Review of 'Stonemill' Golden Flax Bread

Stonemill -- Golden Flax Bread
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: mhmm, this is a savoury bread. I love the added seeds (flax, millet); they really add flavour. There's a hint of sweetness, thanks to the honey and raisin juice concentrate. I love pairing it with any nut butter, especially after a nice crisp toast. I'm not as thrilled with the choice to use "unbleached wheat flour", since it lacks bran and germ and isn't whole grain, so I'd probably not buy this one again. I'll try Stonemill's whole grain breads

Where to buy: Fortinos, Metro, Sobeys, Costco, Wal-Mart, Longos



Ingredients: Unbleached wheat flour, water, whole grains (whole and ground brown flax seeds, organic whole grain rye flour, millet seeds, yellow flax seeds), raisin juice concentrate, apple cider vinegar, yeast, sea salt, corn meal, honey, wheat bran, organic sourdough (organic whole grain rye flour, water, bacterial culture)

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 2 slices
Calories: 140
Fat: 3g
     Saturated: .4g
     Trans: 0g
     Polyunsaturated: 2g
          Omega-6: .7g
          Omega-3: 1.5g
     Monounsaturated: .7g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 180mg
Carbohydrate: 23g
     Fibre: 4g
     Sugars: 2g
Protein: 5g
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 15%

So the ingredients aren't bad. The only bummer is that the first ingredient is not 'whole grains' and is instead 'unbleached wheat flour', which is missing some nutrients that are great for you. Other than that, it's a good bread overall. Just take a look at the nutritional facts: it's low-calorie, low in saturated fat, and has good, healthy fats. I really like that it has a good amount of fiber and protein. I'd recommend this product, though for myself, I'll opt for a whole grain choice next time.

Other 'Omega-3' breads (all vegan):

• Sunflower and Walnut Bread
• Swiss Muesli Bagel

Brand (stonemillbakehouse.com):

• 100% natural ingredients - with no preservatives and additives
•  Baked with 100% Green Power
• 8–point climate solution action plan
• "Stonemill is actively seeking partnerships with Ontario farmers to source locally grown ingredients and to grow grain according to Stonemill specification through low impact and transitional farming."
• "Whenever possible, Stonemill is using raw ingredients that are grown in Ontario."
• "Over the past year Stonemill has reduced its electrical consumption by over 12 per cent."
• "Stonemill’s cleaning products are all phosphate–free.

Review of 'Blue Diamond Almonds' Almond Breeze Chocolate

Almond Breeze -- Chocolate (vegan, gluten free)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: oh wow. This is great. It's super sweet, chocolatey and rich. It makes any cereal taste phenomenal. I can't wait to add it to my chocolate protein powder for an epic chocolate experience. One cup is pretty much the same calorie count as a cup of orange juice and has 30% calcium. Furthermore, the ingredients are simple and clean. I highly recommend this.

Where to buy: Freshco, Fortinos, Sobeys, Bulk Barn



Ingredients: almondmilk (filtered water, almonds), evaporated cane juice, cocoa (dutch process), calcium carbonate, sea salt, potassium citrate, carrageenan, natural flavours, sunflower lecithin, vitamin a palmitate, vitamin d2, d-alpha-tocopherol.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 cup
Calories: 120
     Calories from fat: 25
Total fat: 3g
     Saturated fat: 0g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 150mg
Potassium: 240mg
Total carbohydrate: 22g
     Fiber: 1g
     Sugars: 20g
Protein: 1g
Calcium: 30%
Iron: 6%

Sure, this is high in sugars, but because it's so damn delicious and has 30% calcium, I'd gladly watch my sugar intake for the rest of the day :) I'm happy the I don't have to worry about genetically modified or artificial ingredients.

Check out the Almond Breeze recipe page here.

Other 'Almond Breeze' flavours (all vegan):

• Unsweetened Vanilla Breeze Almondmilk Coconutmilk Blend
• Unsweetened Breeze Almondmilk Coconutmilk Blend 
• Vanilla Breeze Almondmilk Coconutmilk Blend 
• Breeze Almondmilk Coconutmilk Blend
• Original 
• Original - Unsweetened (reviewed here)
• Vanilla (reviewed here)
• Vanilla - Unsweetened
• Chocolate - Unsweetened 

Brand:

• Soy-free
• No MSG
• Non-GMO
• All refrigerated products are kosher
• Gluten-free
• No artificial flavours
• No BPA in packaging
• Almonds are grown by a growers cooperative

Review of 'Soyummi' Non-Dairy Lime-flavourted Whipped Pudding

Soyummi -- Non-Dairy Lime-flavourted Whipped Pudding (vegan, gluten free)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: oh. my. goodness. This really is whipped to a perfect light pudding. It's fluffy, yet dense enough to be a filling snack. I didn't think lime could be so sweet and indulgent. This is fresh, sweet, and just authentically lime. You can tell immediately that the flavour is not artificial.

