Snacks – Page 28 – The Celiathlete

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 19, 2013

Reliving childhood memories at The Dairy Barn

Restaurant: The Dairy Barn, Horseheads, New York

I grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. And while this town was small, there are still parts of it that I still talk about today.

Not just school. Not just softball. Not just my friends.

But places I used to go. Even small towns have malls…and as a teenager, I spent a lot of time at the Arnot Mall in Big Flats, New York. However…my most favorite place to go was what we locals referred to as “The Old Barn.” However, when this old barn was transformed into an ice cream shop, it became known as The Dairy Barn.

I spent so many spring and summer days eating ice cream off a cone. Usually I got a small chocolate/vanilla twist. Or the Dole Whip in a cone. Sometimes I’d get it dipped in chocolate or cherry topping. Sometimes I was allowed to have sprinkles. And on some rare occasions, I was able to pick from the hard ice cream flavors and have a really special treat.

When I went up to Utica, New York to run in a road race, Cathy and Jenn, my travel compatriots and two of my biggest race support crew, indulged me by allowing a rather big detour down through the Big Flats area. I had let those in the area know that I was going to be in town, briefly, on Sunday afternoon…and that should they want to get together…I would be hitting up The Dairy Barn.

Yes…this lactose intolerant girl was going to indulge in some ice cream. And why not? Ice cream is usually how I round off a race day anyway. This was no different…just somewhere else.

I can’t really write up a review of The Dairy Barn in Horseheads, NY. They are not like my local ice cream shop or Jeni’s up in Columbus, Ohio…meaning they don’t make their own ice cream. They do serve up Perry’s Ice Cream, however. Perry’s Ice Cream is native to Upstate New York…so at least it is somewhat local! So, I do give them that. The Dairy Barn can make up different sundaes (including banana splits…and I was tempted!) in addition to their regular ice cream in a cone or cup.

With my friends all assembled, we placed our orders. And there were definitely some fun flavors to choose from. I appreciated that The Dairy Barn had out their allergen list of all the flavors they were serving. This took a lot of guess work out and also meant that I could go with some of the hard ice cream instead of the Dole Whip, should I so choose. And so…that’s what I did.

The Dairy Barn serves up a “small” scoop of Perry’s White Lightning Ice Cream.

Now, these flavors are definitely fun and delicious. Jenn went for the flavor called Piece of Cake, which is light yellow cake ice cream with chocolate flavored frosting swirls and pound cake pieces inside. Cathy went with a unique flavor she had never seen before. It was definitely one of the more interesting sounding ones…being that it was popcorn flavored ice cream with sea salt caramel swirls and caramel truffles. My friend Karen got the same kind. As for me…I originally was going to get a flavor called Fools Gold (peanut butter ice cream with peanut butter candy swirls and chocolate coated toffee pieces), but changed my mind after spotting one called White Lightning. White Lightning is dark chocolate ice cream with streaks of thick mint flavored white fudge lightning. And it was AMAZING! Rich dark chocolate with yummy fudge throughout it. It was two of my favorite things all packed into a giant “small” scoop. Mint. Dark Chocolate. Heaven. I let it just melt away on my tongue and took my time to eat it…loving and indulging in every sinful spoonful.

If the ice cream shop isn’t making their own ice cream, I give them props for choosing a company that is based out of Upstate New York and quite regional. Loved every bite of my ice cream. And at The Dairy Barn, they don’t skimp on portions either. All of us got a cup of our ice cream of choice, and it was a big scoop of ice cream…probably 2 servings packed in. I didn’t care. I was going to devour every bit of it. And each cup of ice cream was very affordable too. That large serving of delicious Perry’s ice cream ran us $2.50 each. Can’t beat that. And that was for the “small” size. I can’t imagine what the large size would be.

But the best part of this journey was getting reacquainted with people I hadn’t seen in years. It was way too short of a time, but I enjoyed every moment with Jenn, Karen, and Shannon…who I hadn’t seen in 15 years…since graduating high school. No one really has changed. We all are still goofy, still having fun, and still enjoying life. And we all got to do it together…for about 45 minutes…over ice cream.

If you find yourself passing through the Horseheads/Big Flats area…swing by The Dairy Barn and grab a scoop of ice cream. Try out a flavor you may not see anywhere else. Go with family. Go with friends. Indulge. Do it with a smile. And know that The Dairy Barn keeps a list of all allergen information for all of their flavors at the counter. So do so with a sound mind.

And if you happen to be returning to the area…get together with friends. Friendship, smiles, laughter and ice cream. That’s what these days are all about.

Jen, Karen, Shannon and Me...some of my high school friends who made it out for ice cream and some catching up. WOW...I missed them! — Jen, Karen, Shannon and Me…some of my high school friends who made it out to The Dairy Barn in Horseheads, NY, for ice cream and some catching up. WOW…I missed them!

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.

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 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)