Gluten Free Noodles: Kajino Buckwheat Soba Noodles

PRODUCT NAME:                   Buckwheat Soba Noodles

COMPANY NAME:                  Kajino

COST:                                    $6.99

SIZE:                                      8 oz

COST PER OZ:                       $0.87

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:     Unknown

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      N/A

ORGANIC:                              No

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      N/A

VEGAN:                                 Yes

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:       Unknown

LOCATION OF FACILITY:       JAPAN

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:

When I first discovered my gluten intolerance I was admittedly disappointed, but I thought to myself:

“Oh well, at least I still have buckwheat soba.”

WRONG.

99% of Buckwheat soba is indeed chock full of regular wheat. The noodles tend to have a blend of buckwheat (no gluten) and wheat (a whole lot of gluten) - thus making them un-digestible to me and, ostensibly, all of you.

There are a few gluten free noodles out there but they are very expensive and mostly, you must order from abroad to get the real goods. Today’s noodles indeed come from the soba wonderworld that is Japan and while this fact incurred its own difficulties (no English anywhere on the package, to start!) the experience was definitely a worthwhile endeavor.

So, because there were no cooking instructions in the language that I speak on the package I had to do a bit of research on how exactly to cook these. Apparently there is a ton of specificity around the “right’ way to make soba. Here is what I found:

The Japanese do not stir fry these noodles a la chow mein, in fact they tend to eat all their noodles wet. Soba is often in hot soup, or covered in a wet sauce and quickly slurped up. Traditional Cooking Instructions for Japanese Noodles involves a bold combination of boiling and cold water, vacillating the noodles between the two up to three times. There is no exact set right amount of times to go from boiling to cold to boiling again and one must periodically check the noodles for done-ness. You check them by cutting the noodle in half. If the center of the noodle strand is white and the outside is darker, the noodles are not done. When the center of the noodle is the same color as the outside, and the noodles are firm yet tender to the bite they are done. Rinse Japanese noodles under cold water to prevent clumping.

The noodles do tend to stick together, but adding a little peanut oil helps. I personally ate my noodles clumped together, because I sort of like that kind of thing. (It reminds me of my super all - American macaroni and cheese love affair as a kid perhaps?)

Taste:

On to the taste. Like any pasta, there isn’t exactly supposed to be a super stand out flavor to buckwheat soba noodles. The texture is really the major factor of enjoyability for most noodles and these puppies turned out just lovely in terms of texture. I followed the cooking rules above and added a bit of stir fried cabbage and miso broth to the mix and I was delighted at how authentically delicious this simple dish turned out to be. The slight flavor of the buckwheat is nutty and toothsome. It soaked up the miso and left the real flavor up to the seasonings.

Unfortunately, the only English I did see was that my single sized serving (which actually was fairly small) packed in 350 calories. While that is not a huge amount for the whole meal, it is a bit more carbohydrate calories then I tend to put into one meal. Every once in awhile I don’t mind the indulgence but I was surprised that it seemed to have a lot more calories than any other gluten free pasta I’ve tried.

Labeling:

Labeling of this soba was in Japanese , so I could not read it. It is my preference to have the label be in English but I guess I can’t exactly say that the labeling was “bad” just because I couldn’t understand it.

Packaging:

This product was wrapped in a sealed plastic wrapping. It was quite sufficient 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:         4

Taste:             4

Value:             3

OVERALL:     3.7

Reviewed by Lacy D.

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 and Raw Cereal: Two Moms in the Raw Grain Free Cereal

PRODUCT NAME:                  Grain Free Cereal

COMPANY NAME:                  Two Moms in the Raw

COST:                                    $ 9.99

SIZE:                                      14 oz

COST PER OZ:                       $0.71

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:     Yes

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      GF Gluten Free

ORGANIC:                              Yes

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      USDA Organic

VEGAN:                                  Yes

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:       Unknown

LOCATION OF FACILITY:       Boulder County, CO

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 seemingly innocuous product is about the strangest thing I have ever reviewed. The mishmash of thoughts and feelings (both positive and negative!) I had when trying it really surprised me. Two Moms in the Raw have brought us a very unique product with this Grain Free cereal and eating it was basically like going on a magical journey of disparate and confusing thoughts and feelings. I can’t wait to tell you the story.

