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.

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

PRODUCT NAME:                   Apricot Almond Chai True Bar   

BRAND:                                  Bakery on Main      

COST:                                    $1.99

SIZE:                                      40g (1.41 oz)                                      

COST PER OZ:                        $1.41      

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:     YES      

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      GFCO

ORGANIC:                              NO                       

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      NA

VEGAN:                                  NO                                    

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:       YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:       Glastonbury, CT            

SHELF LIFE:                           1 Year                                       

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

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

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

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

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

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

Labeling: clearly gluten free, informative and descriptive labelling

Packaging: plastic see-through wrapper

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

RATING:

Texture:       4                           

Taste:           5                             

Value:          4.5         

OVERALL:    4.5     

Reviewed  by

Krisztina Lazar

Gluten Free Bars: Larabar Jocolat Chocolate Hazelnut Bar

PRODUCT NAME:                  Jocalat Chocolate Hazelnut

COMPANY NAME:                  Larabar

COST:                                    $1.99

SIZE:                                     1.7 oz

COST PER OZ:                       $1.17                     

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:     Yes

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      Unknown

ORGANIC:                              Yes

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      USDA organic

VEGAN:                                  Yes             

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:       Unknown

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: 

If I were to have an emergency food supply, Larabars would almost certainly be first in the box. They are unequivocally healthy, satisfying, calorically dense, sugar free, vegan, gluten free, soy free, organic, and kosher. Many of them are raw. They are sweet without being overbearing. They satiate. They taste absolutely awesome.

While I have much experience with Larabars, I have never had the benefit of indulging in their Jocalat flavors. When asked if I would like to review the Chocolate Hazelnut bar, I couldn’t say yes fast enough. I had one thought and one thought alone: This is going to taste like Nutella. I thought it, I hoped it, I willed it. And mostly, my wish was granted.

Larabar’s Chocolate Hazelnut Larabar absolutely smacks of- well- chocolate hazelnut. The taste of the bar is full and thick with deep cocoa undertones. The texture is chewy and moist with crunchy hazelnut bits interspersed throughout. Eating the bar is a delight, and perhaps my favorite quality that the bar possesses is that the ingredient list is the smallest, safest, sanest one I have ever seen in something I consider a treat. Dates, hazelnuts, almonds, and unsweetened chocolate make up this little wonder and its amazing what the combo of such few items can create in the flavor department. As I bit into my fruit and nut bar I was transported. I exclaimed “this is like a brownie!” into the lonely abyss of my room. I was *excited* and in a way that I just couldn’t keep to myself.

If you are like me and obsessed with wholesome foods while looking to have a slightly sweet snack that is completely good for you then this is it! I don’t eat sugar but I must admit my sweet tooth perseveres regardless. Larabar’s Chocolate Hazelnut bar is a snack you can feel good about eating. It is much more wholesome then a sugary chocolate bar, and even though its “healthy”, its not some flavorless disappointment.  If you want a real, raw, good for your body, mind and soul snack then I highly recommend Larabars. Jocalats are kind of a Godsend! This seems a melodramatic statement, but I need to be mega honest here for gluten free sweet loving community.

This particular bar packs in 200 calories and ten grams of fat. It may seem that this is a lot for a small treat but the healthy fats can keep you full for quite some time, thus making the bar a very worthwhile snack.

Labeling:

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

Packaging:

Larabars are wrapped in a foil-like aluminum sheath. 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:        4

Taste:            5

Value:           3
OVERALL:     4

Reviewed  by Lacy D.

Gluten Free Cereal: Vigilant Eats Organic Superfood Oat Based Cereal

PRODUCT NAME:                    Organic Superfood Oat Based cereal

COMPANY NAME:                    Vigilant Eats

COST:                                      $4.15

SIZE:                                        3 oz

COST PER OZ:                         $1.38                     

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:       YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        NFC Gluten Guard

ORGANIC:                                YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        USDA Organic

VEGAN:                                    YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:          Unknown

LOCATION OF FACILITY:          Bloomington, IN

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:

I came to my Superfood Oat Based Cereal very much in need of something super. I had just finished my third semester of Graduate School and my throat was thick with mucus. I was exhausted, sick, tired, and - lets be honest - lazy. It seemed a perfect moment to try a product that had a primary focus of making life easy for consumers.

