Review of KIND Healthy Grains (Walnut Quinoa Clusters with Chia Seeds)

KIND -- Healthy Grains (Walnut Quinoa Clusters with Chia Seeds)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: medium-sweet with a genuine walnut and maple flavour. It's very crunchy and very filling. It honestly was really, really delish, but I have to admit to a slight odor of stale nuts when I opened the package. I would still recommend and buy this again! The nutritional information is great and ingredients are wholesome.

Where to buy: Bulk Barn



Ingredients:Whole Grains (gluten free oats, brown rice, gluten free oat flour, millet, amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa), dried cane syrup, non GMO canola oil, chia seeds, maple syrup, molasses, brown rice syrup, natural flavor, sea salt, Natural Vitamin E (to maintain freshness).

Nutritional Information
Calories: 190
     Fat calories: 90
Total fat: 4.5g
     Saturated fat: .5g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 75mg
Total Carb: 34g
     Dietary fiber: 4g
     Sugars: 10g
Protein: 4g
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 10%

The ingredients are fantastic...all simple and wholesome. The calories are quite high for only about 1/3 of a cup, however (!) it's low in saturated fat, low in sodium, and has a nice amount of protein and fiber and it is very filling. If you add a cup of milk of your choice, you'll boost the calcium and protein for a really wholesome breakfast.

Other 'Healthy Grains' flavours:

• Oats & Honey Clusters with Toasted Coconut
• Cinnamon Oat Clusters with Flax Seeds (vegan)
• Vanilla Blueberry Clusters with Flax Seeds (vegan)
• Peanut Butter Whole Grain Clusters (vegan)
• Raspberry Clusters with Chia Seeds (vegan)
• Fruit & Nut Clusters (vegan)
• Banana Nut Clusters (vegan)

Brand:

• Non-GMO
• Winner of Men's Health 'Best Breakfast Bar'; Today 'Blue Ribbon for Best Bar'; Women's Health 'Best  Packaged Food for Women'; Time 'Responsibility Pioneer'; and a host of others
• Gluten-free
• Certified Kosher
• 'Do the KIND thing' Mission
• Part of the PeaceWorks® group (based on a “not-only-for-profit” business model), founded by Daniel Lubetzky

Review of 'Beanitos' Black Bean Chips (Chipotle BBQ)

Beanitos -- Black Bean Chips (Chipotle BBQ) (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: wow, very spicy...nice! It's both sweet and salty and has a real depth of flavour. In fact, I found it was too much to pair these chips with a salsa dip...it would have covered the real flavour! The nutritional profile and ingredients are really great...one of the best in terms of chips! That said, it was not quite as crispy as I would have liked. I recommend this and would definitely buy it again.

Where to buy: Bulk Barn, Foodland



Ingredients: Whole Black Beans, Whole Grain Long Brown Rice and/or Long Grain White Rice, Pure Sunflower and/or Safflower Oil, Cane Sugar, Sea Salt, Tomato Powder, Onion Powder, Chipotle Pepper Powder, Spices, Garlic Powder, Paprika, Natural Smoke Flavor, Citric Acid, Guar Bean Gum

Nutrition Facts:
Serving size: 12 chips
Calories: 140
     Calories from fat: 60
Total fat: 7g
     Saturated fat: .5g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 120mg
Potassium: 260mg
Total Carbohydrates: 15g
     Dietary fiber: 5g
     Sugar: 0g
Protein: 4g
Vitamin A: 2%
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 6%

These ingredients are simple, wholesome, and non-GMO! No issue there. The nutrition facts are great as well. For 140 calories, it is low in saturated fat, low in sodium, has an excellent fiber and protein count, and has a good dose of potassium. This is a snack you can  feel good about.

Other Black Bean Chips flavour:
- Original (vegan)

Brand:
- Gluten free
- Natural (no preservatives, artificial ingredients
- No trans fats
- Kosher
- No MSG
- Non-GMO

Review of 'The Simply Bar' Lemon Coconut

The Simply Bar -- Lemon Coconut (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3/5
Summary: meh...really meh. I couldn't taste much of the coconut flavour (despite coconut chips being an ingredient), mostly only the lemon. The bar is very light and not very filling. It's pretty plain and not mildly sweet, with mostly soy crisps packed tightly by organic brown rice syrup. The positive is that the ingredients are great--non-GMO, organic, etc. I am keen on trying the other varieties, as the brand itself seems progressive (see below on company initiatives on environmental sustainability).

Where to buy: online, Whole Foods, Sobeys, Bulk Barn, Fortinos, Metro, Got the Goods Nutrition (Brampton), S & H Health Foods (Brampton)


Ingredients:soy crisps (non-GMO soy protein isolate, tapioca starch, starch, salt), organic brown rice syrup, inulin (chicory root fibre), cashew butter (dry-roasted cashews, sunflower oil), vegetable glycerin, coconut chips, natural flavour.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 160
Fat: 3.5g
     Saturated: 1.5g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 140mg
Potassium: 60mg
Carbohydrate: 16g
     Fibre: 4g
     Sugars: 3g
Protein: 16g

This bar is excellent in terms of ingredients (simple and nutritious). For only 160 calories, there is a huge protein and good fiber content. You really can't ask for much more from a snack bar in terms of nutrition. It is also low in fat and sodium. No guilt.

