Gluten Free Oatmeal: Bakery on Main Apple Pie Instant Oatmeal

PRODUCT NAME:                  Apple Pie Instant Oatmeal       

BRAND:                                   Bakery on Main Gourmet Naturals                          

COST:                                       $5.99                                    

SIZE:                                         10.5oz                                              

COST PER OZ:                         $0.60/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:     GFCO

ORGANIC:                               NO                         

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      NA           

VEGAN:                                    NO                                    

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:         YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:        East Hartford, 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:
One of the things I certainly miss is oatmeal.  The confusing thing about oatmeal is that the oats themselves aren’t necessarily glutinous, but the way they are processed makes them unsafe for anyone that is gluten intolerant.  Most grocery stores do not carry gluten free oatmeal and after awhile I have just stopped looking.  The Gluten Free Grocery in the Dogpatch is starting to carry Bakery on Main products which are all made from gluten free oats!

This week I sampled Bakery on Main’s Apple Pie flavored Instant Oatmeal.  Instant oatmeals are always hit or miss, but this proved to be a good one.  I prepared it on the stove top, boiled my water and poured in the oatmeal.  I always let the oatmeal cook for just about a minute before turning off the heat.  Even though it’s instant, I think a little bit of cooking is good for it’s consistency.  I poured it into my bowl and let it cool and took my first bite.  It was surprisingly thick and textured.  There were chunks of apple in each bite and the overall cinnamon flavor was very nice.  It is a bit sweet, so if you are in the mood for something more savory, this might be a bit much. The consistency is thick and lumpy with the oats, meaning that the whole mixture doesn’t become one homogenized mess.  You can taste all the parts that come together and it’s a really pleasant apple pie flavor.

The oats that this product is made with are certified gluten free.  The mix also contains other grains like chia, flax, amaranth and quinoa so you are getting a nice variety of nutrients along with the essential fiber the oats provide.  Nutritionally, each package is 200 calories with 3 grams of fat.  It also has 6 grams of protein and 19% of your daily fiber.  It also has 11 grams of sugar but instead of using high fructose corn syrup, they use evaporated cane juice, which is a much better sugar for your body to process.  Personally, I don’t eat a lot of sugar and I am really sensitive to it so this was a little on the sweet side for me.  However, I really loved the overall texture, flavor and quantity that the mix made.  I felt really satisfied after eating it and wasn’t hungry for several hours later.  I think it’s a great breakfast alternative as well as something you could certainly eat as an afternoon energy boost.

Bakery on Main is a company in Connecticut that began with modest means.  The owner noticed that gluten free oat products were unavailable to those of us with the intolerance and he decided to do something about it.  They have quite a few different products.  This is the second one of theirs that I’ve tried and I can honestly both of them were delicious.  I look forward to trying their other gluten free oat foods as well.

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

Taste: sweet apple pie flavor, full bodied cinnamon with chunks of apples

Labeling: clear gluten free description, bright green catchy label

Packaging: cardboard resealable box with 6 packages of oatmeal 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:    5                           

Taste:         4                             

Value:        4             

OVERALL:  4.3     

Reviewed by Krisztina L

Gluten Free Granola: Bakery on Main fiber Power Cinnamon Raisin Granola

PRODUCT NAME:                  Fiber Power Cinnamon Raisin Granola

BRAND:                                 Bakery on Main Gourmet Naturals

COST:                                   $5.99                                    

SIZE:                                    12 oz

COST PER OZ:                      $0.50

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:    YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:     GFCO

ORGANIC:                             NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:     NA

VEGAN:                                 NO               

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:      YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:      East Hartford, 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:
I have to say one of the most frustrating things about being gluten free is knowing which grains do and do not have gluten in them.  Oats were always one of those really confusing ones.   My rule of thumb though is that if the package doesn’t say gluten free, I stay away.  So naturally all things yummy with oats are mostly out of the picture, including one of my favorite foods ever, granola.  I used to make my own granola all the time, but the gluten free variety isn’t cheap and frankly, I don’t have time to make it myself anymore anyway.  My craving for a good, homemade flavored granola kept being unrequited.

When I was given Bakery on Main’s Fiber Power Cinnamon Raisin Granola to sample I couldn’t have been more elated.  Crunchy, flavorful, full-on granola has again entered my life.  A good homemade granola chunks together, in fact, that could even be the best part of making it yourself.  This granola does that.  There are satisfying chunks with plump juicy raisins and the cinnamon and honey flavors are all wonderfully incorporated throughout.  I have eaten it as cereal with my hemp milk for breakfast and have munched on it throughout the day when I needed a bit of a sweet energy kick and I can say it was absolutely delicious both ways. 

