Review of 'Taste of Nature' Canadian Maple Forest Bar

Taste of Nature -- Canadian Maple Forest (vegan)
Overall Rating: 5/5
Summary: perfectly juicy, lots of fresh, crunchy, sweet pecans, super duper maple flavour. The ingredients are amazing; wholesome and simple. I have zero complaints and highly recommend this bar!

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



Ingredients: Pecans*, apricots*, Brazil nuts*, agave nectar*, brown rice syrup*, raisins*, whole grain brown rice crisps*, maple syrup*, maple flavour*, vanilla flavour*, sea salt.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 190
     Calories from fat: 110
Fat: 12g
     Saturated fat: 1.5g
     Trans fat:
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 35mg
Carbohydrate: 19g
     Fiber: 3g
     Sugar: 8g
Protein: 3g
Vitamin C: 2%
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 6%

This is just the perfect little snack bar for me. It has great ingredients and has a good nutritional profile. The taste...amazing! Try this bar!!

Other 'Exotic Bars' flavours (vegan):

• Caribbean Ginger Island
• Persian Pomegranate Garden
• Himalayan Goji Summit
• Mediterranean Pistachio Passion

Brand:

• 100% Organic, Certified Kosher, Gluten free, Source of fibre, Source of Energy
• 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 Clif Mojo Sweet and Salty Trail Mix Bar (Chocolate Almond Coconut)

Clif Mojo -- Sweet and Salty Trail Mix Bar (Chocolate Almond Coconut) (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: Wow....this delivers. It's all of what you would anticipate; very coconutty, almondy, and chocolatey. Not issue there. It's nice and crunchy and medium-sweet. It's a very juicy, fresh bar. Not at all dry. I highly recommend this bar and would buy it again!

Where to buy: only available in the US (store finder)



Ingredients: Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Almonds, Soy Rice Crisps (Soy Protein Isolate, Organic Rice Flour, Calcium Carbonate), Organic Chocolate Chunks (Organic Dried Cane Syrup, Organic Unsweetened Chocolate, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Soy Lecithin, Organic Vanilla), Organic Coconut, Almond Butter, Organic Roasted Soybeans, Organic Oat Syrup Solids, Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Coconut Oil, Sea Salt, Organic Gum Arabic, Natural Flavor, Natural Vitamin E (antioxidant).

Nutrition Facts
Calories: 200
     Calories from fat: 110
Total fat: 12g
     Sat. fat: 6g
     Trans fat: 0g
     Polyunsaturated fat: 1.5g
     Monounsaturated fat: 4.5g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 180mg
Potassium: 170mg
Total carb.: 20g
     Dietary fiber: 3g
     Sugars: 10g
Protein: 8g
Calcium: 10%
Iron: 8%

Fantastic ingredients....clean and wholesome. The nutritional profile is very, very good! There's a solid 8g of protein and 3g of fiber, with 10% calcium and 8% iron. It's high in good fats and low in sodium and calories (vs nutrition!).

Other flavours:

• Dipped Chocolate Peanut
• Dipped S'mores (vegan)
• Honey Roasted Peanut
• Mixed Nuts (vegan)
• Mountain Mix (vegan)
• Peanut Butter Pretzel (vegan)
• White Chocolate Macadamia

Brand:

• 70% organic
• CLIF MOJO bars are free of trans fats, hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, artificial preservatives and ingredients sourced from GMOs.
• All CLIF MOJO bars are certified Kosher.
• Honey Roasted Peanut and Chocolate Peanut contain honey, a product of bees.

Review of 'Glutino' Pretzel Sticks

Glutino -- Pretzel Sticks (vegan)
Overall Rating: 2.5/5
Summary: super crunchy, perfectly salted, and low-calorie! I'd say it tastes great...but I wouldn't recommend this product nor would I buy it again. It offers next to no nutritional benefit (empty calories) and uses GMO ingredients along with palm oil (linked to deforestation in tropical countries).

Where to buy: Bulk Barn, Metro, Superstore, Fortinos

Coupon!


Ingredients: CORN STARCH, POTATO STARCH, RICE FLOUR, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, PALM OIL, SUGAR, SALT, CARBOXYMETHYL CELLULOSE, SOY LECITHIN, SODIUM BICARBONATE, YEAST EXTRACT, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, CITRIC ACID.

Nutrition Profile
Serving size: 42 sticks
Calories: 160
Fat: 4.5g
     Saturated fat: 2.5g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 560mg
Carbohydrates: 32g
     Fibre: 0g
     Sugars: 2g
Protein: 1g
Iron: 2%

The nutritional profile is just not good...it doesn't offer much nutrition. Nearly no protein and fiber and high in sodium. The ingredients aren't much better...corn syrup solids (likely GMO), palm oil (linked to deforestation in tropical countries)...pass.

Other varieties:

• Yogurt Covered Pretzels
• Pretzel Twists (vegan)
• Pretzel Chips (vegan)
• Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Brand:

• Only some products are non-GMO (find the list here) 
• Some organic products (Chocolate Peanut Butter Organic Bars, Chocolate Banana Organic Bars and Wildberry Organic Bars are organic)
• Some kosher products (find the list here)

Review of 'Casbah' Rice Pilaf

Casbah -- Rice Pilaf (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: I added slightly too much salt, so I take some responsibility for the bias in rating. I liked. it for a good side dish. I added mushrooms and it was a nice combination. I would likely buy this again, though I do wish it had more fiber. It would have made for a more well-rounded nutritional profile. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this product.

