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 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 Cookies: Alive and Radiant Foods Thumbalina Cookie

PRODUCT NAME:                       Thumbalina Cookie

COMPANY NAME:                       Alive and Radiant Foods

COST:                                         $3.00

SIZE:                                           1.5 oz

COST PER OZ:                            $2.00                      

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:          NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           NA

ORGANIC:                                   YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           Unknown

VEGAN:                                       YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:             NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:             Emeryville, CA           

SHELF LIFE:                                 2 months

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

REVIEW:

Taste: 

Upon being presented with this item I could only think one thing: To call this product a cookie is quite a stretch. Although Alive and Radiant foods really does give it their all in trying to recreate the relative shape of your standard thumbprint style cookie, that is about the only comparison I can comfortably make. The appearance of this cookie is odd, to say the least. The outer cookie part is the shocking green that, in my time as a health foodie, I can only recognize as being the result of a Spirulina injection. Spirulina, a nutrient rich additive that popular juice companies use to make their green smoothies green, has always had an off-putting texture and taste to me. Perhaps it is the knowledge that it is derived from sea weed but it just plainly reminds me of sludge each time I partake . I believe that a powder form was used for this cookie, as a distinctly chalk like overtone enveloped my mouth as I took my first bite. No matter what the advocates say, Spirulina will never be indiscirnable to me. Its just a fact.

Aside from Spirulina, the “cookie boasts simple ingredients that are full of natural health properties. Almonds, coconut butter, agave, and Goji berries join our slimy seaweedy friend and meld together to create this snack. While almonds, coconut, and agave have all made fairly large health claims, nothing has walloped us over the head quite like the Goji berry. It has the illustrious title of “super food” and many claim that it is the most nutrient dense food on the planet. This little berry has more protein then whole wheat, more vitamin C and beta carotene then oranges and carrots, tons of B and E vitamins, as well as amino acids galore. Basically, the Goji berry is really freaking good for you, and I was excited to partake. With enthusiasm I chomped down and again, my tongue recoiled. Goji berries are sour and they are bitter. There is no real tinge of sweetness to balance the intensity and lord knows the outer cookie wasn’t doing the Goji center any favors. I was shocked at how the almond and coconut (two huge fat sources known to add excellent flavor to most anything) could be totally overpowered. 

 As with Alive and Radiant’s Contrast cookie (which I reviewed earlier this week) there was a texture that was strongly reminiscent of Play-Doh in this product.  All in all, the experience of eating this cookie couldn’t be passed off as remotely pleasurable, even to this vegan, gluten free, sugar free, lover of all things vegetable. My distaste surprised even me.

Labeling

I found labeling of this product to be insufficient. There was no nutrition information and it took poking around the Alive and Radiant website to find out that the product was even organic. Wouldn’t they want to advertise all those health benefits?

Packaging:

Packaging of this product was a thick plastic sealed bag. It seemed sufficient for upholding 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:           1

Taste:               1         

Value:              2

OVERALL:        1.3

Reviewed by Lacy D. 

Gluten Free Cookie: Alive & Radiant Foods Vanilla Contrast Cookie with Cacao Cream

PRODUCT NAME:                  Vanilla Contrast Cookie w/Cacao

COMPANY NAME:                 Alive and Radiant Foods

COST:                                    $3.00

SIZE:                                     1.5 oz

COST PER OZ:                       $2.00

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:     NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      N/A

ORGANIC:                              YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      Unknown

VEGAN:                                  YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:        NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:        Emeryville, CA

SHELF LIFE:                            2 months

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

           

REVIEW:

Taste: 

Alive and Radiant Foods is a bay area raw foods company straight out of Emeryville, California. The company is most famous for their Dehydrated Kale Chips and has an almost cult-like following as a result. Although this savory treat is their most famous, they also have a fairly broad smattering of raw treats that fall on the dessert side of the spectrum. Today we have the “contrast cookie” to review.

The ingredient list is very short, which is something I greatly appreciate about the product. It consists solely of almonds, coconut butter, agave, cacao, cashews, coconut milk, and vanilla. That’s right folks! No gluten, sugar, soy, dairy, or sugar. This cookie’s ingredients are extremely health conscious and particularly chosen. Additionally, every single component listed is recognizable to me as a delicious food that I personally enjoy. I was really looking forward to indulging.

