Review of 'Kraft' All Natural Crunchy Peanut Butter

Kraft -- All Natural Crunchy Peanut Butter (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: love the crunchy peanut butters! I have this in the mornings with Mary's Original Seed Crackers and I love it. It's creamy, yet crunchy with fresh, rich peanut butter flavour. The ingredients and nutrition are good, but the brand...not so great, at least as recent as 2014. I would prefer to try MaraNatha's No Stir Organic Peanut Butter, which I am to try very soon!

Where to buy: Fortinos, Sobeys, Metro



Ingredients: 100% SELECT ROASTED PEANUTS.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 tbsp
Calories: 90
Fat: 7g
     Saturated fat: 1g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 0mg
Carbohydrate: 3g
     Fiber: 1g
     Sugars: 1g
Protein: 4g
Iron: 2%

Well, I sure can't argue with the ingredients or nutritional profile...simple and wholesome. The fats are healthy and there's a nice dose of protein. The only issue is the brand, which I wouldn't recommend. I wouldn't personally buy this product again.

Other Peanut Butter products:

• Smooth Peanut Butter
• Smooth Light Peanut Butter
• Crunchy Peanut Butter
• Crunchy Light Peanut Butter
• Extra Creamy Peanut Butter
• Unsweetened/Unsalted Peanut Butter
• Whipped Peanut Butter
• All Natural Peanut Butter

Brand:

• Some products contain GMO ingredients (more information here)
• Class action lawsuit filed against Kraft  by employees resulted in a settlement (read 2012 article here)
• 2007: sued for falsely labelling Capri Sun as 'All Natural' (read article here)
• 2011: class action lawsuit filed against Kraft's pollution in Attica (read article here)
• 2014: lawsuit against Kraft on inappropriate labelling (read article here)
• There are more lawsuits, though too many to list here! You get the picture...
• Work with American Red Cross for humanitarian efforts

Review of 'Worthington Loma Linda' Cutlets Choplets

Worthington Loma Linda -- Cutlets (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3/5
Summary: this is decent. I used these choplets as a substitute for burger patties and it worked pretty well. It's thick like a patty, but the texture is not authentically meaty; it's very simple rather than complex. There's a slight rubberiness, which I actually enjoyed. There's no special seasoning, but it's tasty, albeit a bit salty. I didn't actually try it with the broth, since I used it as a patty, so not sure if it would have been better. I wouldn't recommend this product because of the ingredients that aren't so fantastic (see below).

Where to buy: US store locator


Ingredients: Textured vegetable protein (wheat gluten, soy protein concentrate) and caramel color.

Broth: Water, hydrolyzed soy, corn, and wheat protein, autolyzed yeast extract, and salt. Contains 2% or less of dextrose, natural flavors from non-meat sources, caramel color, and corn oil.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 2 slices
Calories: 90
     Calories from fat: 10
Total fat: 1g
     Saturated fat: 0g
     Trans fat: 0g
     Polyunsaturated fat: .5g
     Monounsaturated fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 500mg
Potassium: 40mg
Total carbohydrate: 4g
     Dietary fiber: 2g
     Sugars: 0g
Protein: 18g
Iron: 2%

The soy ingredients are not identified as organic or sustainably sourced, so there is a risk that they are from sources that contribute to tropical deforestation and climate change. The caramel colour is linked to harmful effects on health. The corn ingredients aren't labelled non-GMO.

The nutritional profile is much nicer than the ingredients. It's super low-calorie, super low in fat, and is packed with protein. The major downside is the high sodium.

Other Worthington Loma Linda canned products:

•    Loma Linda Redi-Burger™ (vegan) (reviewed here)

•    Loma Linda® Big Franks (vegan)

•    Loma Linda® Fried Chik’n with Gravy

•    Loma Linda® Linketts™ (vegan)

•    Loma Linda® Little Links (vegan) 

•    Loma Linda® Low Fat Big Franks (vegan)

•    Loma Linda® Swiss Stake with Gravy

•    Loma Linda® Tender Bits (vegan)

•    Loma Linda® Tender Rounds™ with Gravy

•    Loma Linda® Vege-Burger® (vegan)

•    Worthington® Chili (vegan)

•    Worthington® Diced Chik

•    Worthington® FriChik™

•    Worthington® Low Fat FriChik™

•    Worthington® Low Fat Veja-Links™

•    Worthington® Multi-Grain Cutlets® (vegan)

•    Worthington® Prime Stakes™

•    Worthington® Saucettes®

•    Worthington® Super-Links™

•    Worthington® Vegetable Steaks™ (vegan)

•    Worthington® Vegetarian Burger (vegan)

•    Worthington® Veja-Links™

Brand:

• 1939, founded by psychiatrist Dr. George Harding
• May contain GMOs

Review of belVita Crunchy Breakfast Biscuits -- Chocolate

belVita Crunchy Breakfast Biscuits -- Chocolate (vegan)
Overall rating: 3/5
Summary: these are super chocolatey and medium sweet! They are crunchy and are thin but pretty filling biscuits. Save for the enriched flour (not as nutritous as all whole grain) and non-specified GMO status of the canola oil, the ingredients are quite good. Although it's quite good, I wouldn't buy it again, simply because the brand isn't so ambitious with giving back, social or environmental initiatives (which is really the name of the game when it comes to competitive advantage for me).

Where to buy: Walmart, Target



Ingredients: WHOLE GRAIN WHEAT FLOUR, ENRICHED FLOUR [WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE (VITAMIN B1), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), FOLIC ACID], SUGAR, HIGH OLEIC CANOLA OIL, WHOLE GRAIN ROLLED OATS, SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE (SUGAR, CHOCOLATE, DEXTROSE, COCOA BUTTER, SOI LECITHIN, VANILLA EXTRACT), WHOLE GRAIN RYE FLOUR, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, BAKING SODA, DISODIUM PYROPHOSPHATE, SALT, SOY LECITHIN, NATURAL FLAVOR, DATEM, FERRIC ORTHOPHOSPHATE (IRON), NIACINAMIDE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCLORIDE (VITAMIN B6), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), THIAMIN MONONITRATE (B1).