Vigilant Eats provided me with a product that was a cup with just-add water instructions. When I first got my container I thought that I was going to be trying a grab-and-go hot oatmeal product. I sleepily put my kettle on the stove to heat some water and upon closer inspection I noticed something I thought a bit strange. I was supposed to fill my to-go cup halfway with *cold* water. “Um, okay. So this is *cold* oatmeal?” I thought. Despite my initial inklings to ignore that particular instruction I turned my kettle off and filled my container up to the line with cold water. Here goes nothing.

Taste: I was initially surprised to find that the taste of this, although not the piping hot oat comfort I expected, was actually not so bad. The texture was a cross between oatmeal and granola, with a smooth creamy backdrop and crunchy little surprises lightly interspersed. (I would later find that these little crunchies were a mix of goji berries and cacao nibs.) I looked into the ingredients more as I chewed and found that in addition to the afore mentioned crunch bites, oats, and oat flour, there was hemp milk powder present in the mixture. Ostensibly, one was supposed to add water and have a product that was suddenly like cold cereal with milk. Although this was not exactly what happened, I still couldn’t complain about the results. The flavor was infused with maple and cinnamon and the cup provided the perfect amount to fill me up.

One caveat about this product is that it was very, very sweet. Although the container bragged about the low-glycemic index of its chosen sweeteners I couldn’t help but notice that there was not one, not two, but three forms off sweetener present (palm nectar, yacon, and maple powder) in addition to the goji berries and cacao nibs. Although I do enjoy a sweet morning treat (I usually add stevia and cinnamon to my own morning brews) it seemed a bit like sugar-y overkill to have so many sweet things added to this tiny cup. I imagine that this company’s aim is to get healthy foods to on-the-go folks who have a more standard American diet then myself and so perhaps all the sweetness makes sense, but for me it was just too much.

There are 300 calories in this cup and a pretty whopping eleven grams of protein. I found this to be appropriate for a morning meal, and it definitely kept me full for a couple of hours. Some mornings I rise at 8AM and don’t have time to eat lunch until 1PM and it is my opinion that the quick cook oats in this product would probably not keep me full for that amount of time. HOWEVER, this was a late wake up Saturday, and I didn’t have a tight schedule to follow, so it was okay to have a breakfast that would really only last me a couple of hours.

Labeling:

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

Packaging:

Packaging for this product was a cardboard container, which seemed appropriate for keeping the product fresh and having the grab-and-go component. I was surprised that the box and the plastic spoon provided within the box were not recyclable. This company seems to emphasize the holistic nature of their products, and it seems having environmentally sound packaging would fall into this ethos.

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:       3.5

Taste:           3

Value:          3

OVERALL:    3.2

Reviewed  by Lacy D.

Gluten Free Spreads: Justin's Maple Almond Butter

PRODUCT NAME:                    Maple Almond Butter

COMPANY NAME:                   Justin’s Nut Butters

COST:                                     $1.19

SIZE:                                       1.15 oz

COST PER OZ:                        $0.96                     

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       GFCO

ORGANIC:                               NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       N/A

VEGAN:                                   YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:         NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:         Boulder, 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:

Taste: 

For my trip to New York City for the holidays, I knew I needed snacks. As nut butters tend to be my perfect in-a-pinch sustenance I was determined to find individual packets to sate the travel hunger beast within. In steps Justin’s nut butters, a little beacon in the distance just when I needed it most.

There are two reasons that the 1.15 ounce travel size of Justin’s Maple Almond Butter come in handy. First and foremost, you know that annoying travel rule about not taking liquids or gels larger then 3 ounces in your carry on luggage on a plane? These packs are small enough to not even illicit one batted eyelash from airline security, and are slim enough to fit snugly alongside other toiletries and small liquid snacks you may bring on board. The second perk? The flavor of this maple almond butter is so delectable, so delightful, so incredibly delicious that it is this lady’s belief that portion control is a must. Sure, they sell this sweet and salty nut butter in normal sized jars, but do you really want to eat the whole thing in one sitting? I know I don’t and I also know that after one bite of this sticky stuff is hard to put it down. Since I wouldn’t think of abstaining from the delight that is Justin’s Maple Almond Butter, the small grab-and-go packets are a must.

