Veggie Bits
One Degree Organic Granola
The brand One Degree Organic Foods offers a wonderful selection of sprouted granolas, three of which are vegan. I got to try the Vanilla Chia flavor and the Quinoa Cacao flavor. What I liked most about the Vanilla was that the vanilla flavor was not overpowering, which allowed me to taste the chia as well. I particularly enjoyed the Quinoa Cacao granola. The dark chocolate was semi-bitter instead of sweet, and the quinoa made the granola very filling. I ate both granolas by themselves as a quick snack, but I imagine they would be delicious paired with vegan yogurt, mixed in with vegan cereal or a fruit bowl, or tossed into some trail mix. For more information, check out https://onedegreeorganics.com/product_categories/granola/. To find stores that carry this granola, visit https://onedegreeorganics.com/where-to-buy/.
Written by Brigette Dumais.
Violife Vegan Cheeses
Violife is a Greek company that makes coconut oil-based vegan cheeses that are now available in the United States. They've produced a new line of ready-to-eat offerings that come in resealable packaging, ideal for snacking or cooking. Their sliced cheeses are available in three flavors, each with a distinct taste. My favorite was the Provolone with Hot Peppers, which has a pretty decent kick to it! As for the wedges, Violife's version of a blue cheese is impressively intense (and an accurate analog for milk-based blue cheese) but might be a bit too much for those who like their cheeses milder. The salty Mediterranean cheese is probably the winner in this category, although the Mozzarella did an impressive job of melting on a bagel. Be aware that coconut oil is high in saturated fat, so these cheeses are best as a once-in-awhile treat. However, the addition of B12 to all of the Violife cheeses was a great idea, and an easy way to get some essential nutrients in your diet. You can check where to find Violife at https://violifefoods.com/us/where-we-are/.
Written by Arielle Burgdorf.
In a Pickle!
Gaea's new additions to their Olive Snack Pack line will leave you in a pickle! There are three types of delicious pickled veggie snacks: carrot, cauliflower, and gherkin. The carrot snack consists of pickled carrot bits marinated in lemon essential oil, sea salt, and olive oil. They're slightly sweet with a lemony bite. Because of their size, VRG staffers recommend not giving them to small children due to the possibility of choking. The cauliflower snack consists of pickled cauliflower marinated in lemon essential oil, sea salt, and olive oil. They're small and have a slightly lemony flavor. As the cauliflower snack is crumbly, VRG staffers found it easiest to eat with a utensil. The gherkin snack consists of mini pickles marinated in sea salt, vinegar, garlic, olive oil, and coriander. The gherkin snack is great for a pickle fix: they are small, tasty, and fun to sample.
Gaea pickled veggie snacks are shelf-stable and great for eating on the go. To find Gaea products near you, visit http://www.gaeaus.com/.
Written by Shannon Borgoyn, VRG Intern.
Slice of Lightlife
Two new types of Lightlife Deli Slices are now available: Chickpea and Red Pepper and White Bean and Kale. Chickpea and Red Pepper deli slices have an initial pleasant aroma of red pepper. When bitten into, the slices taste like yummy red pepper with a subtle chickpea note reminiscent of hummus. They could pair well with subtly-flavored vegan cheeses (like gouda). White Bean and Kale deli slices have a pleasant aroma with a savory undertone. The slices' flavor is subdued, so it could pair well with strongly-flavored vegan cheeses (like cheddar).
Lightlife Deli Slices are moist and crumbly, perfect for your next sandwich! They come in convenient, resealable pouches and are only 90 calories per 3 slices. To find Lightlife Deli Slices, visit https://lightlife.com/.
Written by Shannon Borgoyn, VRG Intern.
