Review of 'So Delicious' Minis Coconut Almond Bars

So Delicious -- Minis Coconut Almond Bars (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: god bless So Delicious. The chocolate-almond shell was super duper sweet and balanced a simple agave-sweetened 'ice cream' filling. The crunchiness of the almonds on the shell made for *the* perfect texture. The best part was the coconut milk flavour that was so very present. This is officially one of my favourite dessert snacks AND it's one of the healthier dessert options available!

Where to Buy: Fortinos, US store finder

Coupon: http://www.sodeliciousdairyfree.com/ (click the blue circle on the right hand side)  

Ingredients: NON-DAIRY FROZEN DESSERT [ORGANIC COCONUT MILK (WATER, ORGANIC COCONUT CREAM), ORGANIC AGAVE SYRUP, CHICORY ROOT EXTRACT, CAROB BEAN GUM, GUAR GUM, NATURAL COCONUT FLAVOR], CHOCOLATE COATING (BEET SUGAR, CHOCOLATE LIQUOR, COCONUT OIL AND/OR PALM OIL, COCOA BUTTER, SOY LECITHIN, SALT, VANILLA EXTRACT), ALMONDS, TOASTED COCONUT.

All their coconut products are non-GMO.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 170
Total fat: 10g
     Saturated fat: 7g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 10mg
Potassium: 0mg
Total Carbohydrate: 15g
     Dietary fiber: 3g
     Sugar: 10g
Protein: 2g
Iron: 6%

Look, look! -- only 10g of sugar (agave and beet sugar). Sweeeeeet!

I was so (delightfully) surprised at how sweet the chocolate shell was and I can't tell you how perfect the texture was because of the added almond pieces. It was super crunchy and combined with the very apparent coconut milk flavour, this was close to perfection. The only thing I would have changed was a sweeter/more flavourful 'ice cream' filling...like maybe a strong vanilla flavour would have been great! It was kinda bland but the shell totally made up for it.

I would definitely buy this again :)

Other So Delicious Coconut Milk Sandwiches and Bars (all vegan):

• Minis No Sugar Added Fudge Bars
• Minis No Sugar Added Vanilla Bars
• Minis Vanilla Bars
• Minis Banana Split Sandwiches
• Minis Coconut Sandwiches
• Minis Vanilla Sandwiches
• Minis Organic Fudge Bars  

Brand (quoted from purelydecadent.com):

• None of the containers and lids that our products are packaged in contain Bisphenol-A (BPA's)
• All of our coconut based products are Non-GMO certified by the NonGmo Project. For more information, go to www.NonGMOProject.org. All of our other products are internally verified to be GMO free.
• None of our products contain MSG, yeast, yeast extract, or autolyzed yeast.
• The natural flavors in our products are flavor analogs that come from botanicals and extracts from natural sources. Care is taken to utilize components from the original substrate when possible.
• None of our products contain the food preservative, TBHQ, either as direct ingredients or sub- ingredients.
• None of our products contain the food preservative, BHT, either as direct ingredients or sub-ingredients.
• None of our products contain the food preservative, BHA, either as direct ingredients or sub-ingredients.
• Some of our products contain flavors which include of a small amount of ethyl alcohol as a carrier. The amount of ethanol in these products is so small that there is no physiological impact. There is no gluten in the alcohol.

Review of 'Larabar' Coconut Cream

Larabar -- Coconut Cream (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: oooh, very very tenderly creamy and coconutty! It was perfectly sweetened by the dates and isn't heavily sugary, which I loved. The texture was great because of the coconut flakes and bits of nuts.

Where to buy: Bulk Barn, Fortinos, Costco

Ingredients: dates, unsweetened coconut, almonds, cashews, extra virgin coconut oil.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 210
Total fat: 10g
     Saturated fat: 7g
     Trans fat: 0g
     Monounsaturated: 2g
     Polyunsaturated: .5g
Cholesterol: 0g
Sodium: 5mg
Potassium: 340mg
Total Carb: 31g
     Dietary fiber: 5g
     Sugars: 24g
Protein: 3g
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 4%

I love Larabars for their simplicity -- just 5 wholesome ingredients and a delicious treat! It has healthy fats and no added sugars and best of all (in my opinion), 3g protein and 5g fiber kinda rules!

I loved that there were so many bits of nuts throughout and this complemented the coconut flakes very well. The coconut flavour was really strong and gave it a creamy, almost buttery taste--very good!

I'd definitely buy this flavour again...honestly, you can't go wrong opting for a Larabar when you're craving a snack -- delicious and wholesome! Of course, the calories are a little higher than other snacks, so beware of going overboard (which is very easy to do!).

Furthermore, Larabar is a non-GMO company!

Other flavours (all vegan):

• Apple Pie
• Banana Bread
• Blueberry Muffin
• Cappuccino
• Carrot Cake 
• Cashew Cookie (reviewed here) 
• Cherry Pie
• Chocolate Chip Brownie
• Chocolate Chip Cherry Torte
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
• Chocolate Coconut Chew
• Ginger Snap
• Key Lime Pie
• Lemon Bar
• Peanut Butter & Jelly
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
• Peanut Butter Cookie
• Pecan Pie
• Tropical Fruit Tart

Brand (quoted from larabar.com):

• Gluten free
• Dairy free*
• Soy free*
• All natural
• Vegan*
• Kosher
• Fair Trade Certified™ cocoa and coffee
• No added sugars or sweeteners*
• Non-GMO
• No added sulfites
• No preservatives, fillers, or colorings
• Each LÄRABAR® flavor offers at least a ¼ cup  of fruit. Tropical Fruit Tart, Apple Pie, and Cherry Pie each offer a ½ cup of fruit in each full-size bar.

*Does not include the Chocolate Chip varieties. Chocolate chip flavors are made with a simple, 4-ingredient chocolate chip that consists of Fair Trade Certified™ chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter and vanilla. While no dairy is used to make our chocolate chips, they are made on a line that also produces chocolate chips made with dairy and soy.

Review of 'Annie Chun's' Miso Soup Bowl

Annie Chun's -- Miso Soup Bowl (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3/5
Summary: this soup has a decent nutritional profile, perfect amount of saltiness, and very nicely textured noodles. Nevertheless, I have had tastier soups and I would have liked more toppings added (e.g. bigger/more chunks of tofu, mushrooms).
Where to buy: Fortino's. You can probably find this at Wholefoods as well, since it's available at Wholefoods in the US.



Ingredients: NOODLES: WHEAT FLOUR, WATER, TAPIOCA STARCH, SALT, LACTIC ACID SOUP BASE: SOYBEAN PASTE (WATER, SOYBEANS, RICE, SALT), WATER, CANE SYRUP*, RICE WINE, SEAWEED EXTRACT, SALT, YEAST EXTRACT, ONION*, SHIITAKE MUSHROOM EXTRACT * TOPPINGS: SCALLION*, SPINACH*, MALTODEXTRIN, TOFU (SOYBEANS, MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE AND/OR CALCIUM CHLORIDE)*, GUAR GUM.

*DEHYDRATED

Nutrition Facts:
Serving size: 1 bowl
Calories: 240
Fat: 1g
     Saturated: 0g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 990mg
Carbohydrate: 50g
     Fibre: 4g
     Sugars: 3g
Protein: 8g
Vitamin A: 2%
Vitamin C: 2%
Calcium: 6%
Iron: 6%

So the 8g protein and 4g fiber is quite nice, but not enough to make me want to buy this again because let's face it, flavour is where it's at. Furthermore, this soup has a *very* high sodium content so I'm not at all pleased about that. It's just soup, after all...not like a huge meal!

So flavour-wise, I was happy that it was not too salty (I was expecting too must saltiness after reading how much sodium it had) and the texture of the noodles was great (best part of the soup as it had a slight chew). There was tofu, onions, and scallions which added texture, but I didn't really get the presence of the tofu as much as I would have liked. A firmer tofu chopped into bigger chunks may have worked better.

I did really like that there were no preservatives, that it was easy to prepare (either microwave or add boiling water and  let stand 2 minutes), and that it was actually very filling for a soup.

