Review: Go Raw Choco Crunch Sprouted Cookies

I'm trying eat "clean" foods these days - foods with ingredients I can identify.  Today's review is the Go Raw Choco Crunch Sprouted Cookies.

I love the ingredients list - 4 ingredients, all organic: coconut, sprouted sesame seeds, dates, cacao.  That's it.

"Cookies" isn't a good title though - these are more like slightly sweetened crackers.  They're not at all a traditional cookie (no flour, no egg, etc), so if you're looking for something traditional, this will definitely disappoint.  (I wish they would call them something else!)

However, if you're looking for something a little sweet to much on, this is a good option.  The bag is 3 ounces and 1 ounce is a serving - I should've measured it out to get a more realistic scope on the serving instead of eating them straight from the bag. ;)  The chocolate flavor is not very pronounced, but it's subtly there.

They're a bit pricey, but I love the ingredients list and it's something different than my usual snacks so I will pick this up again (especially if it's on sale!)

Nutrition Facts 
Calories 160
Total Fat 9 g
Saturated Fat 5 g
Trans Fat 0
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 10 mg
Carb 17 g
Fiber 4 g
Sugars 11 g
Protein 2 g

Trader Joe's Crunchy Curls

Trader Joe's Crunchy Curls are a delightful and unexpected snack!  I tried these on a whim over a year ago, and these are definitely my go-to snack these days.  They're vegan!  They're gluten-free!  They've got FOUR grams of fiber in a serving!  No sugar!  What else could you want? ;)

The portion size feels generous (I always have to weigh it because I tend to overestimate and not pour a full serving).  These curls are so crunchy, and have a pleasing if a bit bland flavor.  You don't taste lentils per se - it's more of the potato flavor that comes through (reminds me of plain popchips).  I love that there's four grams of fiber in a serving, plus the bonus of 3 grams of protein.  I can't think of many other salty snacks that can provide that.  Bonus points: my kid LOVES these. ;)

Highly recommended!

Nutrition Facts for 1 ounce - approximately 31 curls
Calories 130
Total Fat 4.5 g
Saturated Fat 0.5 g
Trans Fat 0
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 380 mg
Carb 18 g
Fiber 4 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 3 g

Trader Joe's Whole Grain Plus Bread

I love this bread :)

I discovered this at Trader Joe's perhaps a year ago, and it's what we eat daily.  This "Trader Joe's Whole Grain {Plus} Bread" is "made with 11 whole grains {plus} flax seeds"

Shockingly, I couldn't find much about this bread online - perhaps the funky character in the title of the bread breaks the internet (it crashed by browser trying to make this post) ;)

Around here, it's sold for $2.49, which I think is a great deal.  I believe it's delivered to the store frozen, as I have on occasion seen moisture in the bag at the store.

Here's the nutrition info and ingredients -->

I love that it's 100 calories a slice and I understand all the ingredients.  Compare that to the frightening ingredients in Wonder Bread -- or even Oroweat's 100% Whole Wheat Bread (which includes such greats as "Calcium Propionate (Preservative)", "Calcium Sulfate" and "DATEM") and you'll understand why I'm a big fan of this bread. ;)  It's relatively low in sugar, and a "good source of fiber" with 3 grams in a slice.  Four grams of protein too!

My son also likes this bread, and we both eat a slice for a half-sandwich at lunch most days.  It is still 100 calories a slice, so I limit it to one slice for each of us to keep our calories balanced.

One thing to be aware of with this bread is that it's not filled with preservatives, so you need to be mindful of the expiration date on the wrapper.  I've never seen one longer than a week from date of purchase (and sometimes Trader Joe's isn't great about rotating product so be sure it's not already expired!).  I tend to put the bag in the fridge the day before the date on the package if we haven't finished it.

Love this bread! :)

Nutrition Facts for 1 slice
Calories 100
Total Fat 2 g
Saturated Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 160 mg
Carb 18 g
Fiber 3 g
Sugars 2 g
Protein 4 g

Veggie pancakes

I'm not a fan of most vegetables - especially green veggies like broccoli and spinach.  But I am trying to broaden my horizons so my son can try more of these things too.  I've been reading a ton of blogs and am intrigued by many of the things I've found on weelicious.com :)

Last night, I tried her green veggie pancakes recipe, with some modifications (of course!) - and it was great!  Naturally, I forgot to take photos... but I did like this recipe so much that I made two more batches of it immediately.  Here's what I did:

Shannon's Veggie Pancakes
(inspired by weelicious.com's green veggie pancakes)