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 pack
Calories: 230
     Calories from fat: 70
Total fat: 8g
     Sat Fat: 1.5g
     Trans Fat: 0g
     Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.5g
     Monounsaturated Fat: 4.5g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 220mg
Potassium: 190mg
Total Carbohydrates: 35g
     Dietary fiber: 3g
     Sugars: 11g
Protein: 4g
Iron: 10%

The ingredients are okay...would prefer all whole grains and non-GMO canola oil though. The calories are a bit high for the fiber and protein count, but it does have healthy fats and is quite filling.

Other belVita crunchy flavours (all vegan):

• Cinnamon Brown Sugar (reviewed here)
• Golden Oat (reviewed here)
• Blueberry (reviewed here)
• Apple Cinnamon (reviewed here)

Brand:

• Nationwide voluntary recall by Mondelez Global LLC, East Hanover, NJ of belVita Breakfast Biscuit products, apple cinnamon and chocolate varieties. The recall was issued due to the possible presence of fragments of flexible metal mesh caused by a faulty screen at the company's facility (read here)

Review of 'Taste of Nature' Organic Snack Bar (Nova Scotia Blueberry Fields)

Taste of Nature -- Organic Snack Bar (Nova Scotia Blueberry Fields) (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3/5
Summary: This is a decent bar with lots of tart berries, however!! I personally prefer sweeter vs tarter bars; the rice crisps make for a very nice texture, as do the crunchy nuts...I did find at least 2 instances where I encountered some stale nuts...not fun. The nutritional profile is great and the brand is quite impressive (see brand info below).

Where to buy: Shopper's Drug Mart, Fortinos, Bulk Barn, Costco, Highland Farms, Metro, Wal-Mart, Wanigan



Ingredients: agave nectar*, almonds*, peanuts*, whole grain brown rice crisps*, blueberries*, brown rice syrup*, cranberries* (cranberries*, apple juice concentrate*, sunflower oil*), pumpkin seeds*, flax seeds*, sunflower oil blend* (sunflower oil*, mixed tocopherols, rosemary extract*), raspberries*, blueberry flavour, agar.

* Certified Organic. May contain sesame, tree nuts, and soy.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 150
     Calories from fat: 90
Total fat: 10g
     Saturated fat: 1g
     Trans fat: 0g
Omega-6: .5g
Omega-3: 2g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 5mg
Carbohydrate: 20g
     Fiber: 4g
     Sugars: 9g
Protein: 5g
Vitamin C: 4%
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 8%

I love the ingredients! They are mostly organic and simple and wholesome. The nutritional profile is great! It's low-calorie, high in healthy fats, low in sodium, and has a solid amount of fiber and protein.

Other 'Organic Bars' Varieties (all vegan):

• Argentina Peanut Plains
• Brazilian Nut Fiesta
• California Almond Valley
• Niagara Apple Country (reviewed here)
• Quebec Cranberry Carnival (reviewed here)

Brand:

• Certified Gluten Free
• Certified Vegan
• Eco Cert
• Non-GMO Certified
• Nothing artificial, no fillers and no chemicals 
• Organic ingredients are supplied through a network of family farms and businesses
• Bars are made in facility in Markham, Ontario, Canada
• Green business practices in manufacturing, packaging and shipping
• Sources Bullfrog green power for processing products
• Recycle food waste to farms for use as animal feed
• Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence
• Alive Awards of Excellence
• LIVERight Award
• No additives/artificial flavours/artificial sweeteners/animal products/dairy/preservatives/simple sugars/Sulphur Dioxide/cholesterol/wheat/gluten; low sodium

Review of 'KIND' -- Almond & Coconut

KIND -- Almond & Coconut (not vegan)
Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: this was quite nice, though it had maybe a tad too many coconut shavings for me, as they were slightly drier than I'd like. There were lots of whole almonds and it's a very sweet, crispy, crunchy bar! Made for a nice mid-morning snack and was quite filling.

Where to buy: Bulk Barn, Pharma Plus, Fortinos



Ingredients: Almonds, coconut, honey, non GMO glucose, crisp rice, chicory root fiber, soy lecithin.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 190
     Fat calories: 100
Total fat: 12g
     Saturated fat: 5g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 25mg
Potassium: 150mg
Total carbohydrate: 21g
     Dietary fiber: 3g
     Sugars: 12g
Protein: 3g
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 4%

Simple, clean ingredients make for a nice nutritional profile, with healthy fats from coconut, low sodium, and a decent dose of fiber and protein (3g). I would recommend this!

Other 'KIND' Fruit & Nut bars:

• Almond & Apricot (reviewed here)
• Peanut Butter & Strawberry
• Apple Cinnamon & Pecan
• Fruit & Nuts In Yogurt
• Nut Delight
• Fruit and Nut Delight (reviewed here)
• Blueberry Vanilla & Cashew

 Brand:

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

Review of belVita Crunchy Breakfast Biscuits -- Cinnamon Brown Sugar

belVita Crunchy Breakfast Biscuits -- Cinnamon Brown Sugar (vegan)
Overall rating: 3.5/5
Summary: wowww super duper brown sugar flavour; light cinnamon; super sweet and packed with flavour. Crunchy and fresh. I love these but the ingredients are just okay; not a big fan of the enriched flour, non-GMO-free canola oil. Because of the lack of clarity on sustainable sourcing of the canola oil, I wouldn't buy this again...but, man is this delicious! The brand itself isn't all that impressive...not much going on by way of social or environmental responsibility.

Where to buy: Walmart, Target



Ingredients: WHOLE GRAIN BLEND (ROLLED OATS, RYE FLAKES), ENRICHED FLOUR [WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE (VITAMIN B1), RIBOFLAVIN (B2), FOLIC ACID], HIGH OLEIC CANOLA OIL, SUGAR BROWN SUGAR, WHOLE GRAIN WHEAT FLOUR, MALT SYRUP (FROM CORN AND BARLEY), INVERT SUGAR, BAKING SODA, SALT, SOY LECITHIN, DISODIUM PYROPHOSPHATE, CINNAMON, DATEM, NATURAL FLAVOR, FERRIC ORTHOPHOSPHATE (IRON), NIACINAMIDE, MOLASSES, PYRIDOXINE, HYDROCHOLRIDE (VITAMIN B6), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), THIAMIN MONONITRATE (VITAMIN B1).

