Wednesday, 14 November 2012

Review of 'Kraft' All Natural Peanut Butter

Kraft -- All Natural Peanut Butter (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: I find that the peanut butter flavour is stronger in the aftertaste than in the initial bite and chew. It's perfectly creamy and smooth and makes for great gluten-free peanut butter chocolate cookies ;) It has good flavour, however I do think it's less strong than other 'all natural' peanut butter brands I've had. Kraft isn't a particularly trustworthy or health-conscious brand, so I chose to give it a lower overall rating.

Where to buy: Fortinos, Sobeys, Metro




Ingredients: 100% select roasted peanuts.

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

Well, clearly I can't complain about these ingredients or the nutritional profile. It's as clean as a whistle! You can't go wrong with a tbsp of peanut butter every day -- healthy fats, no cholesterol or sodium, and a nice serving of protein.

I think because I just had Maranatha's Natural Roasted Almond Butter (reviewed here) recently, I'm in a good position to pick a favourite...almond butter or peanut butter....if on toast, then almond butter is my choice. If in cookies, then peanut butter is my choice. *However*, I had yet to make 'almond butter cookies', so I should really reserve my judgment until then.

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 Crunchy 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)
  • There are more lawsuits, though too many to list here! You get the picture...
  • Work with American Red Cross for humanitarian efforts
Posted by at 9 comments:

Tuesday, 13 November 2012

Review of 'Vega' Recover Performance Protein (Chocolate)

Vega -- Recover Performance Protein (Chocolate) (vegan)
Overall Rating: 5/5 4.5/5 (reassessed in light of a high sodium content)
Summary: I've had this protein powder in so many different ways with so many ingredients and it has been delicious each and every time. I honestly have zero complaints and I've been using it for roughly one year. I'd recommend this product for those looking for a vegan and non-soy based protein powder for their post-workout recovery protein. It isn't grainy, doesn't have any weird or artificial aftertastes. Instead, it's a really fresh, clean blend that has made me a perfect shake each time. The only issue is the 520mg of sodium per scoop!

Where to buy: Fortinos, Sobeys, GNC,Village Health Food, S & H Health Foods, Village Pharmacy, Vega e-store

Performance Protein

*Ingredients: yellow pea protein, saviseed sacha inchi protein, sprouted whole grain brown rice protein, hemp protein, alfalfa protein, cocoa powder, natural chocolate flavors, stevia extract, sodium chloride.

*Full ingredient list available here.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 scoop
Calories: 120
     Calories from fat: 10
Total fat: 1g
     Saturated: .5g
Total Carb: 6g
     Dietary fiber: 2g
     Sugars: <1g
Protein: 26g
Sodium: 520mg

For a mere 120 calories, you could get a whopping 26g of complete protein, along with a host of other nutritional benefits. I encourage you to check out the website -- it's a great, well-rounded product!

My typical Vega shake recipe:
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1/4 -- 1/2 cup non-dairy milk
  • 1 cup of any fruit(s)
This formula is simple and makes for a perfectly sweet and fresh shake after my morning workouts. I've used the following fruits with success: mangoes, watermelon, cantaloupe, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, and bananas.

I just thought of a new one!...bananas...*and* peanut butter heehee I can't wait to try that! With a little extra milk for creaminess, this will be divine and I know it.

Please check out this brand. Even if you're not a vegan, it's just a great company to support.

Other 'Recover' products:
Brand (quoted from vegasport.com):
  • Ecologically- and socially-minded
  • "Ingredients are sourced as locally as possible, efficiently grown, minimally processed, non GMO and organic and raw where available."
  • "Vega’s head office is 100% wind-powered (via Bullfrog Power) and our building also features sustainable and energy-efficient materials such as daylight sensor light fixtures, earth-friendly recycled modular carpet system, rapidly renewable bamboo floors and low-emissivity glass windows."
  • Sustainability Initiatives
  • Community Initiatives (e.g. athlete sponsorship, support of activist organizations, support vegan and vegetarian societies, support and partner with eco-friendly events and groups)
  • A host of other great information is available at myvega.com. Please check it out.
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Review of 'Sunsweet' Pitted Prunes (Dried Plums)

Sunsweet -- Pitted Prunes (Dried Plums) (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: These are perfectly moist and juicy prunes. They're tender and chewy...I can't believe how incredibly sweet they are, with a great, deep flavour It's honestly like having a dessert...except with a lot more health benefits, I'm sure.