Where to buy: Metro...or was it Fortinos?



Ingredients: Filtered water, Organic whole soybeans, Beet syrup and/or organic evaporated cane juice, Modified rice starch, Inulin from chicory, Sunflower oil, Lime juice concentrate, Lemon juice concentrate, Agar, Xanthan gum, Locust bean gum, Salt, Natural flavours, Alfalfa extract, Yucca extract.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 100g/1 pudding cup
Calories: 110
Fat: 3g
     Saturated: .4g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 90mg
Carbohydrate: 18g
     Fiber: 2g
     Sugars: 12g
Protein: 2g
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 2%

What I like best about this dessert snack is that it's super low-calorie, even though it's so, so delicious. It's low in saturated fat and has 2g of fiber and protein. I'm definitely going to be buying this dessert again! I'm looking forward to trying the tapioca pudding...haven't had that in quite some time.

Other flavours (all vegan):

• Tapioca
• Rice
• Chocolate
• Cherry

Brand info:

• Owned by Earth's Own Food products
• Natural flavours and colours
• No preservatives
• non-GMO, organic soybeans
• Made by So Nice

Review of 'Kashi' GOLEAN® Cereal Crisp! Cinnamon Crumble

Kash -- GOLEAN® Cereal Crisp! Cinnamon Crumble (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3/5
Summary: sure, it's high in fiber and protein, but it's also kinda high in sugar and isn't *that* great. I am a cinnamon fan, so I did enjoy this cereal. But having said that, I've had better :p The cinnamon flavour was definitely present and the cereal is lightly sweet. There are wheat sticks that soften with milk, which complements the crispy crumbles. I wouldn't buy this cereal again. It's pretty average and the brand (owned by Kellogg) has been against the non-GMO project, so I am definitely not a fan.

Where to buy: Fortinos, Shopper's Drug Mart



Ingredients: whole grain oats, evaporated cane juice crystals, soy protein concentrate, wheat sticks (whole wheat flour, Kashi seven whole grains and sesame flour [whole: oats, hard red wheat, rye, brown rice, triticale, barley, buckwheat, sesame seeds], calcium carbonate), brown rice syrup, chicory root fiber, soy grits, expeller pressed canola oil, yellow corn flour, soy protein isolate, cinnamon, oat fiber, baking soda, natural flavour, evaporated salt, mixed tocopherols for freshness, soy lecithin.

Contains soy and wheat ingredients.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 3/4 cup
Calories: 190
     Calories from fat: 35
Total fat: 4g
     Saturated: .5g
     Trans: 0g
     Polyunsaturated: 1g
     Monounsaturated: 1.5g
Cholesterol: 0g
Sodium: 130mg
Potassium: 190mg
Total carbohydrate: 34g
     Dietary fiber: 9g
     Sugars: 10g
Protein: 10g
Calcium: 8%
Iron: 10%

*Full nutritional profile available here.

Well, if I didn't know that the ingredients contained genetically modified organisms, I would have had only minor issues with the sugar content. However, knowing that this product contains GMOs, I cannot recommend it.

Other 'GOLEAN® Cold Cereals':

• GOLEAN® Cereal Crisp! Toasted Berry Crumble (vegan)
• GOLEAN® Cereal Crunch!
• GOLEAN® Cereal, Crunch! Honey Almond Flax
• GOLEAN® Cereal Original

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).
• Kellogg, which owns Kashi, contributed $600 000 against the non-GMO proposition 37 (read the Huffington Post article here)

Review of 'Earth's Own' Almond on the Go (Original)

Earth's Own -- Almond on the Go (Original) (vegan, gluten free)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: there's a light, very pleasant almondy scent to this beverage. It's lightly sweetened with cane juice and has a really light and refreshing taste. I also tried it in my cereal and...mmm! The texture is smooth and medium-thick. I think it would also work well in baking and smoothies. I'd definitely recommend this and buy it again, myself. This is also a great brand to support, as Earth's own is environmentally aware and involved in community development. Read more in the 'Brand Info' section below.