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 package
Calories: 230
     Calories from fat: 80
Total fat: 8g
     Saturated fat: .5g
     Trans fat: 0g
     Polyunsaturated fat: 2g
     Monounsaturated fat: 5g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 220mg
Potassium: 90mg
Total carbohydrate: 35g
     Dietary fiber: 3g
     Sugars: 10g
Protein: 4g
Iron: 10%

Enriched flour is not so great, but at least it's mixed with the whole grain blend.

The nutritional profile is okay. It basically has the calorie count of a Clif bar, but without the high protein content, which is a bummer. The fat content is a tad high for me too.

Other belVita crunchy flavours (all vegan):

• Golden Oat (reviewed here)
• Blueberry (reviewed here)
• Apple Cinnamon (reviewed here)
• Chocolate (reviewed here)

Brand:

• Nationwide voluntary recall by Mondelez Global LLC, East Hanover, NJ of belVita Breakfast Biscuit products, apple cinnamon and chocolate varieties. The recall was issued due to the possible presence of fragments of flexible metal mesh caused by a faulty screen at the company's facility (read here)

Review of 'Roland' Whole Wheat Garden Vegetable Couscous

Roland -- Whole Wheat Garden Vegetable Couscous
Overall Rating: 2.5/5
Summary: great texture...slight chew and hearty. The flavour however, is just okay...slight bitterness to the seasoning, seasoning itself is not exciting thought I'm not sure what would have improved it. Anyway, I wouldn't buy this particular flavour again and the brand itself isn't so impressive either (read brand info below).

Where to buy: buy online



Ingredients: Cous Cous [wheat flour (contains gluten), rosemary extract], dehydrated vegetables (carrot, onion, tomato, garlic, spinach, parsley and celery), maltodextrin, tomato powder, sea salt, onion powder, yeast extract, pinto bean flour, lemon juice solids.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/3 cup dry mix
Calories: 220
     Calories from fat: 20
Total fat: 2g
     Saturated fat: 1g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 300mg
Total carbohydrate: 45g
     Dietary fiber: 5g
     Sugars: 2g
Protein: 7g
Vitamin A: 25%
Vitamin C: 4%
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 10%

The ingredients are all simple and nutritious. This translates into a great nutritional profile. For 220 calories, there's 5g of fiber and 7g of protein with a nice amount of vitamins and nutrients. Really great. It's relatively high in calories, but very nutritious.

Other Roland couscous products (all vegan):

• Barley Couscous
• Couscous (Quick cooking)
• Couscous (Israeli)
• Garlic Jalapeno Couscous
• Israeli Couscous, Tri-colour
• Porcini Mushroom Israeli Couscous
• Roasted Garlic Couscous
• Tuscan Herb Israeli Couscous
• Whole Wheat Couscous

Brand:

• Kosher
• Product recall (2014) for possible glass in products (read here)
• No significant and concrete social responsibility initiatives

Review of 'Clif Bar' Carrot Cake

Clif Bar -- Carrot Cake (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: mmmm wow! This is super carrot cakey, packed with authentic flavours of carrot, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sweet cream cheesey frosting. I like the rice crisps texture and that it's super dense and filling. The only thing I can think about to make it better is more raisins. Points deducted for non-organically sourced soy-based ingredients.

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



Ingredients: Organic Brown Rice Syrup, ClifPro® (Soy Rice Crisps [Soy Protein Isolate, Rice Flour, Rice Starch, Barley Malt Extract], Organic Roasted Soybeans, Organic Soy Flour), Organic Rolled Oats, Organic Cane Syrup, Organic Dried Apples, ClifCrunch® (Apple Fiber, Organic Milled Flaxseed, Inulin [Chicory Extract], Organic Oat Fiber, Organic Psyllium), Soy White Chocolate (Organic Dried Cane Syrup, Cocoa Butter‡, Soy Flour, Soy Lecithin, Organic Vanilla Extract), Organic Soy Butter (Organic Roasted Soybeans, Organic Soybean Oil, Salt), Dried Carrots, Organic Raisins, Coconut, Sea Salt, Natural Flavors, Spices (Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Cloves).

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 240
     Calories from fat: 35
Total fat: 4g
     Sat. fat: 1.5g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 140mg
Potassium: 210mg
Total carb.: 45g
     Dietary fiber: 5g
          Insoluble fiber: 3g
     Sugars: 25g
     Other carbs.: 15g
Protein: 9g
Vit A: 30%
Vit C: 90%
Calcium: 25%
Iron: 10%

As with other Clif products, I would prefer organically sourced soy ingredients. Otherwise, the ingredients are great.

The nutritional profile is very good, with 9g of protein and 5g of fiber and a whole bunch of vitamins and minerals. The calories are up there with the sugars, but man is this delicious.

Other Clif Bar flavours (all vegan, baby):

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

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)

Review of 'Luna Bar' Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Luna Bar -- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (not vegan)
Overall Rating: 3/5
Summary: This is a good bar. My only issue is the high sodium, which actually makes the bar a bit too salty. I love that it's dense and chewy, very sweet, and has lots of chocolate chips. I would not buy this again as the palm oil and soybean products do not appear to be organically sourced. It's low-calorie, high protein, and packed with vitamins and minerals.

Where to buy: Fortinos, Bulk Barn



Ingredients: Soy Protein Isolate, Organic Cane Syrup, Organic Dried Cane Syrup, Palm Kernel Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Inulin (Chicory Extract), Cocoa‡, Dried Cane Syrup, Macadamia Nut Butter, Natural Flavors, Whey Protein Concentrate, Unsweetened Chocolate‡, Organic Rice Flour, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Cocoa Butter‡, Organic Alkalized Cocoa, Organic Vanilla Extract, Vanilla Extract.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 170
     Calories from fat: 50
Total Fat: 6g
     Sat. fat: 3g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: <5mg
Sodium: 260mg
Potassium: 130mg
Total carb.: 21g
     Dietary fiber: 3g
          Insoluble fiber: 1g
     Sugars: 15g
     Other carb.: 3g
Protein: 12g
Vit A: 10%
Vit C: 20%
Calcium: 25%
Iron: 15%

The ingredients are pretty great. It would be better if the soy protein and palm oil were organic, especially as palm oil and soybean cultivation are both linked to deforestation and climate change! I actually assumed this bar was vegan but it is not vegan (there's whey protein concentrate). Boo.