The cookie itself is on the larger side and has a vanilla outer edge and a cacao cream center. It seems the outside is supposed to be the “cookie” while the inside is supposed to be the “cream” but there was no discernible difference in texture between the two and so that is kind of a hard sell. The outside has an immediate almond flavor but none of the mealy almond texture that could add nuance or complexity to the flavor. Four out of six ingredients listed were direct fat sources and it seems that all of these were thrown together in a food processor to make a paste and then formed into a cookie. All the textural delight of cashew, coconut, and almond was completely nullified by this blending and left me with a wave of disappointment. Truth be told, the cookie had the texture of Play-Doh.

Onto the center. As the cookie itself seemed to be a flop, I could only press forward and onto the redeeming qualities of the cream. I broke the cookie in half and took a bite that was 100% cream center. As I mentioned before, same texture. The addition of cocoa gave the flavor of the cream more than the single taste note of the cookie, but all in all, I wasn’t anywhere close to impressed.

Labeling:

Labeling on this product was not sufficient. There was no nutrition information whatsoever. As I determined that many of the ingredients listed were fats, I assume the calorie content is fairly high, and it seems sneaky to market something as “healthy” but not also include the fact that it also may be very caloric. Also, it took some poking around on the company’s website to find that the product was organic. As organic seems to be a huge selling point these days, wouldn’t they want to make this information immediately known?

Packaging:

The packaging of this product was a sealed plastic sheeth. It 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:           2

Taste:               2         

Value:              2         

OVERALL:        2

Reviewed by Lacy D.

Gluten Free Cookies: Blessing's Alive & Radiant Foods Luscious Lemon Swirl Cookies

PRODUCT NAME:                   Luscious Lemon Swirl Cookies

BRAND:                                  Blessings Alive & Radiant Foods

COST:                                     $6.00

SIZE:                                       4 oz. (7-8 cookies)

COST PER OZ:                        $0.66/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       NA

ORGANIC:                               YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       UNKNOWN

VEGAN:                                   NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:        YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:        Emeryville, CA

SHELF LIFE:                           1 month, longer if frozen

*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 lemon cookies are certainly luscious. Their name does not lie. On first bite you get the rich, chewy and satisfying texture we all hope for (but rarely get) out of a raw cookie. The ingredients are cashews, lemon, raw honey, and coconut, all organic in this case, and each of the flavors blend together extremely well. The coconut is finely grated so it’s not overwhelming, the cashews provide a wonderful nutty balance, the honey is present but blends nicely with the coconut and the lemon is the element that ties everything together. It’s a strong and bold lemon cookie, but it definitely holds up with coffee or as an afternoon snack.

The serving size for these on the nutritional info is 2 cookies, weighing in at 150 calories. Not bad really, and taking into account you are eating nuts and other tasty-but-good-for-you ingredients, you can feel good about eating them. They even have a decent amount of vitamins and minerals so, in a sense, I like to look at these as decadent health food (ie. You don’t want to live on them, but if you’re having a cookie or two, you don’t really have to feel bad about it). Blessings Alive and Radiant Foods, who were so kind as to give us these tasty samples, has a wonderful website. They go into great detail about the care and thought that goes into making their foods, as well as the high quality ingredients they use. Bravo.

For more information about this product and other Blessings Alive and Radiant: http://www.blessingsaliveandradiantfoods.com

Taste: Zesty, bold, chewy, nutty and not too sweet. These cookies are extremely delicious.

Labeling: The label is somewhat hard to read because it is small, but it does say “gluten free” and lists out the ingredients.

Packaging: Somewhat re-sealable plastic bag has all 7-8 cookies

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 Macaroons: Wonderfully Raw Chocolate CocoRoons

PRODUCT NAME:                      Chocolate Cocoroons

COMPANY NAME:                      Wonderfully Raw

COST:                                        $8.25

SIZE:                                           6 oz

COST PER OZ:                           $1.38/oz                     

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:         NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:          NA

ORGANIC:                                  NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:          NA

VEGAN:                                      YES                             

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:            No

LOCATION OF FACILITY:            NA     

SHELF LIFE:                                4 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:

Taste: 

I am not exactly a sweet treat type of person. Sugar freaks me out (HELLO, blood sugar spike and crash), agave nectar has become controversial, honey is of questionable nature in the land of vegans, high fructose corn syrup seems basically akin to the devil, and splenda and aspartame are chemicals that I simply do not do. In steps our friend maple syrup.

