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 Rice Cakes: Lundberg Tamari with Seaweed Rice Cakes

PRODUCT NAME:                  Tamari with Seaweed Organic rice cakes

COMPANY NAME:                  Lundberg

COST:                                    $3.49

SIZE:                                      8.5 oz

COST PER OZ:                       $0.41                            

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:     YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      Unknown

ORGANIC:                              YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      USDA organic

VEGAN:                                  YES                            

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:       YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:       Richvale, 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:

Taste: 

Lundberg rice cakes have come to be a staple in my life.  Originally I discovered them when I was sick. My stomach had turned to a churning mess, and almost every food item that I could possibly conceive of made me feel terrible to recall. I needed sustenance and I needed it bland. I tapped all my resources and after thinking long and hard they all came to one conclusion: rice cakes.

I hobbled over to my local health food store and grabbed a (surprisingly dense!) bag of tamari and seaweed flavored brown rice treats. Paired with a hearty vegetable soup I popped them in my mouth, one by one. It seemed no coincidence that the grumble in my gut calmed exponentially and that my taste buds suddenly seemed to smile.

Stereotypes had taught me that rice cakes were gross little hockey pucks, nothing to get excited about. Lundberg seems to have single handedly changed all that. I mentioned before that my rice cakes were surprisingly hefty in weight and there is a reason for this. Lundberg’s website reveals that they imbue each tasty little cake with about double the amount of rice that one might find in your average rice cake. The result is a crunchy and airy denseness that does much more to satisfy a craving for something substantial.

I have a past obsession with tortilla chips and although in my current life I eschew the deep fried I do sorely miss the pizzazz of a crunchy treat. Lundberg rice cakes are baked, which works in delivering that crunch I so sorely miss. While baked chips will simply never do it for me (blech!), these rice cakes tap into a snack-y goodness I thought I had long left behind.

On to the flavor; I mentioned that I was searching for a bland treat, but I simply couldn’t resist the call of tamari and seaweed. Since going gluten free I have truly missed soy sauce’s salty tang and anything with tamari (the gluten free equivalent) peaks my interest. Each cake is gently kissed with the deep rich flavor of tamari and sprinkled with seaweed. The even and careful hand of seasoning provides a bit of nuance without overpowering the earthy flavor of the brown rice. While seaweed and tamari both have the potential to dominate, Lundberg’s careful application is perfect for subtly adding a little something special to each bite.

Calorically, rice cakes are a dieters dream. At sixty calories a piece they are not necessarily as low-cal as one would guess but despite this fact, the density and volume of them fills a belly up at about three maximum, so it becomes nearly impossible to over eat. While I could shove deep fried and heavily caloric chips into my mouth all the live long day, Lundberg’s rice cakes satisfy much more quickly.

Labeling:

Labeling of this product was clear and concise. It included all the nutrition facts, some benefits of brown rice, and a little company history for a consumer to sink their teeth into.

Packaging:

Lundberg rice cakes are wrapped in plastic and then put in a plastic bag. 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:      4.3

Reviewed  by Lacy D.

Gluten Free Baking Mix: Cherrybrook Kitchen Gluten Free Dreams Chocolate Cake Mix

PRODUCT NAME:                     Gluten Free Dreams Chocolate Cake Mix

BRAND:                                    Cherrybrook Kitchen

COST:                                      $4.45

SIZE:                                        16.4 oz

COST PER OZ:                         $0.27

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:       NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        NA

ORGANIC:                                NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        NA

VEGAN:                                   YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:         NO        

LOCATION OF FACILITY:         Massachusetts

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 love to bake.  My gluten allergy diagnosis meant that I had to rediscover and research how to bake again.  I love making things from scratch and seeing how the chemistry of it all comes together and creates a fun, and sometimes unexpected, outcome.  When I go to the store to get my myriad of flours and starches, I notice that there are more and more baking mixes popping up in the baking isles that are gluten free.  Most of the time I am weary, because I think all of us have had bad experiences with mixes of all kinds, glutinous or gluten free.  But every once in awhile you need something quick and fast and ready to go in a few minutes that you can toss in the oven and have it ready.  So what do you do?

