Food – Page 65 – The Celiathlete

July 11, 2013

Arctic Zero Cookies & Cream frozen dessert a complete let down

Product: Arctic Zero Cookies & Cream Frozen Dessert – $4.99

When you think Cookies & Cream ice cream, what do you envision? For me…it’s a rich and creamy vanilla base that is filled with chunks of cookies. So, when I saw that Arctic Zero offered a frozen treat that was labeled Cookies & Cream, you better believe I got all excited about it.

While I tried and enjoyed the Chocolate Peanut Butter frozen dessert from Arctic Zero well enough…I mentioned that it seemed to be lacking a lot of the peanut butter flavor. And trust me…when you buy something that has the words PEANUT BUTTER listed, you want to be able to taste peanut butter.

Well, the same concept sort of holds true for something that is called Cookies & Cream. You just sort of expect to get cookies with your ice cream, right? EXACTLY!!

And that’s exactly what I immediately noticed was missing when I opened up this pint of the Arctic Zero Frozen Dessert I picked up at Whole Foods not too long ago. I mean…a gluten-free ice cream-like dessert that involved COOKIES??!! I was sold. And tonight, after a quick dinner, this was going to be dessert. I hurried into the kitchen to open the pint, which I let sit on the counter while my roommate and I ate because I discovered that lactose-free desserts do better when they are left to soften a little. I popped off the lid…and was staring at this gray-brown Italian ice-like substance. Given that I had eaten a flavor of Arctic Zero before, I was expecting the sorbet-like look. I wasn’t expecting the brown-gray color. And…AND…there was NO sign of anything cookie-like scattered throughout it.

I was totally bummed.

But, I figured maybe it was supposed to just taste like cookies and cream, in which case…the picture on the front is very misleading. That being said, I scooped up a 1/2 cup serving for my roommate and handed her a bowl, then went to scoop mine. She gave it a taste…and said that…it didn’t taste like cookies and cream. It almost tasted…caramel-like.

I finished scooping up my serving and put the pint back into the freeze. Then, I settled in and took my first taste. She was absolutely right. So, not only did I not have any cookies in my Cookies & Cream dessert…it tasted like caramel. Not cookies. Not cream. Caramel. Now, I like caramel…but not when I want cookies and cream. FOR REAL!! False advertising.

This was a serious let-down for me. It totally bummed me out on every level I could think of. I’m still upset about it. I could have forgiven them for the lack of cookies, but I can’t forgive them for getting the flavor wrong. This is NOT cookies and cream. This is…a disappointing let-down. Not what I wanted. Not what I was told I was getting.

Now, speaking nutrition-wise…the Arctic Zero Cookies & Cream Frozen Dessert is gluten-free and safe for the lactose intolerant. The entire pint will only serve you up 150 calories. But a regular serving, which is 1/2 cup, is only 36 calories and is fat free. In addition, one serving has only 80 mg sodium, 10 mg cholesterol, and 5 grams of sugar. Finally, one serving of the Cookies & Cream Frozen Dessert from Arctic Zero gives you 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein.

As far as ingredients go…well…I can see how it would be best not to skip to these low-calorie substitutions. All the ingredients are, as listed: purified water, whey protein concentrate (milk), organic cane sugar, chicory root, sugarcane fiber, dutch processed cocoa powder with alkali, guar gum, xanthan gum, natural flavors, organic vanilla, sea salt, and monk fruit concentrate.

Definitely not the cleanest nor the best when it comes to ingredients. And this is not a vegan treat as it does contain whey protein. Just a warning.

For me…on this the second flavor I have tried from Arctic Zero…I’m beginning to see a trend…and I’m saying don’t waste your $5 on this. Go for something delicious that you know you’ll like. Be it real ice cream…or something offered from So Delicious or other non-dairy offerings that are SUPER delicious. This…is just not worth it.

A serving of Arctic Zero Cookies & Cream Frozen Dessert

July 11, 2013

Nature’s Earthly Choice makes a Roasted Garlic and Olive Oil quinoa easy, quick, and amazing

Product: Nature’s Earthly Choice Roasted Garlic and Olive Oil Easy Quinoa – $3.99+

This is my fourth flavor of the Nature’s Earthly Choice Easy Quinoa meals. And I think I can easily say that this one is my favorite. I started off with one that didn’t impress me at all. It just was bland. The following two were really good. Each one providing great flavor. But this one…this one in particular had it all working for it.

I am, of course, talking about the Roasted Garlic and Olive Oil variety of the Nature’s Earthly Choice Easy Quinoa product line.

For me, quinoa is never difficult or a hassle to make. I find it one of the easier grains to cook up. In fact, I do cook it up often. It is a staple in my pantry and when I do it myself, I can flavor it however I want. But there is something so compelling about having the seasonings and flavors done up for you. So, that was what initially drew me to the Easy Quinoa line. That and the fact that these were at a grocery store in Minnesota and I had never seen them before. Not in my area. Of course, I can find them in regular grocery stores now…but at the time, it was a new thing…and I had to have it.

Tonight brought about the last of the boxes from the pantry. This week has been insane with recovering from being out of town at a convention last weekend to heading out of town to Upstate New York for a race this coming weekend. So, hectic days, busy nights, and a lot of stress mean that dinners are being kept healthy…but simple. And this is just a matter of boiling some water, letting it simmer, fluffing and serving. Awesome.

