Gluten Free Raw Macaroons: Food on Purpose Choco Roonies

PRODUCT NAME:                   Food On Purpose

COMPANY NAME:                  Choco-roonies

COST:                                    $6.50

SIZE:                                      3 oz

COST PER OZ:                       $2.16

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:     NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      NA

ORGANIC:                              YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      USDA Organic

VEGAN:                                 YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:       Unknown

LOCATION OF FACILITY:       Santa Fe, NM

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:

Taste:

Food On Purpose is a newer company, one that was constructed by a woman working to create sweet treats to support her cleanse and a gourmet food brand consultant. Paired together, they are making delicious and delectable snacks with a focus on both health and satisfaction. The product up for review today is a wonderful example of this company’s healthy treats.

I’ve said it before- I am not exactly a sweet treat  or snack type of person.  Food On Purpose’s Choco-roonies manages to over ride this fact and bring me a treat without all the unhealthy baggage of most snack foods. These palatable little gifts to my mouth not only impressed me, they *delighted* me- with none of the guilt that normal desserts can produce.

To start: these puppies are made from from Raw Cacao and organic Raw Coconut. They are dense, satisfying and perfectly rich with pure chocolate decadence. The product is Raw, Organic, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan and a SUPERFood. This food is not only tasty, it is fuel.

Like many staples of my diet, the ingredient list in this treat is extremely short (Maca and coconut oil were the only ingredients not already mentioned) but the taste of the sum of its parts is so much more. In fact, it is completely divine. The blend of cacao, maca and coconut creates a beautifully nuanced flavor that hits the tongue in tiers of deliciousness. There is complexity in each bite and as you chew you delve further and further into the bursts of each taste experience.

Building on the deliciousness of the taste, is the excitement of the texture. The amalgamation of coconut oil and dried coconut gives way to incredible windows of textural decadence. I could not pick a more perfect combo of creamy and rough to dip in chocolate. Each morsel is tiny, and I am glad for that fact! One bite was truly enough to last me a good long while

Sadly, there is not nutrition information with this product. As much as I know the ingredients are healthy and love the taste, it really irks me when companies leave this out! I am a calorie watcher, through and through so not knowing drives me a little bit nuts

Labeling:

Labelling of this product was insufficient, in my opinion. Nutrition facts are a must!

Packaging:

Packaging for this product was a thick plastic ziploc style bag,  which I deem to be quite sufficient for the freshness of the product. I am, however, surprised that such a health focused company doesn’t have more environmentally friendly 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:         5

Taste:             5

Value:            3

OVERALL:      4.3

Reviewed  by Lacy D.

Gluten Free Crackers: Kinnikinnick S'moreables

PRODUCT NAME:                    S’moreables

COMPANY NAME:                    KinniKinnick

COST:                                      $5.19

SIZE:                                        8 oz

COST PER OZ:                         $0.65   

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:       Unknown

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         N/A

ORGANIC:                                 No

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         N/A

VEGAN:                                     Yes                         

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:          Yes

LOCATION OF FACILITY:           Edmonton, Canada     

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:

Taste: 

KinniKinnick stands at the forefront of the gaggle of gluten-free product pioneers that has popped up as of late. Straight out of Canada, this company aims to make products for the Celiac-Disease-Having masses that both recall upon the indulgences of childhood and satisfy a sweet tooth. Their graham-cracker like product, S’moreables, is just one of the GF snacks-of-youth they have created.

In taste, I found S’moreables to actually be *better* then you’re average cracker of graham.  Upon first bite, I was presented with a rich, pleasant, crumbly crunch that slowly turned into the graham-y ball of mush I loved swallowing down as a kid. They are slightly thicker than your average graham cracker, thus packing more crunch and volume to sink your teeth into. I would compare them to a baby biscuit or Teddy Graham cookie texturally. The taste isn’t exactly like the gluten-filled counterpart, but instead has much more depth. There are identifiable hints of brown sugar and vanilla in each bite that create serious complexity. The quality of the ingredients used is palpable.

The package of this product comes with a S’mores recipe just under the nutrition facts, implying that the proper use for this cookie is to create a melty and delectable campfire treat. I am vegan, thus making marshmallows a bit of a stretch and don’t have much of a sweet tooth so I decided to try this cracker unadorned, despite the suggestion. Although I haven’t given the recipe a shot, I’m pretty sure it would probably be incredibly decadent, so if that’s your thing- Go for it! I can’t imagine it’d be bad.

