Gluten Free Bars: Bakery on Main Apricot Almond Chai True Bar

PRODUCT NAME:                   Apricot Almond Chai True Bar   

BRAND:                                  Bakery on Main      

COST:                                    $1.99

SIZE:                                      40g (1.41 oz)                                      

COST PER OZ:                        $1.41      

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:     YES      

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      GFCO

ORGANIC:                              NO                       

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      NA

VEGAN:                                  NO                                    

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:       YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:       Glastonbury, CT            

SHELF LIFE:                           1 Year                                       

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.            

REVIEW:
This is the third thing I’ve sampled from Bakery on Main and I can say that along with the other two oatmeal products, this did not disappoint.  True Bar comes with the testimony on the package of, “I am an Apricot Almond Chai Bar with nothing to hide.”  After my first bite, I felt this was an accurate statement.  Right there, plain as day I got intense flavors of every ingredient in the name: the sweetness of the apricot, the crunchy nuttiness of the almond and the intense after-taste of the chai.  The flavors blend surprisingly well together and I was especially delighted by the chai, which gives the whole bar and extra zing that would otherwise be lacking.  There are quite a few spices in there as well, including ginger, cinnamon and cardamom, which come out pretty strong overall.  I have to say, if you don’t like chai and exotic spices, this particular bar might not be for you and one of their other flavors might be better suited.

The bar itself is soft and sticky, which gives it a good texture when you’re eating it, but becomes somewhat difficult when you are trying to handle it.  There’s no good way to do so other than just to use the packaging as a grip so you don’t muss up your fingers.  I look at bars as an “on-the-go” food and syrupy hands after this kind of snack can be problematic.  No one likes sticky steering wheels for instance.  But perhaps your life isn’t quite that hectic and you can enjoy a snack bar while not doing a million things at the same time.  Then the stickiness can be taken as is and the bar enjoyed for simply being delicious.  Personally, I make exceptions and this True Bar is tasty enough where licking my fingers afterwards is a statement to its unique flavors and satisfying composition. 

Bakery on Main is a pretty diverse company for basically dealing with gluten free oatmeal products.  They have a great story as to how they got started and they seemingly carry this hometown goodness into all of their food.  The True Bar comes in a variety of amazing flavors, most of which can be found at the Gluten Free Grocery.  The bar itself is only 160 calories and packs in 3 grams of protein as well.  It has simple straightforward ingredients along with chia seeds for an extra dose of omega 3’s and fiber.  Overall, this is a great treat and Bakery on Main is certainly becoming a brand I will keep an eye on and recommend to others as delicious gluten free foods.

For more information, you can check out Bakery on Main’s website https://bakeryonmain.com/

Taste: sweet apricot, intense chai and ginger with heavy spices, a really unique a different taste

Labeling: clearly gluten free, informative and descriptive labelling

Packaging: plastic see-through wrapper

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:       4                           

Taste:           5                             

Value:          4.5         

OVERALL:    4.5     

Reviewed  by

Krisztina Lazar

Gluten Free Snacks: Mr. Krispers Baked Rice Krisps Product Review #114

Gluten Free Snacks: Mr. Krispers Baked Rice Krisps

PRODUCT NAME:                       Baked Rice Krisps

BRAND:                                      Mr. Krispers

COST:                                         $2.99

SIZE:                                           4.2oz    

COST PER OZ:                            $0.71/oz                         

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:          YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           GFCO

ORGANIC:                                   NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           NA

VEGAN:                                       NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:             UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:             Loves Park, IL

SHELF LIFE:                                UNKNOWN

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.   

         

REVIEW:

All natural…check.  Made with brown rice…check.  Wheat and gluten free…check.  Certified gluten free…check.  These are all things going for Mr. Krispers Baked Rice Krisps.  On a recent trip to the grocery store, we ran across this snack in the gluten free section and had to try it out.  We picked up the Sour Cream & Onion flavor.  These are something like a mix between a cracker and a chip.