Nevertheless, the ingredients make for a great nutritional profile, with 12g of protein and 3g of fiber. It's very low-calorie for a protein bar, but very high in sodium for 170 calories.

Other flavours:

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

Brand (quoted from clifbar.com):

• "...free of trans fats, hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup; artificial sweeteners, flavors or preservatives; and ingredients sourced from GMOs."
• "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. 
• 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)
• ‡Rainforest Alliance Certified™

Review of 'Bear Naked' Go Bananas... Go Nuts! Granola

Review of 'Bear Naked' Go Bananas... Go Nuts! Granola (not vegan; honey)
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: Packed with fresh banana flavour and filled with walnuts! Love that. Although I enjoyed the walnuts, I feel that the walnut pieces should have been a wee bit bigger. The coconut flavour is subtle and I really don't notice the almonds all too much. I liked the mild sweetness of it and that the ingredients are wholesome and simple. I think the oats were a bit too tough to chew, but other than that, this is a very filling granola.

Where to buy: US store locator; buy online



Ingredients: WHOLE GRAIN OATS, HONEY, CANOLA OIL, BANANA CHIPS (BANANAS, COCONUT OIL, SUGAR, NATURAL FLAVOR), COCONUT, OAT BRAN, NATURAL FLAVORS, ALMONDS, WALNUTS, MAPLE SYRUP, WHOLE GRAIN CRISP RICE (WHOLE GRAIN RICE, BARLEY MALT), GROUND FLAX SEEDS.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/4 cup
Calories: 140
     Calories from fat: 60
Total fat: 7g
     Saturated fat: 2g
     Trans fat: 0g
     Polyunsaturated fat: 2g
     Monounsaturated fat: 2.5g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 5g
Total carbohydrate: 18g
     Dietary fiber: 2g
     Sugars: 5g
Protein: 3g
Iron: 4%

The ingredients are all natural and wholesome. I love that it's sweetened with maple syrup and lightly so.

The nutrition facts are a bit scary to look at because there are 140 calories for only 1/4 cup of granola. That's really really a small amount. However!...believe it or not...that 1/4 with a 1/2 cup of almond/soy milk was actually very, very filling for me. The fats are healthy fats and the sodium is very low. I definitely recommend this granola.

Other Granola flavours:

• Blue Beary Flax (vegan)
• Honey Almond Protein
• Maple-icious Pecan
• Original Cinnamon Protein
• Fruit and Nutty Goodie Bag
• Chocolate Elation
• Triple Berry Fit (vegan)
• V'nilla Almond Fit (vegan)

Brand (quoted from bearnaked.com):

• All natural -- no preservatives, artificial flavours
• Not all products are organic
• "While we do not actively source GMO ingredients, there are many factors outside of our control that have led to an environment in North America in which GMOs are not sufficiently controlled. There are a variety of major food crops that have seeds infiltrated by GMOs; therefore, it is possible that some Bear Naked foods containing these ingredients may contain GMOs"

Review of Piroucrisp Caramelized Biscuits

Piroucrisp Caramelized Biscuits (vegan)
Overall Rating: 2.5/5
Summary: cinnamon flavoured, super duper crunchy, traditional Belgian biscuits. These were just okay in my opinion. The cinnamon were present, but I prefer Anna's Ginger Thins (reviewed here), which taste similar but better! I wouldn't buy it again nor would I recommend it. There's also very little going on on their website on environmental or social contributions.

Where to buy: buy online



Ingredients: wheat flour, sugars, vegetable oils and fats (palm, rapeseed), candy syrup, raising agent: sodium hydrogen carbonate, salt, cinnamon.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 2 cookies
Calories: 119
     Calories from fat: 39
Total fat: 4g
     Saturated fat: 2g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 88mg
Total carbohydrate: 18g
     Fiber: <1g
     Sugars: 8g
Protein: 2g
Vitamin A: 20%
Vitamin C: 20%
Calcium: 15%

The ingredients are not great at all. Not whole wheat flour, no whole grains, palm oil is not certified sustainable (palm oil is a major driver of deforestation in Indonesia), and I have no idea what candy syrup is.

The nutritional profile is okay, only because of the added vitamins A and C and calcium. Other than that, there's very little fiber/protein content.

So, I say...don't bother.

Brand:

• Very little of interest to note

Review of 'Annie's Homegrown' Honey Bunny Grahams

Annie's Homegrown -- Honey Bunny Grahams 
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: mmm, mild honey flavouring, mild sweetness. I actually had this as a cereal with soymilk and man, it was delicious. It's a nice low-calorie snack that is relatively filling. I definitely recommend this brand and product. The Brand is committed to non-GMO sourcing and contributes to society through its sustainability initiatives (see end of post for more info).

Where to buy: Fortinos, Costco, Metro, Whole Foods



Ingredients: Organic Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Organic Wheat Flour, Organic Cane Sugar, Expeller-pressed Sunflower Oil, Honey, Organic Corn Flour, Organic Graham Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Natural Flavors (vanilla and graham cracker), Baking Soda, Sea Salt, Natural Vitamin E (to protect flavor).

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 31 cookies
Calories: 140
     Calories from fat: 40
Total fat: 4.5g
     Saturated fat: 0g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 125mg
Total carbohydrate: 23g
     Dietary fiber: 2g
     Sugars: 7g
Protein: 2g
Calcium: 20%
Iron: 4%

The ingredients are awesome; all organic and wholesome. The nutritional profile is good. It's low-calorie, and has a solid 2g of fiber and protein and 20% calcium (very useful as a vegan).

Other Annie's cookies varieties:

• Bernie's Farm Animal Cookies (vegan)
• Chocolate Bunny Graham Crackers (vegan) (reviewed here)
• Organic Cinnamon Graham Crackers
• Organic Honey Graham Crackers
• Honey Bunny Graham Crackers
• Bunny Graham Friends (vegan)
• Cinnamon Bunny Grahams (vegan)
• Chocolate Chip Bunny Grahams (vegan)
• Gluten-free Snickerdoodle Bunny Cookies (vegan)
• Gluten-free Ginger Snap Bunny Cookies
• Gluten-free Cocoa and Vanilla Bunny Cookies (vegan)

Brand:

• Non-GMO
• No artificial flavours, synthetic flavours, or preservatives
• Sustainability Reports
• Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship!