Ingredients

• 1 cup zucchini, broccoli, and/or cauliflower (I used 3/4 broccoli to 1/4 carrots - see note)
• 1/4 cup flour 
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 
• 1 large egg 
• 1 teaspoon dried basil 
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder 
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• canola or vegetable oil 

Preparation

1. Place the vegetables in a food processor and pulse to chop fine. (I measured the 1 cup of veggies after this step.)
2. Add the chopped vegetables into a bowl along with the flour, salt, egg, basil, garlic powder and onion powder. Mix to combine. 
3. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat and place 1 tbsp of the batter into the pan for each pancake. 
4. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side. (First batch cooked 4-5 minutes each side)

Notes:

• I measured the 1 cup of veggies after pulsing them in the food processor.  I don't know how much it was pre-processed.
• I used a nonstick skillet and only had oil in for the first batch - I would skip this entirely next time given this skillet.
• As a special treat, for the last batch to go in the skillet, I mixed in 2 tablespoons of grated Asiago cheese -- added a wonderful depth to the flavor!
• I used all-purpose flour this time but would definitely try whole wheat next time, maybe even toss in a tablespoon of ground flax in there as well.
• This recipe easily doubles ;)  
• My two-year-old DEVOURED these and kept asking for more!
• I plan to pop the leftovers in the toaster oven for lunch tomorrow :)

Review: Canyon Bakehouse Cinnamon Raisin Gluten Free Bread

Today's tasty gluten free item is Canyon Bakehouse Cinnamon Raisin Gluten Free Bread.  I found this at Whole Foods and had to give it a try.  First impression, before even opening the package, was that this bread is *soft* - definitely not as firm as the Udi's bread next to it.

I got home and dove into it, and yes, I like it!  Definitely a softer bread, I honestly can't say that it's much different than other cinnamon raisin breads I've had with gluten in them.  It's not overpoweringly sweet, which I appreciate.

For me, the other nice bonus is that each slice has 2 grams of fiber in it.  I'm really missing the fiber I was used to from my former whole wheat days. ;)  However, the calories on this bread are higher than the Udi's breads - the nutritional information below is for ONE slice, not the two that the Udi's bread computes.  I would buy this bread again and am curious if I'll like other breads from Canyon Bakehouse in the future.

Nutrition Facts for 1 slice / 2 slices
Calories 90 / 180
Total Fat 1.5 / 3 g
Saturated Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0
Cholesterol 5 / 10 mg
Sodium 85 / 170 mg
Carb 19 / 38 g
Fiber 2 / 4 g
Sugars 5 / 10 g
Protein 2 /4 g

Review: Udi's Gluten Free Whole Grain bread

My doctor has told me to give the gluten free diet a try for four weeks and to see if it helps with how I feel.  (Ironically, as I write this on day 5, my "face of fire" is flaring up... ugh!)

Naturally, I will post reviews of the various gluten free foods I try in this adventure!  Up first - Udi's Gluten Free Whole Grain bread.

I was curious how long I would go before buying a gluten free bread, and that was three days. ;)  I picked this up at my local Trader Joe's and tried it yesterday.  First thing you notice is the size of the bread - it's small!  Each slice is less than an ounce and about the size of my palm.

I chose the whole grain version because each serving of two slices includes 2 grams of fiber.  Not surprisingly, going gluten free means most of my sources of fiber are gone!  Yes yes, I know I need to eat more fruits and veggies... ;)

I tried my first slice of this bread straight out of the package.  It's a bit denser than I expected - but I like dense bread so this is a good thing for me.  I just didn't really like it all that much.  I'm sorry that I'm not finding the right way to describe it, but it definitely isn't the ol' satisfying glutenriffic bread I enjoy. ;)

I put my second slice in the toaster oven and I enjoyed it much more (and not just because I added some homemade jam!).  For me, it improved with the toasted texture.

I give this a vote of recommended, but with hesitation - it's better than other alternative breads I tried when on my elimination diet a few years ago, but it's not as good as regular bread.

Nutrition Facts for 2 slices
Calories 130
Total Fat 4 g
Saturated Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 260 mg
Carb 22 g
Fiber 2 g
Sugars 3 g
Protein 4 g

Review: PowerBar Triple Threat Caramel Peanut Fusion

Today's entrant is the PowerBar Triple Threat Caramel Peanut Fusion.

Tasty!  Reminded me of a Snickers bar - this has some good flavor and some tasty caramel action.  Oddly though, I was hungry less than an hour later - not sure if it's because this was only 10 grams of protein?  I might buy this one again, though I'm not psyched about the relatively low protein given the 230 calories.