Other 'Simply Bar' flavours (all vegan):
- Maple Pecan 
- Caramel Peanut
- Cinnamon Pecan
- Cocoa Raspberry
- Peanut Butter Chocolate
- Cocoa Coffee

Brand:
- Vegan
- Kosher
- Gluten free
- Owned by Wellness Foods, Toronto, Canada
- Wellness Foods is a small Canadian, female owned and managed company that was started in 2002 
- Environmental initiatives

Review of 'Glutino' Frosted Sensible Beginnings Cereal

Glutino -- Frosted Sensible Beginnings Cereal (vegan) 
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: there's a nice cornish taste, is very sweet, and crunchy. The ingredients aren't bad but the nutritional profile just isn't rich enough for me to buy this again. If we're talking taste here, I'd recommend it.

Where to buy: Bulk Barn, Fortinos



Ingredients: CORN MEAL, LONG GRAIN WHITE RICE, SUGAR, SALT, SOY LECITHIN, VITAMINS AND MINERALS: ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C), ALPHA TOCOPEROLS, REDUCED IRON, NIACINAMIDE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6), THIAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B1), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), VITAMIN A PALMITATE, FOLIC ACID, VITAMIN B12.

Nutrition Facts
Serving: 1 cup
Calories: 210
     Calories from fat: 5
Total fat: .5g
     Saturated fat: 0g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 210mg
Total carbohydrate: 49g
     Dietary fiber: 1g
     Sugars: 19g
Protein: 3g
Vitamin A: 25%
Vitamin C: 40%
Iron: 70%

*Full nutritional profile available here.

The nutritional profile is scant in my opinion. For 210 calories, there's only 1g of fiber and 3g of protein and the sodium is a bit high. It does have a good vitamin/nutrient content, but just isn't enough to compel me to buy this again.

Other Glutino Cereals:

• Berry Sensible Beginning (vegan)
• Honey Nut
• Apple and Cinnamon
• Sensible Beginnings (vegan)

Brand:

• Only some products are non-GMO (find the list here) 
• Some organic products (Chocolate Peanut Butter Organic Bars, Chocolate Banana Organic Bars and Wildberry Organic Bars are organic)
• Some kosher products (find the list here)

Review of 'Ritz' Toasted Chips (Original)

Ritz -- Toasted Chips (Original) (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3/5
Summary: it's very crunchy, salty and slightly sweet; not  bad. I wouldn't buy it again, as I'm not thrilled with the ingredients (e.g. enriched flour, GMO soybean oil, and high-fructose corn syrup) that Nabisco (parent company) uses.

Where to buy: major grocery stores



Ingredients: UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), SOYBEAN OIL, CORNSTARCH, SUGAR, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, POTATO STARCH, LEAVENING (CALCIUM PHOSPHATE AND/OR BAKING SODA), SALT.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 13 chips
Calories: 130
Total fat: 4.5g
     Saturated fat: .5g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 250mg
Potassium: 25mg
Total Carbohydrate: 21g
     Fiber: 1g
     Sugars: 3g
Protein: 2g

So, the ingredients are not impressive. The nutritional profile is not that great. For 130 calories, it's pretty high in sodium and has next to no fiber and low protein and no vitamins/nutrients.

The wholesomeness of some ingredients have been questioned, but I think that it's still up for debate as to just how unhealthy those ingredients are. In the interim period, before we define how bad these ingredients really are, I opt to stay away.

Recipes:

• Crab au gratin
• Mini Muffulletas
• Pecan Parmesan Chicken Tenders
• Spinach Bacon Dip
• Shrimp on a Ritz
• Spicy Pecan Praline

Brand:

• Parent company is Nabisco
• Nabisco uses GMO ingredients

Review of 'Odwalla' Orange Cranberry Bar

Odwalla -- Orange Cranberry Bar (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3/5
Summary: the bar is made of real fruit and whole grains. The cranberries were nice and fresh and the bar was very sweet. The bar was sweet but the orange bits had a bitter taste, which was kinda nice at first, but I got a bit tired afterward. I did find the bar very dry for my preferences. As I'm not a big citrus fan, I personally wouldn't buy this again.

Where to buy: US (Harris Teeter)/Canada



Ingredients: Brown rice syrup, organic rolled oats, dried sweetened cranberries (apple juice concentrate, cranberries, sunflower oil), organic oat flour, date paste, oat bran, plum puree, organic invert cane syrup, vegetable glycerin, raisin paste, oat fiber, dried sweetened orange peel (orange peel, evaporated cane juice, citric acid, sunflower oil), less than 2% of: natural flavors, calcium carbonate, organic sunflower oil, soy lecithin, Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), baking soda, salt, Vitamin E (D-Alpha tocopherol acetate), citric acid and beta carotene.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 200
     Calories from fat: 20
Total fat: 2.5g
     Saturated fat: 0g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 100mg
Potassium: 150mg
Total Carbohydrate: 41g
     Fiber: 4g
     Sugars: 18g
Protein: 3g
Vitamin A: 10%
Vitamin C: 10%
Calcium: 25%
Iron: 6%
Vitamin E: 50%

The ingredients are good and the nutritional profile is pretty good. For 200 calories, it's low in fat, sodium, and has a nice fiber count, vitamins and nutrients, and a decent amount of protein.