For all my uptight food particularities, I cannot seem to find anything wrong with maple syrup. It provides a delightful depth and rich sweetness, it comes from our pal the tree, and it doesn’t seem to mess with my energy the way other sweeteners do. With my structure of rules, you can imagine my delight when Wonderfully Raw’s Chocolate Cocoroons arrived on my desk. A sweet treat without all the drama? Sign me up!

 

Like many staples of my diet, the ingredient list in this treat is extremely short (Dried coconut, almond flour, cacao, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla and salt) but the taste of the sum of its parts is so much more. In fact, it is completely divine. The blend of almond, cacao, vanilla, 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. The blend of these flavors is a delightful journey of the senses-one that I absolutely want to go on again and again and again!

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. The hint of sea salt at the end caps the experience off with a hint of mystery. Basically, it leaves you satisfied due to the richness with one little bite.

I very much appreciate the nutrition information of this product. Ive noticed that many raw foods companies avoid taking the extra step to find the information out, and Wonderfully Raw takes on the task head on. In addition to having the information actually available, they have created a product that feels like dessert on an incredibly low calorie scale. Each truffle sized bite is 76 calories, and will curb craving for a good long while. Those who count calories or live their life with an emphasis on health will love these, but even your standard chocoholic dessert addict will enjoy.

Labeling: Labeling on this product was very sufficient. All nutrition information was clear and present.

Packaging: The packaging of this product was a solid Ziploc style plastic bag and it is my one complaint about the product. A compostable, or at least recyclable container seems more in line with the companies views.

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 Cookies: Original Caveman Cookies

Gluten Free Cookies: Original Caveman Cookies

PRODUCT NAME:                     Original Caveman Cookies 

BRAND:                                    Caveman Cookies 

COST:                                       $5.45 

SIZE:                                         3oz 

COST PER OZ:                          $1.81 

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:        YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         GFCO

ORGANIC:                                 NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         N/A

VEGAN:                                    YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:          YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:          New York, NY

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:

The folks at the Caveman Cookie bakery pride themselves on creating a product similar in nutritional content and ingredients to the snacks our Paleolithic ancestors would have enjoyed. Their treats are all natural and made with minimal ingredients; the Original Caveman Cookie is made with only seven ingredients, all of which are foods and spices I recognize. They promote the “caveman” diet, which is a natural, holistic eating regiment based on easily digestible foods that early Homo sapiens would have sustained themselves on. Followers of the “caveman” diet focus on consuming whole, healthy foods like meat, veggies, fruits, and legumes and avoid foods like dairy, wheat and other grains which are common in the modern human diet.

Nutrition Facts

Caveman Cookies are sweet, chewy, and delicious, but to think of these desserts as a traditional, unhealthy cookie would be inaccurate. If you are craving a sinful treat full of bad fat and sugars, Caveman Cookies are not for you. These healthy snacks, which are more like granola bars than actual cookies, will satisfy your sweet tooth while providing nutrients and fiber, making you feel full. Free of preservatives but packed with all the good stuff, like honey nuts and berries, these tasty little snacks are great for bagged lunches or work as a healthy alternative to combat an afternoon sugar binge. Individually wrapped, they are a very convenient gluten-free alternative used to fight the inevitable hunger pangs that occur when everyone around you is munching on communal, wheat-filled snacks. 

Soft and chewy, these cookies have a consistency similar to a healthy, nut and honey filled version of the nostalgia-inducing oatmeal raisin cookie. Like the original oatmeal raisin, these cookies have sugary raisins and small chunks of walnuts. Instead of the allergic reaction provoking oats and wheat present in the original, these safe cookies were made from dough consisting of almond meal and honey. The Caveman Cookie would be an ideal healthy breakfast on the go because they are energy filled with 3 grams of protein per serving. I enjoyed mine with a cup of coffee on the bus and I was ready to face the day.

Taste: Chewy and sweet, these cookies tasted like a simple, healthier version of an oatmeal raisin cookie.

Labeling:  The information provided on the package was minimal and clear. On the front of the bag the phrase “gluten free” is obvious. The facts were limited to only necessary nutritional information, ingredients list, and a short blurb about the cookies inside.

Packaging:  Adorable! The cookies were all individually sealed in little plastic sleeves, making it easy to slip one in a purse or lunch sack. The cookies were housed in a brown paper bag with a sticker on the front and back which featured a cartoony bearded caveman enjoying one of his cookies.

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:                    2
OVERALL:              3


Reviewed  by: Jennie L.