Also, the fact that the packaging is eco-friendly was great to see. The bowl is made of cornstarch and the carton is made from 100% recycled paperboard.

Other soup bowl flavours:

• Chinese Chicken
• Hot and Sour
• Korean Kimchi (vegan)
• Thai Tom Yum
• Udon (vegan)
• Vietnamese Pho

Brand: 

• Unable to verify organic, non-GMO status

Review of 'Van's' Totally Natural Waffles

Van's Totally Natural Waffles (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3/5
Summary: not bad, pretty average waffle...leans more on the salty side than sweet. It is nice and light, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It's more of an 'add-on' waffle rather than one that can stand on its own. The nutritional facts are not too impressive so altogether, I wouldn't buy this again.

Where to buy: Fortinos, Wanigan

Coupon from official website (requires Name and Email)




Ingredients: water, Van's Gluten Free Mix (brown rice flour, potato starch, rice flour, soy flour), canola oil, Van's natural fruit, juice blend (pineapple, peach and pear juice concentrates), baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, baking soda, rice flour, monocalcium phosphate), sea salt, soy lecithin, guar gum, xanthan gum.

Contains: soy

Nutrition Facts:
Serving size: 2 waffles
Calories: 230
Total fat: 7g
     Saturated fat: 1g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 400mg
Total Carbohydrate: 400mg
     Dietary fiber: 1g
     Sugars: 4g
Protein: 2g
Vitamin A: 2%
Vitamin C: 4%
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 4%

The ingredients are all fine but I'm not too impressed with the nutritional profile. I would have liked the modest flavour to be balanced with nutrition but the protein and fiber content is quite low. As is the vitamin and mineral content! So...after having these waffles (with honey!), I kinda felt like I just had empty calories. If they were uber delicious waffles, I wouldn't care but....they're pretty average.

I prefer a sweeter flavour (but I do appreciate that the sugars are kept low) than salty but these are gluten-free (GF) and so it may be worth it for those who are on a GF diet. After all, there are so many things you could add onto waffles to make them yummy (e.g. honey, syrups, jams/jellies, butters, nut spreads, etc.)! For these less sweet waffles, you could add meats and cheeses and I think they'd be complementary.

Other GF flavours:

• Apple Cinnamon (vegan)
• Blueberry (vegan)
• Buckwheat (vegan)
• Flax (vegan)

Brand:

• Blueberry, Flax, Flax waffles, and All Natural flavoured waffles are non-GMO products
• Non-GMO canola oil
• In 2014, transitioning packaging to label non-GMO products (list of non-GMO products here)
• No synthetic preservatives, artificial flavors or artificial colors
• Gluten-free, vegan options list here
• Best Frozen Waffle in Annual Gluten-Free Awards (2014)
• Two SELF Magazine Healthy Food Awards (2014)
• A Healthy Food Award From Fitness Magazine (2014)

Review of 'Glutino' Strawberry Breakfast Bars

'Glutino' Strawberry Breakfast Bars (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary:super duper soft and tender outer and a very sweet, very strong strawberry flavour makes this a yummy snack. The only downside is the high sugar content and the fact that the bar isn't as filling as I'd like.

Where to buy: Fortinos, Bulk Barn

Coupon from official website (requires Name, Address, Email) (US only)





Ingredients: strawberry filling (sugar, glucose, apple powder [calcium stearate], white grape juice concentrate, water, strawberries, glycerine, canola oil, citric acid, pectin, sodium citrate, fruit and vegetable extract for colour, calcium chloride, flavour), chick pea flour, corn flour, fructose, pear juice concentrate, raisin paste, inulin, canola oil, tapioca starch, white rice flour, water, cinnamon, sodium bicarbonate.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving: 1 bar
Calories: 160
Total fat:3g
     Saturated fat: .3 g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 50mg
Total carbohydrate: 30g
     Dietary fiber: 3g
     Sugars: 13g
Protein: 3g
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 6%

For your average person just looking for a sweet snack, this is a great bar...simply delicious, especially for strawberry lovers (strong strawberry flavour!). However, for those like me who are committed to maximum protein intake and regular strength training, this bar simply doesn't have enough protein for me...so basically I'd totally eat it if someone else in my household bought it *but* I probably won't be buying this again for myself.  I'd prefer a protein bar, which has comparable sugar levels but greater protein and fiber yeilds (also vitamins and minerals!).

The bar reminded me of fig bars, which I love! I really liked that there was the perfect amount of filling and it was sweet enough to balance the subtler outer layer (which was still pretty sweet!).

Other flavours (all vegan):

• Apple
• Blueberry
• Cherry

Brand:

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

Review of 'So Delicious' Purely Decadent Cherry Nirvana Pint

'So Delicious' Purely Decadent Cherry Nirvana Pint (vegan)
Overall Rating: 5/5
Summary: umm wow...very sweet and intense in cherry flavour, this dessert was soft, totally creamy, and very satisfying. I actually liked the chunks of cherries dropped throughout (thought it would have that gross maraschino medicine-y taste, but no sir!). It also had bits chocolate shavings in it that gave it that added texture. I would definitely buy this again. DEFINITELY!

Where to buy: Fortinos, US store finder

Coupon: http://www.sodeliciousdairyfree.com/ (click the blue circle on the right hand side) 



Ingredients: FILTERED WATER, SOY MILK (FILTERED WATER, SOYBEANS), DEHYDRATED CANE JUICE, CHERRIES (BLACK CHERRIES, FRUCTOSE, ASCORBIC ACID, CHERRY CONCENTRATE, NATURAL FLAVOR, CULTURED DEXTROSE, CITRIC ACID), BROWN RICE SYRUP AND/OR TAPIOCA SYRUP, CHOCOLATE FLAKE [BEET SUGAR, COCONUT OIL, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), CHOCOLATE LIQUOR, SOY LECITHIN, VANILLA], SAFFLOWER OIL AND/OR SOYBEAN OIL, CHICORY ROOT EXTRACT, VANILLA EXTRACT, CAROB BEAN GUM, GUAR GUM, ALGIN (KELP EXTRACT), CARRAGEENAN, YUCCA EXTRACT, TAPIOCA SUGAR.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving size: 1/2 cup
Calories: 190
     Calories from fat: 80
Total fat: 6g
     Saturated fat: 2g
Sodium: 30mg
Total Carbohydrates: 26g
     Dietary fiber: 5g
     Sugars: 18g
Protein: 1g
Iron: 2%

Hey look!! 5g of fiber! That's pretty awesome and makes up for the meager 1g protein. The cals are an average level so no issue there. Other than the fiber, no significant nutritional perks.

So this is tied with the Praline Pecan flavour in the Purely Decadent line (reviewed here). I honestly cannot find anything to complain about and can't think of anything I could add or change to improve on this 'ice cream'.

The flavour was exciting and so so richly cherry. I'm not a cherry fanatic...I appreciate the fruit and all, but it's by no means my favourite or anything....but dannngg I can't believe how good this was! It was so sweet and I felt really satisfied after finishing the whole pint in one sitting...with about 4 brownies. Heheh, it was a good Sunday afternoon :)

The texture was great as it normally is with the Purely Decadent line...it was totally scoopable and soft and creamy...absolutely no iciness or stiffness. VERY much appreciated. The chocolate shavings were so thin and crispy and paired with the tender cherry chunks, each spoonful was such a treat! Do yourself a favour and buy this--you will not be sorry, trust me.

Read my reviews of other Purely Decadent flavours: Praline Pecan, Chocolate Obsession, and Purely Vanilla.

Other flavours:

• Chocolate Obsession (reviewed here)(vegan)
• Cookie Avalanche (vegan)
• Cookie Dough -- Gluten Free (vegan
• Mint Chip (vegan)
• Mocha Almond Fudge (vegan)
• Peanut Butter Zig Zag (vegan)
• Pomegranate Chip (vegan)
• Turtle Trails (vegan)

I'm hoping to find the Chocolate Brownie Almond next!

Review of 'So Delicious' Chocolate Peanut Butter Organic Quart

'So Delicious' Chocolate Peanut Butter Organic Quart (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary:the peanut butter flavour was definitely more enjoyable than the chocolate flavour because it was actually strong! Although the peanut butter flavour was good, the texture was icy and hard. It would have been so much better if it were creamier and softer and if they included more peanut butter than chocolate. I would buy this again (unless I found a better brand) because I'm a hugggeee peanut butter fan.