I’m going to point you in a good direction: Cherrybrook Kitchen Gluten Free Dreams Chocolate Cake Mix.  I made up a batch of cupcakes with the mix.  It was super easy and I had the whole thing together and in the baking cups in 5 minutes.  I usually add things to mixes, like extra spices, some chai or cocoa, or liqueur, or whatever strikes my fancy, but this time I just wanted to try it out bare bones and simple. 

I think a simple good chocolate cake is really tough.  It’s either too sweet or too fluffy, but this mix is pretty darn good.  It’s spongy and light, not dense like a lot of gluten free baking.  The chocolate is a Belgian cocoa powder, which is more like a bittersweet cocoa in its smell and flavor.  I appreciate that it’s not too sweet because you can add honey or agave nectar to the mix and adjust it yourself if you want to.  Also, the dark chocolate flavor allows more leeway in the kind of frosting you pair with the cake mix.  This would be fabulous with anything from peanut butter, cream cheese, to raspberry frosting.  I sampled my batch with the Mimicreme Healthy Top Whipped Cream, which has a tasty nuttiness to it and it was a great match.

I also think experimenting with filling these cupcakes with something would be a good idea.  All in all, I really love this mix but I want to stress that it’s an excellent thing to start with.  In a pinch, this is a great chocolate cake mix, but I think its real use is as a base to add to.  It doesn’t want much, but a little creativity can go a long way and make something honest to something extraordinary when you’ve got something that’s this good to springboard off from.

The Cherrybrook Kitchen company is very allergen conscious, paying attention not only to gluten free, but nut, dairy and eggs as well.  They have various lines of their products, not all of which are gluten free so when seeing their products make sure you see the wheat and gluten free labeling.  Their website is very detailed and provides a lot of allergy information.  

Taste: Good chocolate cake, dark bittersweet chocolate flavor and not too sweet.  Is good on it’s own but would be amazing with some creative add-ins.

Labeling:  Clear gluten free label and friendly packaging.  The instructions for how to make the recipe are both printed as well as instructed by pictures.  I love instructions with pictures.  It makes the whole thing homey and straightforward.

Packaging: Cardboard box with baking mix wrapped in plastic 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 Cereal: Erewhon Crispy Brown Rice Cereal

PRODUCT NAME:                                     CRISPY BROWN RICE CEREAL

BRAND:                                                         EREWHON 

COST:                                                             $5.65

SIZE:                                                               10 OZ

COST PER OZ:                                              $0.57/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:                       YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                      GFCO

ORGANIC:                                                    YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                      OREGON TILTH

VEGAN:                                                         YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:                         UNKNOWN                       

LOCATION OF FACILITY:                         SAN FRANCISCO, CA

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:

The folks at Attune Foods have created an industry consisting of several lines of all natural snacks made with the consumers’ digestive health in mind. Erewhon is made up of of seven organic and gluten free versions of classic cereals like Corn Flakes and Rice Krispies. All their products feature simple, all natural, allergy conscious ingredients. Made with certified gluten free ingredients and without common allergens like dairy, soy, peanuts, or tree nuts, Erewhon organic cereals are safe and delicious for most everyone.

Rice cereal, while it appears to be safe, is usually not safe for people with gluten sensitivities. This is because it is often sweetened with barley malt. However, this is not the case for Erewhon’s Crispy Brown Rice cereal. While it is similar to conventional Rice Krispies cereal in texture and induced childhood memories with a snap, crackle, pop, it is distinctly different because of its certified organic label and simple, all natural ingredients list. Also unlike Rice Krispies, Erewhon’s Crispy Brown Rice cereal was nutty, a little salty, and not very sweet at all. This is a huge relief to those, like myself, who crave a more savory breakfast.

I poured unsweetened almond milk over my bowl of crispy brown rice cereal and enjoyed it with bananas and raspberries on top. The cereal was light and airy, but a little too light for my appetite. I tend to eat pretty big breakfasts, and at a meager 110 calories, this cereal left me feeling hungry a couple hours later.

Taste:  nutty, crispy, and slightly salty, this cereal tasted the way I expected an organic puffed rice cereal to taste. I enjoyed mine with almond milk and fruit, which made for a nice, very light breakfast or snack.

Labeling: The front of the package featured the products name, its organic, gluten free status, and its standing as a 100% whole grain cereal. The side of the package had nutrition information, its certification labels, and ingredients. The back had an overabundance of information about the product and brand.