Nutrition Facts
Calories 230
Total Fat 9 g
Saturated Fat 4.5 g
Trans Fat 0
Cholesterol 5 mg
Sodium 220 mg
Carb 31 g
Fiber 3 g
Sugars 15 g
Protein 10 g

(I purchased this bar on my own with no influence from the manufacturer.  Read more about my series of snack bar reviews)

Review: Double Chocolate Brownie Balance Bar

Today, we've got the Double Chocolate Brownie Balance Bar.

This my favorite of the Balance Bars that I've tried so far.  It's got a good rich chocolate flavor - and I could almost pretend like it's a brownie.  I like the little chocolate chip pieces in there as well.  This is definitely a chocolate punch - and sometimes that isn't exactly what I want at 3am, but other times it really hits the spot.  It's moist and brings the chocolate flavor home.  I like that it doesn't taste like I'm eating 14 grams of protein (though you definitely feels the 17 grams of sugar...).  Two thumbs up here!

Nutrition Facts
Calories 200
Total Fat 7 g
Saturated Fat 4 g
Trans Fat 0
Cholesterol 0
Sodium 160 mg
Carb 22 g
Fiber 2 g
Sugars 17g
Protein 14g

(I purchased this bar on my own with no influence from the manufacturer.  Read more about my series of snack bar reviews)

Review: Luna Protein Chocolate Peanut Butter

Today's bar - Luna Protein Chocolate Peanut Butter.

This is a small bar, compared to other bars with similar nutritional value.  But it does pack in a lot of flavor.  The texture is good too - not at all chalky.  It had a good peanut butter flavor, and the chocolate coating was pretty good as well.  Not much of an aftertaste, which is a rarity when it comes to protein bars... ;)  I would buy this one again.

Nutrition Facts
Calories 190
Total Fat 8 g
Saturated Fat 3.5 g
Trans Fat 0
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 250 mg
Carb 19 g
Fiber 3 g
Sugars 12 g
Protein 12 g

(I purchased this bar on my own with no influence from the manufacturer.  Read more about my series of snack bar reviews)

Review: S'mores Balance Bar

The S'mores Balance Bar is an interesting one.  Good chocolate flavor, and the soft top layer has an odd combination of marshmallow and graham cracker flavoring.  I can't quite put my finger on it to describe it better, but the flavors work overall in this bar.  The marshmallow and graham component makes it not overwhelming with the chocolateness.  I don't know if I feel strongly that this is "s'mores" true flavor, but it's something that I like to eat.  I just don't know if it truly qualifies as "s'mores". ;)  Not sure what I'd call it though, so I guess I'm useless then. :D

Nutrition Facts
Calories 200
Total Fat 7 g
Saturated Fat 4 g
Trans Fat 0
Cholesterol 5 mg
Sodium 220 mg
Carb 23 g
Fiber 3 g
Sugars 14 g
Protein 14 g

(I purchased this bar on my own with no influence from the manufacturer.  Read more about my series of snack bar reviews)

Review: Chocolate Mint Cookie Crunch Balance Bar

First up, Chocolate Mint Cookie Crunch Balance Bar.

What's not to like?  It's very minty - seems stronger than a Thin Mint cookie but it's been a long time since I've had those so I could be mistaken. ;) But you do need to really be in the mood for mint to have one of these.  I ate them during my pregnancy a few too many times and kinda burnt out on them.  But they did hit a spot when I was in the mood for sweet-and-minty, and overall they're tasty. Just very minty. ;)

Nutrition Facts
Calories 200
Total Fat 7 g
Saturated Fat 4 g
Trans Fat 0
Cholesterol 0
Sodium 190 mg
Carb 23 g
Fiber 2 g
Sugars 16 g
Protein 14 g

(I purchased this bar on my own with no influence from the manufacturer.  Read more about my series of snack bar reviews)

Red Mango Frozen Yogurt

I am totally addicted to frozen yogurt. I love this tart froyo trend, and the self-serve places are terribly addictive too. However, my favorite place for quality tart froyo is Red Mango. It's all-natural with probiotics and all kinds of other good things in it. They've got a number of flavors, but I always just stick with the original (tart) flavor. No artificial sweeteners in there, which I appreciate.

You could be all healthy and get it with no toppings - or just fruit toppings like this photo. But I cannot resist two of their toppings. Mochi is a Japanese rice-based chewy candy of sorts, and it is tasty (and available at most froyo places). Red Mango's unique topping is their Ghiradelli dark chocolate mini chips. I LOVE these things. They are tiny - which is perfect for froyo so you're not getting a mouth full of chocolate with no room for the frozen treat. And they're dark, which is very tasty. Highly recommended.

Just watch out for the portions - their nutritional info on their web site shows a serving size at 1/2 cup, but the small size is 1.4 servings, regular is 2.3 and large is 3.5.