Nutritionally, these puppies are kind of a calorie bomb. One of the main ingredients is shortening, which is precisely what causes the crispy graham to turn into the sticky mushy ball we all love to swallow down. Your average graham cracker is a large sheet and has sixty calories. Kinnikinnick’s S’moreable also has sixty calories and is about half the size. I would definitely not make the mistake of thinking of this product as a “cracker”. If you consider it more of a cookie, the calorie count seems much more reasonable.

Labeling:

Labelling of this product was clear and concise. I deem it to be very sufficient.

Packaging:

These cookies come in a plastic wrapped plastic tray and are encased in a cardboard box. Although environmentally this seems like a lot of waste, it feels appropriate for the freshness of the product.

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 by Lacy D.

Gluten Free Cake: Jennie's Gluten Free Bakery Pound Cake Mini's - Product Review

Gluten Free Cake: Jennie's Gluten Free Bakery Pound Cake Mini's

PRODUCT NAME:                    Pound Cake Mini’s

BRAND:                                   Jennies Gluten-Free Bakery

COST:                                     $4.78         

SIZE:                                       7 oz. (5 cakes)

COST PER OZ:                        $0.68

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       GFCO

ORGANIC:                               NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       NA

VEGAN:                                   NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:        YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:         Pennsylvania

SHELF LIFE:                            2 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:

This week I am reviewing Jennies Gluten Free Bakery Pound Cake mini’s.  Pound cake is one of those foods where I am never quite sure what it is and I feel like it falls into a wide range of what it could be.  Perhaps that’s just me.  I know that whatever it is, I love it.  It’s moist, sweet, and tasty.  I do a fair amount of gluten free baking myself and I know first hand how it’s tough to recreate anything that is made with regular flour.  Yet, it is possible to get a flavor that is pretty close to the original recipe and sometimes even better.  Event so, I went into this sampling optimistically knowing that whatever happened within my first bite, there was absolutely nothing that drenching in rum, whipped cream and berries couldn’t fix!

Gluten Free muffins can sometimes be a little tricky to make.  The flour is different and can sometimes be tough to work with.  It looks like this challenge has plagued this muffin.  After sampling a few of the muffins, I noticed inconsistency within the box.  All was not lost though, because there is always a remedy.  The first one I sampled was dried out a bit and while it could’ve been saved with a drizzle of honey and whipped cream, it couldn’t have held up on its own at all.  The second one I sampled was perfect.  It was light, spongy, squishy and soft with enough bounce-back when you touched it.  It could’ve easily accompanied an afternoon tea or a morning coffee all on its own.  The third one I opened just to see which one it would be, too hard, just right or is this one going to be more of a momma bear, somewhere in the middle.  And you guessed, it, it was somewhere in the middle.

While I really enjoyed the one that was just right, just what I wanted this little tea-sized pound cake to be, the quality of the other two left me a little wanting.  Still, I think this could easily be amended by adding a bit of flair to these otherwise plain cakes, which is pretty much what pound cake begs for anyway, gluten free or not.  So, my recommendations would range from jam, marmalade, lemon curd, fresh fruit, whipped cream, crème freche, nutella, drizzle of honey (with some crumbled pistachios, almonds, whatever you fancy), splashed with a touch of Gran Marnier or Nivan, then topped with afore-mentioned tastiness or any number of other things you can think to put on top of cake.  All in all, I think this is a decent product and one that if you are in a pinch and need some kind of dessert for guests or a party favor, could be dressed up fancy enough to hide the imperfections of the taste.  I think they would be perfect in trifle and pudding recipes too, where they would soak in the ingredients well and take on the flavors of its surroundings.

Nutrition Facts

Each one of these little cakes, which are roughly the size of two or three fingers put together depending of course how large your fingers are, is 130 calories.  Ouch.  But obviously, let’s keep in mind this is cake, not health food and you would want to eat these every day.  The upside is that it is not only gluten free, but dairy, soy, peanut and casein free so it’ll work for a majority of your food allergy conscious dinner guests. 

Taste:  Depends on each cake: can vary from soft, spongy, perfect cake texture, to more condensed that does not hold up without some kind of topping camouflage

Labeling:  homogenous coloring on package, nothing really jumps out and says, “buy me”

Packaging:  cardboard box with plastic container.  Each cake is individually wrapped in plastic as well.