Where to buy: Costco, Sunsweet online store



Ingredients: pitted california prunes (dried plums), potassium sorbate (as a preservative).

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 40g (about 5 prunes)
Calories: 100
Total fat: 0g
     Saturated: 0g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 5mg
Potassium: 290mg
Total Carb: 24g
     Dietary fiber: 3g
     Sugars: 12g
Protein: 1g
Vitamin A: 8%
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 2%

Did you know that prunes have more antioxidants than blueberries? These little dudes will give you a boost of energy, antioxidants and even help you out in the shitter...err bathroom.

It doesn't look like a serving would make for a very filling snack with just 5 prunes per serving, *however* prunes actually promote satiety. Making you feel full can prevent overeating. Prunes actually help to normalize blood sugar levels because of its soluble fiber (read more about the benefits of prunes here).

...and the flavour it totally worth it as well! I know prunes get a bad rap (e.g. old people poo food), but I have no idea why...they are simply delicious. They're one of the most naturally sweet foods out there (excluding syrups and honey and all that). What's more, they should be a staple in your pantry for baking.

Check out their recipe section for some great ideas (especially for dessert!). Some dessert recipes include:
The brownies look reaaaallly good in the picture...I'm down to try that one!

Sunsweet's 'Essence' line of prunes looks yummy (see below), but dang it, they've used artifical flavourings...

Other Prune products (all vegan):
Brand:
  • Brand (quoted from Sunsweet):
  • Committed to reducing the amount of packaging used in Sunsweet products
  • Committed to recycling all packaging waste, glass, PET, fiber and cans
  • Committed to utilizing energy-efficient lighting and steam power in our factory facility
  • Developing new ways to utilize production bi-products (The bi-products from our dryers use no landfill space as we send about two thirds of it to compost and the balance is supplemental feed for livestock)
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Review of 'Yarl Foods' Blueberry Bar

Yarl Foods -- Blueberry Bar
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: This mini bar has great textures -- fresh whole sunflower seeds and rice crisps are the stars. The flavours of the honey and sunflower seeds were prominent and I really enjoyed that...however, I did miss the promise of a 'blueberry' bar. Overall, it ranks high on the sweet scale and I really enjoyed it...a short and sweet affair at just 90 calories. The only thing I'm disappointed in is the lack of information provided about the brand, its products, and its ingredients on the website (currently under construction. For this reason, I didn't rank it a 4/5

Where to buy: Oceans


Ingredients: blueberries, sesame seeds, peanuts, raisins, sunflower seeds, crisp brown rice, brown rice syrup, honey.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 piece (20g)
Calories: 90
Fat: 3.5g
     Saturated fat: .5g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 15mg
Carbohydrate: 13g
     Fibre: 1g
     Sugars: 6g
Protein: 2g
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 4%

I'm really liking the simplicity of Yarl Foods' ingredient lists so far. The nutritional profile is no cause for worry -- it's low in fat, has the healthy fats our bodies require, is low in sodium and has zero cholesterol! This is a nice little treat for your sweet tooth that's low-calorie. Keep in mind, though, that this is not a snack that's meant to be filling :P It's strictly in the 'treat' category.

The bar itself is very sticky (thanks to the honey and syrup) and soft so I got sticky fingers. Boo...and I was even trying to be careful by eating it from the wrapper.

Other flavours:
Brand:
  • Website is under construction, so I couldn't gather much intel.
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Monday, 12 November 2012

Review of 'Maranatha' Natural Roasted Almond Butter (Creamy)

Maranatha -- Natural Almond Butter (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: Oh, so creamy. I think I may actually prefer this over peanut butter! You can clearly taste that the almonds were roasted and the flavour is rich and naturally lightly sweet. I would recommend this to anyone...especially those of you who dislike peanut butter. This is a great alternative nut spread...it has a flavour that is definitely distinct from peanut butter.

