Review of 'Good Karma' FlaxDelight (Original)

Good Karma -- FlaxDelight (Original) (vegan, gluten-free)
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: this beverage has such a great flavour (flax and vanilla)! I'm officially a 'flax milk' fan. It's lightly sweetened and very refreshing. It's thin and smooth in texture and has a really nice light vanilla smell. Sure, there's 0 protein and 0 fiber (which would normally be a deal-breaker for me), but it is a source of omega-3 (healthy fat) and vitamins and nutrients. It's also low-calorie...I still find myself feeling disappointed that there's no fiber or protein, but it's still a great milk overall. I'd recommend this and probably buy it again.

Where to buy: Fortinos, No Frills,



Ingredients: Filtered Water, Cold Pressed Flax Oil, Dried Cane Syrup, Tricalcium Phosphate, Vanilla Extract, Canola and/or Sunflower Lecithin, Sea Salt, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carrageenan, Flavor, Vitamin D2, Zinc Gluconate, Riboflavin, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin B12.

Nutrition Facts*
Serving size:1 cup
Calories: 50
Fat: 2.5g
     Saturated: 0g
     Trans: 0g
     Polyunsaturated: 1.5g
     Monounsaturated: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 80mg
Total Carbohydrate: 7g
     Fiber: 0g
     Sugars: 7g
Protein: 0
Vitamin A: 10%
Calcium: 30%
Iron: 2%

*Visit here for full nutritional profile.

So, it's a fortified beverage (vitamin A and calcium!) that's very low in calories. It's great to add to a wholesome cereal to get your dose of essential fatty acids (omega-3). And it adds a really great flavour as well. I like that it's very low in sodium as well.
Other 'Flax Milk' flavours (all vegan, gluten-free):

• Vanilla
• Unsweetened

Brand: 

• Supporter of Green Farming
• Source of Omega-3
• Kosher
• Vegan
• Non-GMO
• Allergen free

Review of 'Silk' French Vanilla Creamer

Silk -- French Vanilla Creamer (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: mm, I love being pleasantly surprised. I didn't think I'd be so enthralled with this product. Sure, it's pretty much an empty calorie creamer, but...it's delicious. And it gives that creamy look to my morning coffee without the funky patterns that most soy milks produce. It's super sweet, but I don't really get that much of a vanilla flavour (based on the recommended serving of 1 tablespoon). I normally don't bother buying products that are basically filled with empty calories, but I think I'd reconsider for this creamer. It helps that Silk is verified non-GMO, and environmentally- and sustainability-minded -- a great brand to support.

Where to buy: Fortinos, Metro, Foodland, Longos, No Frills, Rabba Fine Foods, Sobeys, Walmart Supercenter



Ingredients: All Natural Soymilk (Filtered Water, Whole Soybeans), All Natural Evaporated Cane Juice, Palm Oil, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavors, Potassium Phosphate, Sodium Citrate, Tapioca Starch, Carrageenan.

Nutrition Facts
Servings size: 1 tbsp (15 mL)
Calories: 20
     Calories from fat: 10
Fat: 1g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 10mg
Carbohydrate: 3g
     Fiber: 0g
     Sugars: 3g
Protein: 0g

So, half of the 20 calories come from fat and the carbs are all in sugar form...sooo, yep, empty calories.*sigh* such a shame, eh?

Other Creamer flavours:

• Original
• Hazelnut

Brand:

• Verified non-GMO
• Certified Kosher
• Some product varieties are certified organic
• All vegan
• Responsible sourcing initiative
• Champions of wind power, partnered with Bonneville Environmental Foundation 
• Partnered with Conservation International, The Organic Center, The Organic Farming Research Foundation, World Soy Foundation and Tree Canada
• Silk for Coffee uses palm oil from suppliers who've joined the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
• Parent company: WhiteWave Foods
• Read about Silk's achievements in environmental conservation through it's manufacturing processes here

Review of 'Nature's Path' Mesa Sunrise Cereal

Nature's Path -- Mesa Sunrise Cereal (vegan, gluten-free)
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: crisp is the word to describe this cereal. It's super crisp and crunchy. With milk, it softens a bit, yet still maintains a crunch. I did get a hint of corn sweetness in the first few bites, but then lost it. I really like the texture of the flakes (thin and textured, not smooth), which were hearty and filling. The cereal is perfectly sweetened to my tastes (I did pair it with a sweet vanilla soy milk).