Where to Buy: Freshco, US store finder

Coupon: http://www.sodeliciousdairyfree.com/ (click the blue circle on the right hand side) 

Ingredients: ORGANIC SOYMILK (FILTERED WATER, ORGANIC SOYBEANS), ORGANIC DEHYDRATED CANE JUICE, ORGANIC BROWN RICE SYRUP AND/OR ORGANIC TAPIOCA SYRUP, ORGANIC PEANUTS (ROASTED IN ORGANIC PEANUT OIL, SALT), ORGANIC SOYBEAN OIL AND/OR ORGANIC SAFFLOWER OIL, ORGANIC COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), CHICORY ROOT EXTRACT, VANILLA EXTRACT, CAROB BEAN GUM, TAPIOCA SUGAR, GUAR GUM, CARRAGEENAN, NATURAL FLAVORS.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving: 1/2 cup
Calories: 140
     Calories from fat: 40
Total fat: 4.5g
     Saturated fat: 1g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 60mg
Potassium: 0mg
Total Carbohydrate: 23g
     Dietary fiber: 2g
     Sugar: 13g
Protein: 2g
Iron: 4%

So you can see that the ingredients are nothing to get worked up over and the calories are low compared to alternative flavours and brands. I really like this about the So Delicious organic quarts.

I actually enjoyed this dessert on its own with no add-ins (surprising for me, as I love to overload on sugar).

Like the Chocolate Velvet flavour (reviewed here) in the organic quart line, the texture was disappointing. It was icy and really hard to scoop...I bent two spoons in the process! So it lacked the creaminess and softness that one would expect from 'ice cream'. Still, the flavour was pretty good in the peanut butter parts of the quart (better than the Chocolate Velvet). The peanut butter was rich in flavour but the chocolate component was disappointing...pretty average. I also felt like they had more chocolate than peanut butter parts and it would have benefitted from some peanut butter chips. I guess they only reserve add-ins for their 'Purely Decadent' line of 'ice creams'.

Anyway, because I'm a peanut butter fan, I'd buy this again unless I found an alternative brand with a better texture and with more peanut butter!

You can enjoy So Delicious' other soymilk "ice cream" quarts in (all vegan):

• Chocolate Velvet (reviewed here)
• Creamy Vanilla
• Mocha Fudge
• Neapolitan
• Dulce de Leche
• Butter Pecan
• Mint Marble Fudge (reviewed here)

Brand (quoted from purelydecadent.com):

• None of the containers and lids that our products are packaged in contain Bisphenol-A (BPA's)
• All of our coconut based products are Non-GMO certified by the NonGmo Project. For more information, go to www.NonGMOProject.org. All of our other products are internally verified to be GMO free.
• None of our products contain MSG, yeast, yeast extract, or autolyzed yeast.
• The natural flavors in our products are flavor analogs that come from botanicals and extracts from natural sources. Care is taken to utilize components from the original substrate when possible.
• None of our products contain the food preservative, TBHQ, either as direct ingredients or sub- ingredients.
• None of our products contain the food preservative, BHT, either as direct ingredients or sub-ingredients.
• None of our products contain the food preservative, BHA, either as direct ingredients or sub-ingredients.
• Some of our products contain flavors which include of a small amount of ethyl alcohol as a carrier. The amount of ethanol in these products is so small that there is no physiological impact. There is no gluten in the alcohol.

Review of 'Belsoy' Organic Chocolate Soy Pudding and 'Lotus Fine Foods'

Belsoy -- Organic Chocolate Soy Pudding (vegan)
Overall Rating: 5/5
Summary: I honestly have no complaints...it's super smooth, thick, and creamy in texture and the flavour is absolutely perfect. I can't think of any way to improve this product. Buy. It.

Where to buy: Fortinos

Ingredients: filtered water, certified organic raw cane sugar*, certified organic soybeans* (6%), certified organic wheat starch*, certified organic fat-reduced cocoa*, certified organic maltodextrin*, stabiliser: seaweed extracts (carrageenan), sea salt, certified organic natural vanilla extract*

*from organic farming

Nutrition Facts:
Serving: 1 container
Calories: 120
Total fat: 2g
     Saturated fat: .5g
     Polyunsaturated fat: 0g
     Monounsaturated fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 80mg
Potassium: 0mg
Total Carbohydrate: 21g
     Dietary fiber: 2g
     Sugars: 12g
Protein: 4g
Calcium: 3%
Iron: 10%

I picked this up at Fortinos for the second time because it's that scrumptious. Besides that though, the nutritional profile is impressive for a chocolatey snack. The ingredients are very clean and kept to a minimum. It's low-calorie and high on nutrition with 4g protein, low sodium, and 10% iron.

The texture is so perfect--it's thick and creamy and really satisfying. The flavour has great chocolatey depth and a gentle sweetness that I wouldn't change, even as a sweet fanatic. I added a tablespoon of granola (reviewed below), which added complexity and crisp to the texture--so nice :) :)


'Lotus Fine Foods' Cranberry and Cinnamon Quinoa Granola (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3/5
Summary: I was expecting a really sweet granola mix, so I was sad that this was just a medley of great nice and flavours minus the sweetness. I would have preferred clusters with honey or some natural sweetener and a bit more tenderness in the cranberries. I also found the cinnamon to be too subtle.



I couldn't find a good picture of the product online so I'll try to remember to take one myself and post it. This picture is from the Lotus Fine Foods official page and offers a recipe for Gluten-Free Cookies that I think would actually be quite tasty.

Ingredients: Quinoa, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, agave nectar, sunflower oil, apple juice sweetened cranberries, cinnamon.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving: 1/4 cup
Calories: 150
Total fat: 9g
     Saturated: 1g
     Polyunsaturated: 0mg
     Monounsaturated: 0mg
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 2mg
Potassium: 0mg
Total Carbs: 16g
     Dietary fiber: 3g
     Sugars: 4g
Protein: 4g
Calcium: 6%
Iron: 8%

Well, can't go wrong with this wholesome blend in terms of nutrition. The ingredients are natural and pure and it's got a healthy dose of protein and fiber. It's a nice add-on for puddings and cereals and would work well for baking.

I found the texture was pretty good, except for the dried cranberries, which were hard and too chewy. I would have preferred a fresher, softer, less chewy and more tender cranberry experience. The flavour was good, though because it wasn't what I expected or prefer. The lack of sweetness was accompanied by a strong tartness in the cranberry. I would prefer a more subtle tartness so that it would pair better with puddings and other desserts.

I believe I picked this up at Home Sense but my memory's failing me right now. It was either homesense or a farm just outside Brampton.

Other flavours (all vegan):

• Coconut & Cherry Quinoa
• Hot Quinoa Cereal

Brand:

• Non-GMO
• Organic

Review of 'Gardein' Burgundy Trio

'Gardein' Burgundy Trio (vegan)
Overall Rating: 2.5/5
Summary: the texture of the 'beefless tips' was spot on and as was the aromatic basmati rice. The flavour of the sauce and the beef was a no-show! The sauce was light and tasty, however it was missing diversity in veggies and only the carrots added some colour. I won't be buying this one again, since I do personally prefer brown rice and missed the abundance of veggies that I would normally have with my meals.

Where to buy: Fortino, Freshco

Ingredients: water, vital wheat gluten*, soy protein isolate*, expeller pressed/canola oil, organic ancient grain flour (kamut®, amaranth, millet, quinoa), onions, natural flavors (from plant sources), modified vegetable gum, malted barley extract, yeast extract, garlic powder, onion powder, potato starch, organic cane sugar, sea salt, pea protein, carrot fiber, organic beetroot fiber.  
Burgundy sauce: water, carrots, tomato paste, onions, Burgundy wine reduction, roasted garlic, mushrooms, sea salt, organic cane sugar, natural flavor (from plant sources), expeller pressed canola oil, corn starch, malted barley extract, vinegar, konjac, xanthan gum, soy lecithin, white pepper, ground rosemary.  
Rice: water, basmati rice, sea salt.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving size: 1 container
Calories: 360
Total fat: 7g
     Saturated fat: .5g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 640mg
Total Carbohydrate: 52g
     Dietary fiber: 4g
     Sugars: 3g
Protein: 24g
Vitamin A: 15%
Vitamin C: 4%
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 35%

For the 640mg sodium...where was the salt? It seemed like less salt than other ready-to-eat products I've bought before. Save for this, I love the nutritional profile of this meal (a whopping 24g protein and 4g fiber is pretty awesome for me, especially on a workout day!).

