Products – Page 45 – The Celiathlete

July 27, 2013July 28, 2013

El’s Gluten-Free Snacks gives great flavor and crunch in Cinnamon & Sugar Snaps

Product: El’s Gluten Free Snacks Cinnamon & Sugar Snaps – $4.49+

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.

July 26, 2013

Katz Gluten Free once again sets the standard with moist, fluffy Sponge Cake

Product: Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake – $5.79

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.

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)

July 26, 2013July 26, 2013

Ripped Cream adds a burst of Lean Vanilla Bean and added protein to my morning cup o’ joe

Ripped Cream Lean Vanilla Bean Protein Coffee Creamer

Product: Ripped Cream Lean Vanilla Bean Coffee Creamer – $11.99+

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 — Ripped Cream Lean Vanilla Bean Protein Coffee Creamer…in coffee

July 26, 2013

Arctic Zero Mint Chocolate Cookie another epic frozen dessert fail

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!

July 23, 2013July 26, 2013

A healthy, sweet and savory snack made possible by The Good Bean’s Sweet Cinnamon chickpea snacks

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.

July 22, 2013May 11, 2015

Enjoy Life’s Boom CHOCO Boom Ricemilk Crunch bar a melt-in-your-mouth, crispy, sweet treat

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)

July 22, 2013

Freedom Foods sweetens up breakfast naturally with Maple Crunch cereal

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!

July 17, 2013May 11, 2015

Morels The Vegan Butcher dices up spicy goodness with Ned’s Spicy Chipotle Vegan Jerky

Product: Morels The Vegan Butcher Ned’s Spicy Chipotle Vegan Jerky – $6.50+

Vegan jerky?

Yep…you read that right. And my roommate and I were just fortunate enough to stumble across this at a little fair in Louisville that highlighted local businesses. One of the businesses participating was Morels The Vegan Butcher. And on their table they had these little pouches that caught my eye. Yep…I spotted them. I also noticed that not only were they labeled vegan, but they were also gluten-free.

Now you really had my attention.

Morels the Vegan Butcher began as a food truck in 2011 and quickly expanded across the country when they developed their line of vegan jerky in 2012. Only using premium ingredients, this Louisville, Kentucky company handcrafts their jerky in small batches. What this does is ensure that the texture and taste remain up to standard. Morels focuses on providing nutritious on-the-go products for people looking to keep meat and dairy out of their diets. This is definitely a product that spoke to me. Trust me…I was ready to try one of the samples.

So…I did…and that was all it took. A pouch of Morels The Vegan Butcher’s Ned’s Spicy Chipotle Jerky came home with me that day. I purchased it at the buy local fair and never looked back. After buying it, I commented to my roomie that it would be the perfect snack to take in the car as we travel up to Utica, New York. I was running up there and we were driving a long way to get to that race. Healthy snacks in the car are always a welcome thing. Always!

So, when the stomach rumblies hit us too late for lunch but too early for dinner (we were eating out for dinner), I reached into the little red duffel of snacks and good stuff and removed the silver pouch that held Ned’s Spicy Chipotle Jerky.

I already knew I was going to like it. No, it wasn’t based off of the fact that it was spicy. This was the version I sampled at the fair. So, I knew what I was doing when I bought it.

Morels vegan jerky is crated using a base that begins with marinated soy curls. By marinating these soy curls, they achieve tender, chewy, and flavorful snacks. All they do is season them up for the flavor of jerky they are creating. In the case of Ned’s Spicy Chipotle Jerky, in addition to soy curls, you have water, Braggs liquid aminos, brown sugar, olive oil, lime juice, lemon juice ketchup (no high fructose corn syrup), vinegar, liquid smoke, garlic powder, chipotle powder, ancho powder, onion powder, pepper, cloves and nutmeg. Nothing fake. And…these snacks are gluten-free and loaded with protein…making them a fantastic choice for a gluten-free, vegetarian athlete like me.