Quinoa and seasoning packets for Nature’s Earthly Choice Roasted Garlic and Olive Oil Easy Quinoa

So, before I get to the flavor and taste…let’s start with the ingredients and nutrition. Why? Because that should always be the first place you look on any sort of processed and packaged item you purchase.

As far as ingredients go, this list is pretty basic…quinoa is listed first…as it should be…as that is the basis of this entire product line. In addition to quinoa, you find garlic powder, potato starch, onion powder, dry milk, salt, yeast extract, sugar, olive oil, soybean oil, tomato powder, glucose syrup, maltodextrin, celery flakes, dehydrated bell pepper, spices, and natural flavors. So…while I’m not a fan of the maltodextrin and the glucose syrup…it does make me realize that maybe I should just go ahead and make my own from here on out.

As far as nutrition facts go, a serving size is 1/4 cup of the dry quinoa. The actual box contains 3.5 servings. One serving dishes up 160 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. The Roasted Garlic and Olive Oil Easy Quinoa is cholesterol free and contains only 220 mg of sodium. That’s awesome for a packaged item. A serving also has 2 grams of sugar, 3 grams of fiber, and 6 grams of protein.

But the flavor…the flavor is awesome. Honestly. This was, by far, my favorite of the four flavors of the Easy Quinoa line. The roasted garlic is very prevalent and the olive oil helps provide a healthy fat and this nice hit of flavor as well. But the garlic is what makes it. This could have easily been served up in a bowl, as my roommate and I were making it an entree and each taking half of the box, but instead, I dished it up over fresh Romaine lettuce and touched it up with some fresh organic tomato slices. It made a very nice meal that was just packed with the richness of roasted garlic. Just…fantastic. If I were to purchase any of these again in the future, this would be the one I would get. So look for the pink box, okay?

While I love the simplicity of how to prepare this…boil water, take to simmer, add seasoning packets, let it absorb water, fluff, serve…I think I could make something from scratch that has just as much flavor and probably better and cleaner and healthier ingredients. So, I think next time I’ll just pull the quinoa out of my pantry and season it up myself. After all, there is nothing hard about preparing quinoa. While Nature’s Earthly Choice takes a lot of the seasoning out of the equation, it doesn’t need all the extra bells and whistles. It’s good. In fact, it’s quite tasty…but I think I could do it on my own…and better.

But, for an easy prep meal…this would be a good one to choose.

Nature’s Earthly Choice Roasted Garlic and Olive Oil Easy Quinoa (prepared and served over Romaine lettuce with organic tomato slices)

July 10, 2013

Enjoy Life’s Boom CHOCO Boom is a decadent, allergen-free, dark chocolate treat

Product: Enjoy Life Boom CHOCO Boom Dark Chocolate Bar – $1.99+

You know what I love about Enjoy Life?

I love that I feel absolutely safe when I buy and consume their products. There is a reason for that. Enjoy Life wants the food allergic to be able to eat freely. And for that reason, this company takes it upon themselves to exclude the 8 most common food allergens in their products. We’re talking gluten, wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, soy, fish, and shellfish. Considering that I am a Celiac who is (not uncommonly) also lactose intolerant, this means these products fit right into my wheelhouse.

And…yes…they have chocolate.

More specifically, and much to my happiness…they have DARK CHOCOLATE!! I love, love, love dark chocolate. Like…seriously love it. I have never been a big fan of milk chocolate. White chocolate…definitely not a huge fan. Dark chocolate is my vice…and it is actually one of the healthiest vices to have. Seriously. Even the books on clean eating I have been studying have mentioned dark chocolate. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants and has been proven to lower blood pressure.

And thanks to Enjoy Life…all those benefits are brought together in a dark chocolate bar. Mmmm…snack time is so bittersweet! (See what I did there?)

With my love of dark chocolate, my roommate surprised me awhile back with the Boom CHOCO Boom Dark Chocolate Bar from Enjoy Foods. I tucked this away and had all but forgotten about it…until I ran out of dark chocolate covered edamame and wasn’t heading anywhere near Trader Joe’s for awhile. Then I remembered my chocolate stash…and this bar was right on top. Brilliant.

As I mentioned before, Enjoy Life prides itself on excluding the top 8 allergens from their products. So, I felt very confident breaking off a square of this bar to take with me for a sweet treat when the 2:00 slump hit at the office. And when said time rolled around, I happily retrieved the container I tucked it into, popped the lid, removed my little square of dark chocolate and took a little nibble.

At first, I felt that this chocolate bar was a bit on the chalky side. But once the chocolate gets warmed up in your mouth and against your tongue, it takes on that dark, divine, rich flavor that is associated with dark chocolate. It just takes a moment to get there. This indulgent treat is a powerhouse with the antioxidant properties it contains, which destroy free radicals that are thought to lead to heard disease and other ailments. Dark chocolate…more please!! Actually, with dark chocolate, a little does go a long way. And for this bar, I separated it into the 4 separate squares and took only one with me. It was perfect. And once that initial chalky flavor gave way to the bittersweet dark chocolate…the bar was consumed…and quickly.