It was bland...it was like eating nothing, I swear. I was initially so pumped that I could have a full, easy meal with high protein and good fiber....but then I had a bite. After boiling the packages on the stovetop for about 5 minutes, the texture of the rice and beef was perfect.

The flavour....I could definitely make something better myself with the spices I have at home (and I am a horrendous cook). The mushrooms and carrots were a plus because they added some interest and texture, but dang, it still falls flat. I had my mom taste it as well and she was so unimpressed that she is now motivated to make her own version. So...at least something good will come out of this -- a nice mommy-cooked meal for me!

Bought this on sale (thank god, cause it certainly was worth paying full price!) from Metro.

Well, that's it for me...I gotta go find something else to satisfy my lunch appetite.

***UPDATE***
Soooo, I decided to give this product a second chance because I do love Gardein as a trusted brand.

This time around, I changed the initial rating to 2.5/5. I still wouldn't buy it again, *however* I did appreciate the meal a lot more this time around. I didn't find it so bland! I did note that it would have been better with more colour (add more veggies!) and texture in the sauce.

Other Trio flavours (all vegan):

• Sicilian Trio
• Thai Trio

Brand (quoted from gardein.com):

• The majority of gardein ingredients come from North American farms.
• Uses non-MSG yeast extract to enhance gardein™'s flavor.  
• "...wherever possible, we use the best organic and certified non-GMO ingredients..."
• "...we like to diversify our proteins by using wheat, soy and pea proteins..."
• Ccontains no preservatives or artificial flavors.  
• "Our soy is grown in the United States and Canada."
• "...our suppliers ensure that all our ingredients do not contain pesticides or herbicides - in line with all federal, state/provincial, and municipal regulations."
• "... we only use 'identity-preserved' soy protein (which basically means, it helps to ensure us that our soy protein is not genetically modified)." 

Check out this documentary on genetically modified foods and their adverse effects on our health:

Genetic Roulette by Jeffrey M. Smith


"The same serious health problems found in lab animals, livestock, and pets that have been fed GM foods are now on the rise in the US population. And when people and animals stop eating genetically modified organisms (GMOs), their health improves.
This seminal documentary provides compelling evidence to help explain the deteriorating health of Americans, especially among children, and offers a recipe for protecting ourselves and our future."

You can actually watch the entire documentary right now for free until September 22nd...oh wait, that's today! Well, get on it! It's actually very interesting, informative, engaging, and very watchable (unlike other docs that can bore the hell out of you, despite the important subject matter).

Also, check out the website for some great resources and contact info. E.g. the Non-GMO Shopping Guide.

Review of 'Kashi' Whole Wheat Biscuits Cinnamon Harvest

Kashi -- Cinnamon Harvest (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: this is the perfect cereal for breakfast because it's light (but surprisingly filling) and not too sweet. The texture is awesome--probably the best part for me. The only thing I would have liked was a stronger cinnamon flavour.

Where to buy: US and some parts of CA (not sure if you can buy this in Ontario; you can purchase online and it's well worth it)




Ingredients:organic whole grain wheat, organic evaporated cane juice, organic cinnamon, natural cinnamon flavour.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving: 28 biscuits
Calories: 180
Total Fat: 1g
     Saturated fat: 0
     Trans: 0
     Polyunsaturated: .5g
     Monounsaturated: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 0mg
Potassium: 170mg
Total Carbohydrate: 43g
     Dietary fiber: 5g
          Soluble fiber: 1g
          Insoluble fiber: 4g
     Sugars: 9g
Protein: 6g
Iron: 8%          

So clearly, this is a super wholesome cereal...very clean and basic ingredients and very nutritious (low-cal, fat, cholesterol, NO sodium, great fiber content, and good amount of protein).

I got this from the US so I'm not sure if this particular cereal Kashi is available in local grocery stores.

I usually have this cereal with So Nice Unsweetened soy milk, but my brother and mom actually just have it dry as a snack...And these two usually prefer sugary, low-nutrition cereals, so imagine my surprise when they both gushed over it! I actually prefer my cereal slightly soggy (weird?) instead of crunchy, so I usually let it soak in the soy milk for a little while before digging in. This changes the texture from crunchy to tender chews mmmm...SO good! I never thought 'wheat biscuits' could ever taste this good!

The only downside was in flavour--I found the cinnamon was a little too subtle for my liking. Also, I do prefer my cereals to be very high in protein (at least 8g would be ideal), so I would probably wouldn't buy this flavour on the regular (but only for this reason!)

I think adding some nuts or extra cinnamon may be realllly good...maybe walnuts! Crushing it up and adding it to yogurts and/or puddings would also be great.

Some people also crush this cereal up and use it for breading and in dessert recipes. Since it has an A++ for texture, I'd gather that it's really versatile for cooking and baking.

Other Kashi cold cereals:

• Organic Corn Cereal Indigo Morning (vegan)
• Organic Corn Cereal Simply Maize (vegan)
• Cereal Crisp! Cinnamon Crumble (vegan)
• Squares Berry Blossoms
• Cereal Crisp! Toasted Berry Crumble (vegan)
• Heart to Heart® Cereal Warm Cinnamon Oat
• Strawberry Fields® Cereal Original (vegan)
• Whole Wheat Biscuits Island Vanilla (vegan)
• Black Currant Walnut Original
• Squares Honey Sunshine
• Granola Cocoa Beach
• Granola Mountain Medley
• 7 Whole Grain Cereals Nuggets (vegan)
• GOLEAN® Cereal Crunch!
• GOLEAN® Cereal Crunch! Honey Almond Flax
• GOLEAN® Cereal Original
• Good Friends® Cereal Original
• Whole Wheat Biscuits Autumn Wheat (vegan)
• Heart to Heart® Cereal Honey Toasted Oat
• Heart to Heart® Cereal Oat Flakes & Blueberry Clusters (vegan)
• 7 Whole Grain Cereals Honey Puffs
• 7 Whole Grain Cereals Puffs (vegan)
• 7 Whole Grain Cereals Flakes (vegan)

Brand:

• "Nine of our foods are now officially Non-GMO Project Verified including Autumn Wheat, Cinnamon Harvest, Island Vanilla, Strawberry Fields, 7 Whole Grain Flakes, 7 Whole Grain Puffs, 7 Whole Grain Pilaf, Simply Maize and Indigo Morning." (kashi.com)
• Phasing out GMOs: "That's why today Kashi announced a big initiative to increase the company's availability of organic and Non-GMO Project Verified foods. By the end of 2014, all existing Kashi® GOLEAN® cereals and Kashi® Chewy Granola Bars—representing Kashi's biggest offerings—will be Non-GMO Project Verified. Beginning in 2015, all new Kashi foods introduced into the market will contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients and will also be Non-GMO Project Verified" (read article here).
• "The soy in Kashi cereals comes from soybeans that have had a gene inserted to protect the soybeans from the herbicide Roundup, which kills, weeds," according to USA Today (read article here).

Review of 'Yves' Meatless Deli Turkey Slices, Meatless Deli Bologna Slices and Meatless Deli Salami Slices

'Yves' Meatless Deli Turkey Slices (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3/5
Summary: I was surprised that this actually tasted like Turkey. The flavour was subtle (a bit lackluster), but it was evident that turkey flavour was the target. I actually prefer more spiciness and depth of flavour, so I wouldn't buy this again.
 