Where to buy: Bulk, Barn, Longos, Fortinos, US product locator



Ingredients: corn meal*, yellow corn flour*, evaporated cane juice*, flax*, buckwheat flour*, quinoa*, amaranth*, sea salt, tocopherols (natural vitamin E).

*Organic. Produced in a facility that uses peanuts, tree nuts and soy.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 3/4 cup
Calories: 120
Fat: 1g
     Saturated: .2g
     Trans: 0g
     Polyunsaturated: .6g
          Omega-6: .3g
          Omega-3: .3g
     Monounsaturated: .2g 
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 125mg
Carbohydrate: 24g
     Fiber: 3g
     Sugar: 4g
Protein: 3g
Iron: 8%

This is a great, low-calorie cereal for those with a gluten intolerance. It has healthy fats and is very low in saturated fat, has zero cholesterol, and isn't too high on sodium. The only issue I have is that there isn't enough fiber and protein for my needs. So, although it's delicious, as a vegan who needs her protein, I'd probably pass on buying it again.

Other gluten-free cold cereals (all vegan):

• Sunrise Crunchy Vanilla
• Gorilla Munch Cereal
• Qi'a™ Superfood - Chia, Buckwheat & Hemp Cereal Apple Cinnamon
• Qi'a™ Superfood - Chia, Buckwheat & Hemp Cereal Original Flavour
• Crispy Rice Cereal
• Whole O's (reviewed here)
• Mesa Sunrise® Flakes with Raisins
• Fruit Juice Sweetened Corn Flakes 
• Qi'a™ Superfood - Chia, Buckwheat & Hemp Cereal Cranberry Vanilla
• Panda Puffs™ Cereal 
• Sunrise® Crunchy Maple
• Leapin Lemurs Cereal
• Koala Crisp™ Cereal

Brand (quoted from the Nature's Path website):

• Family-owned and operated
•  Certified non-GMO and organic; non-GMO Project verified
• Fairtrade certified
• "We source all our ingredients as locally as possible to our production plants."
• "...over 78% of the weight of ingredients we purchase comes from organic farmers in North America."
• "Some of the ingredients we have committed to purchasing are Fairtrade Certified cocoa, sugar cane, molasses, and spices." 
• Gardens for Good Project

Review of 'So Good' Vanilla

So Good -- Vanilla (vegan, gluten-free)
Overall Rating: 3/5
Summary: mmm, this is a really well-sweetened soy milk. I enjoyed every bit of it! The texture is smooth and not at all grainy. There's no hint of soy flavour that I could detect. Instead, the hint of vanilla was the star. I love half a cup of this in my cereal. If I were ranking simply based on taste, I'd give it a 4.5/5. The nutritionals are good but I'm not sure that *all* the ingredients are non-GMO (e.g. corn-based ingredients are not marked non-GMO on the website). Until I could be certain, I probably won't be buying this again, nor would I recommend it. Also, 'corn syrup solids' are a controversial ingredient (read more about it here) that I definitely try to steer clear of. I wouldn't recommend this product.

Where to buy: Fortinos

Ingredients: filtered water, soy protein (isolate, whole soybeans), cane sugar, corn syrup solids, fructose, canola oil, tricalcium phosphate, potassium citrate, natural vanilla flavour, brown rice syrup, dipotassium phosphate, magnesium phosphate, salt carrageenan, zinc gluconate, ascorbic acid, niacin, pantothenate, riboflavin, vitamin B6, vitamin A, thiamine, folacin, vitamin D2, vitamin B12.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 cup
Calories: 140
Fat: 4g
     Saturated: .6g
     Trans: 0g
     Omega-6: .6g
     Omega-3: .2g
     Monounsaturated: 2g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 110mg
Potassium: 380mg
Carbohydrate: 21g
     Fiber: 0g
     Sugars: 12
Protein: 6g
Vitamin A: 10%
Vitamin C: 4%
Calcium: 30%
Iron: 8%

It's too bad that this soy milk has to go on my 'do not buy list'. Sure, I'll still review the other 'So Good' products for the sake of this blog, but after that, no way I'm buying this brand again. The 'corn syrup solids' is a no-no for me. Also, the website only cites the soy protein as GMO-free and doesn't address any other ingredient.