First, the company… Two Moms in the Raw is a small company started by- wait for it- two moms! These two moms just so happen to be super health conscious and thus all of their products (which includes granola and nut bars, crackers, truffles and a grain free cereal) are exclusively Organic, Kosher, Gluten Free, Vegan, and handmade. The company was mostly local for a spell of time but when Starbucks picked up one of their seed bars to distribute they began to be more ubiquitous among the higher echelon of grocery shops that I like to call the health food store. Despite the big time success, the company seems to remain down to earth, as demonstrated by the bold placement of the office phone number on the home page of their website and the encouragement to call with any thoughts or feelings on the products any time.

Taste:

When first handed this cereal to review I wasn’t sure how to feel. The look of it, to be frank, was a dead ringer for beef jerky and calling it a “cereal” seemed simply absurd. From the appearance alone I could tell that that the product was dense (each small bite sized piece contained Organic Sunflower Seeds, raisins, banana, coconut, apples, date, fig, chia seeds, almonds, walnuts, and cinnamon- a very reasonable and healthy list of ingredients certainly, but not exactly a short one!) and I was surprised by the heft of the bag. There was no way in hell that this naturally seemed like a cereal (it was much more like a drier and thicker energy bar cut into small pieces) but I was willing to give it a shot. I dove in.

As the first bite entered my mouth I was mildly horrified. The texture of this cereal is really something to contend with and chewing through it was not a task that was simple or easy in any regard. The thick brick sat unflexibly on my tongue and I decided it was time to get this over with as I set my teeth to work. I was decidedly displeased.

As I chewed through this food that I honestly thought was terrible, I actually started to like it. Weirdly, as it softened, the gross and terrible chunk gave way to a very tasty flavor. The banana and the fig were highlighted in the flavor notes (unfortunately, the cinnamon, date, almonds, coconut, and chia were mostly undetectable) and after just a few pieces my snacking urge was satiated. I found myself sitting, confused about what I had to say about this cereal. Did I hate it or did I actually think it was kind of awesome? I decided to let time tell.

As the week crept on, I kept my bag of grain free cereal on hand. Through the days, I found my paw dipping into the package time and time and time again. In class and hungry without wanting to make crunching sounds? This snack is great. Running out the door before dinner and wanting to take the edge of an already mounting hunger? Boy, is this cereal the product for you.

Ultimately, I like the product. It has the quality of a ClifBar without the commitment of eating the whole thing. Because it is incredibly dense, just a few bites are really all you need.  It is not overly sweet or salty. Although I never ever felt compelled to pour it into a bowl and pour milk on top of it, I could totally see how the liquid would soften the cereal up to make the texture less jarring. All this being said, the cereal is just weird. I have never claimed to be normal and so I don’t mind that fact, but it is something to keep in mind.

Calorically, this food is on the higher end of the spectrum for a cereal. ½ cup packs 250 calories and 17 grams of fat. There are 6 grams of protein. Although this is a lot of calories for a small volume of food, my analysis is that I probably wouldn’t even be able to finish ½ cup of this stuff in one sitting. I imagine one serving size would keep you full for quite some time, and 250 calories for an entire meal is not bad at all. Plus all the fats included are wonderfully healthy! Give it a shot! I think you might be surprised by this product - (I know I was).

Labeling:

Labelling of this product was clear and concise. The nutrition facts and certifications were clearly marked on the wrapper.

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:        2

Taste:            4

Value:           3

OVERALL:     3

Reviewed by Lacy D.

Gluten Free Grits: Albers Enriched Hominy Quick Grits

PRODUCT NAME:                   Quick Grits         

BRAND:                                  Albers                  

COST:                                    $4.99    

SIZE:                                      40oz      

COST PER OZ:                       $0.12/oz                           

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:     NO      

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      NA

ORGANIC:                              NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      NA

VEGAN:                                 YES                                  

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:       NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:       Portland, OR    

SHELF LIFE:                          2 years                                         

*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 reviewed Albers Quick Grits.  Other than always making me think of the movie “My Cousin Vinny,” grits are a wonderful and easy thing to add to any meal.  We often think of them associated with hearty breakfasts consisting of eggs, bacon and strong coffee on a Sunday brunch for example.  While that’s a tradition I don’t deny, grits are a great thing to have in the kitchen for a variety of dishes that use them as a base to build on.  By their nature, grits are very versatile and can take on many flavors, becoming either sweet or savory easily.  Somewhat of a Cinderella food, grits by themselves are bland and characterless, but with a little imagination and some creativity, they can be really amazing and unique to each person that prepares them. 

