each week. Normally I go for a walk on lunch, but with the time I was making up at the office, I decided to get up at my normal run time and get my walk in early. Good thing too, as things went crazy at the office with one of my accounts. Anyway, I managed 2.4 miles in 30 minutes, which got me out and moving without tiring out my legs. Good thing too…because Saturday was shaping up…
Saturday is long run training day. Run long at an easy pace. I was scheduled for 14 miles, but my training partner in crime was scheduled for 18. I decided I could boost my run up for 4 miles. After all, only a couple of weeks ago, I managed 15.5…and this was only 2.5 miles more. I woke up early, got dressed for the stifling humidity and 80 degree morning that awaited. I drank water. I ate some cereal. Then after applying a liberal amount of sunscreen, I got in the car and headed into Louisville to meet up with Matthew at 6:30 a.m. I downed a banana on the way, which would give it time to settle. I felt good as I stretched. And when he arrived, we headed out for 18 miles. Originally we had hoped to do this at an 8:30 pace…but the weather conditions made this virtually impossible. We took a few walk breaks to cool down, we stopped for water. It was hot. And the heat and humidity was definitely taking its toll. We made good friends with the manager of Denny’s, who let us cool off in their lobby and gave us free ice water. YAY! Then…we had the scary spill. Matthew’s leg cramped up while we were in our last 3 miles. His foot hit the sidewalk and he took a tumble. He fell into me, but I stayed upright. He hit the ground hard though…and I was so worried about him. It just looked bad. He said he was fine…and a lot of drivers and a biker all checked in on him. He dusted himself up, all scraped and battered…and we pressed on…slow and steady. But we managed to get our 18 miles in. It was slower than we would have liked, but given the weather conditions, we ran it smart. And that was the important thing. Matthew’s okay, by the way. And we’ve already got next week’s training run in the works.
This past week brought about some of the hottest conditions in this area this year. The humidity has been killer, bringing about air quality warnings. I get out early to run, and even that was hard on most days this past week. I’m hoping the humidity breaks soon because this sort of weather is so hard to work through. And it does affect you, as a runner, mentally. Runners are very number-focused…and on these dog days of summer, you have to worry more about your well-being, your body, making sure you are hydrated and fueled…and focus less on pace and speed. You still get in your training…it just may not be done as soon as you hoped or wanted.
But…even these hot and humid runs serve as good training and good lessons as far as how weather can affect you. These fall marathons could have these conditions…or they could be cooler…rained on…or just perfect. You just don’t know. Adjusting training to keep yourself safe and healthy is best. Safety first…always!
I can only survive so long on protein bars, bananas, Greek yogurt, and ice cream. Although if I could live forever on ice cream, I’d probably do that. But, alas…it is not possible.
And when hitting the road, it’s not easy for me to just grab fast food. I mean…I’m a gluten-free vegetarian. That more than limits the field of places I truly can eat. And eat safely for that matter. After visiting my home town, as brief as it was, and driving back toward Columbus, Ohio…my partners in crime and I figured we best find somewhere to grab some actual food for dinner. We were all basically living off the snacks and ice cream we consumed earlier in the day. I consulted my Find Me Gluten Free app for the cities we would be passing through, and the one with the most options was also the furthest one away.
Erie, Pennsylvania.
After listing off what the app directed us toward, the three of us decided that sandwiches sounded really, really good. And the app was having us head toward Picasso’s. Picasso’s is Erie, Pennsylvania’s first and only truly gourmet sandwich shop. Their sandwiches range from one that has Twinkies on it with cheese and ham, to vegetarian offerings. The kicker, however, was that they offered gluten-free bread. YES!! We attempted to find the place on our own, but soon enlisted the help of the GPS on my phone. And Jenn and I spotted it just outside the ring road that circled the mall there in Erie. We directed Cathy up that way and eagerly got out of the car. Because, yes…we were hungry and ready to eat!
Upon stepping inside the place, I already liked the vibe. The lady behind the counter was very friendly and very nice. She greeted us immediately and we said we were traveling from out of town…and that I was a Celiac. She assured me that they change gloves and take special precautions to prevent cross-contamination. THEY KNEW WHAT CROSS CONTAMINATION WAS!! I felt better about this already. The difficult part now was deciding on what sandwiches to order. After all, these would see us from Erie all the way back to Columbus, Ohio.
