Veggie Bits

Flavorful Fava Beans

For those of you who have never tried a fava bean before, now is your chance! Eat Enlightened developed seven delicious vegan flavors of Roasted Broad Bean Crisps: Sea Salt, Garlic & Onion, Wasabi, Sriracha, Mesquite BBQ, Cocoa Dusted, and Sweet Cinnamon. Each of these varieties is packed with flavor and protein, containing 7 grams of protein per one ounce serving!

The Sea Salt option brought out the flavor of the fava beans, creating a natural and delicious flavor. As we opened the Mesquite BBQ, we could smell the smoky flavor. This option resembled BBQ chips both in the smell and the taste. The Wasabi flavor had a kick to it, while the Garlic & Onion and Sriracha flavors both were milder. All three of these options had an exquisite combination of spices, creating unique and tasty flavors. The Sweet Cinnamon and Cocoa flavors are perfect to satisfy your sweet tooth or chocolate craving. We enjoyed all of the Roasted Broad Bean Crisps and think that they would make a great addition to trail mix, soups, or salads. These snacks are also perfect to take on the go! They can be found in many stores, and you can use their online locator to find a store near you https://www.eatenlightened.com/pages/store-locator-new.

Written by Casey Brown, VRG Intern.

Kick'n Mango

Think of Laughing Giraffe's newest product, Kick'n Mango, like a fruit snack for adults. These snacks are organic unsulphured tangy dried mangoes that have been dusted with a hint of lime and a pinch of jalapeno. The result is a sweet and sour treat that has a touch of subtle heat at the end. The flavor combination is more suited to adults (and less for kiddos) than a typical dried fruit snack. Kick'n Mango would make a nice chewy treat to take on a hike or even to keep in your desk for a midday pick-me up.

Written by Samantha Gendler.

Party with Field Roast

Building on all their great products, Field Roast has rolled out a new line of party-ready frozen foods! There are three different types to choose from: Miniature Corn Dogs, Original FRuffalo Wings, and Sunflower Country-Style Katsu Cutlets. The Miniature Corn Dogs were a favorite; perfect for a get together or for anyone with picky kids. The outside of the corn dogs are sweet and crispy, and the inside is filled with an expertly spiced Field Roast Sausage. The indulgent FRuffalo wings take the same sausage but battered and fried, and then coated with a tangy buffalo sauce. The Katsu Cutlets are the heftiest offering of the three, a generous serving similar to a veggie burger, but thicker, with a crunchy breadcrumb and sunflower seed coating. They would be great served with mashed potatoes or other warm comfort foods. Visit www.fieldroast.com to find a retailer near you or contact the company at 3901 7th Ave South Seattle, WA 9810, or call 1-800-311-949.

Written by Arielle Burgdorf, VRG Volunteer Coordinator.

Water Wipes

At the latest Natural Products Expo East, I was lucky enough to receive a package of Water Wipes in my gift bag. As a new mom, I couldn't wait to try them out. The ingredient list is as simple as it gets: these wipes are 99% water and a drop of grapefruit seed extract. I was pleased to find that these wipes were soft, pure, and best of all, had no perfumy smell like other wipes I've tried. My baby girl has very sensitive skin and these wipes were gentle enough not to irritate her, but serious enough to get a dirty job done! This is a must-try product for parents — and not just those with kids in diapers. These would be great to keep in your purse or car for any sticky, grimy situations that arise.

Written by Samantha Gendler.

Mac 'n Chao

We're lucky to be living in a time where there are dozens of delicious vegan mac 'n cheese recipes available, using all sorts of cruelty-free ingredients, and they're all available at the click of a button. But for those times when you (or the kids) are craving a creamy pasta dish in a rush, Field Roast has introduced Mac 'n Chao. There are two varieties available in the freezer section: Creamy Mac 'n Chao and Chili Mac 'n Chao.

The Creamy variety is not bold, flavor wise, and likely to please picky eaters. There are no frills here, so you may want to dress it up with toppings of your own. The Chili variety, however, has a spicy, tomato-y kick, a pinch of cayenne, and pinto beans and Field Roast's Field Burger Crumbles mixed in. It's akin to something you'd get at a vegan food truck. Mac 'n Chao is quick and easy in the microwave, but if you go the extra mile and bake it in the oven or toaster oven, you'll be rewarded to end up with more of a homestyle dish, complete with crusty edges.

Mac 'n Chao is available at many natural foods stores and several traditional grocery chains nationwide. Check the Field Roast store locator at www.fieldroast.com to find a retailer near you.

Written by Samantha Gendler.

Hydroflask

From board rooms to classrooms across the country, whether in the hands of students, parents, executives, or even toddlers, the reusable beverage container is so ubiquitous that it seems more unusual to see someone drinking out of plastic. This is a great thing for our Earth! However, reusable beverage containers of every kind have their weaknesses, too — whether leaky, breakable, easily dented, or difficult to clean. I have tried many varieties and after years of testing, feel confident to say that Hydro Flask makes the most superior reusable beverage (and food) containers.

With double-walled stainless steel vacuum-insulated technology, Hydro Flasks keep drinks at the temperature they are when you pour them. Hot drinks can stay steaming hot for six hours, and cold drinks stay icy for 24 hours. Their newest innovation is a beverage container for tiny hands, which, as a new mom, I was excited to get my hands on. It's leak resistent and comes with an easy-to-clean straw, as well as a silicone "boot" for extra grip. It will make for a great hydration companion on playgrounds, airplanes, parks, and school. Shop for Hydro Flasks at Whole Foods, Wegmans, REI and other outdoors stores, as well as hydroflask.com.

Written by Samantha Gendler.

Vegan Whipped Cream

Trader Joe's, where more and more vegan options can be found every day, has introduced its own brand of Coconut Whipped Topping in a can. This non-dairy, soy-free, nut-free, refrigerated delight comes in a spray can, just like the whipped cream of your childhood. The texture perfectly recreates memories of guzzling it straight from the can. A dollop looks beautiful atop a slice of pie, cup of hot cocoa, bowl of berries, or ice cream sundae. It's fluffy, creamy, and sweet, just as you'd expect. Unlike some coconut-based products where the coconut flavor is masked by other flavors, this is a product that tastes very coconut-y, so steer clear if you're not a fan of that. However, it does hold it's shape nicely, which gives desserts a more professional look than coconut whipped cream I've made at home myself.

Obviously, there's nothing healthy about whipped cream, but this version is not overly sugary and a two-tablespoon serving contains only 15 calories and one gram of fat. This product is available exclusively at Trader Joe's nationwide, and you'll find it in the refrigerated section next to the dairy. The cost can very slightly by location, but it's around three dollars, which is less expensive than other non-dairy whipped toppings on the market.

Written by Samantha Gendler.