The nutritional profile isn't bad. It has healthy fats, no cholesterol, and a nice amount of calcium. However, the sugar content is a little high.

Check out the So Good recipe page here. Among others, it includes a recipe for Frozen Soy Pops and Vanilla Custard.

Other flavours (all vegan, gluten-free):

• Original
• Fat-free Original
• Light Vanilla
• Fat-free Vanilla
• Chocolate
• Strawberry
• Omega DHA Original
• Omega DHA Vanilla
• No Sugar Added Original

Brand:

• Non-GMO soy protein (but not necessarily non-GMO corn-based ingredients)
• Vegan
• Gluten-free
• Controversial ingredient used: corn syrup solids

Review of 'Tofurky' Meatless Kielbasa Sausage

Tofurky -- Kielbasa (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: this sausage has a texture more similar to a hotdog than a sausage. The other flavours I've tried (Beer, Italian) were meatier and with textures more typical of sausages (just more complex, in my opinion). I detected a slight hint of smokiness and at first bite, the sausage is pretty tasty -- it's nicely salted and has a nice blend of spices. However, there was a really clear aftertaste that I didn't care for at all. And it actually lasts quite some time...like I could taste it in my mouth hours later. So...I definitely wouldn't buy this one again.

Where to buy: Fortinos, Freshco


Image source: Vegan Muffin

Ingredients: organic tofu (water, organic soybeans, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride), wheat protein product, expeller pressed canola or high-oleic safflower oil, soy sauce (water, soybeans, wheat salt), textured wheat protein, onion, garlic, spices, granulated garlic, salt, vitamins and minerals (dipotassium phosphate, niacin, iron, zinc oxide, vitamin B12, calcium, pantothenate, vitamin B6, riboflavin). 

Nutrition Facts 
Serving size: 1 sausage
Calories: 240
Fat: 16g
     Saturated: 1g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 660mg
Potassium: 520mg
Carbohydrate: 12g
     Fiber: 8g
     Sugars: 2g
Protein: 26g
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 45%

Bless Tofurky's commitment to non-GMO because where else would I get 'ready in 5 minutes' meals that are yummy and vegan?

Still, I won't say that it's perfect by any measure. My main issue is the sodium content because it's clearly winning in every other count (e.g. protein, fiber, iron). I can only have 1 Tofurky product per day, otherwise I'll soon reach the upper limit of my sodium meter.

Other Sausage flavours:

• Italian Style Tofu Sausage (reviewed here) (vegan)
• Beer Sausage (reviewed here) (vegan)

Brand (quoted from tofurky.com):

• Non-GMO
• "We make our vegetarian products in small batches using only the finest organic and natural ingredients."
• No preservatives, MSG or other artificial ingredients.
• Kosher, vegan, and made with organic soybeans and/or organic tofu.
• Family owned and operated company.
• "Since our founding in 1980 Turtle Island Foods has strived to create delicious, nutritious, vegan soy meat alternatives that are lightly processed using traditional methods."

Review of 'Nature's Path' Love Crunch (Dark Chocolate & Red Berries)

Nature's Path -- Love Crunch (Dark Chocolate & Red Berries)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: omg, why is this SO good! Jeez...it's crunchy, sweet, chocolatey, and just so comforting. It's on, like, level 10 sweetness. I don't really get the berry taste all that much, despite the bits of dried berries found throughout. But It just doesn't matter. The chocolate is the star. I had it with and without milk, and with milk is way better. All the flavour just dissolves into a milky, creamy, crunchy concoction. It's sinful. Buy it and see for yourself.

Where to buy: Bulk Barn, Fortinos, Sobeys

Coupon available at Mambo Sprouts as of November 14 2012 (Sign up! It's worth it.)




Ingredients: rolled oats*, evaporated cane juice*, soy oil*, rolled spelt (wheat)*, dark chocolate chunks* (evaporated cane juice*, unsweetened chocolate*, cocoa butter*, soy lecithin*, vanilla*), flax seeds*, dried coconut*, cocoa*, freeze-dried berry blend* (freeze-dried strawberries*, freeze-dried raspberries*), rice starch*, sea salt, natural chocolate flavor, natural vanilla flavor, tocopherols (natural vitamin E).