Mr. Krispers describes these chips as a fusion between cultures; the flavors of the West combined with the traditional baked rice snacks of the East.  Sour cream & onion is definitely a flavor of the West.  You find it on everything from chips to fresh baked pretzels.  We thought it went great on these Baked Rice Krisps although we thought it was just a little overpowering.  Brown rice has flavor on its own so any flavoring that is added should be to enhance the brown rice flavor, not overpower it.  Other than that, the texture of these Baked Rice Krisps is great.  It is light and airy and extremely crispy.  If you aren’t careful, you can easily kill the entire bag in 1 sitting. 

Nutrition Facts and Ingredients

Mr. Krispers has done a great job with these Baked Rice Krisps.  Rice has a lot of health benefits and is a way to add fiber to your diet.  While these chips aren’t entirely good for you, with how good it tastes, we like to think it is.  The serving size is about 34 chips which seems like a pretty good amount.  Each serving contains 120 calories, 3.5 grams of fat, no cholesterol, 370 milligrams of sodium, and 2 grams of protein. The one thing that jumps out at me is the 370 milligrams of sodium.  I think with a little tweaking of the flavoring, they can get that number down a little. 

Overall, we loved these Baked Rice Krisps.  The flavor is great and the texture is perfect.  Our only complaint is that at $0.71/oz they are priced a little on the high side.  If you’re going to base your purchase on flavor and texture alone, these will definitely be at the top of the list.  For more information about this product, visit the Mr. Krispers website at: www.mrkrispers.com. 

Taste: These Baked Rice Krisps taste great.  They have the perfect light and crispy texture with a very nice sour cream and onion flavor.  The seasoning is a little overpowering, so you might want to keep a glass of water handy for when you eat this. 

Labeling:  The labeling on this snack is simple and easy to read.  They give you all the important information in easy to read lists. 

Packaging:  The packaging is your typical chip package. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                 5             

Taste:                     4             

Value:                    2

OVERALL:              3.7

Reviewed  4/26/11 by Calvin C. 

Gluten Free Chips: Late July Multigrain Snack Chips - Product Review #108

Gluten Free Chips: Late July Multigrain Snack Chips

PRODUCT NAME:                         Multigrain Snack Chips

BRAND:                                        Late July

COST:                                           $3.39

SIZE:                                             6oz        

COST PER OZ:                              $0.57/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:           YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            GFCO

ORGANIC:                                    YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            QAI

VEGAN:                                        YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:              UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:              USA

SHELF LIFE:                                  6 Months

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.   

         

REVIEW:

On a recent trip to the supermarket, we ran across Late July Organic Snacks’ multigrain snack chip in a flavor called Sea Salt by the Seashore.  Seeing that it was certified gluten free, we knew that we had to try it.  Digging around on their website, we found out that these chips are organic, certified gluten free, 100% whole grains, has 280mgs of omega-3s, contains no GMOs, no trans fats, and no artificial colors or preservatives.  On top of that they donate 10% of their profits to summer camp scholarships.  What more can you ask for?

Looking at the chip, the first thing that came to mind was that these were tortilla chips.  Take one bite into them and you will quickly see that it is more than that.  They may be in the shape of tortilla chips, but they are so much better.  These chips are made with a mix of seeds and a blend of whole grains like ground whole corn, quinoa and brown rice.  They taste great.  They are very light and crispy and have a nice light flavor.  The variety we purchased was just seasoned with sea salt so you can really taste the flavor of the grains.  The sea salt flavor was very mild and is not something we would eat on its own, but it would be great with your favorite dip. 

Nutrition Facts and Ingredients

These chips have a lot going for it.  They taste great, have great texture and they’re actually pretty good for you.  We had the Sea Salt by the Seashore variety and the serving size for these chips is about 13 chips.  Those 13 chips contain 120 calories (40 from fat), 4.5 grams of fat, no cholesterol, just 70mg of sodium, 2 grams of dietary fiber and 2 grams of protein.  These are pretty good numbers considering many of the alternatives on the market have much higher values.  Combine that with the fact that they are certified gluten free and peanut and tree nut free, and you have yourself a great snack

Overall, we liked these chips a lot.  They are light, have good natural flavor and are pretty healthy for you.  It’s the perfect snack to enjoy with your favorite dip.  These chips are also available in Mild Green Mojo (green chilies with cheese and a hint of lime) and Dude Ranch (tangy sour cream and a perfect blend of herbs and spices).  These are definitely a snack we would buy again.  For more information about these chips or about Late July Organic Snacks, visit their website at: www.latejuly.com. 