But…how can something that is created by marinating soy curls taste? How about really damn good! Oh yes…this jerky is spicy and addictive. The blend of chipotle and ancho chile powders really get a nice heat going with each bite that you take. Nothing that overpowers, mind you, but just adds a little flavor and a little heat to each bite. I loved the chewy, soft texture of this jerky. And the flavor was smokey and spicy and just amazing. Honestly. I was diving in for more. My roommate and I were splitting the pouch…and we were only going to have a little…but soon we were polishing it off regardless.

Morels hit a high note with this one. The spiciness keeps each bite interesting and the taste and texture is dead-on…super good.

So, let’s talk nutrition. A pouch of Ned’s Spicy Chipotle Jerky from Morels The Vegan Butcher serves 2.5. In one serving (28 grams/1 ounce), you are served 50 calories and 2 grams of fat. This vegan jerky contains no saturated fat, no trans fat, no cholesterol. It has 370 mg of sodium per serving and only 2 grams of sugar. Each serving provides 2 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. Loving it.

The Ned’s Spicy Chipotle Jerky variety from Morels The Vegan Butcher brings the right amount of heat to each bite without overpowering and killing off the flavor in the vegan jerky itself. I went wild for this. I wish I had purchased more. But, they are a local company, so it shouldn’t be too hard to dig up another pouch of this amazing snack food.

Easy to travel with…and super delicious. Loved every handful.

July 16, 2013May 11, 2015

NuGo offers nutritious on-the-go snacks that taste as good as they sound (and they taste awesome!)

There is always that fear when I hit the road. As a gluten-free (and vegetarian) athlete, grabbing food from a fast food joint just isn’t an option. And, let’s face it, some of the “safe” snacks at those convenience stores along the way are still a bit daunting when you’re on the road. All it takes is for one thing to not be right and you’re down for the count with some stomach issues.

I wasn’t taking any chances this past weekend when I hit the road with my roomie, Cathy, and my good friend Jenn. While those two can eat pretty much anywhere and anything that sounds good…I had to watch it. I needed to be sure nothing I consumed would make me sick…or hit me wrong.

So…now was as good a time as any to test out new protein bars, yes?

Sometimes my logic is astounding, I know.

Anyway…I had packed from home two NuGo bars to eat on the road if needed. And thank goodness I did.

Product: NuGo Dark Mint Chocolate Chip Bar – $3.29+

We left Jenn’s house before the sun was even thinking about rising, having just eaten a few pieces of watermelon to at least get something in our stomachs until we stopped somewhere for food. That occurred shortly after putting gas in the gar, and getting some coffee from Starbucks. Cathy and Jenn were making noises about a quick drive thru at McDonalds. While milling about the convenience store that had the Starbucks attached, I spotted a few things of interest…Chobani yogurt, some fruit cups…but I said I would find something in the food I brought along. After all, that’s why I bring it along. So, we got our coffee (caffeine…finally!) and headed over for them to grab their breakfast orders.

And so…we were off.

And as they noshed on their breakfast…I dug around in the little red duffel of snacks and good stuff and grabbed a small box of raisins and the NuGo Dark Mint Chocolate Chip Bar.

Now, I had previously had NuGo Dark Chocolate Trail Mix Bar while at an airport and starving. I loved it. I remember that much. So, I was having high hopes for this variety as well. And…come on…it’s dark chocolate and mint. That’s the most epic combination…anywhere. Who doesn’t like mint and chocolate? I unwrapped the bar and could immediately smell the hints of mint and that bittersweet aroma of (my favorite) dark chocolate!

I broke off a piece and had to test it out…immediately.

Remember Thin Mint Cookies? You know…those addictive little cookies that the Girl Scouts tempt you with every year? Well, they were my favorite back when I could eat them. And I’ve been without them for two years now. Two long years. Well, I can honestly say that the NuGo Dark Mint Chocolate Chip Bar reminds me of what a Thin Mint Cookie tasted like. Honestly. I think that’s why I somewhat hoovered and somewhat savored this bar. I went between wanting to devour it for sheer nostalgia and the fact that it tasted so damn good…to wanting to make each and every bite last. It was the only one I currently had, after all.