And nutritionally speaking, this bar definitely provides a lot of sinful goodness without the guilt. The serving size is actually the entire bar, but if you’re just snacking, why not make it last longer? One square of this chocolate bar provides you with 43 calories and only 3 grams of fat. Not too bad for 8 grams of dark chocolate goodness. One square will also give you only 3 grams of sugar, 1 gram of protein, and 1 gram of fiber. In addition, the Enjoy Life Boom CHOCO Boom Dark Chocolate Bar contains no sodium and no cholesterol.

As far as ingredients go, it doesn’t get much more basic than this: Natural Chocolate Liquor (Non-Alcoholic), Evaporated Cane Juice, Non-Dairy Cocoa Butter.

Yes…that really is everything.

So, if you have a sweet tooth that needs a little something every now and again, give the Enjoy Life Boom CHOCO Boom Dark Chocolate Bar a taste. It definitely gave this dark chocolate loving gluten-free, lactose-intolerant girl something to dish about. Mmmm…chocolate! Enjoy!

Enjoy Life Boom CHOCO Boom Dark Chocolate Bar (unwrapped)

July 10, 2013May 11, 2015

Kind Healthy Grains lights up the taste buds with Vanilla Blueberry Clusters with Flax Seeds

Product: Kind Healthy Grains Vanilla Blueberry Clusters with Flax Seeds – $4.99+

I could eat granola forever. It travels well. It is healthy if prepared right and made with the right ingredients. And it is downright delicious. I’ve made my own in the past, but sometimes…sometimes life gets crazy. And these past weeks have brought a lot of craziness and road time. And that means not a lot of time at home nor in the kitchen. Bummer.

So, when I needed a granola to top off my fruit and Greek yogurt breakfast parfaits, I looked no further than some of my favorite, cleaner choices. Low in sugar, natural ingredients. That’s the key.

My favorite brand wasn’t available at the store where I was shopping, but my another favorite brand was thankfully on the shelf. I love Kind products. Kind Bars are one of my go-to granola bar choices because they are gluten-free and really on the better end of the nutrition scale. And…a little bit closer to clean eating when you can’t make your own. Kind products have always been ranked high for me and I’ve had one other of their granola choices…and so many flavors of their Kind Bars. I felt confident choosing one of their bags of Healthy Grain clusters when I needed a granola.

A good friend of mine, who I run with, brought me some fresh blueberries that he picked. I was thrilled to have them, as blueberries are one of my favorite fruits. I’ve been putting them on top of my breakfast banana splits after hitting the gym and this morning, I threw them into my fruit and Greek yogurt breakfast parfaits. Because…they are the best blueberries ever. And, as luck would have it, the version of Kind Healthy Grains I chose at the grocery store was the Vanilla Blueberry Clusters with Flax Seeds. It was almost destiny.

A serving of Kind Healthy Grains Vanilla Blueberry Clusters with Flax Seeds

I actually liked this a lot more than I thought I would. First of all, because they don’t have a high sugar content, these clusters of whole grains (gluten free oats, brown rice, gluten free oat flour, buckwheat, amaranth, millet, quinoa) aren’t overly sweet and won’t dominate your palate nor the dish you are using them in. The vanilla flavor is subtle, without being lost. The berry flavor, according to the ingredient list, seems to be a combination of blueberry puree, apple puree, plum puree, and a bit of apple juice. In addition to that, the sweetness comes from the use of evaporated cane juice, vanilla, and molasses (which also helps as a binder for the clusters). And thanks to the inclusion of the flax seeds, additional nutritional value is added to a simple sweetened granola.

Like I said, I adored the subtlety of this flavor and variety from Kind Healthy Grains. And for me, a gluten-free vegetarian, the fact that the flax seeds brings a healthy dose of Omega-3 is an added bonus. These are crunchy, and just add great texture to whatever it is included in. Even on its own, this granola is fantastic. Nothing needed to dress it up or add to it. I could eat it by the handful and be happy.

Nutritionally speaking, I love how the ingredients are all natural. A serving size of this granola is 1/3 cup. In that serving, you get served 120 calories and 3 grams of fat. Not bad at all!! In addition, to being cholesterol free, this granola is very low in sodium (only 20 mg) and contains only 5 grams of sugar. Love that! A serving of the Vanilla Blueberry Clusters with Flax Seeds also provides 5 grams of filling fiber and 3 grams of protein. It is a really fantastic choice for granola. One that you definitely won’t feel guilty about eating or tossing over your yogurt, fruit, or whatever else you desire.

When it comes down to healthy choices, sometimes granola can be tricky. So often it is just laden with sugars that make it an unhealthy, calorie-laden snack. But, thanks to companies like Kind Products, a healthier choice is available. If you are looking for a hint of vanilla sweetness and a bit of fruity goodness, I highly recommend the Kind Healthy Grains Vanilla Blueberry Clusters with Flax Seeds. Honestly…one of the best choices out on the market today. Available in regular grocery stores too. Trust me…you’ll want to try this one!

Kind Healthy Grains Vanilla Blueberry Clusters with Flax Seeds over fresh blueberries and Chobani Vanilla Greek Yogurt

July 10, 2013

My favorite Tasty Bite thus far has to be the Channa Masala

Product: Tasty Bite Channa Masala – $3.29+

It’s simple. It’s fast. And, wow…is it ever full of flavor and epically delicious. This is no exaggeration. And the most surprising part is this isn’t made from scratch. It comes from this little microwavable pouch. A simple 90 second zap and something to serve it with (I love pouring this over jasmine rice) and dinner is ready in less than five minutes.

LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES!

Is it possible that something tasty can come from a little microwavable pouch?

You bet your Indian-food loving self something can…and it does. So far I have been highly impressed with the line of Indian meals from Tasty Bite, but none have really wowed me as much as the Channa Masala. And the surprising part is just how simple this dish really is.

The night before, to save on time, I cooked up some jasmine rice on the stove top and stored it in the fridge for the following evening. Monday is my evening fun run with my running group, so dinner has to be fast…not too heavy…but substantial enough to see me through at least three miles of road. So, it’s usually grilled cheese or something equally as easy…and since I have a pantry shelf of Tasty Bite meals…these make a quick, easy, and perfect meal for such busy days.

Channa Masala is a slightly spicy Indian dish that uses chickpeas as the main component. Tasty Bite does just that with their version. In addition, they add simple, natural ingredients to the mix. Not one item listed on the pouch is something I am unfamiliar with. In fact…I’ll list the ingredients here: onions, water, chickpeas, tomatoes, sunflower oil, coriander, salt, spices, chilies, bay leaf, and turmeric. Vegetables, beans, a little oil, and some spices. Like I said…all natural ingredients. All ingredients are vegan, vegetarian, kosher, gluten-free…and yes…non-GMO! Here is something I can totally get behind.

So with all that being said, let me dive right in. The Channa Masala was LOVE at first taste. Honestly. One bite and I was hooked. There is a bit of a warm spice…that heat you get when you eat really good Indian food. Not overpowering or overwhelming. Let’s just say my roomie is a heat wimp and this is also one of her favorites so far. It’s just enough to make the bite interesting. Honestly. The chickpeas heat up to perfection and the sauce has that perfect blend of spices and flavor from the vegetables. It went so well over the rice and the entire meal was just amazing. I had to keep myself from hoovering the entire bowl and pace myself, let the flavor linger on my tongue, enjoying every bite. It may not be much to look at, but wow…the flavor, texture, and just outright sheer awesomeness of the meal itself is enough to make you rush out to the store and buy up every pouch on the shelf.

Nutritionally speaking, this is a very healthy meal, for a prepackaged meal. One serving is half of the Channa Masala inside the pouch. This serving dishes up a 180 calories and 8 grams of fat. One serving only has 400 mg of sodium, which isn’t bad for packaged food on the shelf of a grocery store, honestly. It is also cholesterol free. Thanks to the chickpeas, this serving provides a filling 6 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein as well. Like I said…it’s filling without being heavy…making it the perfect quick meal to turn to on busy days.

As you can tell, I am absolutely LOVING the variety, the flavors, the versatility, and the natural goodness of the Tasty Bite meals that I have had the honor of trying. Channa Masala, however, has quickly worked its way up to the top of my list. I am in love with this one…and already am pondering different ways to dish it up next time. Perhaps in tacos. Mmmmm…fusion!

Take my word…these affordable, healthy, and amazingly quick meals are one of the most fantastic products on your grocery store’s shelves. Purchase them. Enjoy them. Quick doesn’t mean it has to be bad for you. Tasty Bite puts out some of the best packaged food out there. I can attest to that. And with them catering to so many varieties of special diets…it means there is something for everyone.

Gold star, Tasty Bite. Gold star!!

Tasty Bite Channa Masala over jasmine rice

July 9, 2013

Everything right about Udi’s Gluten-Free Everything Inside Bagels

Special Delivery of Udi’s Gluten-Free Goodies – including brand new products!

Product: Udi’s Gluten-Free Everything Inside Bagels – $6.49+

Ah, bagels!!

I’m a New Yorker. I grew up loving bagels. I was raised eating bagels. And I was okay with that. They are filling, and delicious, and you can top them however you want. What’s even better…there are varieties of bagels. Blueberry, cinnamon raisin, you name it…it’s probably a bagel.

But a constant favorite among bagel eaters is the Everything Bagel. What is an Everything Bagel? Simple…a bagel…with just about everything in it. In the most basic, standard format, a real Everything Bagel has poppy seeds, carraway seeds, and sesame seeds baked into it and coating the top. In addition to this, the nice flavor of salt, garlic and onion are baked into the bagel. It’s a mess…but a delicious mess. And it is definitely a New York thing…not to mention one of the most flavorful things you will ever sink your teeth into.

And, sadly, the gluten-free community was missing out on this amazing treat. But no longer…thanks to Udi’s Gluten-Free…once again putting on it’s gluten-free cape of awesome and saving the gluten-free shelves from monotony!

You see, a little while back I was sent a nice box that contained an assortment of Udi’s Gluten-Free products, some classics and some new products. And I went through each and every one of them. The last item from the tasty box of gluten-free awesomesauce that I chose to eat just happened to be Udi’s Gluten-Free take on the Everything Bagel. They call it the Everything Inside Bagel…and I was really, really excited about sinking my teeth into this one.

Let’s start off with the basics…those nitty-gritty nutrition and ingredient facts.