Packaging:   Nine 1cup servings of cereal were packaged in a plastic bag inside of a classic cereal box.

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

RATING:
Texture:        4
Taste:             4

Value:            3
OVERALL:      3.7

Reviewed  by: Jennie L.

Gluten Free Chocolate: Poco Dolce Olive Oil Sea Salt Bar

PRODUCT NAME:                         Olive Oil Sea Salt Chocolate Bar

BRAND:                                        Poco Dolce

COST:                                          $6.00

SIZE:                                            1.763 oz          

COST PER OZ:                             $3.44 per oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:           NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            NA

ORGANIC:                                    NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            NA

VEGAN:                                       YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:             NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:             San Francisco, CA

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:
When you first see the name, Olive Oil Sea Salt attached to chocolate, you’re not sure what you are quite in for.  But then local company Poco Dolce specializes in exactly that, “little bit sweet” chocolates and confections.  In the first bite, the rich creaminess of the dark chocolate melts wonderfully in your mouth.  It has a smooth consistency, not like many other dark chocolate bars that are hard or brittle.  The taste itself is a very pleasant surprise.  I happen to be a fan of savory mixed with sweet, but I think this is a flavor that could win over just about anyone.  The olive oil shows up in a very subtle way, leaving a hint of its essence on the roof of your mouth and the back of your throat where the saltiness settles gently on your tongue.  These mix splendidly with the luscious velvetiness of the chocolate.  It has an almost floral aroma and taste when all combined, reminds me of lilacs.  There is a warmth and softness to the chocolate that has a very comforting appeal and overall is a really well done take on the “savory side of sweet,” as they themselves call it on their website.

Poco Dolce has a nice local startup story.  Beginning as an Italian pastry baker, owner Kathy Wiley soon discovered her love of making chocolates a few years ago.  Since then, the popularity and accolades of Poco Dolce have flooded in, but the company still retains its small production, small team and most importantly of all, its quality in their products.  Despite being available in fine stores and groceries all over the country, I would consider this chocolate a boutique chocolate and its price reflects as much.  However, like in anything, locally made, quality made, environmentally conscious products are the things that we should all support.  Poco Dolce takes great care as to what goes into their chocolates and they have quite a variety of flavors to choose from.  As far as being gluten free, of course it is, and you probably would think why wouldn’t a chocolate bar be?  I can tell you that a lot of chocolates put malt in their ingredients, which is a glutinous product snuck in there unsuspectingly.  The ingredients for this bar are pretty simple: bittersweet chocolate, olive oil, grey sea salt.  There’s nothing hidden in there that shouldn’t be in there.  This Olive Oil and Sea Salt bar was really delicious and I look forward to trying more of their creations.

Check out the website for other flavors, products and more info: www.pocodolce.com

Taste:  smooth, velvety chocolate with subtle infusion of olive oil and light saltiness

Labeling:  classy simple minimalist label

Packaging: chocolate is wrapped in foil and comes in a resealable cardboard pouch

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 Crackers: Crunchmaster White Cheddar Multi-Grain Crackers

PRODUCT NAME:                   White Cheddar Multi-Grain Crackers

BRAND:                                  Crunchmaster

COST:                                     $3.29
 
SIZE:                                       4.5 OZ
 
COST PER OZ:                        $0.73/oz
 
CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      YES
 
CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       GFCO
 
ORGANIC:                               NO
 
CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       N/A
 
VEGAN:                                   NO
 
GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:        YES
 
LOCATION OF FACILITY:        LOVES PARK, IL
 
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:

Crunchmaster produces a line of gluten free, rice crackers baked in the Japanese “Usuyaki” style, which translates to English as thin and flat. They pride themselves on using all natural, whole grain ingredients made without any preservatives or artificial flavors. Additionally, many of their most commonly used ingredients, like rice, sesame, quinoa, amaranth, and flax seeds are grown locally in California.  Crunchmaster was nice enough to send us some samples of their newest flavors, one of which is the White Cheddar flavored Multi-Grain Crackers we reviewing today.