Bakery on Main has a really extensive product list that you can browse on their website.  They started off as a small little bakery that went to creating exclusively gluten free granola based products, which they still create in small batches to get the proper consistency and quality.  That’s why their granola has chunks.  They have an in-house gluten tester to make sure none of their products leave their facility tainted.  Their ingredients are straightforward and pretty much what I would use if I was making this same product at home.  They have included inulin, which translates as super duper plant fiber, which is what makes this particular granola “fiber power.”  This weighs in at 230 calories per ½ cup, but it also has 7g of protein and 41g of fiber. 

Overall, this is a very tasty homemade flavored granola.  It’s a full-bodied granola with a real cinnamon and honey intensity.  It’s a great go-to granola when you need to scratch that itch.  This is going to be available soon at the Gluten Free Grocery right here in the Dogpatch as well among so many other wonderful and delicious gluten free items. 

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

Taste: intense granola flavor, richly cinnamon and honey

Labeling: clear gluten free description, bright catchy label

Packaging: re-sealable bag with clear front so you can see 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:          5                             

Value:         3         

OVERALL:   4.3     

Reviewed by Krisztina L

Gluten Free Bar: Kind Bar Pomegranate Blueberry Pistachio + Antioxidants Bar

PRODUCT NAME:                 Pomegranate Blueberry Pistachio + Bar

COMPANY NAME:                 KINDbar

COST:                                  $1.99

SIZE:                                    1.4 oz

COST PER OZ:                      $1.42                     

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:   No

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:    Unknown

ORGANIC:                            No

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:    N/A

VEGAN:                                Yes             

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:      No

LOCATION OF FACILITY:      N/A      

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: 

Ah, the fruit and nut bar. As an extremely busy lady I often rely on such items for a quick pick-me-up and when I travel I find them completely indispensable. These little treats run a gamut in terms of quality. While some are weird fiber bricks that simply get the job of taking the edge off of hunger done, others are delicious treats that feel more like dessert then a bland belly filler. Its tricky to find a bar with taste quality that also has sound nutritional value but time and time again I find that KINDbars get the job done. These puppies are really delightfully delicious.

This week I had the wonderful experience of dining on my KINDbar en route from San Francisco to New York City. My flight was scheduled to ascend at an ungodly hour (6:30AM!) and even if I had been able to find a vegan and gluten free item to dine on (what are the chances of that in the first place?!), the overpriced restaurants and kiosks were not even open by the time I boarded my flight. I was armed with an arsenal of snacks to try and I was perhaps most excited about my KINDbar. Pomegranate Blueberry Pistachio?! I couldn’t even begin to imagine what that amalgamation of flavors would turn into in my mouth and I was pumped to figure it out. As four AM hit and the night darkness lingered I took my first bite of KINDbar and let the dissection of its flavor began.

First, lets talk about pomegranate. In the past decade or so many MANY items have claimed this to be a main ingredient and aside from straight up 100% pomegranate juice I have never really been able to identify the actual flavor of pomegranate in most products. While my late night/early morn breakfast bar was indeed delicious, I felt the flavor of pomegranate was lost in the abyss of the more dominant blueberries and almonds. (You may be wondering why I said almonds and not pistachios, as those are the bar’s highlighted nuts and honestly, I was wondering that as I chewed as well. This bar is much more notably almond then pistachio). The bar was quite sticky, which is no problem for me, as it evoked a sort of healthy candy apple vibe for me. There were a lot of textural components in this bar - The ingredient list includes almonds, blueberry pieces, cashews, honey, raisins,  glucose, pomegranate, crisp rice, chicory fiber, pistachio, and soy lecithin. and the variation between sticky, crunchy, and chewy is quite palatable. Additionally this bar boasts that it includes high doses of vitamin A, C, D, and E.

Calorically speaking this bar has 170 calories and 8 grams of fat. In the realm of bars on the market, this is actually relatively low and did seem to quiet the rumble of my belly for a few hours. While I would not use this bar as a meal replacement (At only 3 grams of protein and a high naturally occurring sugar content it doesn’t exactly scream balance) I did find it to be a super sufficient snack. KINDbar hasn’t disappointed me yet and the pomegranate blueberry pistachio bar was no exception to that fact.

Labeling:

Labeling of this product was clear and concise. It was very sufficient.