Where to buy: Fortinos

Ingredients: Almond Base (Filtered Water, Almonds), Evaporated Cane Juice, Tricalcium Phosphate, Canola Oil, Salt, Gellan Gum, Canola Lecithin And/or Sunflower Lecithin, Carrageenan, Natural Flavour, Vitamin A Palmitate, Zinc Gluconate, Riboflavin, Vitamin D2, Vitamin B12. Produced in a facility that also produces soy.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 cup
Calories: 70
Fat: 3g
     Saturated: .2g
     Trans: 0g
     Polyunsaturated: 0.7g
          Omega-6: .6g
          Omega-3: .1g
     Monounsaturated: 2g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 110mg
Potassium: 40mg
Carbohydrate: 8g
     Fiber: 1g
     Sugars: 7g
Protein: 1g
Vitamin A: 10%
Calcium: 30%
Iron: 2%

I really like that there's a nice chunk of vitamin A, which is an important antioxidant for protecting our cells. It's also a great source of calcium and low in calories and fat!

The website has a great recipe section. There are recipes for smoothies (e.g. Peanut-butter banana smoothie), breakfast meals (e.g. Cinnamon-Spiced Almond French Toast with Maple Apples), dinner (e.g. Thai Almond Chicken Curry), soups/sides (e.g. Yammy Mashed Potatoes) and desserts (e.g. Mulled Hot Nutty Chocolate).

Brand info:

• All ingredients are non-GMO
• All natural: no preservatives, artificial ingredients
• Almonds come from California, USA, however Earth's Own is a Canadian company
• Lactose and dairy free
• Certified Kosher
• Fortified
• No BPA in packaging
• #1 non-dairy beverage company in Canada
• First company to introduce a product with omega-3 fats to the dairy shelf
• First company to launch Whole Grain Brown Rice beverages, certified by the Whole Grains Council
• Environmentally-minded
• Participates in BC Hydro’s Power Smart Partners Industrial Program
• Climate Smart certified company
• Supporter of The Heart & Stroke Foundation, The Canadian Diabetes Association, Breakfast for Change, The Vancouver Food Bank, The Surrey Food Bank, Feed the Children, Second Harvest Toronto, Daily Bread Toronto

Review of 'Yves' Breakfast Links

Yves -- Breakfast Links (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3/5
Summary: okay, I'm just not a fan of sweet 'sausages', so the maple flavour was not a hit for me. I like  that they're low fat and packed with protein, but the flavour is just not there for me. The texture wasn't so great either...it was quite soft, light and not at all heavy or meaty. I wouldn't buy this product again.

Where to buy: Fortinos, Freshco

Ingredients: water, soy protein, wheat gluten, soy protein product, natural flavours (contain mustard), canola oil, evaporated cane juice, tapioca starch, maple syrup, yeast extract, salt, seasoning, carrageenan, malt extract, potassium chloride, vitamins and minerals (thiamine hydrochloride, riboflavin, niacinamide, pyridoxine hydrochloride, cyanocobalamin, calcium pantothenate, ferric orthophosphate, zinc oxide, dimagnesium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, wheat starch).

Contains soy, wheat and mustard.

Nutrition Facts:
Calories: 70
Fat: 2g
     Saturated: .2g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 510mg
Potassium: 290mg
Carbohydrate: 4g
     Fibre: 1g
     Sugars: 2g
Protein: 10g
Vitamin C: 4%
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 20%

*Full nutritional profile available here.

Well, this is the issue with Yves: I'm not sure if the ingredients are GMO-free...namely, the canola oil in this product. So, for this reason alone, I wouldn't buy it again. The remaining ingredients are good to go though....except...there's a whole lot of sodium in just two very small breakfast links. I have four as a serving, which adds up to 1020mg of sodium. That's just way too much, given that my recommended intake is about 2500 at the maximum. It does gave a really good amount of protein and iron, but that's just not going to cut it.