Taste: These chips pack a great natural whole grain flavor in a light and crispy chip.  These would be perfect for dipping. 

Labeling:  The graphics on the package were very bright and fun.  The text is easy to read and all of the certification labels are on the bag. 

Packaging:  Sealed chip bag. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                 5             

Taste:                     4             

Value:                    3             

OVERALL:              4

Reviewed  4/15/11 by Calvin C.   

Gluten Free Chips: RW Garcia Flaxseed and Corn Tortilla Chips - Product Review #99

Gluten Free Chips: RW Garcia Flaxseed and Corn Tortilla Chips

 PRODUCT NAME:                        Flaxseed and Corn Tortilla Chips

BRAND:                                        RW Garcia

COST:                                           $3.49

SIZE:                                             7oz        

COST PER OZ:                              $0.50 

                                               

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:           YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            GFCO

ORGANIC:                                    YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            QAI

VEGAN:                                        YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:              UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:              San Jose, CA & Lincolnton, NC

SHELF LIFE:                                  6 Months

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.   

         

REVIEW:
RW Garcia’s Flaxseed and Corn Tortilla Chips are the perfect gluten free snack.  Finally, a gluten free snack that is not only good for you, but tastes great too!  The other week, the manufacturer sent us a few packs of these delicious chips that completely won over the taste buds our staff. 

RW Garcia’s Flaxseed and Corn Tortilla Chips come in 4 flavors; Soy, Spice, Thai, and Blue Flax.  The soy flavor is similar to a regular tortilla chip, the Spice flavor is a slightly smoky savory flavor and the Thai flavor is a sweet and spicy flavor.  There’s a flavor for everyone.  A lot of times, chips are salty and have way too much flavor powder on them.  They end up being way too salty.  You won’t find that here with these RW Garcia Flaxseed and Corn Tortilla chips.  Each chip is perfectly seasoned with just enough flavor powder so you still taste the natural taste of the flaxseed and corn.  The texture is great too.  We saw very few broken chips in the bag.  They are crispy and firm and do very well with dips. 

Nutrition Facts for Thai Flavor

The chips tasted great and we were even happier when we saw how healthy these chips are.  With just 140 calories, 7 grams of fat, no cholesterol, 80mg of sodium and 2 grams of protein per serving for the Thai flavor, these are actually really healthy.  The spice flavor has similar nutrition facts, but an even more impressive 5 grams of protein.  The Soy flavor has just 50 mg of sodium and an impressive 5 grams of protein.  Similar chips flavored tortilla chips I’ve seen have well over 200 mg of sodium per serving, so it’s surprising to see that this one has under 80mg.  These chips also contain flaxseed, which is known to be very healthy.  It is probably the reason for the high protein content.  It also makes these chips a great source of Omega-3s with over 500mg per serving.

Overall, we loved these chips.  They taste great, they have great texture and they are healthy.  Priced just a little higher than your typical flavored tortilla chip, it isn’t a bad value either for such a high quality snack.  For more information about these chips and for store locations, visit their website at: www.rwgarcia.com.

Taste: This chip packs great flavor and texture in a very healthy snack form.

Labeling:  Great labeling that is very easy to read.  These chips are also certified organic and gluten free.  One thing we saw on here that we’ve never seen before is the high capacity barcode on the back that brings you to great recipes for these chips. 

Packaging:  Sealed chip bag

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                 5             

Taste:                     5             

Value:                    3

OVERALL:              4.3

 

Reviewed 3/30/11 by Calvin C.