Review of 'Grains of Truth' Mango Passion Whole Grain Snacks

Grains of Truth -- Mango Passion (vegan)
Overall rating: 3/5
Summary: This brand has a knack for really infusing authentic flavours. I tried the Coconut Banana some months ago and loved it. Although I am a fan of passionfruit and mango, I preferred the butteriness of the Coconut Banana flavour. However, this one is still nice and fresh; crunchy, airy, and medium sweet. I would definitely recommend this brand and only wish there were a website!

Where to buy: Amazon



Ingredients: whole grain cereals (wheat, rolled oats, sorghum, brown rice), raw cane sugar, passionfruit juice concentrate (flavor), dried mango (flavor), rice bran oil, salt, vitamin E, rosemary extract.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 14 pieces
Calories: 120
     Calories from fat: 20
Total fat: 2g
     Saturated fat: 0g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 70mg
Total carbohydrate: 23g
     Dietary fiber: 2g
     Sugars: 7g
Protein: 2g
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 4%

I've no issues with these ingredients. Simple. The  nutritional profile is decent, with 2g of fiber and protein, low sodium, no cholesterol, and low calories. I would recommend this to those lovers of passionfruit and mango.

Other varieties (all vegan):

• Berry Blast
• Coconut Banana (reviewed here)
• Vanilla

Brand:

• Sadly, there's no website with brand info

Review of 'Lance' Salted Peanuts

Lance -- Salted Peanuts (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: nice, fresh, though a bit too salty for me. Nevertheless, I can't recommend this brand when there is no demonstration of interest in social or environmental initiatives. Also, Lance uses monosodium glutamate in some products, which has demonstrated adverse health impacts.

Where to buy: store locator (US only)



Ingredients: Peanuts, Peanut Oil and/or Cottonseed Oil, Salt.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving size: 1 package
Calories: 230
     Calories from fat: 150
Total fat: 16g
     Saturated fat: 3g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 180mg
Total carbohydrate: 11g
     Fiber: 5g
     Sugar: 1g
Protein: 10g

I like that the ingredients are nice and simple. The nutritional profile is really great, with lots of fiber and protein and no cholesterol.

Other Lance Nuts and Seeds:

• Honey Toasted Peanuts
• Mesquite BBQ Peanuts (vegan)
• Peanut Bar (vegan)
• Hot & Spicy Peanuts (vegan)
• Star Bites (vegan)
• Boston Old Style Peanuts (vegan)
• Sunflower Seeds (vegan)
• Sunflower Kernels (vegan)
• Triple Nut Bar (vegan)
• Cashews (vegan)
• Premium Dry Roasted Almonds (vegan)
• Premium Pistachios (vegan)
• Premium Fruit and Nut Mix 
• Premium Whole Cashews (vegan)

Brand:

• Honestly, there were no progressive/interesting/unique health-related/environmentally-oriented/socially-minded facts on the company website that was worth posting.
• Lance continues to use MSG in products

Review of 'Blue Diamond' Strawberry Flavor Almonds

Blue Diamond -- Strawberry Flavor Almonds
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: This is super strawberry-flavoured and sweet like candy. The smell is amazing! It smells like candy and I could eat a whole bag in 1 sitting. They were super fresh and crunchy. I know the almonds are non-GMO but unsure of the other corn-based ingredients. It's a pretty wholesome and filling snack, with a good amount of fiber and protein.

Where to buy: United States only as far as I know; online store



Ingredients: almonds, sugar, natural strawberry flavor with other natural flavors, corn maltodextrin, modified corn starch, strawberry juice concentrate, sea salt, color (titanium dioxide, red cabbage juice), citric acid, rebiana (stevia extract).

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 24 nuts
Calories: 160
Calories from fat: 110
Total Fat: 12g
     Saturated fat: 1g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 25mg
Potassium: 170mg
Total carbohydrates: 9g
     Dietary fiber: 3g
     Sugars: 6g
Protein: 5g
Calcium: 6%
Iron: 6%

Other Fruit Flavoured Almonds varieties:

• Raspberry
• Blueberry (reviewed here)

The ingredients would be better if all were certified organic/non-GMO. The nutritional profile is quite good, however. Healthy fats, no cholesterol, 3g of fiber and 5g of protein.

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 Mott's Snack & Go (Original Pouch)

Mott's -- Snack & Go (Original Pouch)
Overall Rating: 2.5/5
Summary: fresh, nice apply pureed texture; appley; decent flavourwise. However...this is super sweet because of the high fructose corn syrup (terrible for health). The nutritional profile is not great either, with mostly sugars and only 1g of fiber. For me, it's 70 calories of sugar and I don't recommend this product.

Where to buy: Walmart, Fortinos, Metro, most grocery stores



Ingredients: APPLES, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, WATER, ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C).

Nutritional Facts
Serving size: 1 pouch
Calories: 70
Total fat: 0g
Sodium: 5g
Total carb: 18g
     Dietary fiber: 1g
          Soluble fiber: 1g
     Sugars: 17g
Protein: 0g
Vitamin C: 20%
Potassium: 65mg

Other Snack & Go flavours (all vegan):

• Cinnamon (reviewed here)
• Natural
• Strawberry (reviewed here)
• Mixed Berry
• Granny Smith
• Mango Peach

Brand:

• Still uses high fructose corn syrup in some products
• Since 1842
• No preservatives
• "Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Sued Over Mott’s For Tots Immunity Claims" (read article here)
• "Coca-Cola, Gerber, Hain Celestial & Mott’s Class Action Lawsuit Filed Over Alleged Lead Contamination In Certain Products" (read article here)

Review of 'Mariani Honeybar' (Trail Mix)

Mariani Honeybar -- Trail Mix (not vegan)
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: This is quite good. The sunflower seeds are prominent...my favourite part. It's super nutty and fresh. I loved the honeyed chew and plump, juicy raisins. It's very sweet because of the honey and raisins...perfectly so. It's a very filling snack bar, relatively low-calorie, and high in protein. Healthy, simple ingredients...I recommend and would buy this again.