Other 'Breakfast' products (vegan):

• Canadian Veggie Bacon
• Veggie Bacon Strips
• Veggie Breakfast Patties

Brand:

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

Review of Amy's Breakfast Burrito

Amy's -- Breakfast Burrito (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: The whole wheat tortilla shell is soft and tender, and crunchy at the ends. It's also packed with stuffing. The flavours are absolutely delicious and complex with spices, onions, and beans. However, I found that the texture was a bit mushy, with most of the stuffing kind of squished together into a mash. The tofu was diced into very small chunks so didn't stand out too much. Texturally speaking, the potatoes probably stood out the most. The beans, garlic, and onions were my favourite flavours. Adding more pepper would have added a nice kick to the burrito.

Where to buy: Fortinos





Ingredients: organic whole wheat & wheat flour, organic tofu (filtered water, organic soybeans, nigari [magnesium chloride, a natural firming agent]), filtered water, organic potatoes, organic black beans, organic onions, organic tomato puree, organic diced tomatoes, expeller pressed high oleic safflower and/or sunflower oil, organic bell peppers, sea salt, organic tapioca starch, organic wheat gluten, organic garlic, spices, cilantro, black pepper, organic jalapeño peppers.

Contains wheat and soy.
94% organic

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 burrito
Calories: 270
     Calories from fat: 70
Total fat: 8g
     Saturated: 1g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 540mg
Carbohydrates: 38g
     Fiber: 6g
     Sugar: 3g
Protein: 12g
Vitamin A: 4%
Vitamin C: 8%
Calcium: 8%
Iron: 10%

Well, you can count on amy's to make a 94% organic product that's super nutritious and filling. I don't think you can really go wrong buying their products. The burrito is low-calorie and high in fiber and protein (12g!). It's low in saturated fat and has *zero* cholesterol. I love that the ingredients are varied--it makes for a really yummy blend.

Other Amy's burritos and wraps:

• Bean and Cheese Burrito
• Bean & Rice Burrito - Non-Dairy (vegan)
• Black Bean Vegetable Burrito (vegan)
• Breakfast Scramble
• Burrito Especial
• Gluten Free Cheddar Burrito
• Gluten Free Indian Aloo Mattar Wrap (vegan)
• Gluten Free Non Dairy Burrito (vegan)
• Gluten Free Teriyaki Wrap (vegan)
• Gluten Free Tofu Scramble Breakfast Wrap (vegan)
• Indian Samosa Wrap (vegan)
• Indian Spinach Tofu Wrap (vegan)
• Light in Sodium Bean and Cheese Burrito
• Light in Sodium Bean and Rice Burrito (vegan)
• Rice and Beans Burrito (vegan)
• Southwestern Burrito
• Teriyaki Wrap (vegan)

Brand (quoted from amys.com):

• Family business since 1987
• "We purchase high quality pastas, grains, beans and hormone free dairy from cows that are pasture raised."
• Local, organic ingredients
• Made from scratch
• "We do not purchase or use any genetically modified or engineered ingredients..."
• No BPA in cans
• No MSG added

Review of 'Clif Bar' Crunchy Peanut Butter

Clif Bar -- Crunchy Peanut Butter (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: I think this is my favourite Clif Bar flavour so far, being a peanut fan and all. It has a strong peanut butter smell and is equally peanut buttery in flavour. It's medium sweet but the deep flavour makes for a perfect bite each time. It's very rich! There are bits of nuts, but I could have used some more. I really enjoyed the sweet and salty, savoury taste. It's nicely soft and tender like most clif bars. This is highly recommended.

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

Ingredients: *brown rice syrup, protein blend (soy rice crisps (soy protein isolate, rice flour, barley malt extract), *soy flour, *roasted soybeans), *rolled oats, *cane syrup, *peanut butter (*peanuts, salt), peanut flour, crunch pieces (apple pomace, *oat fibre, *milled flaxseed, inulin [chicory extract]), *fig paste, peanuts, natural flavours, sea salt, *soybean oil.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 250
Fat: 6g
     Saturated: 1.5g
     Trans: 0g
     Polyunsaturated: 3g
          Linoleic acid: 2g
          n3 Linolenic acid: .5g
     Monounsaturated: 2g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 250mg
Potassium: 440mg
Carbohydrate: 40g
     Fibre: 4g
     Sugars: 18g
Protein: 12g
Vitamin A: 30%
Vitamin C: 90%
Calcium: 25%
Iron: 10%

Given that I haven't had a solid workout in about 3 weeks, I don't really deserve a Clif Bar. I mean, I can't really justify a 250 calorie, 10g protein bar with such an inactive period as this...so I'm just gonna call it a 'treat' and be done with it. It was delicious!

