Veggie Bits
Easy as (Hummus) Pie
Searching for the ideal vegan party appetizer? These creative, savory little hand pies will do the trick! Easy to heat and bite-sized, Hummus Pods are a healthful alternative to pizza rolls. They are the perfect on-the-go snack you can eat as finger food or would make a fun addition to meals. Each pod is a mix of doughy, multigrain bread, including bean, quinoa, teff, and wheat flours, with creamy hummus filling. Try any of their four varieties: Smoky Chipotle for a hardy, full umami bite; Sriracha Lime for a spicy kick with heat; Tangier Red Pepper for some veggie sustenance; and Zesty Lemon for a sharp citrus flavor. Find them at major retailers or online www.modpodco.com
Written by Kalie Ganem, VRG Intern
Sparkling Personality
Never to be confused with over-sweetened, artificial sodas, Brooklyn Crafted Ginger Beer delivers serious ginger pop and authentic flavor. This fizzy beverage is made with real ginger root and vegan pure cane sugar. It's unfiltered, so that stuff you see in the bottle — it's really ginger. You can taste it, too! The Extra Spicy flavor was a tester favorite for its surprisingly refreshing snap. It was also great as a cocktail mixer. Other flavors include Classic Ginger Ale, Lemon-Lime Ginger Beer, Mango Ginger Beer, and the second runner-up in our taste test, Earl Grey Ginger Beer. The Earl Grey was sophisticated but light, and easy to drink with a meal. Brooklyn Crafted also offers a sugar-free ginger beer. www.drinkbrooklyncrafted.com
Written by Rissa Miller, Senior Editor
Effortless, Warm Breakfast To Go
The best way to describe Qrunch is that someone transplanted pancakes into an oversized granola bar. It effortlessly combines maple pancake flavor, the cakiness of French toast, and the crunch of granola into a completely unique breakfast experience. You can definitely taste the hearty quinoa in each bite. Toastables don't appear to be a full breakfast from the size, but they could be a hearty snack or part of a meal. Just one was enough for testers. If you are looking for a quick healthy snack on the way to class, for your kids on the car ride to school, Qrunch is perfect for you. It's an easy gluten-free hand held snack, without the prep of pancakes, or the added sugar of a granola bar.
www.qrunchfoods.com/products/original-toastables
Written by Kalie Ganem, VRG Intern
Neato Peatos!
Crunchy little puffed snacks with just enough powdery goodness to make you want one more and one more and one more, Peatos are going to remind you of a junk food childhood favorite. However, this tasty treat is made of fava beans, lentils, and peas, so you're getting 4 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber in each 1-ounce portion. Vegan flavors included Masala and Fiery Hot. Testers agreed the heat level on Fiery Hot was fierce, not for the faint of heart. If you like it spicy though, toss some Fiery Hot Peatos into your TV time snack line-up. The Masala was exotic but mild, and agreeable to everyone. At the end, testers were licking their fingers, wishing there were more Peatos to crunch. Both kinds are gluten-free and available nationwide in major grocers or on www.Amazon.worldpeasbrand.com
Written by Rissa Miller, Senior Editor
Savory 'Shroom Snacks
Heading out for a hike or need a satisfying snack for work/school? Savory Wild's Portabella Jerky fits the bill. These tasty dehydrated strips come in three flavors: Sesame, Ginger & Korean Chili; Sweet Balsamic & Golden Fig; and the tester favorite, Roasted Garlic & Black Pepper. Gluten-free and evenly seasoned, these mushroom snacks have an almost meaty, chewy texture. They are hearty without being heavy and are an ideal option for travel, stashing in your desk, or outdoor activities. Made from hand-picked portabella mushrooms and whole ingredients, they are fulfilling and enjoyable. Available online, www.savorywild.com
Written by Rissa Miller, Senior Editor
Score Some Brownie Points
You can eat your chickpeas and love them too with Rule Breaker Blondies and Brownies. Yes, that's right — the first ingredient is chickpeas! You might not want to spill the beans though, because the treats are just sweet enough to please any palate and have that craveable, tender, lush brownie texture everyone longs for. These magical treats are free of the eight top allergens, including wheat, nuts, and soy, making them safe for school lunches. Rule Breaker's fan favorite is Birthday Cake Blondies; however, our tasters equally enjoyed the Chocolate Chunk Blondies, Deep Chocolate Brownies, and P'Nutter Chocolate Chip. Individually packaged, Rule Breakers are ideal for grab-and-go needs like school, work, travel, or sports. Tasters enjoyed them at room temperature as well as warmed for 30 seconds in the microwave with a cup of coffee for breakfast. At retailers nationwide and online, www.rulebreakersnacks.com
Written by Rissa Miller, Senior Editor
Chewy, Dreamy, Ice-Creamy
Bubbies vegan mochi ice cream treats are the epitome of adorable. Japanese mochi dough is made from pounded sticky rice and it melts in your mouth, leaving the tender ice cream filling with each bite. Testers found these confections refreshing, well-portioned, and fun to eat. It's coconut-based ice cream you can hold in your hands! Vegan flavors available nationwide include chocolate and strawberry in self-serve freezer bins at Whole Foods. www.bubbiesicecream.com
Written by Rissa Miller, Senior Editor
Bowled Over
Amy's Kitchen has introduced two quick and easy vegan entreés: Spinach Ravioli and Asian Dumplings. The ravioli is made of a perfectly-textured wheat pasta, mixed with rich marinara sauce that gives the dish a boldly classic flavor and reminded us of a homemade pasta dinner. Even the presentation was impressive, as the organic spinach and ricotta cheese filling retained a vibrant green. The Asian Dumplings come in a medley of dumplings, noodles, organic vegetables, and tofu in a savory hoisin sauce, enhancing the dish with a kick of sweetness. The wholesome ingredients and simplicity make for a robust meal. Each was easily heated for 3 to 4 minutes in a microwave, uplifting the room with mouth-watering aromas. These are perfect to keep in the office for days of forgotten lunch, to feed picky kids at home, or indulge in as a late-night comfort food! You can find Amy's Kitchen products at major retailers. www.amys.com
Written by Shun Shueh, VRG Intern
