Wednesday, 25 February 2015

Review of 'Honest Kids' Goodness Grapeness Organic Juice Drink

Honest Kids -- Goodness Grapeness Organic Juice Drink (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3/5
Summary: mildly sweet; grape more of a strong aftertaste that hits you; flavour seems somewhat weak. It is very cool and refreshing, however. I would definitely not opt to buy this flavour again...I prefer the Appley Ever After flavour. I really am impressed by the brandnot only for the taste but also for the impressiveness of the brand (check it out below).

Where to buy: US only




Ingredients: Filtered water, organic white grape juice from concentrate, organic concord grape juice from concentrate, natural flavors, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), organic natural flavors and tartaric acid.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 pouch
Calories: 40
Total fat: 0g
Sodium: 15mg
Total carbohydrates: 10g
     Sugars: 9g
Protein: 0g
Vitamin C: 100%

Nice little snack with simple ingredients, low-calorie, and packed with vitamin C. You can't go wrong, nutrition wise. This is a much cleaner version than your typical boxed drink.

Other Honest Kids Organic Juice Drink Flavours:

Brand:

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Review of 'Gardein' Beefless Tips

Gardein -- Beefless Tips (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: a word of advice...don't stew these! Better to make your stew, fry these, then add them after the stew is done. Otherwise, these become some very soggy beefless tips. The flavour was good, I just ruined the texture. I may buy this again and try frying them instead of stewing. I recall a bit of an artificial aftertaste, but I'm willing to give this another shot given the solid nutritional profile and nice flavour.

Where to buy: Fortinos, Freshco, Zehr's




Ingredients: water, vital wheat gluten, soy protein isolate*, expeller pressed canola oil*, onions, yeast extract, modified vegetable gum, malted barley extract, onion powder, garlic powder, organic cane sugar, organic ancient grain flour (KAMUT® khorasan wheat, amaranth, millet, quinoa), vinegar, potato starch, dipotassium phosphate, sea salt, natural flavors (from plant sources), pea protein, spices, carrot fiber, beetroot fiber

rub: dehydrated vegetable (red bell pepper, garlic, onion), spices, organic cane sugar, salt, paprika powder.

*Non genetically engineered soy, wheat and canola.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving size: 3/4 cup
Calories: 170
     Calories from fat: 50
Fat: 6g
     Saturated: .5g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 400mg
Carb: 9g
     Fibre: 3g
     Sugars: 1g
Protein: 20g
Vitamin A: 2%
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 15%

I'm very happy with the ingredients and nutrition. The calories are fantastic for 20g of protein and it has a good amount of fibre. The sodium is a tad higher than I'd like, especially since most people will have this with a few sides (each with its own sodium content)...and this can add up really quickly. On the plus side, there's a nice dose of iron, no fat, and no cholesterol.

Other 'beefless' Gardein products (all vegan):
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..."
  • Ccontains 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)."
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Review of 'KIND' -- Almond & Apricot Bar

KIND -- Almond & Apricot (not vegan)
Rating: 4/5
Summary: I very much enjoyed this bar. It's tart yet very sweet; coconutty; chewy; nicely textured with nuts, coconut shavings, rice and sticky honey goodness. Love love love. I'd buy this again and recommend it! The only downside is the lower side of protein and fiber for 180 calories.

Where to buy: Bulk Barn, Pharma Plus, Fortinos



Ingredients: Almonds, coconut, honey, non GMO glucose, apricots, apple juice, crisp rice, vegetable glycerine, chicory root fiber, soy lecithin, citrus pectin, natural apricot flavor.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 180
     Fat calories: 90
Total fat: 10g
     Saturated fat: 3.5g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 25mg
Potassium: 190mg
Total carbohydrate: 23g
     Dietary fiber: 3g
     Sugars: 13g
Protein: 3g
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 4%

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

Other 'KIND' Fruit & Nut bars:
 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
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Review of 'Raw Rev 100' Golden Cashew Bar

Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: mild sweetness; nutty; moist. Unfortunately there's a strange plasticy texture and taste to this bar. I'd personally not buy this flavour again and would rather opt for the Spirulina Dream (4.5/5).

Where to buy: online




Ingredients: Organic Cashews, Organic Dates, Organic Sunflower Seed Kernels, Organic Agave Nectar, Organic Almonds, Organic Sprouted Flax Seed.

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 bar
Calories 100
     Calories from fat 50
Total Fat 6g
     Saturated Fat .5g
     Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 0mg
Total Carbohydrates 11g
     Dietary Fiber 2g
     Sugars 7g
Protein 3g
Vitamin A 0%,
Vitamin C 4%
Calcium 4%
Iron 6%

Definitely can't find anything negative about these ingredients; all organic and simple. The nutritional profile is great, though the fiber content is a bit weak (it's more than the Spirulina Dream flavour though). Also, there's no sodium and no added sugars and it's only 100 calories. Too bad about the artificial flavour. I would not buy this flavour again. I'd more likely opt for the Spirulina Dream.