Nutrition Facts per 1/2 cup

Calories 90

Total Fat 0

Saturated Fat 0

Trans Fat 0

Cholesterol 0

Sodium 125 mg

Carb 20 g

Fiber 0 g

Sugars 18g

Protein 3g

Nabisco 100 Calorie Chips Ahoy Double Chocolate Chip cookies

Enough of my whining about my weight. ;)

Back to more tasty reviews!

I like the 100 calorie pack concept - especially when the company comes up with an unique product that you can't get otherwise. These little Nabisco Chips Ahoy "Fudge-Drizzled" double-chocolate chip cookies are a good example.

Like most 100 calorie packs, you don't get a ton of cookies, so you definitely need to slow down and savor. ;) These have a nice chocolate flavor base, and then you get the bonus of chocolate chips and that fudge drizzle. They hit the chocolate spot for me. I would (and have!) buy them again.

Nutrition Facts
Calories 100
Total Fat 4.5 g
Saturated Fat 1.5 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Monounsaturated Fat 1 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 95 mg
Total Carbohydrate 15 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Sugars 7 g
Protein 1 g

La Tortilla Smart & Delicious high fiber tortillas

I love burritos. So tasty. You can, in theory, do them on a healthier side - but the tortillas are the downfall here. Your typical flour tortilla is all kinds of fat and little to no fiber. Tasty, yes, but not too healthy. ;)

I found these at my local Costco in a huge pack (24!) for a great price, and these are the huge burrito-sized tortillas. I learned to cut them in half because otherwise you have too much tortilla for the fillings. Too much of the tortilla is a bad thing - they're a little dry, but honestly, as long as you're not eating a ton of the tortilla plain (or having it wrapped completely around your filling twice), you're good to go. Make sure to eat them at room temperature or they'll crack when you try to roll them.

The nutrition stats are incredible here. SO MUCH FIBER! Ahem.

Nutrition Facts
Calories 80
Total Fat 3g
Saturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 300mg
Total Carb. 18g
Fiber 12g
Sugars 1g
Protein 8g

Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Vitatops

The final new-to-me vitatop review for now. ;) I've written about their banana fudge vitatops and vitabrownies (both of which I wouldn't buy again), and their triple chocolate chunk vitatops and their chocolate mint vitatops (both recommended!). They're pricey, but given the 100 calories and all the vitamins in there, it's a much better snack than my usual 100-calorie cookies from Keebler/Nabisco ;)

I took this one out from the freezer in the morning and put it in my lunch bag to go to work. I ate it about 3 1/2 hours later, and it was definitely room temperature by then. (They supposedly thaw in 30 minutes but I've never checked.)

This is a good one. I don't know if I really tasted much pomegranate flavor - I got some sort of a fruity undertone, but it wasn't much. It was fine though. The dark chocolate flavor was good, and the chips were tasty. I wouldn't tell a friend who loves pomegranates that this is a MUST BUY for them, but for me, who likes poms but isn't a fanatic, it's fine. This is definitely a tasty treat (and probably rocks even more when warmed!).

Nutrition Facts
Calories 100
Total Fat 1.5g
Saturated Fat 0.5g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 140mg
Total Carbohydrates 21g
Dietary Fiber 6g
Sugars 11g
Protein 3g

Chocolate Mint Vitatops

Now, this is a flavor I've been looking forward to trying - I LOVE mint! I've written about their banana fudge vitatops and vitabrownies (both of which I wouldn't buy again), and their triple chocolate chunk vitatop (which I would buy again - and in fact did order in this latest round!). Keep in mind that the main drawback here is the price - but you buy 'em online in a 24 pack and chuck 'em in the freezer. It's just hard to keep that much space open in the freezer ;) (It's not a huge box but my freezer space is very limited!)

I tried this one at room temperature over the weekend, and I declare it a success. I cannot wait to try it heated - this flavor with melty action is going to be great!

It's got a good amount of mint kick to it, but it's not overwhelming at all. Nice little chunks of chocolate (they're never as big as they look in the pictures, sadly).

These may be my new favorite flavor. ;)

Nutrition Facts
Calories 100
Total Fat 2.5g
Saturated Fat 1.5g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 150mg
Total Carbohydrates 26g
Dietary Fiber 6g
Sugars 13g
Protein 4g

Popchips - Cheddar Potato and Barbeque Potato

The kind folks over at Popchips sent me a box with six single serve bags - and here's my review of the last two. Thanks again, Popchips!

