Veggie Bits
Later, Tater - Make Room for Millet Tots
Want a tasty alternative to tater tots? Try Millet Tots in three flavors: Original:
With Sea Salt & Onion Flake; Italian Herb: With Garlic & Basil; and Spicy-Sweet:
With Poblano Chili & Sweet Potato. They seem too indulgent to be nutritious —
but with all organic ingredients and a whole-grain millet base, they're a perfect
substitute for tater tots. We especially loved the Italian Herb and Spicy-Sweet
varieties. All would be even more delicious dipped in tomato sauce, vegan ranch
dressing, agave mustard, or vegan tartar sauce. The Spicy-Sweet Millet Tots are
delicious by themselves, with a smooth texture and a spicy kick. Kids will love the
Italian and Original flavors. They can do double duty as delicious gluten-free
croutons. Find them in the freezers of natural foods stores for about $5-6. See: www.rollingreens.com.
Written by Hannah Greene, VRG Intern.
Add Pop to Your Corn!
Flavor Train's Pop Zest Nutritional Yeast Seasoning is the perfect addition to
popcorn, salads, pasta, anything! As a lover of nutritional yeast, I didn't think
you could get better than that cheesy goodness, but I've been proven wrong. There
are three flavors in the Pop Zest family, each with their own unique taste. Olive
Oil and Herb is like a classic Italian seasoning, Artisan Cheese is a buildable
cheese flavor, and Butter is the smooth buttery taste you lust for, without the
overly greasy texture of vegan butter. We recommend adding a sprinkle of Artisan
Cheese and breadcrumbs to baked mac and cheese, or adding Olive Oil and Herb to
steamed veggies and pasta. And the best part — they're fortified with vitamin
B, including B12, so you get between 30-35% of your daily requirement with 1
teaspoon! The seasonings are also low-sodium, making them okay to add to pre-salted
popcorn. These seasonings can be found online at popzest.com/shop and via Amazon
and Vegan Essentials. You can also find them in stores such as Down to Earth Markets
in Hawaii, Lucky's Market, Clark's Nutrition, Lassens Natural Foods, and Alfalfa's
Market.
Written by Amy Dell, VRG Intern.
Miyoko's Cream Cheese
There are several vegan cream cheeses on the market today, but Miyoko's stands above
the rest. The Plainly Classic cream cheese is sweet and tangy, perfect for smearing
on bagels as a quick breakfast, or even using to prepare an easy vegan cheesecake.
The thick, solid texture is creamy and smooth, with a mild flavor that lends itself
perfectly to toppings. We had Bumble Bloom vegan honee from a previous Veggie Bit
and swirled it on top of the cream cheese for a dessert on toast. The Unlox Your
Dreams spread was smoky and sweet. A savory alternative to the original, this flavor
was noticeable, but not overpowering. It was perfect on crackers for a satisfying
snack. Find them at natural foods markets, some supermarkets, or online at www.miyokoskitchen.com.
Written by Amy Dell, VRG Intern.
Protein Made More Fun
Jumpstart your morning with these sweet pops of protein and fun! Tired of many
granola bars not being vegan or allergen-free? Need a sweet pick me up in the middle
of the day? Enjoy Life Chocolate Protein Bites will do the trick. These delicious
little drops of heaven taste like a chocolate chip with a hint of grain, so it's not
too much sweetness. Though small, these little bites are filling, making them ideal
for a busy, on-the-go lifestyle. With a variety of flavors including cinnamon spice,
cranberry orange, dark raspberry, dipped banana, mango haberno and sunseed butter,
you won't get bored of these tasty treats. Free of gluten, dairy, soy, and egg,
these bites are perfect for people with diet restrictions. Pick them up in your
local grocery, and online at Amazon, or find locations at www.enjoylifefoods.com/our-foods/protein-bites.
Written by Kalie Ganem, VRG Intern.
Healthful Frozen Dessert
Reveri offers pint-size frozen desserts in four flavors. These treats are healthier
than most frozen treats and would be especially good to serve children. To start
off, each flavor is sweetened with dates. Our favorite was Chocolate Forest. It has
a great texture: fluffy and soft (be sure to follow the instructions and let the ice
cream sit for a while before serving). Some of its ingredients include Belgian
cocoa, avocado, and raw cocoa nibs. Strawberry Patch looks like what you'd find in
the middle layer of Neapolitan ice cream. It does not have as creamy texture;
however, you will enjoy the somewhat icier consistency. This flavor contains cashews
and even dragon fruit powder! Purple Mint Chip tastes good, although the texture is
a bit icy as well. It has a minty taste; however, banana comes through also. This
flavor contains hemp seeds, wild blueberries, and avocado. To find stores in
California carrying Reveri, visit: www.reveri.com/find-us or you can purchase these online here: www.reveri.com/store-1.
Written by Debra Wasserman, VRG Co-Coordinator.
Noodling Around
If you're a fan of pasta, you're going to want to try Hodo's Yuba Noodles ASAP. Yuba
is made by skimming layers of warm soymilk and is common in many Asian dishes. It
has the texture and bite of al dente fettuccine, but with loads of protein and a
fraction of the carbs of usual durum wheat spaghetti. Hodo offers these tasty
strands in Spicy and Sesame flavors. They're seasoned and ready to eat. Yes, we did
try them out of the box with a fork — and yes, you can definitely chow down
that way because these things are so good they're addictive. They're even better,
though, tossed with a veggie stir fry, addded to a handful of greens, or stirred
into some chickpeas and bell pepper slices. The Spicy variety is flavorful without
being too hot, and the Sesame style is creamy and luscious. There is enough sauce on
the yuba noodles that no additional ingredients are needed, and you can warm them
up, toss in your adds, and eat in just a few minutes. Available nationwide at Whole
Foods and Target. See: www.hodofoods.com.
Written by Rissa Miller, Senior Editor.
Fulfill Your Veggie Kneads
Most folks, even some devoted vegans, aren't getting their recommended servings of
veggies. Now, with Daily Kneads Slices and Flatbreads, you're out of excuses. These
delectable loaves have 1 1/3 cups of vegetables in only two slices! Daily Kneads
offers a variety of flavors including Carrot & Pumpkin, Red Pepper, Spinach & Leek,
Sweet Beet, and Tomato & Basil. Tasters were impressed with the heavenly bakery
aroma of each loaf as well as the ideal, soft bread texture and bite. Slices were
great right from the bag, or toasted, and this bread held up in a lunch all day,
loaded down with hummus and fixings. The flatbreads, available in the same
veggie-packed flavors, made fantastic pizza crusts. They can be piled high with
toppings and vegan cheese shreds, then baked for about 7 minutes at 450 degrees for
a fast meal. Carrot & Pumpkin was subtle and would make a wonderful base for a sweet
bread pudding dessert — secretly packed with vegetable goodness. For kids who
enjoy colorful food, try the Sweet Beet or Spinach & Leek. The bold hues are sure to
amuse, and once you top it with avocado or white bean dip, no toddler will guess
their snack is healthful. Daily Kneads breads are available nationwide at Aldi. See:
www.dailykneadsbread.com.
Written by Rissa Miller, Senior Editor.
