Saturday, 11 May 2013

Review of 'Larabar' Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip

Larabar -- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip (vegan, gluten-free)
Overall Rating: 5/5
Summary:  Super sweet, cookie texture. Super peanut buttery. Lotttsss of chocolate chips. If you're down with nuttyness and chocolate (oh, what a pair!), you won't go wrong with this. And the ingredients are just flawless. Also, there's a very slight hint of bitterness of the chocolate chips which adds a depth of flavour that's just perfection.

Where to buy: Costco, Bulk Barn

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip

Ingredients: dates, peanuts, chocolate chips, sea salt.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 220
     Calories from fat: 110
Fat: 11g
     Saturated fat: 3g
     Trans fat: 0g
     Monounsat.: 5g
     Polyunsat.: 2g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 60mg
Potassium: 300mg
Total Carb.: 26g
     Fiber: 3g
     Sugars: 19g
Protein: 6g
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 6%

Four ingredients and Fair Trade chocolate :) At 220 cals, the nutritional profile is totally worth it! It's high in healthy fats (awesome), low in sodium, and has a good amount of fiber and protein for a snack. These bars are very filling and heavy and my go-to snack at work.

I highly recommend this brand and this particular flavour. They are an expensive bar, admittedly, but if you can afford these, they're definitely the way to go if you're considerate of health and diet.

Other flavours (all vegan):
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.
Posted by at No comments:

Review of 'Toufayan' Plain Bagel

Toufayan -- Plain Bagel
Overall Rating: 1.5/5
Summary: a heavy bagel that's pretty tasty, but with a slight background taste that I didn't care for. I'm not sure what it is. I had it untoasted to test the versatility. It has a soft outer and a nice chew to it, because of the large size. Because it's  plain, it pretty much will pair well with everything. Because of the crazy high sodium and the brand great (no transparent website with nutritional info), nor are the ingredients impressive (e.g. enriched flour, preservatives linked to stomach ulcers, behavioural changes, headaches).

Where to buy: U.S. grocery stores (Florida, Maryland)



Ingredients: enriched wheat flour (contains niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate [vitamin B1], riboflavin [vitamin B2], folic acid, water, sugar, salt, malted barley flour, cornmeal, yeast, mono- and diglycerides, preservatives (calcium propionate, potassium sorbate), guar gum, molasses, corn syrup solids, ammonium chloride, ascorbic acid, soybean oil, L-cysteine, azodicarbonamide (ADA).

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 bagel
Calories: 240
     Calories from fat: 10
Total Fat: 1g
     Saturated: 0g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 425mg
Total Carbohydrate: 53g
     Dietary fiber: 2g
     Sugars: 5g
Protein: 8g
Calcium: 6%
Iron: 16%

Well, I can't get on board with these ingredients at all. Just click the links to find out more information about the links to health issues.

The nutritional profile is just okay. It's nothing to get excited about. It's 240 calories, so it should have a better profile in my opinion. It's low in fat, but so high in sodium for just 1 bagel. It doesn't have as much fiber as I normally look for (probably because of the refined white flour). The only good thing is the 8g of protein and 16% iron.

I definitely can't recommend this brand or this product. Try to opt instead for 'whole grain wheat' when you're buying your baked goods. And, of course, try to stay away from all those preservatives, even if it may mean storing the bread in the fridge (which doesn't compromise the taste or texture for most breads if you're toasting).

Other Bagel flavours:
  • Everything (reviewed here)
  • Whole Wheat
  • Cinnamon Raisin
  • Smart Bagels
  • Single Bagels
  • Mini Bagels
Brand:
  • Uses enriched flour, meaning its refined (been stripped of natural nutrients)
  • All of Toufayan products are Kosher Parve or Dairy
  • Does not list nutritional information online
  • Does not mention GMO status online
Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, 9 May 2013

Review of 'Archer Farms' Pomegranate Fruit Strips

Archer Farms' Pomegranate Fruit Strips (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: I really liked that these weren't sticky, like many fruit strip snacks. Most other brands tend to stick to my teeth. This one tasted fresher as well...very light. It's sweet and mildly tart at the same time. I really enjoyed these and I'm going to recommend them! Archer Farms Simply Balanced is a Target brand.

Where to buy: Target



Ingredients: Organic Apple Puree Concentrate, Organic Apple Juice Concentrate, Organic Pomegranate Juice Concentrate, Natural Flavor, Citrus Pectin, Vegetable And Fruit Juice (Carrot, Blueberry) for color, Organic Lemon Juice Concentrate.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 strip
Calories: 45
Total Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 5mg
Potassium: 85mg
Total Carbs.: 11g
     Dietary fiber: 1g
     Sugars: 9g
Protein: 1g
Vitamin C: 10%

Great ingredients (organic!) and a pretty good nutritional profile as well--it's super low-calorie and has 1g of fiber and 10% vitamin. Now this is something I'd be happy recommending, especially if you're looking for snack ideas that would appeal to kids.