Where to buy: Fortino's

Ingredients: water, wheat gluten, natural flavors ( contains autolyzed yeast), isolated soy protein, wheat starch, expeller pressed canola oil, vitamins & minerals (dipotassium phosphate, dimagnesium phosphate, zinc oxide, ferric orthophosphate, calcium panthothenate, thiamin hydrochloride, cyanocobalamin), evaporated cane juice, extractive of paprika (for color), garlic powder, salt, spices, carrageenan, citric acid.

Contains soy and wheat.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving: 4 slices
Calories: 100
Total fat: 1.5g
          Saturated: 0
          Trans: 0
     Polyunsaturated: .5g
     Monounsaturated: 1g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 340mg
Potassium: 230mg
Total Carbohydrate: 5g
     Dietary fiber: 0g
     Sugars: <0
Protein: 16g
Vitamin C: 15%
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 20%

The calories are nice and low and the sodium is a good level for the amount of protein it provides. I usually have these deli slices with 'Rudolph's' Bavarian Multigrain Bread (you can buy this at Freshco, Sobey's, Food Basics), Nayonaise, and French's Spicy Brown Mustard and it's pretty damn great!

I would have given this a 3.5/5 if not for the 'autolyzed yeast', which is subject to controversy. There isn't as much depth of flavour that I'd like...kinda bland. I prefer the Salami Slices that I'll review below.

'Yves' Meatless Deli Bologna Slices (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: this actually tastes like bologna! I'm impressed by the flavour of this product, for sure! I deducted points for the controversial ingredients, for the wee bit high sodium content, for it's lower protein profile compared to the other deli slices.
Where to buy: Fortino's


Ingredients: water, isolated soy protein, vital wheat gluten, expeller pressed canola oil, evaporated cane juice, natural flavors (contains yeast extract), sea salt, autolyzed yeast, onion and garlic powder, vitamins & minerals (dipotassium phosphate, dimagnesium phosphate, zinc oxide, ferric orthophosphate, calcium panthothenate, thiamin hydrochloride, cyanocobalamin, iron oxide), carrageenan, wheat starch, beet powder (for color), citric acid, spice.

CONTAINS: SOY and WHEAT. Manufactured in a facility that uses egg ingredients.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving size: 4 slices
Calories: 80
Total fat: 1.5g
     Saturated: .2g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0g
Sodium: 560mg
Potassium: 220mg
Total Carbohydrate: 3g
     Dietary fiber: 0g
     Sugars: 1g
Protein: 13g
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 25%

More nutrition facts here.

I'd definitely buy this flavour again because it actually tastes authentic!


'Yves' Meatless Deli Salami Slices (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: this flavour is much more complex than the turkey flavour because it has a tiny spicy kick. Again, would've given it a 4 if not for the controversy over 'autolyzed yeast'.
Where to buy: Fortino's



Ingredients: water, vital wheat gluten, isolated soy protein, tofu (water, soybeans), spices, natural flavors (including autolyzed yeast extract), salt, wheat starch, garlic and onion powder, evaporated cane juice, vitamins & minerals (dipotassium phosphate, dimagnesium phosphate, zinc oxide, ferric orthophosphate, calcium panthothenate, thiamin hydrochloride, cyanocobalamin, iron oxide), carrageenan, beet powder and extractive of paprika (for color).

Contains soy and wheat.
 
Nutrition Facts:
Serving: 4 slices
Calories: 80
Total fat: 0g
          Saturated: 0
          Trans: 0
     Polyunsaturated: 0g
     Monounsaturated: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 480mg
Potassium: 200mg
Total Carbohydrate: 4g
     Dietary fiber: 0g
     Sugars: <0
Protein: 15g
Vitamin A: 4%
Vitamin C: 0
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 20%

Now these are a regular item in our fridge and I have it about every other day because it's that yummy with the Nayo and mustard on Rudolph's bread. The nutritional profile is great, though with a little bit more sodium than the turkey slices.

Other flavours (all vegan): Other 'Quick Meals' (all vegan):

• Beef Veggie Tenders
• Chicken Satay Veggie Skewers 
• Chicken Souvlaki Veggie Skewers
• Chicken Veggie Tenders 
• Teriyaki Chick'n Tenders
• Veggie Cajun Chick'n Slices
• Veggie Chili (reviewed here)
• Veggie Corn Dogs
• Veggie Ham Slices (reviewed here)
• Veggie Meatballs Frozen
• Veggie Nuggets with Whole Grain Breading
• Veggie Pizza Pepperoni Slices (reviewed here)

 Brand:

• Uncertain GMO status
• Kosher
• Preservative-free
• Free of artificial colours and flavours

Review of 'Luna Bar' Caramel Nut Brownie Nutrition Bar

Luna -- Caramel Nut Brownie Nutrition Bar (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: soft, chewy goodness with a great crisp thanks to the 'rice crisps.' This bar was awesome...very chocolatey and sweet, though as a sweet fiend, it could have been a wee bit sweeter if I had it my way. I also would have preferred more/bigger chunks of nuts (walnuts). I'd definitely buy this again!

Where to buy: Bulk Barn, Fortinos

Ingredients: LunaPro ® (Cocoa Soy Rice Crisps [Soy Protein Isolate, Organic Rice Flour, Organic Alkalized Cocoa, Alkalized Cocoa], Organic Soy Protein, Organic Flaxmeal), Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Caramel (Organic Dried Cane Syrup, Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Cane Syrup, Cocoa Butter, Water, Soy Protein Concentrate, Natural Flavors, Salt, Organic Soy Lecithin), Coating (Organic Dried Cane Syrup, Organic Cocoa, Palm Kernel Oil, Organic Palm Kernel Oil, Organic Soy Lecithin, Organic Vanilla), Organic Chocolate Chips (Organic Dried Cane Syrup, Organic Unsweetened Chocolate, Organic Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavors), Walnuts, Inulin (Chicory Extract) (Chicory Extract), Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Unsweetened Chocolate, Organic Cocoa, Organic Alkalized Cocoa, Organic Chocolate Flavor, Organic Sunflower Oil, Sea Salt, Natural Flavor.

Nutrition Facts*:
Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 180
Calories from fat: 60
Total fat: 6g
     Sat. fat: 3g
     0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 160mg
Potassium: 130mg
Total Carbohydrates: 26g
     Dietary fiber: 3g
          Insoluble fiber: 1g
     Sugar: 13g
     Other Carb: 10g
Protein: 8g
Vitamin A: 20%
Vitamin C: 20%
Calcium: 35%
Iron: 30%

*Additional nutrition facts available here

I bought the Luna bar from Bulk Barn (love shopping there!), where they often have really good sales on really healthy and tasty foods.

The texture was wafery because of the rice crisps and I absolutely love that about this bar. It wasn't crumbly at all and it was really soft and chewy so no messiness. It was nicely chocolatey and the caramel was present, but not strong enough for me. I would have liked a deeper caramel flavour. Now, normally I'm not a fan of getting hints of saltiness in my sweets, but somehow it worked in this bar. Another thing I would have added was more nuts and bigger chunks of nuts...I saw the nuts in the bar, but didn't really get the taste or enough of the crunch.

This was my first taste of the Luna bars and it was a great first experience.

Other Flavours:

• Blueberry Bliss (vegan)
• Chocolate Chunk (vegan)
• Chocolate Dipped Coconut (vegan)
• Chocolate Raspberry (vegan)
• Chocolate Peppermint Stick (vegan) (reviewed here)
• Iced Oatmeal Raisin (vegan)
• LemonZest (vegan)
• Nutz Over Chocolate (vegan) (reviewed here)
• Peanut Honey Pretzel
• Peanut Butter Cookie (vegan)
• S'mores (vegan)
• Toasted Nuts 'n Cranberry (vegan)
• Vanilla Almond (vegan)
• White Chocolate Macadamia (vegan)

I was gonna end with choosing the flavour I'd most like to try next, but jeeeezzz there are so many that sound scrumptious! Hmm, the Peanut Butter Cookie sounds pretty intense!