Other Clif Bar flavours (all vegan, baby):

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

Restaurant Review: Hero Burger

Hero Burger
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: clean, new and nicely decorated, "fast food+" (better ingredients, more variety of ingredients than your average fast food joint), very pleasant staff, *huge* selection of fountain drinks, no greasiness detected, and fresh, yummy personalized burgers! What's even better, Hero Burger is committed to environmental sustainability and is actively involved in community organizations and events (see impressive details below). I really like how transparent Hero Burger is. That is, you can find details on the ingredients of the products, even the beef patty itself. I'll definitely be going here again. Finally, a guilt-free restaurant to satisfy my semi-vegan/vegan[light] lifestyle.

Menu
Price: roughly $10-12/combo
Location: 17 Ray Lawson Blvd, Unit 17, Brampton, ON, L6Y 5L8

Contact: 905-230-8155

 

Order:
6oz Hero Burger with a multigrain flatbread (I opted for guacamole, lettuce, tomatoes, and red onions)
     They also offer a gluten-free bun!
     So a 6oz patty is an average size patty and it was very filling :) I really enjoyed the guacamole!
     The burger was very juicy and tender. It was nicely seasoned and not at all greasy.
     The best part: I did *not* feel heavy, bloated, or lethargic afterward!


Sweet Potato Fries: these were average. I think my mother's sweet potato fries (she bakes them, actually) are my favourite. I prefer them not salted, personally. Thankfully, these were not at all salty. They were medium-crispy and nice and soft on the inside, however some fries seemed a bit too mushy on the inside for my liking.

Coca Cola Orange: umm, I usually don't indulge in sodas. In fact, it's probably been years. I just had a few sips of this and...wow. It's like a creamy orange shake, but carbonated. It was truly delicious. It just needed to be colder, but...dang, I wish it weren't so yummy!
 
Restaurant Details (quoted from heroburgers.com):

• 100% Heritage Angus Beef (produced by a small group of ranchers in Western Canada)
• Contains no additives or preservatives
• Raised Free Range
• Observes strict adherence to eliminating growth hormones,
  steroids or antibiotics
• Graze on the finest grasses, fodder and select feeds with
  no animal by-products
• Fully traceable from pasture to plate
• Guaranteed to be of authentic Angus descent
• Reared using sustainable environmental stewardship
• All Beef Burgers are Certified Halal. Click to learn more.
•  ..."sustainably raised with care for both the livestock and land being in the forefront of their production practices."
• Produced by GreenDustries Packaging and endorsed by Dogwood Alliance, Hero Certified Burgers uses the PleatPak™ for their hamburgers and the Magic Bag™ for their fries 
• The paper is made from 100% post-industrial/post-consumer recycled paper and uses 35% to 70% less paper per piece than traditional forms of fast food packaging.
•  Food Sponsor for MultiSport Canada
•  Fundraiser for SickKids Foundation
• Sponsor for Toronto Distress Centres
• Supporter of ALS Canada
• Supporter of Breakfast Clubs of Canada and Agribusiness

Review of 'Sol Cuisine' Organic Tofu (Firm)

Sol Cuisine -- Organic Tofu (Firm) (vegan, gluten-free)
Overall rating: 4.5/5
Summary: great texture, organic, non-GMO ingredients, and freshness make for a versatile product! We used it in stir-fry and it added a wonderful texture to the rice and veggies. It's perfectly firm and is so easily spiced up with any of your favourite herbs and spices. It's very low-calorie and high-nutrient, so I really prefer buying plain tofu versus processed vegan products (e.g. Tofurky, Gardein). I try to have the latter less regularly mainly because of the high sodium content, calories, sugars, etc.

Where to buy: Fortinos, Loblaw



Ingredients: filtered water, organic Canadian soybeans, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride.

Certified Organic by Pro-Cert Organic

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 75g
Calories: 100
Fat: 5g
     Saturated: 1g
     Trans: 0g
     Polyunsaturated: 3g
          Omega-6: 2.5g
          Omega-3: .4g
     Monounsaturated: 1g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 0mg
Potassium: 90mg
Carbohydrate: 3g
     Fiber: 1g
     Sugars: 0g
Protein: 10g
Calcium: 8%

This is a very clean product! The ingredients are great and the profile shows this off: no sugars, low in saturated fat, a good source of healthy fats, and 10g of protein! I'm thrilled with this tofu and will be buying it again.