Other Fruit Strip flavours:
  • Strawberry
  • Wild Berry
  • Raspberry
  • Apricot
  • Strawberry Banana.
Brand:
  • No Artificial Colors, No Artificial Flavors, No Preservatives
  • No Sugar Added, Fat Free, Cholesterol Free
  • USDA Organic
Posted by at No comments:

Sunday, 5 May 2013

Review of 'Clif Bar' Crunch Granola Bar (Peanut Butter Flavour)

Clif Bar -- Crunch Granola Bar (Peanut Butter Flavour) (not vegan--honey)
Overall Rating: 5/5
Summary: suuuper delicious...one of my favourite bars. It's very sweet--just how I like it :) It's very light and crunchy and a wee bit messy, so be prepared. I normally opt for chewy bars, simply because I find them tastier (and less mess), but man oh man am I converted. It's very peanut buttery...and I love my nut butters. I highly recommend this bar, but it does contains honey and so it not vegan. Also, I just really like the Clif Bar brand. If you visit the website, you'll find a wealth of information about each product line--a very transparent Company.

Where to buy: Bulk Barn
Clif Crunch All Natural Granola Bars, Peanut Butter - 10 ea
Ingredients: Organic Rolled Oats, Organic Dried Cane Syrup, Organic Sunflower Oil, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Chips (Dried Cane Syrup, Palm Kernel Oil, Peanut Flour, Soy Lecithin), Rice Crisp (Rice Flour, Barley Malt Extract, Dried Cane Syrup, Salt, Calcium Carbonate), Honey, Organic Barley Flakes, Organic Rye Flakes, Roasted Peanut Extract, Oat Bran, Oat Fiber, Sea Salt (Real Salt®), Natural Flavor, Inulin (Chicory Extract).

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 package (2 bars)
Calories: 190
     Calories from Fat: 80
Fat: 9g
     Saturated: 1.5g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0g
Sodium: 120mg
Potassium: 105mg
Carbohydrate: 26g
     Dietary fibre: 3g
     Insoluble fibre: 2g
     Sugars: 10g
Protein: 4g
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 8%

I don't think I've rated very many products a perfect 5/5...I rated this one because the ingredients are all organic, the calories are totally worth the yummy-ness and nutrition. It's high in healthy fats (non-saturated), not too high on sodium, has a good amount of fiber and protein for a snack bar AND holy hannah is it super sweet, super satisfying. If you're a peanut butter lover, please give this a try.

This product...I will consider a sweet treat, not on my regular grocery list--simply because I try to keep my maintain a low sugar intake and this would impact my 'sugar budget' for the week.

Other 'Crunch Granola Bar flavours':
  • Blueberry Crisp (vegan)
  • Chocolate Chip 
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter (vegan)
  • Honey Oat
  • White Chocolate Macadamia (vegan)
Brand:
  • Crunch Granola Bars are made with organic ingredients and whole grains
  • Free of trans fats, hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, artificial preservatives and ingredients sourced from GMOs
  • Kosher Dairy. CLIF CRUNCH does not contain any dairy ingredients; however, it is made on the same line as some other products that contain dairy ingredients. Therefore, CLIF CRUNCH must be labeled as Kosher Dairy.
  • Certified Organic by QAI
  • Member of 1% for the Planet
Posted by at No comments:

Friday, 3 May 2013

Review of 'Kashi' GoLEAN Crunch!

Kashi -- GoLEAN Crunch!
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: there's a crisp *and* crunch! The texture is fantastic, with big clusters of chewy crunchiness. It's medium-sweet and each spoonful is a hearty chew. There's a maply flavour...and a cinnamon flavour. I wouldn't recommend this cereal. The brand (owned by Kellogg) has been against the non-GMO project, so I am definitely not a fan. Also, this specific cereal is *not* non-GMO, so I definitely won't be buying this again.

Where to buy: Fortinos, Shopper's Drug Mart

Hero

Ingredients: seven whole grains and sesame blend (whole: hard red wheat, long grain brown rice, barley, triticale, oats, rye, buckwheat, sesame seeds), brown rice syrup, textured soy protein concentrate, evaporated cane juice crystals, chicory root (inulin), whole grain oats, expeller pressed canola oil, honey, salt, cinnamon, mixed tocopherols (for freshness).

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 cup
Calories: 210
Fat: 3g
     Saturated fat: .4g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 110mg
Potassium: 300mg
Carbohydrates: 41g
     Fibers: 8g
     Sugars: 13g
Protein: 9g
Calcium: 6%
Iron: 15%

I recommend staying away from products that use genetically modified ingredients, like this cereal. Kashi is currently introducing non-GMO products into their line, so if you do like the brand (for whatever reason I can't gather), then you can try Cinnamon Harvest (reviewed here). It is very good!