Brand (quoted from clifbar.com):

• "LUNA provides the nutrients women often lack, like folic acid, calcium, iron, vitamin D and other vitamins and minerals..."
• "LUNA contributes to the Clif Bar Family Foundation, which donates 1% of all product revenue to organizations that support and improve environmental, social and cultural needs, from our local to our global community.
• 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)

Review of 'Doctor Kracker' 3 Seed Klassic 3 Graines Flatbread

'Doctor Kracker' 3 Seed Klassic 3 Graines Flatbread (vegan)
Overall Rating: 5/5
Summary: insanely crispy, but not annoyingly crumbly. These flatbreads are sooo delicious. The flavour is great because of the sunflower seeds and sesame seeds. These are one of my favourites because they're so versatile and very very wholesome.

Where to buy: Fortinos, https://drkracker.alice.com/




Ingredients: organic whole wheat flour, organic wheat flour, filtered water, organic oats, organic sunflower seeds, organic flaxseeds, olive oil, canola oil, sea salt, organic sesame seeds, yeast, organic barley malt syrup, rosemary extract.

Allergy and intolerance information: contained wheat, sesame.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving: 1 flatbread
Calories: 100
Fat: 4g
     Saturated: .5g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 131mg
Carbohydrate: 11g
     Fibre: 3g
     Sugars: 0g
Protein: 5g
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 4%

I bought these at Fortinos and just recently bought the Herb flavour and I can't wait to try it! I usually have it was a vegetable spread (ajvar), a nut butter, or an avocado spread. It's one of my favourite snacks! I'm always impressed by the texture every time I take a bit, especially because it's topped with the sunflower and sesame seeds so each bite is fun (yes, fun!)! The flavour is what makes this flatbread so versatile. It's delicious on its own and because its a mild flavour, you can pair it with almost anything and it's so yummy.

I buy this regularly (of course!) and highly recommend it. The nutritional value is so great as well because it has 5g of protein...five grams! Can't beat that! It also has 3g fiber, which is also very good. All in all, absolutely a guilt-free snack that you should check out.

Other flavours:

• Pumpkin Seed Cheddar
• Seedlander (vegan)
• 100% Whole Wheat (vegan)
• Seeded Spelt (vegan)

Brand (quoted from http://drkracker.com):

• Eco-friendly
• No trans fats
• "Our emphasis on whole grain and whole seed, low-sugar to no-sugar..." 
• Certified organic

Review of 'Covered Bridge' Sweet Potato with Sea Salt *and* Cinnamon Sugar

'Covered Bridge' -- Sweet Potato with Sea Salt (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: deliciously sweet and savoury, BUT I didn't enjoy the oily aftertaste. The chips are definitely oilier than I like and I wouldn't buy these again because of this. I do appreciate that they are healthier than most chips available in the grocery store...but still, too oily for me.

Where to buy: Bulk Barn, Heatherlea Farm (Caledon), Homesense, Winners, Agram Meats (Georgetown), Ontario Natural Foods Co-op (Mississauga), Jubilee Market (Oakville)



Ingredients: sweet potato, canola oil, sea salt.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving: 35 chips
Calories: 280
Fat: 17g
     Saturated: 1.5g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 70mg
Carbohydrate: 29g
     Fibers: 2g
     Sugars: 3g
Protein: 2g
Vitamin A: 40%
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 8%

I bought these at a farm about 40 minutes from Brampton. They had a little shop with produce and packaged snack foods. I love going to these little places...so many unique products to try! And it's a nice little mini-roadtrip on a summer weekend.

So the texture of these chips was decent...it had a crisp, but wasn't as crispy as other chips I've enjoyed (e.g. Kettle Brand chips), but no biggie--it was crispy enough. The oiliness was my main issue. The flavour was great!!! Sweet and perfectly salted and intensely sweet potatoey, but again, I could taste the oil afterwards and I didn't care for that. No sir, I did not.


'Covered Bridge" Sweet Potato Cinnamon and Sugar (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3/5
Summary: I enjoyed the flavour of this because it had a slightly burnt/smoky taste, but unfortunately I still got that oiliness that I didn't care for. I wouldn't buy it again because of this.



Ingredients: sweet potato, canola oil, brown sugar, organic evaporated cane juice, spice.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving: 25 chips
Calories: 270
Fat: 16g
     Saturated: 1.5g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 35 mg
Carbohydrate: 29g
     Fiber: 3g
     Sugars: 12g
Protein: 2g
Vitamin A: 40%
Vitamin C: 10%
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 6%

I was excited to try these because I thought they might have been similar to the Stacy's The texture was a medium crisp like the Sea Salt flavour (I prefer a big crunch). The flavour was a bit of a letdown because I was anticipating something like Stacy's (my fault, really).

A big plus is the nutritional values of these snacks. They are high in vitamin A and have a decent amount of protein and fiber, so no guilt ought to be felt indulging in these. I'm sure most people would find these chips delicious but I'm just really averse to oil foods (taste-wise and bowel-wise. So, if you are a sweet potato lover and comfortable with oilier foods, then I'd recommend these :)

Brand:

• 100% cholesterol free
• Gluten free
• Trans fat free
• Produced with GMO free Canadian canola oil

Review of 'So Declicious' Purely Decadent Purely Vanilla Pint

So Delicious' 'Purely Decadent' Purely Vanilla Pint (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3/5
Summary: it was just okay...wouldn't buy it again. It wasn't as soft and creamy as other flavours in the Purely Decadent Line (like the Chocolate Obsession and Praline Pecan). The flavour wasn't sufficiently rich, intense, or sweet for my liking.

Where to buy: Fortinos, US store finder

Coupon: http://www.sodeliciousdairyfree.com/ (click the blue circle on the right hand side)




Ingredients: filtered water, organic soymilk (filtered water, organic soybeans), organic dehydrated cane juice, organic brown rice syrup/or organic tapioca syrup, organic safflower oil and/or organic soybean oil, chicory root extract, vanilla extract, carob bean gum, guar gum, algin (kelp extract), carrageenan, yucca extract, tapioca sugar.

Nutrition:
Serving: 1/2 cup
Calories: 170
Calories from fat: 70
Total fat: 5g
     Saturated fat: .5g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 35mg
Total Carbohydrate: 22g
     Dietary fiber: 5g
     Sugar: 17g
Protein: 1g
Iron: 4%

Meh...I wasn't expecting much from this flavour simply because it was 'just' vanilla and I tend to prefer super indulgent flavours. But because it was the Purely Decadent line, I was somewhat hopeful that it would be surprisingly good. I was disappointed. I definitely had to add in some 'soft-baked banana cookies' to make the experience passable.

I got this at Fortinos and will not be buying this flavour again. The taste wasn't sweet enough and the vanilla flavour could have been more intense...perhaps more vanilla extract would have worked. The texture was a letdown--it was kinda hard and icy. I had to let it melt for a while before digging in.

I do appreciate the high fiber content and the fewer calories (compared to other flavours in this line), but it's still not worth it for me.

Other flavours (all vegan):

• Chocolate Obsession (reviewed here)
• Cookie Avalanche 
• Cookie Dough -- Gluten Free
• Mint Chip
• Mocha Almond Fudge
• Peanut Butter Zig Zag
• Pomegranate Chip
• Turtle Trails

Brand (quoted from purelydecadent.com):

• None of the containers and lids that our products are packaged in contain Bisphenol-A (BPA's)
• All of our coconut based products are Non-GMO certified by the NonGmo Project. For more information, go to www.NonGMOProject.org. All of our other products are internally verified to be GMO free.
• None of our products contain MSG, yeast, yeast extract, or autolyzed yeast.
• The natural flavors in our products are flavor analogs that come from botanicals and extracts from natural sources. Care is taken to utilize components from the original substrate when possible.
• None of our products contain the food preservative, TBHQ, either as direct ingredients or sub- ingredients.
• None of our products contain the food preservative, BHT, either as direct ingredients or sub-ingredients.
• None of our products contain the food preservative, BHA, either as direct ingredients or sub-ingredients.
• Some of our products contain flavors which include of a small amount of ethyl alcohol as a carrier. The amount of ethanol in these products is so small that there is no physiological impact. There is no gluten in the alcohol.

Song of the day: Vanilla Twilight -- Owl City

Review of Nile Spice's 'Lentil Soup Mix' and 'Lenil Curry Couscous'

Nile Spice's -- Lentil Soup Mix (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: salted to perfection, hearty and *very* filling, chunky, creamy, oh gosh, so good.The lentils had the perfect little chew to them, the spices were rich and the textures were suited perfectly.