If you’re new to grits and wondering what direction to take them in, there are several recipes on the box as well as a few more on the Albers website that I’ve listed below.  They recommend fried grits or a grits and sausage bake for example.  You can follow the recipe or add in healthier or vegetarian options depending on your diet.

When I prepare grits, I follow the simple recipe on the back of the box for the most part.  I prefer creamier grits to thinner ones and I often add some of my soy free daily balance butter, a bit of salt and a dash of pepper to it while it’s cooking to get a more buttery texture and flavor.  I also cook them longer and on low heat then it recommends on the box.  This creates more traditional, slow-cooked grits that are creamier and softer than when cooked quickly.  The grits themselves are mild in flavor, with a hint of sweetness in the aftertaste.  They are very basic in texture and taste.  It’s really in what you add to them that makes them special.

There’s something very familiar and comforting about grits.  They have that good old stick-to-your-ribs sensibility while being nutritious and good for you.  A quarter cup is only 140 calories and Albers enriched their grits with several essential vitamins and nutrients.  This is a perfect dish to prepare now that the weather is getting colder and we all want to feel a little more cozy and secure against the elements.  Quick grits are also very affordable and they last awhile where a little goes a long way making this a good economically savvy choice as well.     

For more information, recipes and suggested preparations you can check out the Albers website at www.alberscorn.com

Taste: mild, slightly roasted and slightly sweet

Labeling: bright recognizable box, does not say gluten free  

Packaging: cardboard box with pour spout

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:        4             

OVERALL:  4         

Reviewed by Krisztina L

Gluten Free Candy: Ting Ting Jahe Ginger Candy

PRODUCT NAME:                  Ginger Candy – Ting Ting Jahe   

BRAND:                                   PT. Sindu Amritha                           

COST:                                       $3.99                                    

SIZE:                                         5 oz                                       

COST PER OZ:                         $ .60

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      NO    

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:     NA

ORGANIC:                               NO         

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:     NA

VEGAN:                                   YES                                  

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:        NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:      Indonesia          

SHELF LIFE:                             18 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:
Ginger is amazing.  It’s a remedy for pretty much everything that ails you.  From the flu to a cold, cramps to nausea, and especially as a detoxifying agent, ginger is something that most everyone should incorporate in their lives on a regular basis.  The tough thing, unless you’re pretty hard core about it and use the ginger root directly, is finding products that deliver the healing ginger punch without being too filled with all sorts of other ingredients you don’t want like sugars and additives.  Many candies have more sugar in them than ginger and sometimes you need a bit more of a kick than simply a ginger tea can provide.  But then again, not all ginger products are created equal and the one I sampled for this week’s review is a tried and true staple in the ginger candy world.

Ting Ting Jahe Ginger Candy is made in Indonesia following a simple and proven recipe.  All it has in it is sugar, ginger and tapioca starch.  There are no preservatives or additives and it is made from all natural ingredients.  They are chewy and wonderfully potent in their ginger flavor.  I really love the taste of ginger and I know that it is a flavor that many people find really spicy and strong.  While this is certainly a ginger lover’s candy, I think that it had enough sweetness to balance the strong ginger that it can appeal to a wider palette as well.  The candies themselves are a great wake-me-up when you need something a little sweet and very zingy and with only 25 calories each, you can certainly snack on these as opposed to other candies.  I was surprised to read this on their website but you can also make tea out of the chews by just adding boiling water to them.  They dissolve and create a full-bodied strong ginger tea that is really delicious! 

The fact that these Ginger Candies are gluten free isn’t to be taken for granted anymore.  So often candy companies put wheat or malt in their products as thickening agents or flavor enhancers and really you can’t be sure if something doesn’t have gluten in it unless you look at the ingredients yourself.  It’s nice to know that this product has been made the same way for 60 years with simple natural ingredients that don’t cut corners.

The Roxy Trading Company imports these candies from Indonesia and their website is really informative about all of the healing properties of ginger.  They also have several great links on there as well to other websites that have information about health and wellness so it’s a nice resource to find some interesting information on.  You can find these delicious Ginger Candies at the Gluten Free Grocery. 