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:                     2.5                         

Value:                    3             

OVERALL:              2.8         

Reviewed by Krisztina L

Gluten Free Mix: Cherrybrook Kitchen Fudge Brownie Mix - Product Review #78

Gluten Free Mix: Cherrybrook Kitchen Fudge Brownie Mix

PRODUCT NAME:                    Fudge Brownie Mix

BRAND:                                   Cherrybrook Kitchen

COST:                                     $5.99

SIZE:                                       14 oz.

COST PER OZ:                         $0.43/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:       NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        N/A

ORGANIC:                                NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        N/A

VEGAN:                                    OPTIONAL

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:          UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:          Massachusetts

*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:
"The sweet solution for food allergies," is the motto for Cherrybrook Kitchen, the company that created the mix for these fantastic brownies. Not only is the mix gluten free, but completely vegan and nut free as well. According to their Web site, all equipment is dedicated solely to products that never touch dairy or nuts, and all goods are batch tested for traces of dairy, nuts and gluten for consumer safety.

I'm always in awe when something this good is made out of ingredients like cocoa butter and tapioca starch, but Cherrybrook Kitchen has turned my baking world upside-down once again.

I used a square 9x9-inch pan, one medium-sized bowl for mixing and a large spoon. To stay vegan, use 1/3 cup of a butter substitute, 2/3 cup of water and two tablespoons of vegetable oil. Cherrybrook's Web site recommends Fleischmann’s™ Unsalted Margarine and Earth Balance™ as dairy-free alternatives. I used real butter in the test kitchen.

The butter has to be completely melted, and since we're not dealing with eggs, I poured the freshly melted liquid straight into the mix. Add the remaining ingredients, mix well (don't bother getting out the electric mixer, it's not necessary), and you've got yourself fresh batter in a matter of minutes.

Pour batter into your pan and place on the bottom shelf of a preheated oven. The box says "12 minutes for fudge-like brownies or 14 minutes for cake-like brownies." I'd have to argue that 12 minutes produced more of a liquid-like brownie, so set your timer and check on them after 12 minutes. Another five did the trick for me, and produced a combination fudge-cake brownie that melts in your mouth.

I'm not a huge fan of dense, decadent brownies, so these were really my style. They're so light, they verge on crumbly, but I was still able to eat them in square chunks with my hands. There are great little chips of vegan chocolate mixed in that melt to create sweet little surprises as you chew, which complement the not-so-sweet brownie base.

The foundation of the mix is rice flour, and I have to say, you can definitely tell. The chew that is created when using wheat flour is replaced with an airy texture that dissolves almost as quickly as it hits the tongue.

Nutritional facts say there are 140 calories in 1/12 of the tray, without the added butter or oil. If you stay vegan, chances are you're staying in a decent calorie zone. There are only 16 grams of sugar per portion as opposed to last week's chocolate cake, which contained 23 grams without frosting. My only concern is that they're so weightless, so neutral on the sugar spectrum, you'll eat them all at once.

As a side note, I left the tray at a friend's house and was informed that they actually got better the next day, so you have that to look forward to – if they last that long!

Taste: The taste was light, a cloud of chocolate that isn't too sweet at first bit, then hits your tongue with little blasts of sugary goodness from the chocolate chunks blended in the mix. Chocolaty without being overwhelming is nice, but be careful not to eat the whole tray in one sitting – this is very possible.

Labeling: The labeling is adorable and easy to follow. They used graphics and copy well, providing company information on one side, directions on the back and super cute animations.

Packaging: Box with a plastic bag inside to hold the mix.

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 022511 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

Gluten Free Soup: Kettle Cuisine Chicken Soup With Rice Noodles - Product Review #69

Gluten Free Soup: Kettle Cuisine Chicken Soup With Rice Noodles

PRODUCT NAME:                   Chicken Soup with Rice Noodles

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:
Chicken noodle soup is often considered a comfort food. Not so much for people with Celiac and gluten intolerance because of the noodles in there. Jerry of Kettle Cuisine took it upon himself to restore the comfort food title for everyone with his gluten free Chicken Soup with Rice Noodles. After learning that his daughter had to go on a gluten free diet, he decided to create a whole line of great tasting gluten free soups.