Where to buy: Costco, Fortinos; US Store Locator



Ingredients: dry roasted almonds.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 tablespoon
Calories: 100
Fat: 8g
     Saturated: .5g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 0mg
Carbohydrate: 3g
     Fibre: 2g
     Sugars: 1g
Protein: 3g
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 4%

Well, gotta love the ingredient list! One tablespoon gives 100 calories of pure goodness -- 8 grams of healthy fats, 0 cholesterol, 0 sodium, and 3g of protein. Try this on a slice of your favourite toast with sliced avocado and....it's basically 'creamy heaven.'

The Maranatha website has a recipe section here. They have some really yummy-looking dessert recipes *with* pictures...enjoy!

Other 'All Natural Almond Butters':
Brand:
  • 'Natural' butters are free of preservatives, stabilizers, additives, artificial colors or flavors.
  • Gluten-free
  • Kosher
  • No hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils
  • They have an 'Organic' line of spreads
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Review of 'Yarl Foods' Pumpkin Seeds Brittle

Yarl Foods -- Pumpkin Seeds Brittle (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: I love that this is *not* crumbly and messy. It's fresh and the pumpkin seed flavour is great! It's a nice compact, crunchy, festival of nuttiness in yo' mouf. Mmm. Sure, it's a pretty tiny brittle for 150 calories, but I'd say it's worth it cause I love me some nuts! I would have preferred another sweetener (perhaps a syrup), but I'd recommend this, nevertheless. I'd give it a 4.5/5, but I wasn't happy that the website was under construction and I couldn't evaluate the brand.

Where to buy: Oceans



Ingredients: pumpkin seeds, peanuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, brown sugar, glucose, water, malt extract.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 package (27g)
Calories: 150
Fat: 10g
     Saturated fat: 1.5g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 0mg
Carbohydrate: 11g
     Fibre: 1g
     Sugars: 6g
Protein: 5g
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 6%

These ingredients are plain and simple -- love it. The 150 calories for the modestly-sized brittle shouldn't scare you off because it's actually nutritious! It has healthy fats, zero cholesterol, and a solid 5g of protein. So...don't fret, just pick this up and enjoy once in a while. You won't be disappointed!

Other flavours:
Brand:
  • Website is under construction, so I couldn't gather much intel.
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Review of 'Yves' Veggie Burger Burgers

Yves -- Veggie Burger Burgers (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3/5
Summary: I *really* enjoyed the texture of this burger (very much like a regular beef burger in texture), but not so much the flavour. It's nicely salted, but lacks enough spices for my liking. Don't expect a 'meat' flavour, because it's just a 'veggie' burger. It has a decent thickness but I'd prefer a wee bit thicker. I wouldn't recommend this simply because the taste is nothing special

Where to buy: Fortinos




Note that I couldn't find this specific product on the official website. So, the ingredients and nutritional profile listed here will reflect the packaging and won't be found on the website (as of now, anyway).

Ingredients: water, soy protein product, wheat gluten, wheat protein product, canola oil, natural flavours, carrageenan, salt, evaporated cane juice, malt extract, spices (contains mustard), modified cellulose, yeast corn starch, potassium chloride, vitamins and minerals (thiamine hydrochloride, riboflavin, niacinamide, pyridoxine hydrochloride, cyanocobalamin, calcium pantothenate, reduced iron, zinc oxide, dipotassium phosphate, wheat starch).
Contains soy, wheat, and mustard. May contain eggs and milk.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 burger
Calories: 100
Fat: 2.5
     Saturated: .3g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 390mg
Potassium: 340mg
Carbohydrate: 7g
     Fibre: 2g
     Sugars: 1g
Protein: 13g
Vitamin C: 4%
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 25%
Thiamine: 20%
Riboflavin: 15%
Niacin: 30%
Vitamin B6: 15%
Vitamin B12: 100%
Pantothenate: 8%
Zinc: 50%

Sure, the nutritional profile is good -- it's low-calorie, low in fat, and has zero cholesterol. The fiber and protein content  is okay and it has a host of vitamins and nutrients, which is good. I just can't recommend it based on the taste. Also, I'm always cognizant of the fact that I'm uncertain about the GMO status of Yves.

Other Yves Burgers:
Brand:
  • Uncertain GMO status
  • Kosher
  • Preservative-free
  • Free of artificial colours and flavours
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