While staying consistent by cooking a vegan diet in my college dorm room has its perks, splurging a bit at health foods stores is undoubtedly my guilty pleasure.
DISCLAIMER: I’m not going out and purchasing these items on the reg (more like a weekly treat depending on how I’m feeling). I fully understand that everyone has a budget and can’t necessarily buy Kombucha or green juice every day. But if you are considering switching to a vegan diet, I hope you enjoy reading these reviews in order to keep your options open.
Here are a few VEGAN items I recently tried and what I think of them:
1. Health-Ade Kombucha (Pink Lady Apple, Plum)
10/10
Not your average Kombucha? If you haven’t heard, Kombucha is a natural fermented probiotic beverage (think hard cider). If you’re into the tangy-yet-sweet-and-carbonated taste, you’ll probably end up liking Kombucha. Although Health-Ade is a bit pricier than GT’s Kombucha, you do get a full 16 ounces of probiotic goodness in a fancy UV-protected bottle. Overall, flavor isn’t a huge factor in my purchases just because the tanginess is so overpowering (in a good way).
2. So Delicious Dairy Free Coconut Milk Yogurt (Chocolate)
7/10
If you’re looking for a dairy free yogurt, I’d actually suggest trying an almond or cashew milk yogurt. Don’t get me wrong, I love coconut… but the consistency usually does end up a little more watery. This chocolate flavor was So Delicious (haha) though and I topped it with bananas, strawberries, and chia seeds. I guess it really depends on what you’re looking for in a yogurt.
3. Kite Hill Artisan Almond Milk Yogurt (Vanilla)
8/10
Solid almond milk yogurt. I really enjoyed this Kite Hill yogurt because it wasn’t sour or too tangy. And to be honest, I may be a little biased because their packaging is incredible. Not only do they have a removable paper label that explains (almost) everything it means to go vegan, but they also carry all sorts of vegan cheeses, cakes, and desserts. Definitely check out Kite Hill the next time you’re at a health food store!
4. Kreation Charcoalade
9/10
Charcoalade is an activated charcoal drink that essentially coats your digestive tract and absorbs any harmful materials from the night or day before (aka alcohol). It’s recommended to drink this in order to “cure a hangover” because charcoal does a great job in clearing out your intestines. I’d give it a 10/10 solely based on taste, BUT I did some research on activated charcoal and found out it’s not that healthy to consume it regularly. So, big ugh, but regardless it was super tasty. (Ignore the labeling because it tastes more like plum juice than anything)
5. Hail Merry Macaroons (Caramel Sea Salt)
10/10
Yes. Just yes. These babies are completely vegan, dehydrated, and made out of coconut oil. They are fantastic and they come in so many different flavors (lemon, chocolate, caramel sea salt, etc.) The fat content is a bit high because they are made out of coconut oil, but they make for perfect occasional vegan treats.
6. Nature’s Path Organic Pumpkin Flax Granola
10/10
This granola from Nature’s Path is probably my new favorite granola. It’s a bit looser than most granolas but every once in a while, you find a nice big cluster in the package. Sweetened with molasses, the flavors mesh well with the pumpkin and flax. So overall, super yummy.
7. 2 Degrees All Natural Snack Bar (Chocolate Peanut)
10/10
I bought this bar at the airport before my flight out to Boston, so it was a bit overpriced BUT it was really good. I checked the label and didn’t see any dairy or honey, so I’m pretty sure it’s vegan (but for some reason they didn’t list it on the packaging). Regardless, it hit the spot. A portion of their proceeds also go to feeding starving children around the world, so bonus points for buying this bar!
8. GoMacro Macro Bar (Morning Harvest: Apples & Walnuts)
10/10
I don’t think I’ve ever tasted a granola bar like this before. I got the Morning Harvest flavor with apples and walnuts, and it tasted like an apple pie. The consistency was definitely more sticky and tacky–kind of like a fruit leather. So good, so good.
9. ProBar Meal Bar (Superfood Slam)
10/10
If you’re in a rush and need a meal replacement on the go, I highly suggest ProBar Meal Bars. They have a ton of protein and fiber in them and are jam packed with amazing fruits, nuts, and seeds. As expected, they run about $3 to $4 per bar, but I guess that’s okay because they are very filling.
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