Check out the tofu recipes offered on the website. Some include: The Ultimate Tom Yum Soup, Tofu Stir-Fry with Robbie’s Pineapple Ginger Zip Sauce, and Immunity Boosting Honey Glazed Tofu with Pumpkin Goji Quinoa. There are many more delicious recipes!

Other refrigerated products (all vegan):

• Herb Tofu
• Sesame Ginger Tofu
• Organic BBQ Tofu Ribs
• Organic Veggie Crumbles

Brand:

• Since 1980
• Certified Organic
• Kosher
• Halal
• GMO-free
• 2010 LIVERight winner

Review of 'Florida's Natural' Sour Nuggets (Strawberry, Green Apple)

Florida's Natural -- Sour Nuggets (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: these nuggets have a great, authentic fruity flavour. It's the best fruit-flavoured candy gummies I've ever had. There's nothing artificial-tasting about them.They're perfectly sweet and sour. Sure, this snack does supply 100% vitamin C, but it is 130 calories of mostly sugars, so I'm probably better off eating an orange :/ Oh well, it was a really satisfying treat and a relatively good option for your childrens' snacks (e.g. much better than brands like Maynard's Swedish Berries with corn syrup, modified ingredients, more sugars, artificial ingredients, etc.)

Where to buy: Sears Outlet (295 Queen Street East, Brampton)

Ingredients: made with 64% fruit ingredients (concetrated fruit purees (pear, apple), concentrated fruit juices (pear, strawberry, blueberry, apple, ascorbic acid [vitamin C])), cane sugar, tapioca starch, rice syrup, dextrose, citric acid (for tartness), tartaric acid, malic acid, natural flavours (strawberry, apple), sodium citrate, pectin, colours (purple carrot extract, turmeric).

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 pouch (43g)
Calories: 130
Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 25mg
Carbohydrate: 33g
     Fibre: 1g
     Sugars: 26g
Protein : 0g
Vitamin C: 100%

Brand:

• High in natural fruit content and vitamins
• Gluten free
• Gelatin free 
• Fat free
• Participates in 'Candies for Cause' with the Wildlife Conservation Society to help save wildlife and wild places
• GMO position not specified on website

Review of 'Natura' Enriched Rice Beverage (Vanilla)

Natura -- Enriched Rice Beverage (Vanilla) (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: mm! The vanilla force is strong with this one. It's cool, perfectly sweet and light, and refreshing. It has a creamy taste to it and pairs really well with dessert foods and cereals. I love that there's no added sugars, yet it's sweet! Even though it isn't the best in coffees/teas as a creamer, it's so yummy and nutritious, so I'd consider buying it again.

Where to buy: Fortino, Bulk Barn



Ingredients: FILTERED WATER, ORGANIC BROWN RICE, ORGANIC CANOLA OIL, NATURAL VANILLA FLAVOUR, TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, SEA SALT,VITAMIN A PALMITATE, VITAMIN B2 (RIBOFLAVIN), VITAMIN D2, VITAMIN B12, ZINC GLUCONATE, AMYLASE (ENZYME).

Nutrition Facts *
Serving size: 1 cup
Calories: 130
Fat: 2g
     Saturated: 0g
     Trans: 0g
     Polyunsaturated: 1g
          Omega-6: .4g
          Omega-3: .2g
     Monounsaturated: 1g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 70mg          
Potassium: 0mg
Carbohydrate: 26g
     Fibre: 0g
     Sugars: 10g
Protein: 1g
Vitamin A: 10%
Calcium: 30%
*Full nutritional profile available here.

The Natura brand is great for wholesome and pure ingredients (organic, non-GMO). This beverage is a source of healthy fats, is low in sodium, and has no sugar added. I really appreciate the 10% vitamin A and calcium (the two that I'm normally lacking).

Check out the suggested recipes for this product: Natur-A- Shake, Spiced Rice Pudding, and Eggless Natur-A Nog.

Other 'Enrcihed Rice Beverages':

• Original

Brand:

• All products are certified organic, kosher, and vegan
• Organic, non-GMO soybeans
• Soybeans are grown in Quebec by certified organic farms
• Gluten-free