Udi’s Gluten-Free Everything Inside Bagels are composed of water, tapioca starch, brown rice flour, canola oil, egg whites, evaporated cane sugar, tapioca maltodextrin, tapioca syrup, xanthan gum, millet seed, flax seed, poppy seeds, dehydrated onion, yeast, salt, dehydrated garlic, and cultured corn syrup solids (used as a natural mold inhibitor. While some of this definitely reads as foreign to me, I went and found out that tapioca maltodextrin is a food starch that can add a sweet flavor to it. Good to know. I recognized everything else on the ingredient list…but I wanted to know what all I was consuming.

Nutritionally speaking, the Udi’s Gluten-Free Everything Inside Bagel is a very healthy choice. Honestly. One serving is an entire bagel. This one bagel will provide you with a hearty 290 calories and 10 grams of fat. Okay, the 10 grams of fat is a little high…but no bagel is without a higher level of fat. But, keep in mind, many gluten-free items can be a little higher in fat than regular products. It’s just the truth. These bagels are cholesterol free, contain only 490 mg of sodium, and only 5 grams of sugar. Not too bad. And… you also get a filling serving of 3 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein! Trust me, you will feel filled when you finish devouring this bagel.

And devour you will. Because now we will talk about flavor.

OH MY GOD! These bagels are fantastic. I love the blend of the onion and garlic flavor baked into the bagel. The addition of the various seeds (a different, and perhaps healthier take on the regular version) throughout the bagel is a nice addition to not just the flavor but also the texture. These are packed with flavor. My roommate said that they were “REALLY YUMMY.” This is a good sign. When we go out to eat at one of our favorite brunch places, she always enjoys their Everything Muffin, which is sort of the muffin take on the bagel. So to have her send such high praise up for this gluten-free bagel, which I added a schmear of Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese to, is saying something. REALLY YUMMY indeed. These might have just taken over as my favorite bread-like product from Udi’s. I am blown away by these. Texture, taste…the entire package. Fantastic. Seriously good eats.

Find these. Hunt them down. Request them at your grocery store. Do whatever you can to get your hands on these. Definitely my new favorite easy-to-make breakfast. A simple toasting and top it however you like…and you’re in delicious breakfast heaven. Yep…I’m definitely anticipating the next time I can stock my freezer with these!

Thank you, Udi’s…for your sample pack of your amazing, versatile, and never-boring products. This gluten-free girl has been in heaven with each and every bite!

Udi's Gluten-Free Everything Inside Bagels (one full, one halved) — Udi’s Gluten-Free Everything Inside Bagels (one full, one halved)

July 9, 2013

Caramel Fudge a definite flavor-winner for thinkThin high protein bars

Product: thinkThin Caramel Fudge High Protein Bar – $1.99+

It’s sometimes hit or miss when it comes to protein bars. Honestly. They can be amazing…or they can taste like cardboard…or worse. Yes…there have been worse. But, for me, with the exception of one bar so far, thinkThin has not let me down. In fact, a majority of the products I have tried from thinkThin have been good. Some even really good. Some better than really good.

Due to a sale at my local grocery store, I ended up picking up a couple of these bars because, for the most part, I can trust them to be filling and taste good. Hey…I’ll eat something that is just “good.” I might be a little picky when it comes to flavors, but if it’s edible, I will eat it. That being said, I picked up one I previously reviewed…Creamy Peanut Butter…and then the Caramel Fudge.

This past weekend I was out of town…which meant I needed to pack the onslaught of protein bars in case I was hungry and there was nothing around for me to eat. At conventions, that can happen. And it did. Honestly. Thankfully, I have learned to always be prepared.

On Sunday morning, however, after a 7 mile run, I returned to the room to shower and eat breakfast. I had brought apples, raisins, and peanut butter to make apple sandwiches for my roommate and I, but I also knew it would be awhile before we were going to eat lunch…so we decided to split the thinkThin Caramel Fudge High Protein Bar.

Before I get into the taste, I figure I’ll hit up the general nutritional info on these bars. First of all, what I love about thinkThin’s High Protein Bars are that they contain around 15-20 grams of protein per bar (which 1 bar is a serving). That’s awesome. They are gluten-free and sugar-free as well. I appreciate that especially as I start to lean toward more clean eating…while balancing a very active lifestyle. This particular flavor of bar contains 240 calories and 9 grams of fat. In addition to that, you get only 300 mg of sodium and less than 5 mg of cholesterol. One of the Caramel Fudge bars has only 1 gram of fiber and then 20 grams of protein. For the active and protein challenged like me, this is an ideal choice for a snack before or after a run. Honestly.

But…the big question loomed. How would it taste?

I sliced the bar in half, the chocolate coating giving way to the nougat-like caramel filling that it surrounded. Given that this was the Caramel Fudge flavor from thinkThin, this is a good thing. It was also good that this bar smelled like chocolate covered caramel. So far, so good. Taste-wise…well…

It tasted a lot like it smelled…sweet and a little salty. One of my favorite combinations. So, it was a bit like having a chocolate covered salty caramel goodie. And salted caramel is one of the best things in the world, if you ask me. Really. It is. What I loved about the flavor of this one is that it didn’t taste like the protein that is added to it. Too often, that protein powder is so evident in protein bars, but not this one. This had a very smooth flavor. The chocolate had the right amount of sweetness to make it feel like a treat as well. The chocolate shell was soft, but had this crispness to it when it was split in half. It was nice. The texture was moist without being chalky…making it very palatable. Yeah…I totally fell in love with this one. Definitely ranking up as one of my favorites to date. The peanut butter varieties still rank at the very top so far though. Just sayin’.