Weekend Edition Hot off the Press #13: Certified Gluten Free

As you gather more gluten-free favorites (from our reviews), you may notice that a few have seals that certify them as “gluten-free” by different organizations. Since buying gluten-free products can have its risks, these organizations want to make shopping easier for people with gluten intolerance.

The Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) is probably one of the more well-known groups out there. It’s a certification program run by the Gluten Intolerance Group, which is a non-profit that supports people who are sensitive to gluten. The GFCO put its “GF Certification Mark” on products that meet a certain sets of requirements. Companies can start the GFCO certification process by first applying. After being accepted into the application process, the Gluten-Free Certification Organization will go to the manufacturing plant to inspect it and test for gluten in the environment. Then the product is tested and it must contain less than 10 ppm gluten. In order for the company to maintain the gluten-free seal on its product, it must agree to random product testing and plant inspections. The company and GFCO also have to renew this agreement annually.

The GFCO is just one program that was established to certify gluten-free products; there are also other gluten intolerance support groups that have set up their own certification programs. One such group is the Celiac Sprue Association (CSA), a large non-profit celiac support group that was started in 1977. The CSA has much more stringent requirements than most other groups. Testing, done at the lab of the University of Nebraska Food Allergy Research and Resource Program, must show that products contain less than 5 ppm gluten. That is less than a quarter of the gluten level proposed by the FDA (20ppm). The Celiac Sprue Association also reviews the ingredient list and their sources, especially harder-to-trace ingredients like vinegar or vanilla extract. They check how the product is being processed, the manufacturer’s plan to keep allergens out of the food, and even the materials being used in the packaging.

These seals and certifications aim to make eating and grocery shopping easier and less stressful for consumers with gluten intolerance. Next time you’re in the store, check out a few of your favorite products to see if they are sporting any of these seals!

Gluten Free Mixes: Orgran Cornbread & Muffin Mix - Product Review #81

Gluten Free Mixes: Orgran Cornbread Mix

PRODUCT NAME:                   Cornbread and Muffin Mix

BRAND:                                  Orgran

COST:                                     $5.99

SIZE:                                      13.2 oz

COST PER OZ:                       $0.45/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:     YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       Allergen Free International

ORGANIC:                               NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      N/A

VEGAN:                                  OPTIONAL

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:        UNKNOWN   

LOCATION OF FACILITY:        Australia

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

There are a few things in life with which you should not settle. Marriage is one. Mediocre cornbread is the other.

Today’s baking extravaganza involved a simple box of Orgran’s cornbread mix, and ended with a strange aftertaste.

However, I’d like to begin on a positive note, which is to say that this product gets an A+ in the food allergy department. The product is certified gluten, wheat, dairy, egg, yeast, GMO, soy and nut free. This is very impressive, and for what it’s worth, I probably could not make a product like this on my own. Now, read on …

The process itself was quite simple, beginning with a mere egg, a couple of tablespoons of oil and a glass of milk. Amidst three different languages and some unhelpful graphics, I was able to deduce that you’re just supposed to mix all of the ingredients into a bowl and pour the batter into a pan. The text on the box is so distracting, I thought it might be more complicated than this, but the entire process only took about five minutes – not bad.

The house was immediately permeated with the sweet smell of fresh cornbread, along with which comes visions of savory-sweet goodness drenched in butter.

Some preemptive tips – if you do decide to use this mix – are to line your baking apparatus with butter and to stand ready with a toothpick to check for readiness. I baked the bread for the recommended time and it came out done, but not very brown on top. At this point, one is left with the daunting decision of leaving it in the oven and getting a perfect crust, leaving it in and getting an overdone pan of bread with a hopelessly yellow top or accepting it for what it is – which is pretty much done.

I wasn’t feeling very adventurous, and the inside didn’t seem like it could take anymore baking, so I opted for the pale version.

Before we talk about taste, I have a disclaimer: The box recommends a couple of different ways to prepare this classic side dish. In hindsight, I really wish I would have made the batter up as a cornbread pancake or made muffins. Perhaps with a little more grease involved, I would have come out with a more authentic tasting product. There’s also the option of mixing in some chopped jalapenos or corn kernels. That never hurt anyone.