After some menu perusal, we all came to our decisions.
Cathy went with Raphael, which consisted of cheese ravioli, baby spinach and mozzarella cheese on sourdough bread ($6.99). Jenn went with The Thinker, which basically has the customer choose three cheeses. I can’t remember exactly what she went with, but I believe it was provolone, mozzarella, and the cheese ravioli ($5.49). Yes…cheese ravioli is considered cheese there at Picasso’s. You gotta love that. And, honestly, where else have you ever seen ravioli on a sandwich? It was an interesting concept and one that intrigued both of them.
My table art at Picasso’s
As for me…I went with the Gluten-Free Venus De Milo ($8.49 – $6.49 sandwich with a $2.00 up-charge for gluten-free). My sandwich consisted of hummus, onion, shredded carrots, baby spinach, muffalata, tomato, avocado and roasted red pepper mayo on Schär gluten-free bread. Instead of going into a panini press like Cathy and Jenn’s sandwiches, mine was toasted and cooked to perfection in an oven…definitely eliminating the possibility of cross-contamination. They changed gloves and made my sandwich first, before working on my friends. I appreciated everything they were doing to ensure I would not get sick from eating there.
We took a seat with our drinks to wait for our food. What is really awesome is that the tables are painted black and on each one is a little metal bucket that contained sidewalk chalk. See where this is headed? While waiting on food, customers can make some art on these tables, draw, write, play games…whatever. It’s a fun little concept and the three of us put our artistic (or lack thereof) skills to work. Cathy drew what we call a “anorexic Thor” which got us laughing for a good long while.
But soon, food was arriving. Jenn’s sandwich first. Then Cathy’s. As mine was being toasted in an oven, it was taking a little longer. I told Cathy and Jenn to go ahead and eat their sandwiches while they were still warm. Both of them unwrapped their food and began to nosh. And just after their initial bites, my sandwich arrived, wrapped and ready for me to eat.
I can’t speak for them, but both Cathy and Jenn were quite impressed with how well ravioli on a sandwich worked. Why we never thought of this before…is way beyond me! These sandwiches must have been good because all three of us have been lamenting not having a Picasso’s near us. Sadness.
My Gluten-Free Venus De Milo Sandwich (wrapped)
As for my sandwich…well, to start…this was my first time having Schär’s sandwich bread. And it was awesome. Seriously. With gluten-free bread, you either get the ones that hold up or the ones that fall apart. This sandwich was loaded down with veggies as well as hummus and red pepper mayo. So…this had the potential to be very, very messy. But…it was a light golden color and held together, even with all the fillings and toppings and general awesomesauce stuffed in between. The muffalata was a bit scary…because I dislike olives. But…I went with it. I braved it. I figured it all had to come together somehow. And just like any work of art…it all did. The onions, the tomato, the carrots, the baby spinach, the avocado, the hummus, the olives, the red pepper mayo…it made for the perfect bite…every time. In fact, when I’d drip mayo out with some of the filling, I’d scoop it up and devour that too. That is how much I was enjoying this sandwich. It was savory, and sweet, and just A-MAZ-ING!! Seriously, I keep wanting to attempt to recreate it…along with what Jenn and Cathy had. I just know it wouldn’t live up to what we were served there at Picasso’s. Sandwich perfection. Truly. A masterpiece between two pieces of (gluten-free) bread.
I only wish there were more of these throughout the country…like in Louisville or Columbus. You know…where we live and all. We still crave another sandwich from there, which means they are doing something completely right. I loved the off-beat combinations that made up their sandwiches. And every sandwich was named after either an artist or a work of art. Like I said…the concept of this gourmet sandwich shop was fantastic. The fact that the food lived up to the concept was even better.
I encourage you, if you happen to be traveling through Erie, Pennsylvania, to stop in for a bite to eat at Picasso’s. The art of food, specifically sandwich crafting, is alive and well…and done to perfection. Trust me, you won’t regret it. Choose something you’d never dream of finding anywhere else. I promise, you’ll want to go back for more.
I grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. And while this town was small, there are still parts of it that I still talk about today.
Not just school. Not just softball. Not just my friends.
But places I used to go. Even small towns have malls…and as a teenager, I spent a lot of time at the Arnot Mall in Big Flats, New York. However…my most favorite place to go was what we locals referred to as “The Old Barn.” However, when this old barn was transformed into an ice cream shop, it became known as The Dairy Barn.