If you are looking for a delicious protein bar, this one definitely gives you a 20 gram protein punch for your buck. Honestly. thinkThin is one of the products I continue to return to. While not completely void of sugar (they use sugar alcohols), they are one of the better choices out on the market. And I am so glad that my friend Tawn introduced me to these bars a couple of years back when I visited in California. Beyond impressed. And soon…more will find their way into my run snack drawer. Very soon.

Nicely done, thinkThin. I applaud you…and will restock sometime in the very near future.

thinkThin Caramel Fudge High Protein Bar (unwrapped)

July 9, 2013

Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza comes to my gluten-free pizza rescue while out of town

Restaurant: Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza, Indianapolis, Indiana

So, I’m in Indianapolis. That morning, I ran 10 miles for training. My lunch was a gluten-free cookie and an orange. It was after 6 p.m. and I was starving. I had just finished up a string of back-to-back panels at a local sci-fi convention in Indianapolis, the entire reason I was in Indianapolis in the first place. My initial thought was a gluten-free sandwich from Jason’s Deli, but that would require leaving the convention hotel, driving out to the restaurant, which wasn’t nearby, and sitting and eating. And I honestly just didn’t have the energy.

So, my roommate and I hijacked the computer in the business center and started surfing Find Me Gluten Free.

And pizza…that’s not only convention food…it just sounded really, really, really good.

The most highly recommended place on the search was a local place called Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza. We pulled up the Web site, and…there it was…a 10 inch gluten-free crust. Awesome. We wrote down the number and checked the delivery area. And we were just a block or two outside of the delivery region. Cathy decided it was worth a try to ask if they would deliver to us, as they weren’t that far away. So, she called. And they were more than happy to accommodate. That was awesome.

We placed our order…one gluten-free pizza with mushrooms, red onion, and pineapple ($14.00). It just sounded…really good. With the order in, we were told it would be about 35 minutes, as it was a Saturday. So, we decided to keep ourselves occupied until we got the call that they were nearby. We’d meet the delivery guy in the lobby. We walked around and talked with some people while we waited and when they asked where we ordered pizza from, and we said Jockamo…they all melted and practically salivated on the spot. If that is any indication of what we were in for…I was beyond excited. And really, really hungry to boot.

It felt like no time had passed at all when Cathy’s cell phone rang. We skittered to the front lobby and had only a few minutes to wait before the delivery guy walked through the door and tracked us down. The pizza was handed over and we paid him, extra tip for coming outside of the delivery area. And then…no waiting, we hurried back to the hotel room to dive in and get some food in our stomachs.

I flipped open the pizza box and found the typical pizzeria gluten-free pizza. A cracker crust topped with red sauce, our toppings of choice, and cheese. I snapped a picture and then it was game on. We were starving and the pizza smelled fantastic.

So…we dove in. And devoured the pizza in less than 10 minutes, if that is any testimony as to how good it tasted. And this wasn’t just the “OH MY GOD I AM SO HUNGRY I WILL EAT WHATEVER IS IN FRONT OF ME REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT TASTES GOOD OR NOT” sort of hungry. It honestly tasted really, really good.

Let’s start with the crust. The thin crust was cooked almost to perfection. Almost. It had a really good flavor, but it just didn’t have that golden crustiness that I prefer with my pizza crusts, which meant, it came across as being a little soggy. Of course, some of that could be a reflection of the fact that it was cooked, packed in a box, put in a car and delivered to us. So, I’m not saying the crust was bad at all. It just didn’t have that crunch to it when I bit into it. The red sauce was fantastic. I’m not just saying that. The tomato flavors were rich and bold and seasoned to perfection. The toppings we selected were fantastic. The mushrooms, onions and pineapple were all cooked to perfection, the pineapple’s sweetness being a nice contrast to the umami flavor of the mushrooms and the bite of the onions. And then…the cheese. A nice hit of saltiness that the pizza needed…creamy and gooey and just…the entire package was phenomenal. Yep. I was impressed.

Like I said…we devoured that pizza in less than 10 minutes, each of us getting three slices each. No holds barred. It was gone as quickly as it had arrived and we were left licking marinara off our fingers and happily discussing how every bite of that pizza was beyond delicious. We were now fortified for the long evening ahead of us.

Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza really surprised me. I didn’t know what to expect, just that all the locals were salivating whenever we mentioned where we ordered pizza for our dinner. And that was enough testimony to put my mind to ease. If we had scrolled a bit further through the menu, we also would have discovered that they also offer gluten-free cookies, made by Deihdre Alltop. I didn’t know about these…but now that I do…next time I’m in Indianapolis and order from Jockamo (there will be a next time…YUM!), I think dessert will have to happen as well. Because with a choice of three different gluten-free cookies…you just can’t go wrong.