Other Odwalla bars:

• Apple Toffee Pistachio (vegan)
• Banana Nut (vegan) (reviewed here)
• Berries GoMega (vegan) (reviewed here) 
• Blueberry Swirl (vegan) (reviewed here)
• Choco-Walla (vegan)
• Chocolate Almond Coconut
• Chocolate Chip Peanut (vegan) (reviewed here)
• Chocolate Chip Trail Mix (vegan)
• Chocolate Peanut Butter (reviewed here)
• Dark Chocolate Chip Walnut (vegan)
• Lemon Ginger (vegan)
• Strawberry Pomegranate (vegan)
• Superfood (vegan)
• Super Protein (reviewed here)
• Sweet & Salty Almond (vegan) (reviewed here)
• Sweet & Salty Peanut (vegan)
• White Chocolate Macadamia

Brand (quoted from odwalla.com):

• "...more than 98% of all our trash is recycled."
• "...30% of our electricity needs have virtually zero emissions, which significantly reduces our carbon footprint."
• "Odwalla has made multi-year donations to the Organic Farming Research Foundation and Conservation International to help with sustainable agriculture."
• "Odwalla contributes to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation^® to help fund breast cancer research worldwide."
• Non-GMO
• "To help Haiti recover from its devastating 2010 earthquake, we donate 10 cents from every 12 oz. Mango Tango smoothie to the Haiti Hope Project."

Review of 'Clif Bar' Blueberry Crisp

Clif Bar -- Blueberry Crisp (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: very juicy blueberries and strong blueberry flavour! There's a hint of an aftertaste...maybe artificial-ish? It's super moist and very sweet. The nuts are plentiful, though could be fresher and crunchier. As a massive blueberry fan, I'd give this another try and buy it again, especially given the fantastic ingredients and really well-rounded nutritional profile.

Where to buy: Bulk Barn, Fortinos, Shopper's Drug Mart, Costco




Ingredients: Organic Brown Rice Syrup, ClifPro® (Soy Rice Crisps [Soy Protein Isolate, Rice Flour, Barley Malt Extract], Organic Roasted Soybeans, Organic Soy Flour), Organic Rolled Oats, Blueberry Fruit Pieces (Concentrated Apple Puree, Glucose Syrup, Oat Fiber, Pectin, Elderberry Juice Concentrate [Color], Citric Acid, Concentrated Blueberry Puree, Natural Flavor), Organic Almonds, ClifCrunch® (Organic Oat Fiber, Inulin [Chicory Extract], Organic Milled Flaxseed, Organic Oat Bran, Organic Psyllium), Organic Cane Syrup, Blueberries (Blueberries, Apple Juice Concentrate), Organic Date Paste, Almond Butter, Organic Sunflower Oil, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt, Citric Acid.

Nutrition Fact
Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 250
Total fat: 5g
     Sat. fat: .5g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 180mg
Potassium: 240mg
Total carb.: 43g
     Dietary fiber: 5g
          Insoluble fiber: 3g
     Sugars: 21g
     Other carb.: 17g
Protein: 10g
Vit. A: 30%
Vit. C: 90%
Calcium: 25%
Iron: 10%

As all Clif Bars I've had, the ingredients are great and I don't worry much over it. As regards the nutritional profile, this is an excellent one! For 250 calories, there's a solid 5g of fiber an d 10g of protein, lots vitamins and nutrients, and very little fat.

Other Clif Bar flavours (all vegan):

• Apricot
• Banana Nut Bread
• Black Cherry Almond (reviewed here)
• Carrot Cake (reviewed here)
• Chocolate Almond Fudge (reviewed here)
• Chocolate Brownie
• Chocolate Chip (reviewed here) 
• Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch (reviewed here)
• Coconut Chocolate Chip
• Cool Mint Chocolate (reviewed here)
• Crunchy Peanut Butter (reviewed here)
• Gary's Panforte
• Iced Gingerbread
• Maple Nut (reviewed here)
• Peanut Toffee Buzz (reviewed here)
• Oatmeal Raisin Walnut (reviewed here)
• Peppermint Stick
• Spiced Pumpkin
• White Chocolate Macadamia

Brand:

• Each Clif Bar is 70% organic
• No high-fructose corn syrup, no hydrogenated oils
• No artificial preservatives or trans fats
• No artificial colours, sweeteners or flavours
• Non-GMO
• Clif Bar Family Foundation
• Commitment to Zero Waste
• Climate Action Approach
• Partnerships with American Forests and Trees for the Future
• Organic farming strategy
• Certified Sustainable
• Community involvement (e.g. collaboration with other businesses, volunteering, sharing products, philanthropy)