Gluten Free Bars: Simple Squares Nut & Honey Confection - Product Review #118

Gluten Free Snacks: Simple Squares Nut & Honey Confection

PRODUCT NAME:                         Nut & Honey Confection

BRAND:                                        Simple Squares

COST:                                           $2.99

SIZE:                                            1.6oz each          

COST PER OZ:                             $1.87/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:           YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            GFCO

ORGANIC:                                    YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            Indiana Certified Organic

VEGAN:                                        NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:             NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:             USA

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:

When you are on a strict no wheat, no dairy, no refined sugar diet, your options for sweet treats are slim to none.  When Kimberly Crupi Dobbins was put in this dilemma, she decided to take it upon herself to make something to fill that void and the Simple Squares were born.  Simple Squares’ website describes these treats as “Savory-sweet, nut and honey confections infused with vanilla and herbs.”  They currently come in three varieties: coconut, rosemary and sage and they are all delicious. 

There is a lot going for these simple squares.  These sweet and savory treats are made with just 6 natural ingredients: nuts, honey, coconut, vanilla, sea salt and herbs.  Add to that the fact that these are “unfired fare”, Simple Squares’ term for raw, and you have a very healthy sweet treat that is chock full of power-packed nutrients. 

These simple squares taste great!  Take one nibble and you will immediately taste the sweet honey followed by a hint of herbs and coconut.  It’s truly a unique flavor.  The overall flavor is a little too sweet for my taste, but it would be perfect with a cup of tea.  The texture is great too, probably our favorite part.  It’s soft and chewy, but the organic almonds in there add a little firmness and crunch to the texture.  For a raw product, the texture was very impressive.

Nutrition Facts and Ingredients for Sage Simple Squares

The nutrition facts on these Simple Squares are very impressive.  Who would have thought that a 1.6 ounce bar can pack so much nutrition.  Each bar contains 230 calories, 17 grams of fat, no cholesterol, 95 milligrams of sodium and 10 grams of sugar.  Some of those numbers are may seem a little high, but you have to remember the ingredients are all natural.  What impressed me the most was the 6 grams of protein contained in these bars.  I never would have thought that such simple ingredients can come together to make such a delicious and healthy sweet treat, but Simple Squares has done it.

Overall, we loved Simple Squares Nut & Honey Confection bars.  They are bursting with flavor and are very nutritious.  These would go great with a nice cup of tea any time of the day.  At $1.49 per bar, the cost is about average, but weigh in the benefits and it’s definitely a good buy.  For more information about Simple Squares, visit their website at www.simplesquares.com.

Taste: These simple squares taste great!  They are sweet (from the honey) and have a light hint of herbs and coconut.  It is truly a unique flavor.  Combine that with the soft chewy texture and you have the whole package here. 

Labeling:  The labeling on these bars is great.  Everything is simple and easy to read.  The only thing I would like to comment on is the use of the term “Unfired Fare”.  It took a little digging around on the website to figure out that these delicious Simple Squares also happen to be Raw. 

Packaging:  The packaging is your typical sealed foil 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:                 5             

Taste:                     4             

Value:                    3

OVERALL:              4

Reviewed  5/5/11 by Calvin C.   

Gluten Free Crackers: Doctor in the Kitchen Flackers - Product Review #107

Gluten Free Crackers: Doctor in the Kitchen Flackers

PRODUCT NAME:                        Flackers Flax Seed Crackers

BRAND:                                       Doctor in the Kitchen

COST:                                          $5.99

SIZE:                                            5oz        

COST PER OZ:                             $1.20/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:           NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            NA

ORGANIC:                                    YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            MCIA

VEGAN:                                        YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:              NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:              USA

SHELF LIFE:                                 9 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:
Doctor in the Kitchen, created by Dr. Alison Levitt, makes a line of flax seed crackers called Flackers.  Everything is based on her motto “Good food is wise medicine.”  She developed Flackers for herself and her clients as a way to get the nutritional benefits of flax seed in a great tasting cracker. 

Let me first start off by saying that we are not raw food eaters.  We have had a few raw products in the past and were not fans of them.  That has all changed with these Doctor in the Kitchen Flackers.  These crackers are made of organic flax seeds that are formed into sheets about the size of a business card and are flavored with organic spices.  The flavor is great.  You can really taste the nutty flavor of the flax seed, which is enhanced by the organic spices that they add to it.  The texture is great too; nice and crispy.  I would consider it a little complex though because they start off crispy and end up chewy.  They get stuck in your teeth too so if you have sensitive teeth, you might want to be a little careful. 