Taste: The initial sensation within the first three chews or so is that of your typical crumbly cornbread. A bit of crunch on the outside and a soft, chewy inside make me crave homemade chili and greens.

Labeling: Holy bunch of text, Batman. Every square inch of this box is covered in writing. You know that this is a bad idea when I can’t even recall what they were trying to convey from all of those words. The bad news is that the directions were a bit hard to find amidst the clutter. The good news is, I now know how to make this cornbread in Spanish, Italian and German. Muchas gracias!

Packaging: Plastic bag in a cardboard box.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:         4

Taste:            4

Value:            3

OVERALL:      3.7

Reviewed 030211 by Mallory L.

Gluten Free Bagels: Udi's Whole Grain Bagels - Product Review #77

Gluten Free Bagels: Udi's Whole Grain Bagels

PRODUCT NAME:                    Whole Grain Bagel

BRAND:                                   Udi’s Gluten Free Foods

COST:                                     $6.00

SIZE:                                       4 Bagels (14oz)

COST PER BAGEL:                  $1.50

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       GFCO

ORGANIC:                               NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       N/A

VEGAN:                                   NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:        YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:        COLORADO

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.   

         

REVIEW:
We have tried Udi’s Cinnamon Raisin Bagels in the past and we loved them, so when we got a chance to try their Whole Grain variety, we jumped at the chance.  Last time, we went with the sweet so this time we decided to go with savory.  It was a nice sunny day so we decided that we would have lunch by the water.  The perfect lunch to go along with the view was open faced bagel sandwiches using toasted Udi’s Gluten Free Whole Grain Bagels, fresh cream cheese, sliced pork tenderloin and green onions sautéed with garlic.  Everything went together perfectly. 

Udi’s bagels are great.  They have the perfect texture because they have a similar texture to a regular bagel, firm and chewy, but with an even lighter texture.  We received these bagels last week and because we couldn’t get to them right away, we decided to freeze them.  Even after being frozen for about a week, after a quick toast they came out tasting fresh.  These bagels worked especially well for a sandwich because they are firm and can hold piles of toppings.  Bite into the sandwich and you have the perfect balance of textures.  The sandwich was delicious and filling. 

When we wrote our review for Udi’s Cinnamon Raisin Bagel, I expressed concern about the nutrition facts because I thought that the sodium, calorie and fat content were a little high.  Unfortunately I had the same concern with this bagel.  I know these bagels are whole grain and whole grain is supposed to be good for you, but with 280 calories, 9 grams of fat, and 470 milligrams of sodium, these whole grain bagels have even higher fat and sodium content than the Cinnamon Raisin Bagels.  Despite this, I wouldn’t say that these bagels are unhealthy to eat. It just means that you have to pay attention to what you are eating so you can plan your day’s meal accordingly to ensure that you don’t go over your recommended daily values.  It would be a shame to miss out on these delicious bagels because Udi’s makes the best bagels I’ve ever had, this includes regular bagels that contain gluten.

Ingredients for Udi's Whole Grain Bagels

Overall, we really enjoyed Udi’s Bagels.  They are delicious and have one of the best textures I’ve ever had in a bagel.  You get the best of both worlds; the firmness and chewiness we’ve come to expect from a bagel but with a lighter texture that makes chewing this bagel not such a workout.

Nutrition facts for Udi's Whole Grain Bagels

Taste: This bagel has a great texture.  It is chewy and firm like a regular bagel, but lighter.  Toast these up and make a sandwich for a great lunch.

Labeling:  The labeling on this packaging is very simple and strait forward, everything you need to know is stamped right on the front.  Gluten free, dairy free, soy free, nut free, whole grain, certified gluten free, and kosher, it’s all there on the front.    