Where to buy: US store locator; Canada (Sobeys, Loblaws); order online

Ingredients: Peanuts, Honey, Raisins, Sunflower Kernels, Almonds, Pumpkin Seeds.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 190
     Calories from fat: 110
Total fat: 12g
     Saturated fat: 1.5g
     Trans fat: 0g
     Polyunsaturated fat: 4g
     Monounsaturated fat: 6g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 0mg
Total carbohydrate: 18g
     Dietary fiber: 2g
     Sugars: 12g
Protein: 6g
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 6%

6 all-natural, nutritious ingredients = guilt free

The nutritional profile is good, with lots of healthy fats from the nuts and natural sugars. There's no cholesterol and 0 sodium (although I'm not sure this is accurate; it is from the website). There's a solid dose of protein, which I love. It is a really good start to the morning. Filling!

Other Honeybar varieties:

• Apple Cinnamon Honeybar 
• Cranberry (reviewed here)
• Granola Honeybar 
• Sesame Honeybar (reviewed here)
• Sweet & Salty Honeybar

Brand:

• Vegetarian, Wheat and Gluten Free, Kosher Certified, Preservative Free, Free of Artificial Flavors, Cholesterol Free, All Natural
• Only one product contains wheat (Cinnamon Raisin Bread Raisins)
• The Mariani Family is in its fourth generation of ownership

Review of 'belVita' Soft-Baked Breakfast Bar (Mixed Berry)

belVita -- Soft-Baked Breakfast Bar (Mixed Berry) (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3/5
Summary: This was just okay. I found it a bit crumblier than other Belvita breakfast bars I've had. I also found it a bit drier as well. It is very sweet, which I admit, I liked. However, it definitely needs more berries and more moisture. Bitter pockets.There is a hint of bitterness here and there. I would not buy this again nor would I recommend it. The brand does not seem committed to social or environmental responsibility, which is something I look for when deciding to make a Brand a "regular" in my kitchen.

Where to buy: Walmart, Target



Ingredients: WHOLE GRAIN BLEND (ROLLED OATS, RYE FLAKES), ENRICHED FLOUR [WHEAT FLOUR, REDUCED IRON, NIACIN, THIAMIN MONONITRATE (VITAMIN B1), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), FOLIC ACID], CANOLA OIL, INVERT SUGAR, INULIN, SUGAR, RAISIN PASTE, GLYCERIN, DRIED CRANBERRIES, CORNSTARCH, DRIED BLUEBERRIES, BAKING SODA, SOY LECITHIN, SALT, DRIED RASPBERRIES, NATURAL FLAVOR, GRAPE JUICE CONCENTRATE, FERRIC ORTHOPHOSPHATE (IRON), NIACINAMIDE, BLUEBERRY JUICE CONCENTRATE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), THIAMIN MONONITRATE (VITAMIN B1).

 CONTAINS: WHEAT, SOY.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 biscuit
Calories: 190
     Fat calories: 60
Total fat: 7g
     Saturated fat: .5g
     Trans fat: 0g
     Polyunsaturated fat: 2g
     Monounsaturated fat: 4g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 150mg
Potassium: 75mg
Total carbohydrate: 33g
     Dietary fiber: 5g
     Sugars 10g
Protein: 3g
Iron: 10%

The ingredients are not too bad...I've seen worse! There's no high fructose corn syrup, no hydrogenation, and no weird names. The nutritional profile is not bad at all. For 190 calories, there's low saturated fat, no cholesterol, low sodium, and a really nice dose of fiber and protein.

I found it quite filling as an average sized biscuit. It usually keeps me going for a few hours in the morning.

Other 'belVita' soft-based breakfast biscuits:

• Oats and Chocolate
• Cinnamon (vegan)
• Banana Bread (vegan)

Brand:

• Nationwide voluntary recall by Mondelez Global LLC, East Hanover, NJ of belVita Breakfast Biscuit products, apple cinnamon and chocolate varieties. The recall was issued due to the possible presence of fragments of flexible metal mesh caused by a faulty screen at the company's facility (read here)

Review of 'Califia Farms' Barista Blend Almondmilk (vegan)

Califia Farms -- Barista Blend Almondmilk (vegan, gluten-free)
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: I like, I like. It has a subtle nutty flavour, a nice light creaminess to it, is only mildly sweetened...very nice, cool, refreshing. I am recommending and will definitely buy this again. The ingredients are simple and the nutritional profile is great. The brand is also environmentally-minded and health-conscious (read more about Califa Farms at the bottom of the page).

Where to buy: store locator



Ingredients: Almondmilk (Filtered Water, Almonds), Pure Cane Sugar.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 8 fl oz
Calories: 80
     Calories from fat: 35
Total fat: 4g
     Saturated fat: 0g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 170mg
Total carbohydrates: 9g
     Dietary fiber: 1g
     Sugars: 8g
Protein: 2g
Vitamin A: 20%
Calcium: 45%
Vitamin D: 25%

You really can't beat 2 simple ingredients + low calories + 0 cholesterol + 45% calcium + a hefty dose of Vitamins A & D. Paired with cereal, it's fantastic. I also use it in my coffee every morning. I love it...doesn't curd either!

Other Almondmilk flavours:

• Unsweetened (vegan)
• Vanilla (vegan)
• Original (vegan)
• Coconut Almondmilk (vegan)
• Chocolate Coconut Almondmilk (vegan)
• Unsweetened Vanilla (vegan)
• Chocolate Protein
• Vanilla Protein

Brand:

• BPA free
• All products certified non-GMO
• A California company
• Sustainable practices (box reuse, Rainforest Alliance certified coffee, heat recovery system, reduced lighting/waste, bee biodiversity, etc.)
• Lactose-free Non-GMO Project Verified whey protein that is sourced from cows that are not treated with rBGH
• Almondmilk is Kosher. Products are Pareve, and Orthodox Union is the Rabbinical Certifier
• Products are not organic, but there are plans to develop organic versions of some products in the future

Review of Kellogg's All-Bran Buds Cereal

Kellogg's -- All-Bran Buds (vegan)
Overall Rating: 2.5/5
Summary: I did not expect this...I thought it would be crunchier and lighter, but it was harder, denser, and required quite a bit of chewing to break down. On the other hand, points are given for the nutritional profile, with tons of fiber (thanks to the psyllium) and protein. I also liked that it was very filling. The flavour is nothing to rave about...lightly sweetened with sugar. In terms of the brand, I do have to give Kellogg's some credit for upping it's sustainability game by working to source sustainable supply chains for its products. It will actually be setting a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction target and meeting it by the end of 2015.