Where to buy: Fortinos

Ingredients: lentils*, tomato powder, carrots*, spices, potatoes*, natural flavour, spinach, salt, onions*.
*dehydrated

K, c'mon, how often do you find a food product with 9 ingredients these days?

Nutritional Facts:
Serving: 1 contained (52g)
Calories: 190
Fat: 1.5g
     Saturated: 0g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 700mg
Carbohydrate: 36g
     Fiber: 11g
     Sugars: 3g
Protein: 11g
Vitamin A: 70%
Vitamin C: 8%
Calcium: 8%
Iron: 20%

Okay, I care about fiber the way an 80 year old cares about fiber so the fact that this has ELEVEN grams is awesome. Who doesn't appreciate a good bowel passing in the morning? Best way to start your day off right heheh...and who doesn't appreciate some poop references when discussing foodstuffs?....

...it also has 11g of protein! I try to get at least 70g of protein per day because I normally workout 4-5 days/week, so this is another great plus. It is a tad higher on the sodium scale than I normally opt for, but the added benefit of 70% vitamin A (which I sometimes have a problem getting enough of) and 20% iron totally makes up for that.

Salt lovers beware though because you can't taste the high sodium! It's actually a lot less salt than I think the average person would prefer. I actually feel that the subtle salt enhances the flavours and texture by allowing you to savour them more without the distraction of saltiness.

I definitely recommend this product...try it! You can find this at Fortinos (just bought it today). I actually didn't see it there before, so it may be a new product offered there.

Nile Spice's -- 'Lentil Curry Couscous' (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: ah, the couscous was perfect after brewing for five minutes (as directed)...not too soggy and not too chewy. I really enjoyed the tomato flavour and the spices were really complementary. The only thing I would have added was a wee bit more heat (as a pepper lover).


Ingredients: couscous (durum wheat semolina), lentils*, tomato powder, natural flavour, carrots*, spices, salt, onions*, parsley*, spinach*, silicon dioxide.

*Dehydrated

Nutrition Facts:
Serving size: 1 container
Calories: 200
Fat: 1g
     Saturated: 0g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 680mg
Carbohydrate: 39g
     Fiber: 7g
     Sugars: 4g
Protein: 9g
Vitamin A: 40%
Vitamin C: 10%
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 15%

I was really keen on trying the other flavours after having had such a great experience with the Lentil Soup and I was again impressed. Again, the only thing I would have preferred was more peppery heat. I think most people will be content with the flavour despite the heat because much like my relationship to desserts, my relationship to pepper is equally unhealthy. When I eat spicy food, I want it to be so spicy that I'm sweating and sniffling by the end of it. I want slimy nose-runnings and sweaty shirts...

...it does have a great nutritional profile, with 9g protein, and 7g fiber, AND low-calorie. The only downside is the above average sodium content. Oh yeah, AND the boost of vitamins A and C...and iron. See, it's difficult not to like these! I'm definitely committed to this product and will be buying these regularly.

 Other Nile Spice flavours:

• Minestrone couscous
• Parmesan couscous
• Potato Leek Soup
• Black Bean Soup
• Chicken Flavoured Vegetable Soup
• Split Pea Soup
• Sweet Corn Chowder
• Minestrone Soup
• Red Beans 
• Rice Soup

Brand:

• All-natural
• Part of the Hain Celestial Group

Review of 'Amande' Creamy Cultured Almond (Blueberry)

Amande's 'Creamy Cultured Almond' (Blueberry) (vegan)

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Summary: this was perfectly sweet (check website for awesome nutritionals) and deep had a strong blueberry flavour...AND it actually tastes just like yogurt. The only thing that may bother some folks (not myself, personally) is that it does not have that smooth texture that other dairy-based yogurts have (like Activia, for instance). It's a little more 'curdish' looking but I found it to be great! I'd definitely buy this again by virtue of its great taste AND nutritional info (details below).

Where to buy: Fortinos

Ingredients: filtered water, almonds, fruit juice concentrate (peace, pineapple), blueberries, rice starch, locust bean gum, pectin, tapioca, natural flavour, elderberry, juice concentrate (for colour), tricalcium phosphate, citric acid, 6 bacterial cultures.

Nutritional Info:

Serving size: 170g (6oz)

Calories: 150

Sodium: 10mg

Fat: 6g

     Saturated fat: .5g

     Trans fat: 0g

Cholesterol: 0mg

Carbohydrates: 23g

Fiber: 2g

Protein: 3g

Sugars: 15g

Calcium: 30%

Amande is:

• Vegan and dairy free
• Fruit juice sweetened with peach and pineapple juice
• Gluten free
• Soy free
• Certified NON-GMO
• Six live cultures that are grown in a non-dairy medium
• Certified Kosher
• Family-owned and operated

Holy hannah! You can't go wrong with this snack! The flavour is rich and delicious, the calories are just right, AND it's super wholesome. I like it especially for the 30% calcium, since I struggle to meet my calcium needs *every* day (usually I have to rely on supplement capsules).

I can't wait to try the other flavours and I'll definitely be buying these in the future (from Fortinos). I would totally make these a regular fridge item.

Other flavours (all vegan):

• Strawberry
• Coconut
• Cherry
• Peach
• Raspberry
• Vanilla
• Plain

Brand:

• Vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free
• Non-GMO
• Fruit juice sweetened
• Soy-free
• Six live cultures that are grown in a non-dairy medium
• Certified kosher
• Family-owned and operated

Review of 'Mary's Organic Crackers' Sticks & Twigs Sea Salt and Black Pepper Crackers

Mary's Organic Crackers -- Sticks & Twigs (Sea Salt) (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: these are totally fresh, crispy, and worth every penny.  You can really taste the sesame seeds, which adds to the flavour spectrum, and the texture is complex and so so crispy.

Where to buy: Fortinos, Loblaw, Costco

Coupon: http://print.coupons.com/Couponweb/Offers.aspx?pid=15046&nid=10&zid=uw18 (sign up is well worth it -- coupons available for many great organic brands)


Ingredients: Organic short grain brown rice, Organic whole quinoa, Organic brown flax seeds, Organic brown sesame seeds, Organic whole sea salt, Organic chia seeds, Organic wheat-free tamari (water, whole soybeans, sea salt, organic alcohol or organic vinegar).
Contains: soy & sesame

Nutritional Facts:
Serving: 15 pieces
Calories: 150
Fat: 5g
     Saturated fat: .5g
     Trans fat: 0g
Polyunsaturated: 2.5g
Monounsaturated: 1.5g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 300mg
Potassium: 160mg
Carbohydrates: 21g
     Fiber: 4g
     Sugars: 0g
Protein: 4g
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 8%

With wholesome ingredients, these are a totally guilt-free and nutritious snack. I love that it has 4g protein AND fiber. Add to that 0g sugar and you really can't go wrong.

I honestly didn't think these would be so good when I got them (from Fortinos), but they definitely delivered. My mom and brother, who are usually not very big fans of healthier snacks (they prefer lays, pringles, candy bars, and the like), were raving about them.

The flavour is light but present and the sea salt is perfectly distributely for optimal tastiness. The texture is probably the best part...it is soooo crunchy and fresh and you get little bits of graininess packed with flavour. I could finish an entire bag on my own and I will definitely buy these again.

NOTE: I don't think they carry the Sticks and Twigs (Sea Salt) any longer. I think the closest product would be the Sea Salt Pretzel Sticks.

Other flavours (all vegan):

• Chipotle Tomato
• Curry

Mary's Organic Crackers -- Black Pepper Crackers (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: not as yummy as the Sticks & Twigs Pretzels, but great for cheeses (emmental would be great, I think), spreads, or whatever your topping of preference may be. These were spectacularly fresh and stayed crispy for  weeks in the box. The flavour is great but the black pepper could have been a bit more intense.

Ingredients: Organic Short Grain Brown Rice, Organic Whole Quinoa, Organic Brown Flax Seeds, Organic Brown Sesame Seeds, Filtered Water, Organic Black Pepper, Sea Salt, Organic Wheat-Free Tamari (Water, Whole Organic Soybeans, Salt, Organic Alcohol).
Contains Soy.