Other 'GOLEAN® Cold Cereals':
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)
Posted by at No comments:

Review of 'Toufayan' Everything Bagel

Toufayan -- Everything Bagel (vegan)
Overall Rating: 2/5
Summary: great flavour, though there may be a bit too much onionyness for those of you who aren't keen on that flavour. I like the sesame and poppy seeds--they really added to the texture and were probably the best part! Toast it, and the experience is even better. It's a pretty sizable bagel and very filling. I wouldn't recommend it though, simply because the brand isn't all that impressive (not very transparent website with nutritional information), nor are the ingredients (e.g. enriched flour, preservatives linked to stomach ulcers, behavioural changes, headaches).

Where to buy: U.S. grocery stores (Florida, Maryland)



Ingredients: enriched wheat flour (contains niacin, reduced iron, thaimine mononitrate [vitamin B1], riboflavin [vitamin B2], folic acid), water, sugar, wheat gluten, onion, salt, malted barley flour, cornmeal, yeast, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, garlic, mono- and diglycerides, preservatives (calcium propionate, potassium sorbate), guar gum, molasses, maltodextrin, corn syrups solids, ammonium chloride, ascorbic acid, soybean oil, L-cysteine, azodicarbonamide (ADA), algin, soy lecithin, citric acid.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 bagel
Calories: 245
Total Fat: 1.5g
     Saturated: 0g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 395mg
Total Carbohydrate: 51g
     Dietary fiber: 2g
     Sugars: 5g
Protein: 9g
Calcium: 7%
Iron: 17%

Okay, I won't deny that it's a tasty bagel. I don't think I've ever had a bad 'everything' bagel, but this one is pretty good. But listen, there are just too many things wrong with this product for me. I'm talking ingredients here, not nutritional profile. The calories aren't bad because it's a filling meal, especially if paired with some protein (e.g. nut butter, deli slices) and there are 9g of protein. I would prefer more fiber and less sodium, but whatever, it's not like I'll be buying this again, anyway.

Just check out the ingredients and follow the links to see the issues related to each one. I'm not impressed with this brand at all.

Other Bagel flavours:
  • Plain
  • Whole Wheat
  • Cinnamon Raisin
  • Smart Bagels
  • Single Bagels
  • Mini Bagels
Brand:
  • Uses enriched flour, meaning its refined (been stripped of natural nutrients)
  • All of Toufayan products are Kosher Parve or Dairy
  • Does not list nutritional information online
  • Does not mention GMO status online
Posted by at No comments:

Review of 'Larabar' Cashew

Larabar -- Cashew (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: oooh, lightly sweet and has a ton of nuts throughout. So great. It's very fresh and a heavy and filling snack. Surprising, given how modest the bar is in size--must be that fiber and protein. I highly recommend this product.

Where to buy: Fortinos, Costco, Bulk Barn

Cashew Cookie

Ingredients: dates, cashews.

Nutrition Facts*
Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 230
     Fat from calories: 110
Fat: 13g
     Saturated fat: 1.5g
     Trans: 0g
     Monounsat.: 8g
     Polyunsaturated: 2.5g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 5mg
Potassium: 340mg
Total carb.: 23g
     Fiber: 3g
     Sugars: 18g
Protein: 6g
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 10%

*Full nutrition profile here.

Buy itttt! Don't be afraid of the calories, because it's probably one of the healthiest snacks available, in terms of nutrition. It has healthy fats, very low sodium, great protein, and a decent amount of iron and fiber. Go wild. I know I do!

Other flavours (all vegan):
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.
Posted by at No comments:

Review of 'Silk' Original Soymilk

Silk -- Original Soymilk (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: very good--lightly sweet, cool and refreshing. Tastes fresh...I would have originally rated this 4/5, but I realized that it's not labelled 'organic.' I'd recommend Silk's Organic Unsweetened (reviewed here). You can always add your own sweetener (e.g. honey, sugar, syrups). Also note that carrageenan has been linked to cancer in animal studies (here more about it here).

Where to buy: Where to buy: Fortinos, Bulk Bar, Longos

 Silk Original Shelf Stable Soy Beverage

Ingredients: Filtered Water, Natural Whole Soybeans, All Natural Evaporated Cane Juice, Calcium Carbonate, Sea Salt, Natural Flavours, Carrageenan, Vitamin A Palmitate, Zinc Gluconate, Vitamin D2, Riboflavin (B2), Vitamin B12.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 cup
Calories: 100
Fat: 4g
     Saturated: .5g
     Trans: 0g
     Polyunsaturated: 2.5g
          Omega-6: 2g
          Omega-3: .3g
     Monounsaturated: 1g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 120mg
Potassium: 300mg
Carbohydrate: 8g
     Fibre: 1g
     Sugars: 6g
Protein: 6g
Vitamin A: 10%
Calcium: 30%
Iron: 10%

Yeah, so the ingredients are nothing special, really. But the nutritional profile is decent. It's low-calorie, low in saturated fat, and has some good healthy fats. The sodium is a wee bit high for me, but I'm pretty happy with the calcium and protein content.

I probably won't buy this product again. I'd stick to the Organic Unsweetened by Silk...still wary of that carrageenan though, so I'll keep my eyes peeled for alternatives.

Other Soymilk flavours (vegan):
Brand:
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)