Where to buy: Fortinos


Ingredients: Wheat bran, sugar, psyllium seed husk, salt, baking soda, colour, BHT.

Vitamins and Minerals: Iron, thiamine hydrochloride, d-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/3 cup
Calories: 70
Fat: 1g
     Saturated fat: 0g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 170mg
Potassium: 270mg
Carbohydrate: 22g
     Fiber: 11g
     Sugars: 7g
Protein: 3g
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 25%

The ingredients would have been good, but for the BHT and colour. BHT is controversial. Some say it has health benefits and others link it to cancer. BHT is banned in many countries in Europe and across the world.

The nutritional profile is really good. For 1/3 cup, you get a whopping dose of fiber and a good amount of protein. There's also a lot of iron and it's low sodium. However, who actually only eats 1/3 cup of cereal?! I would say that 2/3 cup was a proper filling serving for me. That means there would be 140 calories, 340mg of sodium (high for me), a nice amount of potassium, and an insane amount of fiber and iron.

Kellogg's commitments to sustainability came after its competitor, General Mills, set announced own sustainability goals. See, this is the power of the consumer! The more you demand sustainable products, the more company's will compete to deliver.

Other 'All-Bran' Products:

• All-Bran Flakes (vegan)
• All-Bran Original (vegan)
• All-Bran Cranberries & Clusters
• All-Bran Strawberry Bites (vegan)

Brand:

• Anti-GMO-labelling
• Uses BHT, additives, artificial flavours and colours
• Nutrition and Health initiatives (ahem, yet there's still high fructose corn syrup in cereals?)
• Environmental initiatives (e.g. almost all cereal boxes are made from 100 percent recycled paperboard)
• Feb 2013: recall over glass risk (ABC news article)
• GoGreen Teams sponsor events and activities
• 2013 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

Review of 'Sweets from the Earth' Double Chocolate Cookie

Sweets from the Earth -- Double Chocolate Cookie (vegan)
Overall rating: 4/5
Summary: this is a really nice cookie that I would recommend and buy again. It's super chocolatey and sweet. There's a nice crunchiness on the outer and a moister center. There are lots of chunky chocolate chips. The nutritional profile is good and the ingredients are all simple and guilt-free. It's also low-calorie, cholesterol-free, low-sodium, and has a decent amount of fiber and protein.

Where to buy: Whole Foods, Fortinos, Wanigan



Ingredients: Organic evaporated cane juice, organic spelt flour, dairy free chocolate (organic evaporated cane juice, cocoa mass, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, ground vanilla beans), sunflower oil, organic soymilk, organic tofu, cocoa, organic molasses, baking soda, soy lecithin, sea salt.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 cookie
Calories: 160
Fat: 7g
     Saturated fat: 2g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 40mg
Carbohydrates: 22g
     Fiber: 2g
     Sugars: 13g
Protein: 3g
Iron: 10%

These ingredients are really clean and simple, so I have no qualms. The nutritional profile is decent. There's 2g of fiber and 3g of protein and it's pretty low-cal, so I'm pleased. This is definitely worth the calories.

Other 'Nut Free Cookies' Flavours:

• Chocolate Chip
• Oatmeal Raisin

Brand:

• Born in 2002
• All products are vegan
• All natural ingredients
• All products are kosher
• Over 50% of ingredients are organic
• No refined sugars
• Their sunflower oil is GMO-free; they do not use canola oil (most commonly GMO)
• The corn-based ingredients they do use are organic, and thus GMO-free

Review of Nana's Cookie Bars (Nana Banana)

Nana's -- Cookie Bars (Nana Banana) (vegan, gluten-free)
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: Wow...I really did not expect this level of deliciousness. I usually don't expect much from the simple banana flavour, but man...paired with the vanilla extract and maybe the fruit juices, this was so sweet and tasty. The cookie bars are soft and slightly crumbly and powdery (which was really nice!). There were bits of chewiness throughout, which made for a great texture. I love that it is flavoured with natural fruit juices and that the ingredients are simple. I would definitely recommend this product and brand.

Where to buy: Homesense, Winners



Ingredients: rice flour (white and brown), fruit juice (pear, apple, & grape), rice dextrin (a natural and unmodified starch), tapioca flour, bananas, non-GMO expeller pressed canola oil, gluten free puffed rice, non aluminum baking powder, natural vanilla extract, natural flavouring.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 cookie bar
Calories: 130
     Calories from fat: 45
Total fat: 4.5g
     Saturated fat: 0g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 130mg
Potassium: 50mg
Total carbohydrate: 23g
     Dietary fiber: 0g
     Sugar: 7g
     Other carbohydrates: 14g
Protein: 1g
Vitamin A: 2%
Vitamin C: 2%
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 2%

The ingredients are simple and I love that. The nutritional profile is okay...nothing special. The calories are not bad for 1 bar, though I don't think the bar is so filling (not surprising since it has next to no fiber or protein). This is kinda the definition of a treat for me...not something I'd have every day, but definitely worth it!

Other Cookie Bar flavours (all vegan):

• Chocolate Chippy
• Fudgy Wudgy
• Gluten Free Berry Vanilla
• Gluten Free Chocolate Munch 

Brand:

• Supports the HollyRod Foundation
• Supports Generation Rescue in their effort to raise funds for autistic children
• Uses natural ingredients and has a healthy philosophy and approach to products

Review of 'So Delicious' Coconut Milk Non Dairy Frozen Dessert (Mocha Almond Fudge)

So Delicious -- Coconut Milk Non Dairy Frozen Dessert (Mocha Almond Fudge) (vegan)
Overall rating: 3.5/5
Summary: wow, you really do get that mocha coffee flavour and there are lots and lots of sizable almond bits. I don't really get the coconut flavour so much, but I must say that the fudge sauce was really nice. I think if the almonds were toasted, they may have been tastier and the almonds would have been a good idea in that case. Otherwise, they didn't add too much. It was medium sweet and  relatively creamy. It could have been a wee bit thicker.