The soup comes in individual 10oz servings that are frozen. All you need to do is microwave or heat it a pot on your stovetop and it’s ready to serve. With 140 calories, 3g of fat, and 14g of protein per serving I would consider it pretty healthy. The one thing that you should pay close attention to is the 540mg of sodium in this soup. While it is only a fraction of the sodium in regular canned chicken noodle soups, it does not mean you should over look it. Originally, the recommended daily sodium intake was 2400mg. Last month, the American Heart Association announced a new daily guideline of 1400mg. It’s just something to keep in mind. When eating prepackaged soups like this.

When we cooked this soup up, we opted for the stovetop option because we don’t have a microwave here. It was very easy, just put the frozen contents of the bowl in a pot and heat on medium. Make sure you keep an eye on it and stir it frequently to keep the chicken from sticking to the bottom.

Jerry did a great job with soup with this chicken noodle soup made with chicken stock, chicken meat, rice noodles, carrots, celery, onions, chicken fat, sea salt, and spices. I think the fact that this soup comes frozen rather than canned has helped a lot with how fresh this soup tastes. The chicken and the vegetables are all tender and don’t taste artificial like you would find in a canned soup. You might be happy to hear that the chicken used in this soup is raised without antibiotics and on a vegetarian diet. They also do not add any preservatives, artificial colors, MSG or artificial flavorings.

Overall it tasted great. The saltiness of the soup was balanced by the sweetness of the vegetables. It can be best described as tasting like a vegetable soup with chicken in it rather than a chicken soup with vegetables in it. The main difference being it is not nearly as salty as one of those canned soup deals. We did find that the soup was a still a little salty for our taste. Here’s a tip, if you find the soup a little too salty, just add some water to it to dilute it.

If you’re looking for a healthier chicken noodle soup, this is the soup for you. It has made this comfort food staple accessible to everyone including celiacs and the gluten intolerant.

Taste: Great tasting soup with real chicken and vegetables that actually taste like vegetables.

Labeling: Very nice labeling with all of the important information about the soup right on the front. All natural…check. Gluten free…check. No artificial ingredients…check. The list goes on and on.

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.

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.

Gluten Free Bagels: Udi's Cinnamon Raisin Bagels - Product Review #53

Gluten Free Bagels: Udi's Cinnamon Raisin Bagels

PRODUCT NAME:                   Cinnamon Raisin Bagel

BRAND:                                 Udi’s Gluten Free Foods

COST:                                   $6.83

SIZE:                                     4 Bagels (14oz)

COST PER BAGEL:                $1.70

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:
Every time I search for gluten free bread, one name always comes up…Udi’s. Udi’s Gluten Free Foods out of Denver, CO has been making gluten free breads for several years out of the dedicated gluten free facility. It all started when a friend of Udi’s Certified Master Baker asked him if he could bake some gluten free bread. At that time, there were very few options of good-tasting gluten free bread. The rest is history. Udi’s Gluten Free Foods now has product in over 3500 stores in all U.S. states and in Canada. It’s with good reason too.

I got a hold of Udi’s Gluten Free Foods Cinnamon Raisin Bagels and decided to give them a try. Open up the bag and you will immediately get the sweet aroma of cinnamon and raisins. I prefer my bagels toasted so that is what I did with this one. I didn’t try it untoasted, but I will say, that this bagel tastes great toasted. The texture is not much different than regular bagels, but it is a little lighter. I would say this is an improvement over regular bagels. It’s not as tough to chew. Overall it had a nice slightly sweet flavor that I really enjoyed.

One thing that did scare me about these bagels is the nutrition facts. I compared the numbers with that of a regular cinnamon raisin bagel and the sodium count, calorie count and total fat were all on the high side at 450mg, 280 and 8g respectively. This just goes to show you that gluten free doesn’t always mean that it is automatically good for you. So if you do decide to eat this bagel, you might want to make sure you plan your remaining meals accordingly.

Taste: Great taste with a nice light texture. It is just a little lighter than a regular bagel, which I think is a good thing.

Labeling: Very simple labeling on these bagels. The fact that they are gluten free, dairy free, soy free and nut free are highlighted within circles right on the front of the package.

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 012011 by CC

Weekend Special Edition: Detox/Cleansing Diet (Part 1/3)

Hello readers! This is RS bringing you our first special edition health post…”Detox Diet”.  About 5 months ago, I discovered, through endless research and exploration of my chronic symptoms, that I am gluten intolerant. It was not through the endless doctors that I visited in hopes of obtaining at least a hint as to what was going on with me, but instead was through my wife’s nursing school classmate whose description of her prior symptoms resonated with my own. She was gluten intolerant, and changing her diet made all the difference in her life. I set sail on my gluten-free journey and it is with the support of our team over here that I have found a wealth of products that make it possible.