Taste: powerful zingy ginger flavor

Labeling: English and Indonesian text but still easily readable

Packaging: plastic see-through package with individually wrapped candies inside

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             

OVERALL:   4.3     

Gluten Free Pho: Star Anise Zesty Ginger Happy Pho

PRODUCT NAME:                    Zesty Ginger Happy Pho

COMPANY NAME:                   Star Anise Foods

COST:                                     $4.39

SIZE:                                       4.5 oz

COST PER OZ:                        $0.98/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       NA

ORGANIC:                               Yes

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       USDA Organic

VEGAN:                                   Yes

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:        Unknown

LOCATION OF FACILITY:        San Francisco, CA

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:

Pho is absolutely one of my favorite foods. What is it, you ask? Well let me tell you!

Pho (pronounced “fuh”) is a Vietnamese noodle soup that is packed in with noodles, spices, and fresh herbs. Traditionally, it is most often a beef based soup but there are vegan/vegetarian, chicken, and seafood versions floating about as well. The soup is basic in it’s ingredients (you may be thinking “hey! That sounds just like the old chicken noodle that is so very American!”) but there are a few twists. First and foremost, the noodles are rice noodles, which is very good news for us gluten free folks. Secondly, the spices used to flavor the broth are star anise, cinnamon, and ginger. This unique blend offers up a distinctly exotic flavor. The soup is often garnished with fresh basil, bean sprouts, lime, and raw jalapeno and served in a gigantic steaming bowl. Eating Pho is like diving in to instant comfort.

Taste:

Star Anise Foods has brought us a ginger accented to-go version of this lovely soup (which they call Happy Pho) and I could not be more pleased. As a woman who spends much of her time sequestered in an art studio, I often find myself needing quick, warm, and satisfying nourishment that doesn’t make me need to leave my space. As a gluten free, sugar sensitive, non processed food preferring vegan I often find myself toting tupperware full of whole grains and greens and noticing that my bag is heavier with food then art supplies. I was quite thrilled to find the light convenience of Star Anise’s product and to know that the amazing warmth of a soup awaited me come dinner.

The time finally came and I was incredibly pleased to find that these noodles were quick, simple to make and tasted fantastic! I just threw in some shredded carrots and a few hand fulls of spinach and cilantro, squeezed some lime in and my soup came out tasting fantastic. The process was simple- I added the spice packet to my pot, added the spice packet, brought it all to a boil, added a noodle square and BOOM.  I had a really healthy, warm, nutritious meal in about five minutes flat.

I'm really happy I found these soups on a number of levels. The rice noodles included are BROWN rice noodles, which I much prefer and have found to be a rarity. There is a little zing in the flavor of these noodles, I think because there happens to be green tea powder in the ingredients list. The spice packet scared me at first (have you SEEN how many disgusting things can be contained within a spice packet?!) but I was very pleasantly surprised to see the ingredient list was short and succinct- star anise , cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and green onion. NO sugar. NO salt. and NO gluten containing soy sauce. This stuff is heavenly.

Calorically, an entire box is two servings (It really is, too. There is no way I could eat the whole thing in one sitting) and contains 222 calories per serving. It is low fat, low sodium, and has four grams of protein. I have no complaints whatsoever about these stats!

Star Anise’s Happy Pho may very well save my studio life. Although to-go products may be a bit pricey I am quite pleased to know that now I can just keep a few boxes of Happy Pho in my desk for a quick healthy meal any time, especially on nights when I don’t want to leave my work post.

Labeling:

Labelling of this product was clear and concise. The nutrition facts, info about the company, and serving suggestions are all clearly marked on the box.

Packaging:

Packaging for this product is a recyclable cardboard box, which I deem to be quite sufficient.

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 Granola: Go Raw Original Live Granola

PRODUCT NAME:                  Original Granola

COMPANY NAME:                 Go Raw

COST:                                   $11.99

SIZE:                                     16 oz

COST PER OZ:                      $0.75

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:    Yes

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:     GF Gluten Free

ORGANIC:                             Yes

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:     USDA Organic

VEGAN:                                 Yes

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:      Unknown

LOCATION OF FACILITY:      Mountain View, CA

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:

Traditionally, Granola is full of things that the vegan, health conscious and gluten-free cannot partake in. Oats are generally dusted with a fine wheat spray due to factory equipment, milk products are often swimming about, and last but not least, sugars and fats tend to permeate. Despite the bad reputation granola tends to have for these reasons, I simply love it. I miss those fatty, sugary, crunchy little clusters! When I was presented with the Original flavor of Go Raw’s granola I was super pumped to give it a shot. Breakfast delight, here I come!