This bar is sheer dark chocolate minty love in an easy to unwrap package. What’s even better…is that it is actually good for you. Let’s take a look at the nutrition.

A serving size is one bar. This one bar will give you a hit of dark chocolate and mint at the cost of only 200 calories and 5 grams of fat. This one bar is cholesterol free and low in sodium (only 160 mg). You will receive 1 gram of fiber and 10 grams of protein. While the fiber count is low…the protein helps bulk it up and make it a filling choice for a bar. The sugar count is a bit high for my liking (14 grams), but it tastes like a Thin Mint Cookie…so…I’ll indulge a little this time.

As far as ingredients go, it starts out with dark chocolate, soy crisps (which sort of gives it some texture and that crispness that gives it that Thin Mint Cookie crackle), tapioca syrup, agave syrup, chocolate rice crisp (more crispiness), soy protein, alkalized cocoa, brown rice flour, natural flavor, peppermint extract, and gum acacia. I’m familiar with the ingredients that these are made out of, putting my mind to ease about what I might actually be consuming. That’s always a nice relief.

For a bar that tastes like you’re indulging in a sweet, dark chocolate treat…I highly recommend NuGo Dark Mint Chocolate Chip. Honestly…one of the best out on the market.

NuGo Dark Mint Chocolate Chip Bar (unwrapped)

Product: NuGo Dark Chocolate Pretzel with Sea Salt

Salty or sweet? Some people like one or the other. Me? I’m a fan of the combination. I love having that sweetness of chocolate (especially bittersweet dark chocolate) with something salty underneath. Before going gluten-free, chocolate covered pretzels were my kryptonite. Put them anywhere near me, and the entire bag would be gone in a blink of an eye. I can’t help myself when given something both salty and sweet. For me…it’s the perfect combination.

So, on the way home on this road trip out to Utica, New York for an epic 15K road race (The Boilermaker), my lunch on-the-go (or on the way to ice cream) was the other NuGo bar that I packed from home. This time, it was the NuGo Dark Chocolate Pretzel with Sea Salt variety. Once again, I tore into the wrapper and unveiled a dark chocolate hugged bar. I could see the texture of the crisps that make up the body of the bar. And if the Mint Chocolate Chip variety was any indication of how epic this bar could be…I was already salivating.

Once again, I broke off a piece and popped it into my mouth. I immediately got hit with the sweetness of the dark chocolate that completely coated this bar. The crispy texture from the crisps inside was perfect. And the combination worked. The crispiness of the crunchy pretzels sprinkled with sea salt and the bittersweet flavor of the chocolate just ignited my taste buds. Totally delicious.

So, let’s talk nutrition on this one. One serving is an entire bar. YUM! This serving will serve you 200 calories and 5 grams of fat. Due to the inclusion of sea salt, the sodium count is only slightly higher (360 mg). This bar is still cholesterol free, however. Additionally, you get 2 grams of fiber and 10 grams of protein. Once again, the sugar count was a bit high for my liking (15 grams), but every now and again, it wouldn’t hurt to indulge a little in one of these bars.

Trust me…this is definitely worth trying. While I didn’t like this one as much as the Dark Mint Chocolate Chip variety, this one was good for its own reasons and a bar I would certainly eat again.

NuGo Dark Chocolate Pretzel with Sea Salt (unwrapped)

Both of these bars are not only low in fat and high in protein, but they are both also certified gluten-free, vegan, pareve, certified kosher, rich with antioxidants, healthy, and made with real dark chocolate.

And both are super, super delicious!! If you are looking for a good protein bar that doesn’t taste like chemicals…these two flavors from NuGo are good options for anyone. I know they’ll find their way back into my pantry very soon.