Packaging:  You will find your normal bagel packaging here.  It is the typical plastic bag with the bag tie ring to seal it up.  If you decide to freeze these bagels, you might want to put them in a freezer safe resealable bag. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                 5             

Taste:                     5             

Value:                    2

OVERALL:              4 

Reviewed 022311 by Calvin C

Weekend Edition Hot off the Press #9: Daily Sugar Intake

If you’re like the majority of Americans, then you probably have a sweet tooth. From boxes of chocolate eaten on Valentine’s Day to high fructose corn syrup present in many foods, the average American consumes his or her weight in sugar every year, literally. On average, each person in this country eats over 150 lbs. of sugar annually. But are all sugars created equal? And how much is too much?

Sugars occur naturally in food, such as fruits (as fructose) and milk (as lactose). Of course, along with sugar, these foods offer important vitamins and minerals, and, in the case of fruit, dietary fiber. The downfall of the American diet, however, is the added sugar found in foods. This sugar contributes about 16% of the total calories in the average diet, most commonly from sodas, energy drinks, desserts, and candy.

The USDA recommends that people eat no more than 10 teaspoons of added sugars a day. 1 teaspoon of sugar is between 4-8 grams depending on how fine the sugar is. It’s best to aim for foods that are low on the glycemic index—which measures the rate that starches and sugars change your blood sugar levels. Foods that are high on the index, like soda, digest quickly and rapidly release sugar into your bloodstream. This spike in blood sugar causes your pancreas to release a flood of insulin, which disperses the sugar. Your blood sugar levels again drop and you’re hungry again. This cycle of peaks and valleys in blood sugar levels can cause you to overeat and gain weight, possibly leading to obesity. Flooding the body with insulin after a sugar coma can also lead to insulin resistance, which is a symptom of pre-diabetes.

Foods that are low on the glycemic index, like fruit, release sugar into the bloodstream slowly because they are steadily digested (in part thanks to good old dietary fiber).

It’s important not to replace these foods in your diet with artificially sugary substitutes because you may be missing out on essential nutrients (like that fiber).

Added sugar can be a hidden menace. It can be listed under various names—sucrose, high fructose syrup, and dextrose—on ingredient labels and the USDA calls it the “number one food additive.” It can commonly be found in breads, lunchmeat, condiments, and prepared foods. It’s key that you read nutrition labels and monitor the amount of sugar you’re eating each day.

People who are gluten intolerant or have celiac disease may be better off than the average American when it comes to eating added sugars. A gluten-free diet requires careful attention to the food and ingredients you eat, which can often lead to healthier eating habits in general. It’s still important to read the labels; high fructose corn syrup and other added sugars could be lurking in many “gluten-free” foods.

By Julia L.

Gluten Free Soup: Kettle Cuisine Southwestern Chicken and Corn Chowder - Product Review #70

Kettle Cuisine Southwestern Chicken and Corn Chowder

PRODUCT NAME:                    Southwestern Chicken and Corn Chowder

BRAND:                                   Kettle Cuisine

COST:                                     $4.35

SIZE:                                       10oz

COST PER OZ:                        $0.44/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       GFCO

ORGANIC:                               NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       N/A

VEGAN:                                   NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:        NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:        Chelsea, MA

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:
Southwestern Chicken and Corn Chowder… just saying that puts me in a festive mood. This chowder is just one of many in Kettle Cuisine’s line of gluten free soups. If you were wondering what the difference between a soup and a chowder is… it’s the thickness of it. Soups are usually just broth based, whereas chowders are thickened with cream. So if you’re allergic to dairy, you might want to stick to soups. This chowder is great. It’s all natural, contains no preservatives, no artificial colors, no MSG, no artificial flavorings, not to mention it’s certified gluten free. What more can you ask for?

Cooking this soup up is a breeze. You have 2 options, microwave or stovetop. The lack of a microwave in our studio forced us to the stovetop option, but it was still easy. Just release the frozen contents of the bowl into a pot and turn the heat to medium. I decided to add about a half cup of water just to speed it up a little. Make sure you watch it closely and stir it so it doesn’t burn. Chowder is thicker and contains cream, which tends to burn easily if you let it sit too long.

This Southwester Chicken with Corn Chowder was delicious. Kettle Cuisine uses high quality ingredients in their products. Take for example the fresh green and red peppers and the tender grilled chicken in this chowder that is raised without antibiotics on a vegetarian diet. Add to that the corn and the long list of spices and you have a fiesta in a bowl.