The Flackers come in 3 varieties: dill, rosemary and savory.  Dill is made flavored with organic apple cider vinegar, organic dill, and organic red chili peppers.  Rosemary is flavored with organic apple cider vinegar, organic rosemary and organic sage.  Savor is flavored with organic apple cider vinegar, organic garlic, organic onion, organic chili pepper and organic basil.  These are all flavors that go great with the nutty flavor of the flax seeds.  These crackers are very flavorful and can be eaten plain, but they are great with cheese and dips as well.  It’s a great healthy alternative to traditional crackers. 

Nutrition Facts for Rosmary Variety

Flax seeds are a great source for nutrition.  They are a good source for omega-3 fatty acid, fiber, antioxidants, protein, plant lignans, vitamins and minerals.  These Flackers are raw too so that means that they are dehydrated at low temperatures.  The manufacturer claims that this helps preserve the omega-3 fatty acid.  With 100-110 calories, 7 grams of fat, 75-90 milligrams of sodium and 5 grams of protein per serving of 3 flackers, this is a great alternative to traditional crackers. 

Overall, we were very impressed by these Flackers.  We never knew raw could taste so good.  Doctor in a Kitchen has combined great taste and snack that is good for you too.  For more information about this product, visit the manufacturer’s website at: www.drinthekitchen.com. 

Taste: The Flackers have great flavor.  You can really taste the nutty flavor of the flax seeds.  The flavoring is perfect too; seasoned with organic herbs and spices. 

Labeling:  The labeling on this product is very clean and elegant.  The labels are easy to read and go into detail about what it is that makes them stand apart from the rest. 

Packaging:  The Flackers come in a plastic bag, but be careful opening them as they are one of those tricky bags that end up ripping easily.   The plastic package is placed in a 100% recycled paperboard 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 4/14/11 by Calvin C.   

Gluten Free Chips: Kaia Foods Sea Salt & Vinegar Kale Chips - Product Review #33

Gluten Free Chips: Kaia Foods Sea Salt & Vinegar Kale Chips

PRODUCT NAME:                           Sea Salt & Vinegar Kale Chips

BRAND:                                           Kaia Foods

COST:                                             $5.99

SIZE:                                               2.2oz

COST PER OZ:                                $2.72/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:              YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:               GFCO

ORGANIC:                                       YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:               QAI

VEGAN:                                           YES

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:                  UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:                 Oakland, CA

*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 other day, our guest, Anne Angelone, brought these Kaia Foods Sea Salt & Vinegar Kale chips to try. We are not the biggest fans of raw food and at first we were a bit hesitant to try them because we had a bad experience with a certain raw kale chips we have tasted in the past. Anne assured us that these kale chips were good. We took her word for it and went ahead and popped the bag open. When these finally made their way around the table to me, I reached in the bag looking for a chip and was surprised to find nothing, but crumbled up pieces of kale. Where did the chips go? I have never had these chips before, but I was expecting much larger pieces. Is this really how they’re supposed to be?

Aside from being crumbled up, they actually tasted good. The raw kale chips we have had in the past smelled a lot like seaweed and had a weird aftertaste. Rest assured because these kale chips don’t smell anything like seaweed and they also don’t have a weird aftertaste. As far as taste goes, these taste 1000 times better than the kale chips we have had in the past.

If you aren’t into raw food, these might be a good starting point. I just wish that the pieces were larger. I would really consider them chips, but they would probably make a great addition to a salad. They are a little on the more expensive side, but considering it is gluten free and raw, the price is about average.

Taste: We were surprised that we actually liked these kale chips. Although they were more like crumbs than chips, they had decent flavor. It was a little on the salty side, but overall, it was much better than we expected. The texture of the “chips” was alright. It had a slight crunch, which was nice. What really hurt it was the size of the chips…they were way too small. If you’re trying to sit down and have these chips on their own, I hope you have a spoon to eat them with.

Labeling: The labeling on the packaging was very simple. It reminded me a lot of the packaging found in a lot of the Target brand snacks with a different color scheme. It was also nice to see that they are certified organic and certified gluten free. That might explain the higher price.

Packaging: The packaging actually pretty good. It is a resealable plastic package that they actually ask you to reuse on the back.

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:                   2

OVERALL:             2.7

Reviewed 12/07/10 by CC