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.

Review of 'Eat Smart Naturals - Synder's of Hanover' Garden Veggie Crisps

Eat Smart Naturals - Synder's of Hanover -- Garden Veggie Crisps (vegan; gluten free)
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: well, these were not quite as crunchy as I had hoped, but then again, the bag was open for a few days before I tried the first chip. So, I will refrain from deducting too many points there. I do enjoy the flavour. You do really get the potato chip flavour. I do like the nutritional profile; the calories are decent and it's low sodium. Brownie points for the brand focus on sustainability, supporting the Nature Conservancy, and the environment.

Where to buy: US only; store locator




Ingredients: Potato Flour, Potato Starch, Expeller Pressed Sunflower Oil, Tomato, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Spinach Powder, Turmeric, Beet Powder.

Allergy Information: Produced in a facility that handles peanut butter. Gluten-free.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 21 chips
Calories: 140
     Calories from fat: 60
Total fat: 6g
     Saturated fat: .5g
     Trans fat: 0g
     Polyunsaturated fat: 0g
     Monounsaturated fat: 4.5g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 150mg
Potassium: 330mg
Total carbohydrate: 18g
     Dietary fiber: 2g
     Sugars: 0g
Protein: 1g
Iron: 2%

Well, it's hard to find fault with these ingredients. They are great. The nutritional profile is decent. It's low-calorie, low-sodium, and low in unhealthy fats. Sadly, only 2g of fiber and 1g of protein. But, it's a nice snack.

Other 'Certified Gluten Free products':

• Whole grain tortilla chips (vegan)
• Whole grain cheese curls 
• Gluten-free pretzel sticks

Brand:

• Stated commitment to sustainability 
• Have reduced to some extent their product/packaging waste and resource usage (but data only as recent as 2009)
• 100% renewable corn based film used for new Variety Packs
• Food waste is sold to farms to use for feed
• Their new EatSmart Naturals line features a statement of support of The Nature Conservancy and their global mission to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people
• Committed to reducing energy, natural gas usage, and greenhouse gas omissions by 15% each over the next 5 years
• Committed to reducing solid waste by 30% over the next 5 years
• Non-GMO verified products

Review of Mott's Snack & Go (Strawberry Pouch)

Mott's -- Snack & Go (Strawberry Pouch) (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: This tastes more naturally sweet compared to the Cinnamon Pouch (reviewed here). I am glad they opted to not include the high fructolse corn syrup that they used in the Cinnamon Pouch. I personally would buy this again and I think it makes for a great snack for kids relative to other products out there. Steer clear of the Cinnamon Pouch, and opt for this natural strawberry instead!

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



Ingredients: APPLES, STRAWBERRY PUREE CONCENTRATE, WATER, FRUIT AND VEGETABLE JUICES (FOR COLOR), ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C), NATURAL FLAVORS.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 pouch
Calories: 40
Total fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 5mg
Potassium: 75mg
Total carb: 10g
     Dietary fiber: 1g
     Sugar: 8g
Protein: 0g
Vitamin C: 25%

The ingredients are good. There's no high fructose syrup and it's not artificially sweet or sugary. It's super low-calorie and low fat and has a nice dose of vitamin C. I would definitely recommend this.

Other Snack & Go flavours (all vegan):

• Cinnamon (reviewed here)
• Natural
• Original
• 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 'Grains of Truth' Coconut Banana Whole Grain Snacks

Grains of Truth -- Coconut Banana (vegan)
Overall rating: 4/5
Summary: you really do get the coconut and banana flavours, which is great. I loved that it actually had a buttery aftertaste...I suppose from the coconut. It's super crunchy, airy, and fresh and medium sweet. I really enjoyed this snack; it's yummy, wholesome, and low-calorie. Recommended!

Where to buy: Amazon, Vita Cost

Ingredients: Whole grain cereals (wheat, rolled oats, sorghum), raw cane sugar, dried coconut (flavor), dried banana (flavor), rice bran oil, salt, vitamin E, rosemary extract.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: about 14 pieces
Calories: 120
     Calories from fat: 20
Total fat: 2.5g
     Saturated fat: 1g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 65mg
Total carbohydrates: 22g
     Dietary fiber: 2g
     Sugars: 7g
Protein: 2g
Iron: 4%

Well, can't say anything negative about the ingredients. The nutritional profile is decent for a low calorie snack, with 2g of protein and fiber. It's also a plus that it's low sodium.

Other varieties (all vegan):

• Berry Blast
• Mango Passion (reviewed here)
• Vanilla

Brand:

• Sadly, there's no website with brand info

Review of 'Gardein' Barbeque Wings

Gardein -- Barbeque Wings (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: I like that this fries to a crispy outer and juicy inner; the texture is very authentic (like chicken!); although the sauce is a tad bit too sweet for me...I rather enjoyed it naked. You could always use your preferred sauce. This is a pretty good product, but may not be entirely GMO-free (e.g. use of canola oil).

Where to buy: Freshco, Fortinos



Ingredients: water, soy protein isolate*, vital wheat gluten*, expeller pressed/canola oil, organic ancient grain flour (kamut ®, amaranth, millet, quinoa), natural flavor (from plant sources), modified vegetable gum, yeast extract, sea salt, organic cane sugar, potato starch, onion powder, garlic powder, pea protein, vinegar, carrot fiber, beetroot fiber, extractives of paprika and turmeric. sauce: crushed tomatoes (tomatoes, salt, citric acid), organic cane sugar, water, dijon mustard (water, mustard flour, white vinegar), blackstrap molasses, malted barley extract, sea salt, spices, vinegar, corn starch, xanthan gum, onion powder, hickory smoke flavor, paprika, garlic powder.

*non-genetically engineered soy and wheat.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 4 wings
Calories: 120
     Calories from fat: 45
Total fat: 5g
     Saturated fat: 0g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 330mg
Total carbohydrates: 5g
     Dietary fiber: 1g
     Sugars: 1g
Protein: 14g
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 10%

The ingredients look fine, save for the canola oil. I am not sure if it is non-genetically modified. The nutritional profile is great, though scant on the fiber. But, add some veggies as a side, and you're good to go. It's low fat, average sodium, and huge on protein. There's also a nice dose of iron.

Brand (quoted from gardein.com):

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