Packaging:

KINDbars are wrapped in plastic sealed sheaths. Although it is not the most environmentally sound way to wrap these treats, it seems 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:            4

OVERALL:      4.5

Reviewed  by Lacy D.

Gluten Free Crackers: Skinny Crisp Brownie Crisps

PRODUCT NAME:                 Brownie Crisps

BRAND:                                Myrna’s Skinny Crisps

COST:                                  $5.99                                    

SIZE:                                    5 oz

COST PER OZ:                      $1.19

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:   NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:    NA        

ORGANIC:                            NO                         

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:    NA   

VEGAN:                                YES                                  

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:     YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:     Boulder, CO     

SHELF LIFE:                        3 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:

These Brownie Crisps by Myrna’s Skinny Crisps are pretty extraordinary.  These crisps are not quite a cookie and not quite a cracker, but somewhere in between.  They are crunchy and full-bodied in their texture.  Made mainly out of almonds and chickpea flour, they are pretty hearty and pack a solid flavor.  They have a real cocoa richness that reminds me of the taste of a hot cocoa mix made from real dark chocolate.  Instead of being overly sweet themselves, the crisps have a hint of a bittersweet flavor that gets nicely accented by the sweetness of the sprinkles on top.  The overall flavor is well balanced and really very tasty.  These crisps make a really great snack.

They come in a re-sealable package that would be great to keep in the office or in a bag when you’re on the go.  They are perfectly satisfying for that midday hunger when you have just one more errand to run before you can eat a proper meal.  They are also just sweet enough to satisfy that after dinner chocolate craving.  They are gluten free, dairy free, vegan, casein-free, egg free, contain no hydrogenated oils and are baked in a gluten free environment.  Despite all of that though, they are certainly not taste, texture and substance free and honestly, they deliver much more than what you might think after a first glance. 

The back of the packaging tells a little story about how a little princess learned she could no longer eat gluten and she went to her fairy godmother to make her a perfect snack that wouldn’t upset her tummy and be delicious at the same time.  Skinny Crisps were the result of this fairytale baking and they come in all sorts of flavors besides Brownie Crisps.  They are a bit on the expensive side, which is the only drawback, but they are nutrient dense and delicious.  You are definitely getting a quality product.  Three crackers are only 80 calories and with each one packing in some iron, calcium and protein.  These little bites are truly “just right.”
These Skinny Crisps are available locally at the Gluten Free Grocery in the Dogpatch/Potrero Hill along with a whole variety of other delectable morsels and delicious foods for the discerning gluten free palette.

For more information, you can check out Skinny Crisps’ website: www.skinnycrisps.com.

Taste: dark cocoa flavor accented with the sweetness of the sprinkle topping

Labeling: simple label with clear gluten free description

Packaging: re-sealable bag with clear front so you can see 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:          5                             

Value:         3             

OVERALL:   4.3     

Reviewed by

Krisztina L.

Gluten Free Hummus: Wildwood Roasted Red Pepper Probiotic Hummus

PRODUCT NAME:                  Roasted Red Pepper Probiotic Hummus

COMPANY NAME:                 Wildwood

COST:                                  $2.99

SIZE:                                    10 oz.

COST PER OZ:                      $.0.29    

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:    No

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:     N/A

ORGANIC:                             Yes

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:     USDA organic

VEGAN:                                 Yes                    

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:       Unknown

LOCATION OF FACILITY:       Grinnell, IA      

SHELF LIFE:                          3 weeks unopened

*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:  

So, hummus. Everybody loves hummus, right? Maybe I am generalizing here, but it seems to me that this food is not just a staple in the diet of the vegan or the gluten free anymore. Hummus is in the most mainstream of grocery stores these days, and even my mom has tried it. Hummus, the once exotic Mediterranean treat, has now become America’s darling.

Because hummus has become so ubiquitous, it has become a bit challenging to make it notable. While I am quite happy that I am generally able to find this little diamond-in-the-rough even in the tiniest towns it does seem that many versions of this beany, creamy, garbanzo spread are a bit bland, or use canola/vegetable oil to blend with. (I am going to be honest here. Hummus is just *supposed* to use olive oil. It is simply tradition!) Wildwood’s Roasted Red Pepper Probiotic Hummus seems to be trying to jazz it up. While the roasted red pepper flavor doesn’t seem so outlandish- its pretty standard to add such kicks to the beans these days - the probiotics really surprise me. These little enzymes are added to the hummus, supposedly to aid in the promotion of healthy digestion of the product.