Cheddar is okay.  Definitely get a cheesy taste, but it's not hardcore cheddar action. I *love* cheddar cheese, so these are a bit of a letdown to me.  But the big bonus here is that it is all natural, so no fake day-glo cheesy fingers after eating.

The barbeque chips are where it's at though.  These are definitely my favorite.  They've got a good zing to them, and I really, really enjoyed them.  I haven't had barbeque chips in a long time, but I recall the baked Lays barbeque chips not being nearly as tasty (and of course they have that odd texture).

Nutrition Facts (for one ounce, about 20/19 chips) - cheddar / barbeque
Calories 120 / 120
Total Fat 4g / 4g
Saturated Fat 0.5g / 0g
Trans Fat 0g / 0g
Cholesterol 0mg / 0mg
Sodium 290mg / 250mg
Total Carbohydrates 20g / 20g
Dietary Fiber 1g / 1g
Sugars 1g / 2g
Protein 2g / 1g

Popchips - Sea Salt & Vinegar Potato and Salt & Pepper Potato

The kind folks over at Popchips sent me a box with six single serve bags - and here's my review of two of them. Thanks again, Popchips!

Today we dove into the two salt varieties - sea salt & vinegar and salt & pepper.  The vinegar definitely has that kick, which I enjoy.  And the portion is just right, because too many more of them would burn my tongue right off.  I enjoyed that flavor a lot. 

The salt & pepper is just as advertised - lots of big flecks of pepper in there.  I liked it, but I was just eating these plain - this flavor would've kicked butt if I was eating it with a hamburger.  Definitely needed something meaty to cut it.  

I think the sour cream and onion is still my favorite at this point, but I wouldn't throw out any of these. ;)

Nutrition Facts (for one ounce, about 20 chips) - sea salt & vinegar / salt & pepper
Calories 120 / 120
Total Fat 4g / 4g
Saturated Fat 0g / 0g
Trans Fat 0g / 0g
Cholesterol 0mg / 0mg
Sodium 260mg / 290mg
Total Carbohydrates 20g / 20g
Dietary Fiber 1g / 1g
Sugars 1g / 1g
Protein 1g / 1g

Popchips - Original Potato and Sour Cream & Onion Potato

While sitting at home this afternoon, feeling bummed that I couldn't score a ticket to Blogher Food in SF, I got a knock on my door.  The kind folks over at Popchips sent me a box with six single serve bags - awesome! My first ever item from a manufacturer to review on my blog. ;)  Thanks, Popchips!

I've liked Popchips for awhile - they've just been a bit hard to find.  I remember trying some cool flavors in the past - a corn chip in particular, but it looks like now they're only selling these potato chips.  These single serve bags are perfect to toss into my bag to take to work (though I must admit, we dove into two of them within minutes of opening the box today!) :D

So my first two flavors - original potato and sour cream & onion potato.  Without sounding like a commercial, the cool thing about Popchips is that they're all natural and low fat.  And of course, not fried. ;)  They're not greasy either.  Dig it.

The original potato chips are a bit boring - but c'mon, any plain potato chip is boring to me.  I need a dip. ;)  I should've grabbed a wedge of Laughing Cow to go along with it.  These original chips would be great for a party situation if there are multiple dips going on. ;)

The sour cream and onion potato chips had more flavor.  I *love* sour cream and onion.  I am addicted to that flavor of Pringles - and I can't buy 'em because I'll eat the whole can. ;)  The nice bonus with the Popchips version is that it's all natural and of course, much less bad for you. ;)  I would've liked a little more of the seasoning on the chips for a few more calories though. ;)

I look forward to trying out the other flavors later this week! :)

Nutrition Facts (for one ounce, about 22/20 chips) - original / sour cream & onion
Calories 120 / 120
Total Fat 4g / 4g
Saturated Fat 0g / 0.5g
Trans Fat 0g / 0g
Cholesterol 0mg / 0mg
Sodium 280mg / 290mg
Total Carbohydrates 20g / 20g
Dietary Fiber 1g / 1g
Sugars 0g / 2g
Protein 1g / 2g

Oroweat Sandwich Thins

More bread! These are adorable. Cute little sandwich buns - they're the perfect size for my salmon or turkey burgers. And yes, they're quite thin, but I enjoy them. They are not as thick as my burgers actually, now that I think about it, but hey, they give me the bread taste and texture and they don't add a ton of calories or fat or whatever. I've tried both flavors but tend to stick with the multi-grain now for no particular reason (it's what was in stock when I went shopping this weekend).

Nutrition Facts
Calories 100
Total Fat 1g
Saturated Fat 0g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 230mg
Total Carbohydrates 22g
Dietary Fiber 5g
Sugars 2g
Protein 5g