Nutritional Information:
Serving size: 13 crackers
Calories: 140
Total fat: 5g
     Saturated fat: .5g
     Polyunsaturated fat: 2.5g
     Monounsaturated fat: 1.5g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 180mg
Potassium: 160mg
Total Carbohydrates: 21g
     Dietary Fiber: 3g
     Sugars: 0g
Protein: 3g
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 6%

Like the Pretzels, the texture of the crackers is so complex by virtue of the brown rice, quinoa, flax seeds, and sesame seeds. The pepper is definitely there, but very slight and without the heat that true pepper lovers would enjoy.

I love this brand (you can find these crackers are Fortinos). It's ingredients are organic, non-GMO, vegan, dairy free, wheat free, gluten free, whole grain, kosher, non-hydrogenated, and without trans-fats.

These crackers would be great with soup!

Other flavours (all vegan):

• Original Seed Cracker (reviewed here)
• Caraway
• Herb
• Onion

Brand (quoted from marysorganiccrackers.com):

• "We add no sweeteners to our crackers or our Sticks & Twigs."
• "Our love Cookies contain organic coconut palm sugar and organic tapioca syrup, both low glycemic sweeteners. The Ginger Snaps also have some molasses. The only cane sugar in the cookies is in the organic chocolate chips we use."
• Certificate of Organic Operation
• Non-GMO 
• "We use only organic ingredients—which heal our consumers, the farmers who grow our ingredients, and the land from which our ingredients come."
• "Whenever possible, we work with purchasers who pay a fair wage to producers, support women, and help maintain vibrant local communities."
• "We use local suppliers whenever feasible—including our rice, which we buy from a family of organic rice farmers 50 miles from our manufacturing plant."
• "We use low glycemic, whole food palm sugar harvested from the sweet nectar of the coconut palm flower, which doesn’t require cutting down trees and helps maintain a vibrant agroecosystem."
• "We use only recycled paper and soy-based ink for our packaging."
• "We are working with organizations like the Celiac Disease Foundation to educate people regarding the symptoms of celiac disease and how to take care of our bodies when we have this autoimmune disorder, which keeps the body from digesting gluten."

Review of So Delicious' Purely Decadent 'Chocolate Obsession' and Tofutti's 'Chocolate Supreme'

So Delicious' Purely Decadent 'Chocolate Obsession' (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: rich, intensely sweet and thick-flavoured. This delivers! I still prefer the Praline Pecan flavour (reviewed here) in the Purely Decadent line, but this is definitely a something I would buy again. I docked it .5 points simply because the bits of chocolate in the dessert were a little too sharp and crunchy in contrast to the soft and creamy nature of the 'ice cream.'

Where to buy: Freshco, Fortino's, US store finder

Coupon: http://www.sodeliciousdairyfree.com/ (click the blue circle on the right hand side)  


Ingredients: Filtered Water, Organic Soymilk (Filtered Water, Organic Soybeans), Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Chocolate Flake (Sugar, Coconut Oil, Cocoa Processed with Alkali , Chocolate Liquor, Soya Lecithin and Vanilla), Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Chocolate Sauce (Sugar, Water, Cocoa Processed with Alkali , Tapioca Starch, Natural Flavors, Chocolate Liquor), Organic Safflower Oil, Cocoa Processed with Alkali , Tapioca Starch, Natural Flavors, Chocolate Liquor), Organic Safflower Oil, Cocoa Processed with Alkali , Chicory Root Extract, Vanilla Extract, Carob Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Algin (Kelp Extract), Carrageenan, Yucca, Natural Flavor, Potato Sugar.

Nutrition:
Serving: 1/2 cup
Calories: 210
Calories from fat: 80
Total fat: 7g
     Saturated fat: 3g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0g
Sodium: 30mg
Total Carbohydrates: 27g
     Dietary fiber: 5g
     Sugar: 20g 
Protein: 2g
Iron: 2%

So I found this dessert quite good and it seems like the Purely Delicious line may be my favourite so far (out of the three brands I've reviewed so far, including Natura and Tofutti). I did really enjoy the Chocolate Obsession flavour--it was up to my sweet standards and packed with chocolatey goodness...but I wish wish wish they would have added chunks of soft brownies to add chewiness rather than added the bits of sharply cut pieces of chocolate. It was kinda like the chopped up a dark chocolate bar and threw in the pieces...not too impressed with that. Like the Purely Decadent Praline Pecan, the texture was spot on--soft at the scoop and creamy!

I enjoyed this dessert with Newton's Fruit Thins (really good, by the way). I would probably buy this again *IF* they ran out of the Praline Pecan flavour heehee. I bought this at Fortinos (my absolute favourite grocery store for selection AND the fact that they accept online coupons, hassle-free!).

Other flavours:

• Cookie Avalanche 
• Cookie Dough -- Gluten Free
• Mint Chip (reviewed here)
• Mocha Almond Fudge
• Peanut Butter Zig Zag
• Pomegranate Chip
• Praline Pecan (reviewed here)
• Turtle Trails

Brand (quoted from purelydecadent.com):

• None of the containers and lids that our products are packaged in contain Bisphenol-A (BPA's)
• All of our coconut based products are Non-GMO certified by the NonGmo Project. For more information, go to www.NonGMOProject.org. All of our other products are internally verified to be GMO free.
• None of our products contain MSG, yeast, yeast extract, or autolyzed yeast.
• The natural flavors in our products are flavor analogs that come from botanicals and extracts from natural sources. Care is taken to utilize components from the original substrate when possible.
• None of our products contain the food preservative, TBHQ, either as direct ingredients or sub- ingredients.
• None of our products contain the food preservative, BHT, either as direct ingredients or sub-ingredients.
• None of our products contain the food preservative, BHA, either as direct ingredients or sub-ingredients.
• Some of our products contain flavors which include of a small amount of ethyl alcohol as a carrier. The amount of ethanol in these products is so small that there is no physiological impact. There is no gluten in the alcohol.

Tofutti's Chocolate Supreme (vegan)
Overall Rating: 2/5
Summary: I was pretty disappointed with this flavour. It wasn't as good as the Better Pecan (reviewed here) that I had a few weeks back. There were no add-ons (alas, no bits of chocolate or chunks of brownie), the flavour just wasn't sweet, rich and intense enough, and the ingredients are not so great.
Where to buy: Metro



Ingredients: water, sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, corn oil, soy protein, tofu, cocoa butter, cocoa processed with alkali, vanilla flavour, chocolate extract, natural flavours, guar, locust bean and cellulose gums, carrageenan, salt, veg. mono and diglycerides, and sodium phosphate.

Nutritional information:
Serving: 1/2 cup
Calories: 180
Calories from fat: 99
Total fat: 11g
     Saturated fat: 2g
     Trans fat: 0g
Total carbohydrates: 18g
     Sugars: 8g
Protein: 3g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 180mg    

So this was a bust for the most part (especially after just having indulged in the Purely Decadent 'Chocolate Obsession' just the day before--sharp contrast!!). It is definitely not a dessert I'd buy again unless I was desperately seeking sugar fulfilment and lacking vegan options at the grocery store. I was disappointed mostly because I knew it was the unhealthier frozen dessert option so I kinda hoped it would be reaaallly yummy to balance my guilt.

There were no fun add-ins, so I crumbled up some Mary's Gone Crackers Chocolate Chip Cookies to make up for this (oh gosh, they're yummy!). These cookies solved the 'add-ins problem' but didn't solve my disappointment over the lack of richness and sweetness. There was just not a clear depth of chocolate flavour as there was in the Chocolate Obsession. The texture made the grade--it was soft and easy to scoop and sufficiently creamy and not at all icy.

Other flavours (all vegan):

• Vanilla
• Better Pecan (reviewed here)
• Wild Berry Supreme 
• Vanilla Almond Bark 
• Vanilla Fudge 
• Chocolate Cookie Crunch

Brand (quoted from tofutti.com):

• "All of our products use non-GMO soy protein. In addition, if available, we use other non-GMO ingredients, such as our tofu powder and maltodextrin."