*Organic. Contains soy and wheat. May contain peanuts, tree nuts or dairy.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/2 cup
Calories: 260
Fat: 10g
     Saturated: 2g
     Trans: 0g
     Omega-6: 4.3g
     Omega-3: .99g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 105mg
Potassium: 190mg
Carbohydrate: 37g
     Fiber: 3g
     Sugars: 12g
Protein: 5g
Vitamin C: 4%
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 12%

Okay, these organic and wholesome ingredients basically gave me a license to eat about 90% of the bag in one sitting :/ I'm not recommending that for anyone -- I just happen to be a glutton for sweetness.

The calories are really, very high! For just 1 cup, there is 260 calories...that's super high for a snack item, so this product is definitely more likely to be a treat for those 'once-in-a-while' occasions. It has a good amount of healthy fats and a really nice 5g of protein. The fiber content isn't too bad.

The key is to maintain self-control and have the recommended 1/2 cup for a serving. Basically, do the opposite of what I would do. You really gotta try this granola.

Other Nature's Path Love Crunch granola flavours:

• Aloha Blend Granola (reviewed here)
• Apple Crumble (vegan)
• Carrot Cake
• Gingerbread

Brand (quoted from the Nature's Path website):

• "For every bag you buy, we’ll donate the equivalent in cash and organic food to the food bank, up to $1 million a year! That’s what the Bite4Bite model’s all about."
•  Certified non-GMO and organic
• Fairtrade certified
• "We source all our ingredients as locally as possible to our production plants."
• "...over 78% of the weight of ingredients we purchase comes from organic farmers in North America."
• "Some of the ingredients we have committed to purchasing are Fairtrade Certified cocoa, sugar cane, molasses, and spices."

Review of 'Clif Bar' Oatmeal Raisin Walnut

Clif Bar -- Oatmeal Raisin Walnut (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: this bar was thinner than the other Clif bars I've tried, but it was still filling (thanks to the 10g of protein). It wasn't quite as sweet as the others either, but the was delicious, nonetheless. The texture was soft and oaty with rice crisps throughout. The raisins were a nice addition but I felt that they weren't as juicy and prominent as I expected. I also found that there wasn't enough of  a walnut presence. Bigger chunks of walnuts might have been the solution. The cinnamon that's added actually comes through quite strongly and I really enjoyed that. It should have been called an 'Oatmeal Cinnamon Raisin' bar!

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



Ingredients: *brown rice syrup, protein blend (soy rice crisps [soy protein isolate, rice flour, barley malt extract], *soy flour, *roasted soybeans), *rolled oats, *toasted oats (*rolled oats, *dried cane syrup, ascorbic acid, natural vitamin E [antioxidant]), raisins, *cane syrup, walnuts, crunch pieces (*oat fiber, inulin [chicory extract]), *milled flaxseed, *oat bran), *soy butter (*roasted soybeans, *soybean oil, salt), natural flavours, molasses powder, cinnamon, sea salt, natural vitamin E (antioxidant), *soybean oil.

For complete vitamin and mineral ingredients and full nutritional information, visit here.

Nutritional Information
Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 250
Fat: 5g
     Saturated: 1g
     Trans: 0g
     Polyunsaturated: 3g
          Linoleic acid: 2g
          n3 Linoleic acid: .4g
     Monounsaturated: 1g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 130mg
Potassium: 440mg
Carbohydrate: 43g
     Fibre: 3g
     Sugars: 20g
Protein: 10g
Vitamin A: 10%
Vitamin C: 50%
Calcium: 25%
Iron: 25%

I just love Clif Bar :) It's delicious and is the antithesis of empty calories. Sure 250 is a whopper, but listen...healthy fats, no cholesterol, low sodium, 50% vitamin C, 25% calcium, 10g protein. C'mon, this is just a really great snack for post-workouts (lots of healthy carbs) or even for a very busy, 'on-the-go' kinda day.

I'm eager to try the apricot...it's just not a flavour I come across frequently.

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
• Crunchy Peanut Butter
• Gary's Panforte
• Iced Gingerbread
• Maple Nut (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)