Where to buy: Fortinos

Ingredients: ORGANIC COCONUT MILK (WATER, ORGANIC COCONUT CREAM), ORGANIC AGAVE SYRUP, FUDGE SAUCE [DRIED CANE SYRUP, WATER, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), TAPIOCA STARCH, NATURAL FLAVORS, CHOCOLATE LIQUOR], ALMONDS (ALMONDS, COTTONSEED OIL, SALT), CHICORY ROOT EXTRACT, COFFEE, CAROB BEAN GUM, GUAR GUM, NATURAL COFFEE FLAVOR, SALT.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/2 cup
Calories: 180
     Calories from fat: 80
Total fat: 9g
     Saturated fat: 6g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 30mg
Total carbohydrate: 21g
     Dietary fiber: 5g
     Sugar: 14g
Protein: 2g
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 8%

The ingredients are great...can't complain there. The sweeteners are all natural with no refined sugars and there are no artificial ingredients.

The nutritional profile is decent. It's a tad high-calorie for only 1/2 a cup, but it is a treat, after all! For 180 calories, there's a whopping 5g of fiber...awesome. There's no cholesterol and it's low in sodium. Don't be afraid necessarily of the saturated fat, as there is evidence that certain saturated fats (e.g. from coconut) can be beneficial to health when consumed in moderation.

Other 'Coconut Milk' flavours (all vegan):

• Cherry Amaretto (reviewed here)
• Chocolate
• Chocolate Brownie Almond
• Coconut (reviewed here)
• Coconut Almond Chip
• Cookie Dough
• Cookies 'n Cream
• German Chocolate
• Green Tea
• Mint Chip
• Passionate Mango
• Peanut Butter Swirl (reviewed here)
• Pomegranate Chip
• Turtle Trails
• Vanilla Bean (reviewed here)
• No Sugar Added Butter Pecan
• No Sugar Added Chocolate
• No Sugar Added Mint Chip
• No Sugar Added Toasted Almond Chip
• No Sugar Added Vanilla Bean

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 'Pita Break' Apple and Honey Lavash Crackers

Pita Break -- Apple and Honey Lavash Crackers (not vegan; contains honey)
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: very fresh and crunchy. There's a mild sweetness that's really great, with a hint of saltiness afterwards. I do get the apple flavour and the flax seeds really add to the flavour. I like the simplicity and wholesomeness of the ingredients and the nutritional profile is great. I recommend this product.

Where to buy: Fortino's

Ingredients: Unbleached wheat flour, filtered water, stone ground whole wheat flour, sulphite-free apples, honey, flax seeds, sesame seeds, durum semolina, sunflower seeds, rolled oats, wheat bran, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt. Contains wheat, barley, oats, rye, sesame seeds.

Nutrition facts
Serving size: 2 crackers
Calories: 110
Fat: 2.5g
     Saturated: .3g
     Trans: 0g
     Polyunsaturated: 1.5g
          Omega-6: .9g
          Omega-3: .4g
     Monounsaturated: .9g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 140mg
Potassium: 95mg
Carbohydrates: 19g
     Fiber: 2g
     Sugars: 3g
Protein: 3g
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 8%

So, these ingredients are healthy, simple, and few, which is nice to see. It's unbleached wheat flour, not whole grain, but I'll let it slide because it tastes great and has a pretty good nutritional profile. For only 110 calories, there's healthy fats, 2g of fiber, and 3g of protein, thanks to the flax seeds.

Other 'Lavash Cracker' varieties:

• Chipotle (vegan)
• Flax and Honey
• Multigrain and Honey
• Spelt (vegan)

Brand:

• No Gluten Free products
• No artificial chemicals
• Bakery products are free of dairy and meat ingredients
• Some products are now certified free of genetically modified organisms (GMO)

Review of 'Lance' Honey Peanut Butter on Captain’s Wafer (vegan)

Lance -- Honey Peanut Butter on Captain’s Wafer
Overall Rating: 2.5/5
Summary: Overall, there's a nice flavour...it is tasty, indeed. It's sweet and salty, though entirely too salty for my liking. The peanut butter flavour is strong and the honey less prominent. It's both fresh and light and a filling snack. I just cannot stand behind a brand that, in 2014, does not acknowledge the need for sustainability or have any statement on the same. There is no way I would recommend this brand. Moreover, the nutritional profile is not so great. For almost 200 calories, there's only 1g of fiber and too much sodium for my preference.

Where to buy: US store locator (e.g. Food Lion, Lowes, Wal-Mart Supercenters)

Ingredients: Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Peanuts, Vegetable Oil (contains one or more of the following: Canola Oil, Corn Oil, Palm Oil, Soybean Oil), Sugar, Dextrose, Salt, Corn Syrup, Leavening (Sodium Bicarbonate, Ammonium Bicarbonate, Monocalcium Phosphate), Honey Powder (Honey, Wheat Starch, Soy Lecithin), Molasses Powder, Guar Gum, Natural Flavor.

Allergy Information Contains: Wheat, Soy, Peanuts
May Contain: Milk

Nutrition
Serving size: 1 package
Calories: 190
     Calories from fat: 80
Total fat: 9g
     Saturated fat: 2g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 300mg
Total carbohydrates: 24g
     Dietary fiber: 1g
     Sugars: 5g
Protein: 4g

So, obviously enriched flour is not the preferred option, but here it is. The corn-based products are surely not GMO-free, as the website has no statement on this. The palm oil (an industry that is a major driver of deforestation globally) has no evidence of being sustainably sourced. The nutritional profile is not very impressive. The only plus is the 4g of protein.

Other flavours:

• Toastchee with Peanut Butter
• Reduced fat Toastchee with real peanut butter
• Cream Cheese & Chives on Captain’s Wafer
• Grilled Cheese on Captain's Wafer
• Jalapeno Cheddar on Captain's Wafer
• Toasty (vegan)
• Toasty Cheddar
• Nip Chee
• Malt (vegan)
• Peanut Butter on Whole Grain (vegan) (reviewed here)
• Sharp Cheddar on Whole Grain
• Cheddar on Whole Grain

Brand:

• Honestly, there were no progressive/interesting/unique health-related/environmentally-oriented/socially-minded facts on the company website that was worth posting.