I spent so many spring and summer days eating ice cream off a cone. Usually I got a small chocolate/vanilla twist. Or the Dole Whip in a cone. Sometimes I’d get it dipped in chocolate or cherry topping. Sometimes I was allowed to have sprinkles. And on some rare occasions, I was able to pick from the hard ice cream flavors and have a really special treat.
When I went up to Utica, New York to run in a road race, Cathy and Jenn, my travel compatriots and two of my biggest race support crew, indulged me by allowing a rather big detour down through the Big Flats area. I had let those in the area know that I was going to be in town, briefly, on Sunday afternoon…and that should they want to get together…I would be hitting up The Dairy Barn.
Yes…this lactose intolerant girl was going to indulge in some ice cream. And why not? Ice cream is usually how I round off a race day anyway. This was no different…just somewhere else.
I can’t really write up a review of The Dairy Barn in Horseheads, NY. They are not like my local ice cream shop or Jeni’s up in Columbus, Ohio…meaning they don’t make their own ice cream. They do serve up Perry’s Ice Cream, however. Perry’s Ice Cream is native to Upstate New York…so at least it is somewhat local! So, I do give them that. The Dairy Barn can make up different sundaes (including banana splits…and I was tempted!) in addition to their regular ice cream in a cone or cup.
With my friends all assembled, we placed our orders. And there were definitely some fun flavors to choose from. I appreciated that The Dairy Barn had out their allergen list of all the flavors they were serving. This took a lot of guess work out and also meant that I could go with some of the hard ice cream instead of the Dole Whip, should I so choose. And so…that’s what I did.
The Dairy Barn serves up a “small” scoop of Perry’s White Lightning Ice Cream.
Now, these flavors are definitely fun and delicious. Jenn went for the flavor called Piece of Cake, which is light yellow cake ice cream with chocolate flavored frosting swirls and pound cake pieces inside. Cathy went with a unique flavor she had never seen before. It was definitely one of the more interesting sounding ones…being that it was popcorn flavored ice cream with sea salt caramel swirls and caramel truffles. My friend Karen got the same kind. As for me…I originally was going to get a flavor called Fools Gold (peanut butter ice cream with peanut butter candy swirls and chocolate coated toffee pieces), but changed my mind after spotting one called White Lightning. White Lightning is dark chocolate ice cream with streaks of thick mint flavored white fudge lightning. And it was AMAZING! Rich dark chocolate with yummy fudge throughout it. It was two of my favorite things all packed into a giant “small” scoop. Mint. Dark Chocolate. Heaven. I let it just melt away on my tongue and took my time to eat it…loving and indulging in every sinful spoonful.
If the ice cream shop isn’t making their own ice cream, I give them props for choosing a company that is based out of Upstate New York and quite regional. Loved every bite of my ice cream. And at The Dairy Barn, they don’t skimp on portions either. All of us got a cup of our ice cream of choice, and it was a big scoop of ice cream…probably 2 servings packed in. I didn’t care. I was going to devour every bit of it. And each cup of ice cream was very affordable too. That large serving of delicious Perry’s ice cream ran us $2.50 each. Can’t beat that. And that was for the “small” size. I can’t imagine what the large size would be.
But the best part of this journey was getting reacquainted with people I hadn’t seen in years. It was way too short of a time, but I enjoyed every moment with Jenn, Karen, and Shannon…who I hadn’t seen in 15 years…since graduating high school. No one really has changed. We all are still goofy, still having fun, and still enjoying life. And we all got to do it together…for about 45 minutes…over ice cream.
If you find yourself passing through the Horseheads/Big Flats area…swing by The Dairy Barn and grab a scoop of ice cream. Try out a flavor you may not see anywhere else. Go with family. Go with friends. Indulge. Do it with a smile. And know that The Dairy Barn keeps a list of all allergen information for all of their flavors at the counter. So do so with a sound mind.
And if you happen to be returning to the area…get together with friends. Friendship, smiles, laughter and ice cream. That’s what these days are all about.
Jen, Karen, Shannon and Me…some of my high school friends who made it out to The Dairy Barn in Horseheads, NY, for ice cream and some catching up. WOW…I missed them!
The Celiathlete 