I know there are many out there who’ve had similar experiences in which after endless doctor visits and consultation with specialists they feel no closer to determining the cause of their ailment. This was the case for me and boy do I wish I had met Anne Angelone (M.S, LaC) earlier! As you may recall, Anne was a guest at our studio back in December and she brought us the “Kaia Foods Sea Salt and Vinegar Kale Chips” for us to review. Not only has Anne proven to be an excellent resource for products to try, but her practice here in San Francisco deals with the very nature of our community’s health challenge… food sensitivities!

In our commitment to support our local vendors and healthcare practitioners, I have begun a treatment program with Anne and in the process of reviewing my experiences with her, I hope to provide you, our readers, with what I have found to be inspiration and hope for restoring balance in my health.

Anne’s acupuncture practice is no ordinary practice. She actually focuses on allergens and the foods that cause inflammation and the domino effect which follows… what I think of as a holistic approach. In addition to her regular practice (which I have now started and am absolutely inspired by!), Anne also offers monthly “Detox” workshops.

In these workshops, Anne takes people through the Chinese medicine philosophies and a structured analysis, through a series of health-related questions, to connect physical/mental manifestations with the underlying cause. Here is an excerpt from Anne’s workshop posting:

10 Day Detox with Real Food:
Learn tools to master:•    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
•    Great sleep

Sounds great to me!! I experience each of the items above so I am really excited about something which could potentially help. So I’ve signed up for this weekend’s workshop. But I’ve heard of these types of diet programs before and usually sound great but are unrealistic. However, what I like about this one is the fact that it is only 10 days, a reasonable $25, and you continue to eat REAL food… sounds like something I might actually be able to stick with and make it through! We will see…

Next weekend, I will post a recap and review of the workshop in which I will describe what I have learned and what my journey through the 10-day program will involve. The weekend following that, I will post how I feel after the 10-day program and whether I was able to complete it as she describes.

Gluten Free Crackers: Mary's Gone Crackers Gluten Free Crackers - Product Review #14

Gluten Free Crackers: Mary's Gone Crackers Gluten Free Crackers

PRODUCT NAME:                   Seed Crackers

BRAND:                                  Mary’s Gone Crackers

COST:                                    $5.50

SIZE:                                       6.5oz

COST PER OZ:                        $0.85/oz                 

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       N/A

ORGANIC:                               YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       ICS, inc.

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:

Mary’s Gone Crackers…has Mary gone crackers or are her crackers so good that they’re gone?  No matter how you read the name, what really matters are the delicious gluten-free crackers in the box.  It has simple ingredients: brown rice, quinoa, flax seeds, sesame seeds, a little filtered water, and some flavoring like wheat free tamari soy sauce, salt and pepper for the salt and pepper variety.  Other flavors of course will have slightly different flavor ingredients.

So what is Mary’s story?  No backstory on the box, but a little digging on her website and I found that Mary has a gluten intolerance and when she found out, she set out to create snacks that she could enjoy and share with others.  What she came up with, were these delicious crackers that everybody loved no matter where she went.   

Taste: These crackers come in caraway, original, black pepper, herb, and onion.  We had the original, caraway and black pepper and enjoyed all of them.  While many other crackers have to load up on sodium to gain flavor, this cracker uses several different grains to give it flavor.  It’s not to say that these crackers don’t contain any sodium, but at 180mg for a serving size of 30g which is 13 crackers it is reasonable compared to other similar products.  Because this cracker is made up of several different grains, there are many different textures in this cracker, but overall it can be described as crunchy.  Some of the seeds are a little hard though and can spell trouble for people with sensitive teeth.  So if you have sensitive teeth, you might want to stay away. 

Labeling: Good labeling that covers pretty much all the bases; Organic, kosher, non-GMO, whole grain, made with love, vegan-dairy free, wheat-free, gluten-free, no hydrogenated oils, and no trans-fats.  All listed on the side are some of the reasons why you should buy this product.  Would we buy it again? Most Likely

Packaging: The packaging on these crackers is also very good even though it is essentially double packaged.  The crackers come in easy to tear plastic packaging to lock in the freshness and that is put into a 100% recycled paperboard box that is printed with 100% soy based ink.  It’s nice to see a company trying to be more environmentally friendly.   

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 11/17/10 by CC