Although this soup tastes great, it isn’t the healthiest thing in the world. It contains 230 calories, 10 g of fat, 50 mg of cholesterol, and 620 mg of sodium. These numbers are all a little high, but I decided to compare it to the nutrition facts of a similar regular Southwester Chicken and Corn Chowder. The nutrition facts seem to be about the same. The kettle cuisine version has double the cholesterol, but 140mg less sodium. Point of this is to make sure you are aware of what you are eating and how much it impacts your recommended daily values.

Overall, this chowder tastes great, but as much as we love things that taste great, not all of them are great for us. When eating this, make sure you watch what you eat for the rest of the day.

Taste: Great tasting chowder that is nice and thick like it is supposed to be. The pieces of chicken were much larger than I had expected and was really tender.

Labeling: The labeling on this product is similar to the labeling on the Chicken Soup with Rice Noodles we reviewed yesterday. All of the important information about the soup right on the front. One thing that I didn’t mention on yesterday’s review was the nice picture on the front. I don’t think our bowl looked as good, but it sure tasted good.

Packaging: Usual packaging. It comes in a microwave safe container so it can go right from your freezer to your microwave, to your stomach.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:
Texture:         5
Taste:             4
Value:            3
OVERALL:      4

Reviewed 021011 by Calvin C.

Gluten Free Snacks: Mary's Gone Crackers Sea Salt Sticks & Twigs - Product Review #65

Gluten Free Snacks: Mary's Gone Crackers Sea Salt Sticks & Twigs

PRODUCT NAME:                       Sea Salt Sticks & Twigs

BRAND:                                      Mary’s Gone Crackers

COST:                                        $4.65

SIZE:                                           8oz

COST PER OZ:                            $0.58/oz

CERTIFIED GLUETEN FREE:        NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           N/A

ORGANIC:                                   YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           ICS

VEGAN:                                       YES

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:             YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:            USA

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:
If you’re looking for something with a great crunch to snack on, we think we have found just the thing for you. Mary’s Gone Crackers’ Sea Salt Sticks and Twigs might just be the perfect salty snack. You might remember last week when we reviewed the Curry flavored version of this delicious snack and how much we loved them. The perfect crunchy texture mixed with all those spices, it was perfect. Like the curry version, we loved these Sea Salt flavored one too. In fact, we might even actually like these more.

I don’t know what it is about the simple flavor of sea salt, but it makes everything taste so right. The sea salt in these sticks and twigs is the perfect complement. It does a great job of highlighting the different flavors of the brown rice, whole quinoa, flax seeds, sesame seeds, amaranth, millet, and chia seeds. Combine that with the same crunchy texture that we have come to expect from Mary’s Gone Crackers and we come out with the perfect snack.

We like to pay close attention to the nutrition fact on the products we eat so it’s no surprise that we paid attention to this one. 150 calories, 5 grams of fat, and 300 mg of sodium is contained in 1 serving of 15 pieces. These numbers are almost identical to the ones on the Curry flavored Sticks & Twigs from last week. The 1 difference you will see is the sodium content. This version has almost double the sodium content. That sounds bad, but not all is lost because although it is more than the Curry Flavor, these still have about 100mg less sodium than a leading brand of pretzels. Regardless, we still recommend practicing portion control with these snacks especially if you are sensitive to sodium or have high blood pressure.

If you’re afraid that these won’t keep long after opening, rest assured because we tested that too. We actually opened these Sea Salt Sticks & Twigs last Thursday and when we ate them today (Monday) they were still nice and crispy with no signs of going stale.

Have we found the perfect snack? It’s pretty darn close. These are perfect for just about everyone, but like we have said in the past for their other crackers we have tried, if you have sensitive teeth, you might want to be a little careful because they are extremely crunchy and some of the seeds are a little hard. At 300mg of sodium, they aren’t horrible, but it is something you should pay attention to, especially if you have high blood pressure.