Needless to say, the service at Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza, their willingness to come just outside of the delivery area and deliver to us at the convention hotel, spoke volumes of their service. Their food…especially that house made marinara…did the rest of the talking. Honestly, one of the best sauces I have ever encountered on a pizza. It was cooked up really well…the toppings were fresh and complimented the sauce, the crust, everything. I was beyond impressed.

If you are in the Indianapolis or Greenwood area, go by Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza and get a pizza. Dine in, take out, have it delivered. Just trust me…you really want to try it. I was one happy gluten-free pizza loving girl, let me tell you. And I’ve had a lot of gluten-free pizza in my life. This one…is definitely near the top of the list.

Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza's Gluten-Free Pizza with Mushrooms, Red Onion and Pineapple — Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza’s Gluten-Free Pizza with Mushrooms, Red Onion and Pineapple

July 5, 2013

Arctic Zero gives the gluten-free and lactose intolerant a tasty 150 calorie per pint Chocolate Peanut Butter frozen dessert

Product: Arctic Zero Chocolate Peanut Butter Frozen Dessert – $4.99+

For the past few months, I have been giving googly eyes to my grocer’s freezer. Why? Well…other than my love of ice cream and all things frozen, I had come across a brand called Arctic Zero . What makes Arctic Zero so…interesting?

Well, for those of you who may never have run across these pints, these ice creams contain less than 150 calories in the ENTIRE pint of ice cream. Which means, indulging doesn’t feel as guilt-ridden and laden with sin, right? Of course. Also is the fact that all of their flavors are gluten-free, fat-free and suitable for the lactose intolerant. Loving this even more. You also won’t find chemicals in these pints, for they are made with only organic and natural ingredients. An entire pint provides 8 grams of fiber as well. Oh…and these have no sugar alcohols in them, so they are suitable for children and adults. And to top it all off…kosher and non-GMO!

Love at first sight.

But what about first bite?

That was what I was going to figure out.

The difficult part was deciding which one to start with. But, finally, I decided to go with two of my most favorite things in the world: chocolate and peanut butter.

The Arctic Zero Chocolate Peanut Butter Frozen Dessert is not going to be the rich and creamy ice cream that you find in stores. In fact, it’s definitely more like a sorbet in texture. So, if you are going into this expecting rich, creamy goodness…look for regular ice cream. But…if you’re okay with sorbet, and I am…this is really really good. I wasn’t actually expecting the sorbet texture, so when I was trying to scoop it into a gluten-free ice cream cone, I was a little bit surprised, but everything frozen goes good in an ice cream cone! I got my roomie situated with hers first and I was dishing up my own dessert, I saw her giving hers a taste. I asked how it was…and she liked it.

I settled in with my own gluten-free ice cream cone and took my own taste. Chocolate. That’s what hit me first. And that’s what hit me most. In fact, I can barely make out the traces of peanut butter flavor in this, which is disappointing because I LOVE peanut butter. I was expecting something that would taste like an amazing peanut butter cup. The frozen dessert itself is definitely good. But…you might as well just call it chocolate because the peanut butter is really hard to find in the flavors. Other than that…this was highly impressive on the frozen treat standards. It wasn’t too rich. It wasn’t filling either. And, with a serving only dishing up just over 30 calories (for 1/2 cup), you can’t argue that this is a guilt-free treat indeed. And it does have great taste. Just wish the peanut butter was more in the forefront of the flavor on this one.

I also highly recommend that you let the pint sit out on the counter for at least 15 minutes to let it thaw out some. Otherwise it is really difficult to scoop. Letting it soften up a bit worked very well and I did this just out of being a lactose-free ice cream freak and knowing that they usually have to sit out in order to be able to scoop them. No big deal. It thawed a bit while I ate dinner. And by the time dishes were done, it was ready to be put in the gluten-free ice cream cone. Delicious!!

Let’s talk ingredients! All of the chocolate based ones, like the Chocolate Peanut Butter Frozen Dessert, from Arctic Zero are composed of purified water, whey protein concentrate, organic cane sugar, chicory root, dutch processed cocoa powder with alkali, guar gum, xanthan gum, natural flavors, sea salt, and monk fruit concentrate. This one also includes the addition of peanut butter!

Nutritionally speaking, a 1/2 cup serving of Arctic Zero Chocolate Peanut Butter Frozen Dessert will provide you with 37 calories and 0 grams of fat. Yep. Fat-free! Each serving only contains 80 mg of sodium, 2 grams of fiber, and 3.4 grams of protein. So, you really don’t feel too guilty if you end up sitting down and indulging in the entire pint. We showed restraint and kept it to a serving (or less) as I was filling up gluten-free ice cream cones.

I’m impressed with Arctic Zero. These were much better than I anticipated. Which is good…because I have two additional flavors in my freezer already. I think the only fault I find with the Chocolate Peanut Butter flavor is that the peanut butter flavor almost seemed lost in the rest of it. It was there…but just a hint of it every now and again. But I’m looking forward to seeing how the Mint Chocolate Cookie and Cookies and Cream stack up!

TOTAL WOW. TOTAL YUM! ZERO GUILT!

Arctic Zero Chocolate Peanut Butter Frozen Dessert on a Goldbaum's gluten-free ice cream cone — Arctic Zero Chocolate Peanut Butter Frozen Dessert on a Goldbaum’s gluten-free ice cream cone

July 5, 2013

New gluten-free Ancient Grains Granola Bars from Udi’s makes an easy, delicious snack

Special Delivery of Udi’s Gluten-Free Goodies – including brand new products!