Try them…you’ll thank me later.

(Pssst…especially the NuGo Dark Mint Chocolate Chip!)

July 12, 2013

Wellaby’s gluten-free Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips a bland, unsweet, tasteless snack

Product: Wellaby’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips – $2.29+

My local grocery store was having a closeout on a lot…a lot of items in their gluten-free section not too long ago. This, of course, sparked a huge panic by me, thinking they were getting rid of a lot of these products and, perhaps, even shrinking the section down. Thankfully, I was not right on either account, but what this sparked was a splurge purchase of everything I had been meaning to try and was now worried I would never find again.

It’s amazing what I tossed into my cart.

Gluten-free pita chips? You better believe those went into my cart! I mean, I hadn’t had pita chips in two years…and I used to eat the hell out of pita chips. So, I grabbed the only variety they had on the shelf…Wellaby’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips.

And then…they sat in my pantry for a month because I was working through the myriad of other snacks I purchased that expired before these. But today…today that was changing. Because I used up the last of the older stuff…so now…now as the moment I had been waiting for.

PITA CHIP DAY!!

I was so thrilled and excited about it…and I eagerly opened up the little pouch that held these little crisps and doled out a serving into a glass container. I, as always, took one over to my roomie to sample. She didn’t look too impressed when she bit into it. I asked her what she thought. And, after considerable thought she finally said that she felt they were bland. I asked if she thought I would like them…but she never actually got back to me on that. So, I decided I would find out at the office.

Snack time hits at 3 p.m. and I was ready to enjoy my Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips. Really, really ready! I opened up my container and grabbed a crisp off the top. I loved the thickness of the chips themselves. Just like real pita chips. Honestly. The feel of them was spot on. This felt like it would bode well. So, I took a bite…

And Cathy was completely right in her assessment of these chips. They were totally bland. Every now and again, a hint of sugar of cinnamon will touch the tongue and you get…a little bit of flavor, but it’s really underwhelming and not at all what I expected. I feel these had the right texture for a pita chip. They were crunchy and thick. But the flavor…ugh…the flavor was lacking. I expected a little sweetness and I just got…pita chip flavor. And not every very good pita chip flavor.

While I love that these snack chips are baked and not fried, giving them a little bit more of a health factor, they just didn’t work for me. Without bold flavor, the sweet and savory flavors of cinnamon and sugar were not working. I actually missed the seasoning…it just fell flat in the end. Great on texture and crunch…but a very poor showing when it came to how it tasted. I was completely bummed. But, I finished them off. They were, after all, my snack.

So, should you still feel the need to try the Wellaby’s Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips yourself…let me give you the nutrition and ingredient run-down. These chips are made from a mixture of different gluten-free flours and starches. In addition to that…some items I really can’t pronounce, which means, these wouldn’t be making it back into my pantry regardless. As far as nutrition facts go, however, as serving of 28 grams will provide you with 100 calories and 3 grams of fat. Not too bad for a chip, right? Exactly. These are low in sodium (200 mg) and cholesterol free. In addition, these pita chips provide only 1 gram of fiber and 5 grams of protein. And, for being a cinnamon sugar flavored chip, these only have 2 grams of sugar. I’m okay with that part. But…give it some good flavor. Something bold. Something that makes me want to eat more.

Needless to say, I was highly disappointed with Wellaby’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips. I had been so high on trying them and, in the end, they only served to let me down. The hard crash of a snack that you really expected to blow you away…but then it didn’t. Yeah…that’s happened to me countless times. But it feels even worse when it is something you’ve been dying to have back in your life…like pita chips. Maybe I’ll find a different brand that understands that gluten-free doesn’t have to be bland. It can taste good, be healthy, and all that. Until then…I might just have to attempt to make my own.

Not recommended. I wish I could say differently…but these just didn’t sing or excite the taste buds. They were just a bland crispy snack that fell flat on flavor in the end.

Disappointment…once again.