The texture of this Maple Almond Butter is perfect. It is thick, smooth and wonderfully spreadable without being too oily or tacky. It pairs perfectly with both sweet and savory backgrounds (I have used this on apple cinnamon rice cakes, bananas, rye crackers, and even tempeh bacon avocado sandwiches with success). The flavor has a nuance that I simply adore. Sweet and Salty are practically an American tradition at this point, and so it makes sense to work it into treats that are made of unprocessed whole foods. Let the health conscious delight in the perfect meld of maple and salt! We need to indulge, too.

On indulging: this nut butter is indeed decadent. Although almond butter is not at all a bad food (it is filled to the brim with vital vitamins and minerals) , it is packed with fat and calories. While a healthy done of fat will keep your metabolism going, your skin and hair shiny, and your hunger sated, a little goes a long way. One pack of this maple almond butter packs 190 calories and 17 grams of fat. Also, the sweetener is maple sugar, not maple syrup so beware that the sweetness isn’t sugar free. Don’t use this information as a deterrent from trying this treat (it is WAY healthier then most indulgences and honestly, its worth the calories) just keep consumption moderate.

Labeling:

Labeling of this product was clear and concise, even on the very small individual packets. It was very sufficient.

Packaging:

Justin’s individual packets are little foil packs, like single serving ketchups and mustards but larger. Although this seems appropriate for the grab-and-go concept of these packs, it is a bit tough to open them without scissors and when you do its difficult to get all of the product out by simply squeezing due to the products thickness. It takes a whole lot of kneading of the packet to get all of the maple almond butter out. There are many times that I knead and knead the packet and still can't get the whole thing softened up.  Although I don’t have a great alternative to offer, I would say the packaging could use some work.

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:            4

OVERALL:      4.5

Reviewed by Lacy D.

Gluten Free Flour: Bella Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Mix

PRODUCT NAME:                   All Purpose Baking Mix

BRAND:                                  Bella Gluten-Free

COST:                                    $5.95

SIZE:                                      15.5 OZ

COST PER OZ:                       $0.38/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:     YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      Celiac Recognition Association

ORGANIC:                              NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      NA

VEGAN:                                 YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:       YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:       Longmont, CO

SHELF LIFE:                          1.5 Years

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packagig.   Wecannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

 

I was very excited to be given a bag of All Purpose Baking Mix right before Thanksgiving because I was invited to a couple different dinners where I knew could not assume a gluten-free diet would be taken into consideration. Since I didn’t want to be hungry on Thanksgiving, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Using Bella’s Baking Mix, I made a crust for a pumpkin pie, blueberry muffins, and lefse, which is a traditional Norwegian potato pancake rolled up and filled with butter and cinnamon sugar. Everything I made was altered to be vegan to account for other allergy sensitive friends, and with the mix, everything came out as expected!

Some gluten free baking mixes use bean flours, which to my overly sensitive pallet , taste bitter. Bella Gluten-Free’s mix has a combination of  brown rice flour, white rice flour, potato starch, sweet rice flour, tapioca flour, xanthan gum, and sea salt which made their mix taste sweet and warm. This mix was really easy to work with, was not sticky, too thick or too thin. It was also simple to convert my grandmother’s lefse recipie from gluten-full to gluten free because Bella’s Baking Mix replaces wheat flour cup for cup.

I made the muffins and pie crust according to the recipes on the back of the package (there was also a recipe for Flaky Southern Biscuits and Fluffy Gluten-Free Pancakes and Belgium Waffles.) I was appreciative of all the uses suggested by the manufacturer; they even included a conversion table for replacing eggs with an vegan subsitiute. The blueberry muffins were hearty and filling and were a little denser than I am used to but I didn’t mind. They were not too sweet and the recipe called for fresh blueberries, which got gooey and delicious after baking. The pie crust was flaky and slightly sweet, allowing the pumpkin filling of my vegan pumpkin pie to shine.

Taste: Bella’s Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Mix didn’t have a strong, prominent flavor, which is a very good thing. This flour made a perfect and convenient replacement for wheat flour, and didn’t add any strange or unexpected flavors. It just did what I expect any good flour mix to do, which was to function in a similar way to conventional flours.

Labeling: The front of the package stated that the mix was 100% natural and also

allergen free. The back had nutritional information, an ingredients list, and four recipes.

Packaging: This mix was in a resealable bag with 4.25 cups of flour 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:            5

Value:           4

OVERALL:     4.7

Reviewed by Jennie L.