Product: Udi’s Gluten-Free Ancient Grain Granola Bars – $5.49+

Udi’s continues to expand on its gluten-free product line-up and I couldn’t be happier about it. After all, you have to grow and expand to get anywhere in this gluten-free product explosion that is facing the market these days. Luckily, I do have my favorite brands and, while I do sample others at times, there is no forgetting who is trusted in this market.

Everyone knows Udi’s. Their gluten-free bread was the first I ever tried that I actually liked. I mean, it tasted like bread. Sure, it’s smaller in size…but the texture, the taste…it was all good. It was all just as I wanted it to be. And from there, more and more of their products have made it into my home. And, with only one exception so far (the Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls), I have loved everything I have purchased and sampled from Udi’s. I even have my favorites. Some of them…are even on the new products list!

You see, a while back, I was the proud recipient of a box of goodies from Udi’s Gluten-Free, containing some of their old products and a few of their new products. Pure joy in the mail, let me tell you. I enjoyed revisiting some of their classic products, but even better…I loved being able to give their newest products a try as well. This was super exciting to me and I was looking forward to diving into each and every single product they provided for me.

This week, with my gluten-free pantry drying up, I reached in and removed the box of Udi’s Gluten-Free Ancient Grain Granola Bars. Perfect. This would be the ideal snack to have in the late afternoon to get me through to when I could get home and cook dinner. I was really excited about trying these. They are one of the newly introduced products in Udi’s gluten-free snack line. In fact, there are actually three flavors that are out on the market now: Cranberry Almond, Chocolate Chip, and Ancient Grains. All of them sound really good…and if I find the other two varieties in my local stores, I’ll definitely give them a try as well.

As it was, one of these little granola bars came to work with me on Wednesday and at 3:00 p.m. I was ready to give it a try. The blank white wrapper gives no indication as to what awaits inside. Thankfully, the box that this came in was brightly decorated with a larger-than-life depiction of the granola bar waiting behind the mysterious white wrapper.

The Ancient Grains Granola Bar contains gluten-free oats, rice crisp, milled flaxseed, amaranth, and quinoa. These grains provide the structure and base from which the sweeteners, oils, raisins, and nuts are added. To sweeten and bind this granola bar, I note that Udi’s uses honey, brown rice syrup, evaporated cane srup, non-GMO canola oil, inulin, tapioca maltodextrin, palm oil, water, vegetable glycerine, natural flavor and something called Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 6086. And before you start to panic, that Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 6068 is the Probiotics that are added to this granola bar to elevate the health factor. Yep. Probiotics. Good for digestion and all that.

But…what about the texture? The taste? I’m getting there.

Udi's Gluten-Free Ancient Grains Granola Bar (wrapped) — Udi’s Gluten-Free Ancient Grains Granola Bar (wrapped)

After unwrapping this granola bar, I took a moment to examine it. You could see the variety of ingredients all mashed together into this granola bar. Nothing was indiscernible, which is always a nice touch. And, upon first bite, I discovered how soft and chewy these were. I guess the box indicates this, but I wasn’t paying attention. I was thinking…”WOOHOO! Gluten-free granola bars!” But, that was a nice surprise. I am not a fan of crunchy granola bars. I like to chew them, not crunch them. I like a soft, filling texture and that’s exactly what Udi’s provides. They aren’t overly sweet, thank goodness. They also aren’t a sticky mess and they don’t leave your fingers covered in residue. They are clean, and perfect. Bite-for-bite goodness. I was very impressed with these. They make a great, easy on-the-go snack or something light to chew on to get you through to dinner time or even lunch. It’s the right amount and fills you up just enough. And, wow…the flavor. Without being hidden under a layer of sugar or unnecessary chocolate, the ingredients of these bars speak for themselves. You taste the texture of the grains, get the sweetness from the honey and raisins, get that bit of crunch from the almonds that are added. It is a perfect snack, a good size to tuck away for later without fearing it will be too much.

Nutritionally speaking, an Udi’s Gluten-Free Ancient Grains Granola Bar will provide you with 140 calories and 4.5 grams of fat. One bar will also provide you with 40 mg of sodium and 10 grams of sugar. The sugar content seems a bit high, considering these aren’t very sweet…but with all the sweeteners added, I’m actually surprises it isn’t higher than that. I have definitely seen far worse for granola bars. The Ancient Grains Granola Bar also will provide your body with 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. Not too shabby!

Add this one to the long list of Udi’s Gluten-Free products that I have loved from the start. It’s a very long list. Because with Udi’s…they strive for perfection. They want their food to taste good. And, when consumers spoke out about their cinnamon rolls, they changed the recipe and reformulated them. I haven’t tried the new version…but I’d like to think I’d like them better the next time I do purchase them. I’ll keep an open mind for sure. Because when it comes to gluten-free companies, Udi’s has made a name for itself for the quality and attention they give their products and their customers. And that’s why people keep coming back to them.

Udi's Gluten-Free Ancient Grains Granola Bar (unwrapped) — Udi’s Gluten-Free Ancient Grains Granola Bar (unwrapped)