For those not in the know, probiotics are actually bacteria, but not the kind that makes you sick. These little buggers are healthy and help line your intestinal walls in order to aid in proper nutrient absorption and digestion. Probiotics are found in fermented products naturally. This is one of the reasons that yogurt, kefir, kombucha, and kimchi have a reputation for keeping us well.

I am a tad thrown off by the probiotic addition to Wildwood’s hummus, as it seems an effort to stand out on the shelves that I am not totally convinced by. That being said, (probiotics or not) the hummus is a cut above many of the others out there. It does use canola oil instead of olive, but the amount used adds to a perfect creaminess that is almost velvety. The red pepper zing adds just a touch of pep to the flavor and nicely compliments the more base-flavors of tahini and bean. I did notice that tomato puree was present in the hummus, ostensibly to make it redder in a way that is cheaper then using more red pepper. Like the inclusion of probiotics, I am a bit suspicious of this move, but it doesn’t seem to affect the flavor so I suppose its okay.

A few other nice things about Wildwood’s hummus: I found it literally in the middle of nowhere when I desperately needed a healthy and protein-y treat. It cost me 2.99, which is drastically lower then many of the hummuses out there that tend to hover much closer to five bucks then three. A two-tablespoon serving is sixty calories, which is in the moderate range. Adding the dip to salads, sandwiches, and rice cakes enhances the flavor of these things as well as making them sate hunger for a bit longer. While I am not totally sold on the motives of the folks at Wildwood, I would say my tub of hummus was still a pretty solid investment.

Labeling:

Labeling of this product was clear and concise. It was quite adequate in displaying information about the nutrition of the product.

Packaging:

This hummus came in a recyclable plastic tub, which seemed 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:           3

Value:          4

OVERALL:    4

Reviewed by Lacy D.

Gluten Free Raw Cookies: Go Raw Lemon Super Cookies

PRODUCT NAME:                   Organic Lemon Super Cookies   

BRAND:                                  Go Raw by Freeland Foods         

COST:                                     $5.49                                    

SIZE:                                       3 oz

COST PER OZ:                        $1.83

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:     YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      GFCO               

ORGANIC:                              YES                        

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      Organic Certifiers       

VEGAN:                                  YES                                  

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:        UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:        Mountain View, California        

SHELF LIFE:                           8 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:

I really have a taste for raw food.  I often threaten that one of these days I’m just going to plunge into eating totally raw.  But my perception of the work it takes to do all of the research and prepare a complete raw diet keeps me from going whole hog.  That’s why delicious products like Go Raw Organic Lemon Super Cookies are so fantastic.  I can get a raw pick me up with the protein and nutrients from the organic coconut, the sprouted sesame seeds and the organic dates that are packed into each cookie.  The lemon flavor comes from organic lemon oil, which gives the cookies a sweet citrusy zing and the lemon smell that delightfully fills your nose whenever you open the bag.

The cookies themselves are really yummy.  They have a nice crunch to them because of the sesame seeds, but they are also chewy due to the coconut and dates.  It’s a really nice texture combination.  The lemon isn’t a potent sour flavor, but a sweet citrus that picks up the hints of the other ingredients and they all blend together really well.  The cookies are small and bite-sized.  They are surprisingly filling, which is good, because you can’t really finish off the whole bag in one sitting.  They are a nutrient dense healthful snack, something that I would keep in my purse on a busy day or in my desk at work when I need some extra brainpower. 

Go Raw Organic Super Lemon Cookies are 160 calories for 18 cookies, so not quite 10 calories each.  It does have some fat grams but that’s mainly because of the sesame and coconut, which are high in fat that is good for you.  They naturally have some calcium and iron in them as well.  The sprouted sesame seeds mean that they are alive.  Eating raw and live food helps your body become more alkaline and less acidic.  Less acid in your body is healthier and your body is able to get rid of environmental toxins much easier.  Incorporating even a little bit of raw and live food in our diet helps our bodies cope better with stress and if I can do that and eat yummy lemon cookies, sign me up. 

These cookies are available at the Gluten Free Grocery along with all sorts of other gluten free delicacies and staples that are certainly worth a try.  Enjoy! 

Find more about Go Raw organic Super Lemon Cookies on their website: http://www.goraw.com/

Taste: citrus sweetness with a lemony zing, slight coconut and date flavor in the background

Labeling: bright yellow label clearly marked with organic, raw, gluten free, etc.

Packaging: plastic bag with re-sealable top

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 Krisztina L