Go Raw’s Ingredients list is short, sweet, and super body friendly. This product eschews oats all together, and instead replaces them with buckwheat groats. Added to the mix as sweeteners are organic dates and organic raisins. Lastly, flax seeds pepper each individual cluster. There is a distinct lack of sugar and oil present.

Taste:

Despite my enthusiasm, I quickly discovered that the taste of this granola was nothing to write home about. I am totally that vegan and gluten free girl shouting to the masses that healthy products can be tasty without compromising ethics or our body’s vitality and unfortunately, it is products like this granola that I think give health food the reputation for being tasteless. While the texture of the granola was dry and crunchy there was a chew at the end that made it taste a bit stale. Additionally, the fruit pieces were quite hard and took quite an effort to chew through. While buckwheat groats can be deliciously crunchy in the right context, the stickiness of the fruit dulled the impact of the bites exponentially.

Now I am not saying this product is terrible. It is simply exactly what the ingredient list would imply- incredibly simple to the point of blandness. While I admire the attempt to make a granola that is dietary restriction friendly, I think we can inject a bit more enthusiasm into this product- both with the taste and with the texture.

Calorically I was shocked to see that this granola was not really any different from the standard varieties. ⅓ cup packed in 220 calories and 13 grams of sugar! While there was a good amount of fiber (6 grams) and protein (5 grams) in each serving, I still wouldn’t consider the product to be worth the calories. I also found the product to be quite pricey!

Labeling:

Labeling of this product was clear and concise. The nutrition facts, info about the company, certification emblems, and serving suggestions are all clearly marked on the bag.

Packaging:

Packaging for this product was a large zip-loc style thick plastic bag, which seemed appropriate for keeping the product fresh. Despite the appropriate nature of the bag, I found myself wondering why such a seemingly environmentally invested company would not make a compostable or recyclable container.


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
Value:          2
OVERALL:    2.3

Reviewed by Lacy D.

Gluten Free Oat Bars: Bobo's Oat Bars Maple Pecan

PRODUCT NAME:                  Gluten Free Maple Pecan

BRAND:                                 Bobo’s Oat Bars

COST:                                   $3.49

SIZE:                                     3oz

COST PER OZ:                      $1.16

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:    NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:     NA

ORGANIC:                            YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:    UNKNOWN

VEGAN:                                YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:      NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:      Boulder, CO

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:
This week I sampled Bobo’s Gluten Free Maple Pecan Oat Bars. The bar is moist and very rich. The maple flavor is very prominent and intense and goes nicely with the subtle crunch of the pecan chunks that are distributed throughout the bar. You can taste the oats as well, but it is a predominantly maple flavor that permeates everything.

While the bar is very moist, which is nice as a lot of gluten free products have a tendency to be dried out, it is also very crumbly. This makes it a challenge to handle as it easily falls apart into chunks. Eating this in the car would be tough, but pretty much anywhere else you’d be fine. I crumbled a bit into my yogurt for breakfast, which turned out to be delicious as the sweetness of the bar was cut with the tartness of the plain yogurt. This would definitely satisfy a sweet-tooth, but would be a bit overpowering for someone who has a more savory palette.

The bar is very filling and very rich and I certainly couldn’t finish the whole thing in one sitting. It has 190 calories per serving and there’s 2 servings per bar. The nutritional information is for half of the bar, so be aware of that as you look at your daily intake requirements. There’s 7 grams of fat per serving, most of which I would imagine would be from the nuts, as well as 3g of protein. It has quite a bit of carbs but balances that out with 12% of your daily fiber needs. I would like to stress then, that eating half of the bar is probably a healthier way to go. Eating the whole bar in one sitting, you are looking at something that’s almost 400 calories, which is a bit excessive for a snack bar.