Other Raw Rev 100 varieties (all vegan):
Brand: 
  • Since 2004
  • Non-GMO
  • Kosher
  • Gluten-Free
  • Organic
  • Generally, the bars range from approximately 80% to 100% raw.
  • In the news.
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Wednesday, 18 February 2015

Review of 'Honest Kids' -- Appley Ever After Organic Juice Drink

Honest Kids -- Appley Ever After Organic Juice Drink (vegan)
Overall Rating: 5/5
Summary: mildly sweet; very fresh; smooth, authentic apple flavour. I would definitely buy this again...for myself!...not only for the taste but also for the impressiveness of the brand (despite being owned by Coca Cola. Check it out below.

Where to buy: US only



Ingredients: Filtered water, organic apple juice from concentrate, natural flavors, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), organic natural flavors, citric acid, malic acid.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 pouch
Calories: 40
Total fat: 0g
Sodium: 5mg
Total carbohydrates: 10g
     Sugars: 9g
Protein: 0g
Vitamin C: 100%

Awesome little snack with simple ingredients, low-calorie, and packed with vitamin C. You can't go wrong. This is a much cleaner version than your typical boxed drink.

Other Honest Kids Organic Juice Drink Flavours:


Brand:

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Monday, 16 February 2015

Review of 'Raw Rev 100' Spirulina Dream Bar

Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: nice mild sweetness; um...it's green!...weirded out easily?...then this may not be for you. It's a soft chewy, and super nutty bar that I would definitely buy again! I really enjoyed this and the ingredients are all organic and nutritious (thanks to the spirulina).

Where to buy: online



Ingredients: Organic Cashews, Organic Dates, Organic Sunflower Seed Kernels, Organic Agave Nectar, Organic Almonds, Organic Spirulina Powder, Organic Sprouted Flax Seed. CONTAINS TREE NUTS. Made on equipment shared with peanuts.

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 bar
Calories 100
     Calories from fat 60
Total Fat 6g
     Saturated Fat 1g
     Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 5mg
Total Carbohydrates 10g
     Dietary Fiber 1g
     Sugars 7g
Protein 3g
Vitamin A 0%,
Vitamin C 4%
Calcium 4%
Iron 6%

Let's see...can't find anything negative about the ingredients. The nutritional profile is great, though the fiber content is a bit weak. However, the benefits of spirulina in terms of vitamins and minerals makes up for it. Also, there's next to no sodium and no added sugars AND 100 calories. No complaints from me. A very nice snack that I would personally buy again.

Other Raw Rev 100 varieties (all vegan):
Brand: 
  • Since 2004
  • Non-GMO
  • Kosher
  • Gluten-Free
  • Organic
  • Generally, the bars range from approximately 80% to 100% raw.
  • In the news.
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Saturday, 7 February 2015

Review of 'Clif' White Chocolate Macadamia Nut

Clif -- White Chocolate Macadamia Nut
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: very dense, super thick bar that's very filling; like the icing drizzle; it was super sweet; however! it needs more white chocolate flavour and creaminess in the chocolate chips and more macadamia nuts. I also encountered 1 stale bite. Not pleased that all the soy ingredients are not organic, since soy production is linked to deforestation and climate change.

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, Barley Malt Extract], Organic Roasted Soybeans, Organic Soy Flour), Organic Rolled Oats, Soy White Chocolate (Organic Dried Cane Syrup, Cocoa Butter‡, Soy Flour, Soy Lecithin, Organic Vanilla Extract), Organic Cane Syrup, ClifCrunch® (Organic Oat Fiber, Inulin [Chicory Extract], Organic Milled Flaxseed, Organic Oat Bran, Organic Psyllium), Macadamia Nuts, Organic Soy Butter (Organic Roasted Soybeans, Organic Soybean Oil, Salt), Organic Macadamia Nuts, Organic Date Paste, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt, Natural Vitamin E (Antioxidant).

ALLERGEN STATEMENT: CONTAINS SOY AND MACADAMIA NUTS. MAY CONTAIN TRACES OF MILK, PEANUTS, WHEAT, AND OTHER TREE NUTS.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 260
     Calories from fat: 60
Total fat: 7g
     Sat fat: 2g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 240mg
Potassium: 180mg
Total carb: 41g
     Dietary fiber: 4g
     Insoluble fiber: 2g
     Sugars: 21g
     Other carb: 16g
Protein: 9g
Vit A: 30%
Vit C: 90%
Calcium: 25%
Iron: 10%

Again, happy with most of the ingredients, just not the soy-based ones, which aren't organic. The nutrition facts are great and with 260 calories, a bit high, it's a very filling bar. I would have liked a bit more protein with this calorie count, but there is a nice dose of fiber and vitamins/minerals.

Other Clif Bar flavours (all vegan, baby):
  • Apricot
  • Banana Nut Bread
  • Black Cherry Almond (reviewed here)
  • Blueberry Crisp
  • Carrot Cake (reviewed here)
  • Chocolate Almond Fudge (reviewed here)
  • Chocolate Brownie
  • Chocolate Chip (reviewed here)
  • Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch
  • Coconut Chocolate Chip
  • Cool Mint Chocolate (reviewed here) 
  • Crunchy Peanut Butter
  • Gary's Panforte
  • Iced Gingerbread
  • Maple Nut (reviewed here) 
  • Oatmeal Raisin Walnut
  • Peanut Toffee Buzz
  • Peppermint Stick (reviewed here)
  • Spiced Pumpkin
Brand:
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