Taste: Made up of brown rice, whole quinoa, flax seeds, sesame seeds, amaranth, millet and chia seeds this snack has a great crunchy texture, but watch out for those hard seeds that are mixed in. Combine the great crunch with the nice simple flavor of Sea Salt, and you have a great snack.

Labeling: Mary’s Gone Crackers’ labeling is among the best I’ve seen. They use the same theme on all of their packages that makes it unmistakable that this is a Mary’s Gone Crackers product.

Packaging: Regular vacuum sealed packaging.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company's other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product..

RATING:
Texture:         3
Taste:             5
Value:            4
OVERALL:      4

Reviewed 020711 by Calvin C.

Weekend Special Edition: Detox/Cleansing Diet (Part 2/3)

Today’s special edition post is a follow-up to our previous post regarding the “Detox Workshop” offered by Anne Angelone (M.S., LaC) which I (RS) participated in.

I must say… WOW! In just a short period of one hour we learned a wealth of practical and relevant strategies to better understand what our body is trying to tell us. Anne provided each participant with a “Metabolic Assessment Form” in which you answer on a scale of 1-3 whether you experience particular symptoms (ex: Get lightheaded if meals are missed, unexplained itchy skin, etc.). There are about 150 different items to rate which are broken down into 17 categories. High scores in each category reveal evidence of particular conditions (ex: Hypoglycemia, Hyperacidity, adrenal conditions, etc.).

We even learned the basics of eastern medicine’s “tongue reading” and each had a chance to learn what our tongues were trying to tell us. The tongue serves as a diagnostic map which, at least in my particular case, was in-line with what other doctors and lab tests have been saying thus far.

A very interesting fact which I personally took away from the class is that the existence of a food allergy could have all along been the reason why I constantly felt like I was over-heating and always had extreme difficulty in hot weather. During the workshop, the light-bulb went off that ever since I have been gluten-free, I have actually begun to feel cold just like everyone else.

Following this class, I embarked on my “10-Day Detox” diet and am currently on it. The idea behind the 10-day diet is to eliminate as many known types of allergens as possible. Even if you don’t think you are allergic to them, you eliminate them during the ten days. This should, in theory, give the gut a break from inflammation/irritation and thus give it a chance to begin healing. So for these ten days, not only will I be gluten free, but here are some examples of what else I will be avoiding:

-       Soy

-       Corn

-       White rice

-       Diary / eggs

-       Peanut

-       Tofu

-       Refined sugars

-       Artificial coloring, flavoring, sweeteners

-       Caffeine

-       Certain fruit: grapefruit, oranges, banana, pineapple, watermelon

-       “Nightshade vegetables” (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, bell peppers)

-       Any non-organic chicken or beef (which by the way must be grass-fed, not corn fed)

So there go all my current gluten-free alternatives! Back to the drawing board we go. She did provide some wonderful recipes that I look forward to trying. Organic meats, quinoa, and brown rice will be my new best friends for these 10 days.

Sounds disconcerting, but she is giving us a lot of resources so we can still maintain a healthy balanced diet and get all the nutrients we need. She is even giving us restaurant and café recommendations that can accommodate our diet!

I welcome the change in eating routine and I really hope to see some of the results some of her previous patients have seen:

-       Better digestion and elimination

-       Fewer symptoms of Chronic Illness

-       Improved Concentration, Mental Focus and Clarity

-       Improved Mood

-       Increased Energy

-       Less congestion and fewer allergic symptoms

-       Less joint pain

-       Increased sense of relaxation

-       Enhanced sleep

As I mentioned, I will be posting the results of my 10-day Detox diet in part 3 of the “Detox/Cleansing Diet” posts. In the meantime, if you’d like to find out more about what Anne does, you can visit her website at http://www.expandingqi.com/. She not only does in-person consultations, but also does phone, email, and Skype sessions with her patients

If the 10-day diet proves to be a success for me, we are going to see if we can work with her to offer this same workshop via Skype so that our interested readers from around the globe can take advantage of the opportunity.

Stay tuned till next time where I will share my experiences through the 10-Day Detox Diet.