Where to buy: Bulk Barn, buy online, I think Walmart



Ingredients: rice, whole durum wheat pasta, yeast extract, dehydrated onions, salt, spices, silicon dioxide, sea salt, dehydrated garlic, canola oil, natural flavours.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/5 pkg
Calories: 140
Fat: .5g
     Saturated: 0g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 450mg
Carbohydrate: 30g
     Fibre: 1g
     Sugars: 0g
Protein: 4g
Vitamin C: 2%
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 10%

The ingredients are great--simple and wholesome. I'm not 100% sure if the canola oil used is non-GMO. Points for anyone who can help to track that down! The nutritional profile is just not that great...it has a solid 4g of protein, but only 1g of fiber. It's also very high in sodium and not very vitamin or nutrient rich.

Other Pilaf varieties:

• Spanish Pilaf
• Saffroned Jasmine Rice

Brand:

• Hain-Celestial Canada
• No MSG
• All Casbah varieties are vegetarian, made with 100% animal-free ingredients only

Review of 'Taste of Nature' Organic Snack Bar (Niagara Apple Country)

Taste of Nature -- Organic Snack Bar (Niagara Apple Country) (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3/5
Summary: strangely, it had a stale taste before the expiry date even though I stored it in the fridge. How unfortunate. It would have been a good bar, otherwise. There was a slight cinnamon flavour and perfect chewiness. The nutritional profile is good and the ingredients are great, so I'm tempted to try this again and hope that I don't get a stale one!

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



Ingredients: Almonds*, oats*, raisins*, agave nectar*, apples*, brown rice syrup*, whole grain brown rice crisps*, cinnamon*.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 150
     Calories from fat: 45
Total fat: 5g
     Saturated fat: .5g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 10mg
Carbohydrate: 25g
     Fiber: 3g
     Sugars: 13g
Protein: 3g
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 8%

I love these ingredients...how could you not; they are simple and wholesome. The nutrition profile is good, with low fat, no cholesterol, low sodium, and a good 3g of fiber and protein. I would definitely recommend this bar and brand for the nutrition and reputation, however I would hope that your bar is a fresh one!

Other 'Organic Bars' Varieties (all vegan):

• Argentina Peanut Plains
• Brazilian Nut Fiesta
• California Almond Valley
• Quebec Cranberry Carnival (reviewed here)
• Nova Scotia Blueberry Fields (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 'Quaker' Puffed Wheat

Quaker -- Puffed Wheat (vegan)
Overall Rating: 2.5/5
Summary: definitely does not stand alone and is much better with add-ins (e.g. fruit, honey drizzle, etc.); light and airy, so not too filling. I did enjoy the texture, which was a nice chew after sitting in milk. I wouldn't recommend this cereal because it doesn't really offer much in nutrition unless you add to it. Furthermore, Quaker isn't a great leader in nutrition and environment, so I'd prefer to recommend an alternative brand, like Nature's Path.

Where to buy: most grocery stores



Ingredients: PUFFED WHEAT, FERROUS SULFATE (A SOURCE OF IRON), NIACINAMIDE*, CITRIC ACID, THIAMIN MONONITRATE*, RIBOFLAVIN*, FOLIC ACID*.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/2 cup
Calories: 50
Total fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 0mg
Potassium: 55mg
Total carbohydrate: 22g
     Dietary fiber: 1g
     Other carbohydrates: 13g
Protein: 2g
Vitamin A: 30%
Vitamin C:  45%
Iron: 60%

This is a very low calorie, low fat cereal with no sodium or cholesterol. Great...however there's nearly no fiber and protein, so I definitely wouldn't buy this again. I prefer the ease of a stand-alone cereal that doesn't require thinking about supplementing fiber/protein/calcium/etc.

Other Puffed Varieties:

• Puffed Rice

Brand:

• Continues to include trans fats, artificial flavours, colouring, genetically modified ingredients despite branding itself as health conscious and progressive
• Goal: to reduce water and electricity consumption by 20% and fuel consumption by 25% by 2015 (Oats and the Environment)
• Since 1901
• Part of PepsiCo since 2001 (against GMO-labelling)

Review of 'Harvest Snaps' Lentil Snaps (Tomato Basil)

Harvest Snaps -- Lentil Snaps (Tomato Basil) (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: very, very nice tomato flavour, light on the basil. It's super fresh and crunchy, slightly airy and light. I don't really get the lentil taste, so I guess that's a good thing for bean haters. The nutritional profile is good and the ingredients aren't bad, though it was not absolutely clear if all ingredients are non-GMO.

Where to buy: Bulk Barn; store locator

Coupons and deals!



Ingredients: Red Lentil Beans, Corn Oil, Rice, Tomato Basil Seasoning (Salt, Tomato Powder, Sugar, Onion Powder, Maltodextrin, Garlic Powder, Citric Acid, Spices, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Yeast Extract, White Distlled Vinegar, Extrative Of Tomato, Extractive Of Paprika (Color), Natural Flavors, Less Than 2% Silicon Dioxide Added As An Anti-caking Agent), Color Additive (Natural Extractives Of Paprika, Diacetyl, Tartaric Acid Esters Of Mono- And Diglycerides, Conola Oil, Natural Favors And Ascorbic Acid), Calcium Carbonate And Ascorbyl Palmitate

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 22 pcs
Calories: 120
     Calories from fat: 50
Total fat: 6g
     Saturated fat: .5g
     Trans fat: 0g
Sodium: 85mg
Potassium: 180mg
Total carb.: 15g
     Dietary fiber: 2g
     Sugars: 1g
Protein: 5g
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 8%

The ingredients aren't offensive and for 120 calories, a serving is low in saturated fat, very low in sodium, and has 2g of fiber and a solid 5g of protein. Pretty good! 

Other 'Lentil Snaps' Flavours:

• Onion Thyme

Brand:

• Non-GMO crops are grown and harvested in rich North American soils.
• In the news
• Owned by Calbee North America, one of the first Japanese food manufacturers in North America