Crunchmaster’s white cheddar flavored multi-grain crackers were rich, flavorful and not too heavy. I usually steer away from snacks blasted with a powdery cheesy coating, like Doritos, because of an aversion to high sodium doses and too many questionable ingredients. These thin crackers were filled with good grains and seeds, like sesame seeds, millet, quinoa, flax, corn, and rice while still maintaining an addictive, junk-food sort of flavor. Containing only 120 calories per serving and five percent of the daily-recommended sodium intake, Crunchmaster’s white cheddar crackers are a manageable and relatively healthy indulgence.

Crisp, and flavorful, these crackers would be great with more cheese sliced and piled high on top, or if you are like me, eaten directly out of the bag as a quick snack on the go. I really enjoyed the bits of whole seeds embedded within each cracker because it created a multi-textured experience, while still being simple, tasty, and easy to snack on. These multi-grain crackers were relatively low calorie and I was able to eat 15 crackers per 120 calorie serving. They were also low fat and not too salty. 

Taste:  These crackers were cheesy, crunchy, while still being light and crispy. They were easy to munch on and I felt satisfied prior to overeating. They were also savory without being overly salty.

Labeling: The front of the package stated that not only are these crackers certified gluten free, but were a good source of fiber, cholesterol free, saturated fat free, and low fat. The back had a little information about the crackers, an ingredients list, and nutrition facts.

Packaging:   The crackers were packaged inside of a resealable, foil lined plastic bag.

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

RATING:
Texture:      4
Taste:          4  
Value:         3
OVERALL:   4.3

Reviewed  by: Jennie L.

Gluten Free Spreads: Sweet Earth Tofetti Eggless Egg Salad

PRODUCT NAME:                        Tofetti Eggless Egg Salad

COMPANY NAME:                        Sweet Earth

COST:                                          $4.49 

SIZE:                                            8 oz.

COST PER OZ:                             $0.56  

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:           No

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            N/A

ORGANIC:                                    Yes

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            Unknown

VEGAN:                                        Yes

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:              No

LOCATION OF FACILITY:              Pacific Grove, CA

SHELF LIFE:                                 About 10 days

*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:

Today we have a local product to the Northern California region, one that has come to be such a staple in my diet that it is almost inappropriate that I haven’t taken the time to review it sooner. Tofetti Eggless Egg Salad is exactly what it sounds like: a thick and creamy spread/dip that works best on a salad or sandwich. It is simple in its ingredients, however the results of the mish-mash create taste and textural divinity. Let me expound:

This protein rich salad includes only a few foods in its construction: It has organic carrots, tofu, green onion, Nayonaise vegan mayo, soy protein, mustard, sesame seeds, and spices. The texture is creamy with soft chunks to sink your teeth into. The blending of the Nayonaise with tofu creates a thickness that almost feels decadent, and the onion and carrot shreds are fine enough to just add a kick of texture without overpowering. It is just slightly firmer then real egg salad, and in my opinion, offers much more nuance because the chunks of tofu soak up the flavor of the spices more readily then eggs do. I eat it as a dip, as one would use hummus, on antipasti appetizer platters, or by the spoonful. This spread is a fabulous compliment to raw veggies and works just fine on its own.

Calorically, this product is basically a dream. A serving has four grams of protein (us vegan kids need that stuff!) and only fifty calories. This essentially means you can eat ½ the container of Tofetti and just hit 100 calories. It is filling and tasty as a spread, while containing significantly less calories than your average chip dip, salad dressing, hummus, or real life egg salad. It is also organic, vegan, gluten free, and only includes simple identifiable ingredients. Sweet Earth (Tofetti’s parent company) is tiny and operates with sustainable health practices in mind. About their products, Sweet Earth says: “To us, ‘Natural Foods’ means, food that is as close to the way nature provides it for us as possible, without artificial additives or preservatives and with minimal processing.”

Go get some of this! It’s excellent to have on hand as a quick lunch booster and supplies you with simple nutrition on the go. It’s a wee bit expensive but a little goes a long way and with purchase you get the added bonus of supporting a small company with excellent ethics.

Labeling:

Labeling of this product is clear and sufficient. I know many smaller companies don’t take the time to get the nutrition info for their products but Sweet Earth totally does and I appreciate the effort.

Packaging:

This spread was packaged in a glass plastic tub. The packaging seemed 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:           5

Taste:               5         

Value:              3

OVERALL:        4.3

Reviewed by Lacy D.