Bobo’s Oat Bars makes a lot of regular bars and only a few gluten free flavors. I am sure that this is an area where they will expand since there is certainly a need for gluten free oat products on the market. As of now the gluten free bars come in peach, lemon poppy seed, and chocolate almond in addition to this maple pecan one. The company was started by a mom who wanted a nutritious bar that was not only flavorful, but also kept health and fitness in mind. I would certainly say that based on the calories, this would be perfectly suited for someone who leads an active lifestyle of biking, hiking, sports, etc., but perhaps a bit overkill for someone with a more sedentary day to day. They seem to be made as a high-powered snack, one that’s packed full of protein and energy that your body needs when you’re on the go. There is a lot of chances for getting away and into nature around the bay area so this would be something that’s ideal to pack when you are headed out of the city. These bars are available at Gluten Free Grocery.

For more information, you can check out Bobo’s Oat Bar’s website www.bobosoatbars.com

Taste: sweet, rich maple flavor with a pecan crunch. The bar is soft and moist but crumbly.

Labeling: clearly gluten free, vegan and organic

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:       3
Taste:           4
Value:          4
OVERALL:    3.7

Reviewed by Krisztina L

Gluten Free Mashed Potatoes: Edward and Sons Dairy Free Chreesy Mashed Potatoes

PRODUCT NAME:                   Dairy Free Chreesy Mashed Potatoes

COMPANY NAME:                  Edward and Sons

COST:                                    $2.99

SIZE:                                      3.5 oz

COST PER OZ:                       $0.85         

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:     YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      GF Gluten Free

ORGANIC:                              YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      QAI

VEGAN:                                  YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:       Unknown

LOCATION OF FACILITY:       Carpinteria, CA

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:

Today Edward and Sons brings us an instant mashed potato product that is Gluten free, Organic, and vegan. Despite it’s dairy-free status, the box claims boldly that these potatoes are flavored with cheddar style “chreese”- a nutritional yeast based vegan cheese sauce.  It is quite the hefty claim to assert that a yeast sauce could be at all categorized as cheddar flavored but hey! Just because I am a health conscious gluten free vegan doesn’t mean I don’t love a cheesy carb just as much anyone else! I was willing to give it a shot.

The instructions for preparation of this product are incredibly simple, which is perhaps the entire point of instant mashed potatoes in general. If one doesn’t have the time to procure some potatoes, chop, boil, and mash they can always grab this box, a saucepan, a milk or milk-like product (I used Unsweetened Almond Milk) some “buttery spread” (I used Earth Balance brand but you can use real butter or even olive oil) and some water. First you heat the water and oil, then remove from heat to stir in the potato flakes, and add milk to achieve desired consistency. Instantly, you are presented with a creamy, warm, filing, salty side to any meal.

All this is positive and for what it is, Edward and Sons’ Chreesy Mashed Potatoes aren’t half bad.  For being a two second affair to make, they do all that they are supposed to do. While the “chreese” sauce doesn’t at all taste like cheese (I haven’t had cheese in nearly fourteen years and I know this) it is tasty. The nutritional yeast lends a creaminess and flavor depth that adds a dash of nuance to this very basic product. I, myself, like mashed potatoes to be interspersed with chunks of starchy goodness but of course, with an instant product you will always have uniform smoothness. If that is what you prefer, then you are in luck.

Calorically, this product adds 90 calories per medium sized serving to your meal. For a carb, this is not bad! You can eat about double the amount of potato for the same calorie count as a cup of rice.

Taste:

Despite the positive attributes of this product, I can’t manage to get myself past the instant mashed potato flake taste. I have always found that there is a slight tinny flavor to instant flakes, and although Edward and Sons has taken the time to add a flavored sauce, I can still detect the strange after taste. Aside from potato flakes and the sauce, the ingredient “mono and di-glycerides” is present in this product. These are used to both emulsify the product and preserve it. My guess is that these are precisely what give that strange flavor.

I shared this product with my partner, a man who is a fellow vegan, but much more at ease with products based around quickness and convenience. He LOVED the flavor of these potatoes and once our dinner was finished he proceeded to eat the remaining two servings directly out of the pot while standing over the stove. I mention this as an important factor because, in general, I am not a huge fan of instant mashed potatoes but I thought they were acceptable. If you *do* happen to like instant mashed potatoes in general, evidence suggests that you make think they are amazing.

Labeling:

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

Packaging:

Packaging for this product was a cardboard pourable box, which seemed appropriate for keeping the product fresh and having the grab-and-go component.

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:             3

Value:            3

OVERALL:      3

Reviewed by Lacy D.