Veggie Bits
Simple Suppers
On a busy night, Gardein Skillet Meals can save supper! They combine a carb, sauce,
and Gardein's vegan meats for a familiar, comfortable meal that can be warmed in a
pan or wok in fewer than 10 minutes. Testers agreed there was sufficient sauce to
flavor the entire dish, and the amount of Gardein vegan meat was satisfying. Asian
Style Chick'n Fried Rice and Chick'n Fiesta are made with rice; Chick'n Florentino
and Italian Style Rigatoni n' Saus'age come with pasta. Follow the directions and
the rice and pasta turn out well textured — not crunchy or gummy. A bag serves
two people, or make it into a side for four. We tried adding frozen mixed veggies to
the Chick'n Fiesta, and some frozen chopped kale to the Chick'n Florentino. Again,
the results were tasty and stretched dinner to larger portions. Available at major
retailers nationwide. www.Gardein.com
Rissa Miller, Senior Editor
Eat Your Oats
Somewhere between your usual morning oatmeal and the freezer case, magic happened.
Sink your spoon directly into a pint of Perry's Oats Cream for a new and improved
vision of oats. The luscious, smooth texture and delicate flavors of Perry's frozen
dessert will leave you scraping the sides of the container. Varieties include Apple
Strudel, Blueberry Pancake, Coconut Caramel, Oat Latte, Peanut Butter Coffee Cake,
and Peanut Butter & Cookies. We were surprised how much we loved Apple Strudel and
Blueberry Pancake! They give a nostalgic twist to frozen desserts, and it's not a
stretch to imagine a scoop melting over warm pie. Perry's partnered with Elmhurst
1925, using their Milked Oats vegan beverage, to create the decadent grain-based
Oats Cream. Note that this is a high-fat dessert. Available at Wegmans or check
online, www.perrysicecream.com
Rissa Miller, Senior Editor
Spot-On Tots
Getting more vegetables into your diet is as easy as tossing tots into your oven!
Beets, Broccoli, and Cauliflower Veggie Tots from Farmwise Foods provide a serving
of vegetables disguised as tasty snack foods. They are a convenient tater
substitute, perfect as a dinner time side for adults or kids. Straight from the oven
they are crisp and indulgent. Serve these tots with a vegan main dish of your choice
for a well-rounded meal sure to win over herbivores and omnivores alike. Farmwise
Foods also offers Butternut Squash Rings, Caulflower Rings, and a variety of Veggie
Fries, including Broccoli, Carrot, Cauliflower-Chickpea, and Kale. Veggie Fries,
Rings, and Tots are vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO. www.farmwisefoods.com/store-locator/
Emma Giebel, VRG Intern
Two-Fer
Split are exactly what the name says — a package divvied in half with
complementing nut butters and jellies. They offer Almond Butter and Raspberry,
Almond Butter and Strawberry, Peanut Butter and Blueberry, and Peanut Butter and
Grape. Splits are ideal for on-the-go activities, such as camping, hiking, sports,
or travel. Peanut Butter and Grape is classic, perfect on top of toast or a banana.
Almond Butter and Blueberry was a tester favorite, going well with oatmeal and
giving it a creamy, smooth texture. The only challenge was getting the nut butters
out of the package. You may have to squish away at it a little bit, but don't fret,
it will come out! It helps to warm it in your pocket, too. All of Split's products
are gluten-free, non-GMO, and 170 calories. www.splitnutrition.com/where-to-buy/
Taylor Gale, VRG Intern
Cookies Get Raw
Chunkie Dunkies are sweet, raw cookies in classic flavors, such as almond crunch,
carrot cake, chocolate chip, mint chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, vanilla biscotti,
and walnut brownies. While Chunkie Dunkies make the perfect lunch-box dessert, or
car trip treat, a platter with a variety of flavors would be a wonderful dessert
tray for a party. Each cookie has complementary sweet and savory elements, and
testers found the chewy raw cookies with crunchy bits like nuts, delectable and
satisfying. All of their products are gluten-free, organic, and vegan. www.chunkiedunkies.com
Emma Giebel, VRG Intern
Bags of Beautiful Beans
A Dozen Cousins' pre-cooked bean pouches are a convenient option for an easy,
nutritious meal. They offer Cuban Black Beans, Mexican Cowboy Beans, and Trini
Chickpea Curry, all based on traditional ethnic Caribbean and Latin American
recipes. The Cuban Black Beans with onions and bell peppers go nicely with fresh
salsa and rice. Mexican Cowboy Beans, pinto beans with tomatoes and green chiles,
have a nice spicy kick, and are perfect over nachos. The Trini Curry is packed with
deep flavors like turmeric and cilantro and tastes wonderful over basmati rice.
Creating these dishes is very simple: You either microwave or cook on stovetop to
warm the beans. Some pre-made beans are dry or chalky, but not Dozen Cousins —
these beans are smooth and creamy! On the package, it details how spicy the beans
are for those who do not like heat. Gluten-free, non-GMO, and vegan; however, this
is not a low-sodium food. Available on www.Amazon.com or check www.adozencousins.com for locations.
Taylor Gale, VRG Intern
Handful of Yum
Alpha Food makes six handheld vegan pot pies: Beefy Cheddar, Buffalo Chick'n,
Chick'n Pesto, Chick'n Veggie, Pizza, and Spinach Feta. Each pot pie has at least
10g of protein. Testers preferred them in the oven (instead of the microwave) —
they come out much crispier. They all contained enjoyable, gooey vegan cheese and
were filling. Alpha Pot Pies can be eaten with your hands, and are fast and
convenient. Please note, an Alpha Food Pot Pie has as much as 80% of the upper limit
for saturated fat and 1/3 of the sodium an adult should eat in a day. Available
nationally at major retailers, including Giant, Kroger, and Walmart. www.alphaplantbased.com
Angélique Complainville, VRG Volunteer
Shake it Up
Packed with flavor and protein in each sip, KiiTO beverages are like a melted
milkshake. There are three flavors: chocolate maca, matcha moringa, and vanilla
ashwagandha. The chocolate maca has an intense smack of cocoa! I added it to frozen
bananas and peanut butter for a delectable smoothie. Personally I love matcha, but
if you are not used to the bitter taste and think that the matcha is too strong, add
it to a smoothie! In the vanilla ashwagandha drink, the cinnamon was bold,
resembling vanilla chai. Each bottle is slim and easy to transport. They are packed
with 20g of plant protein, coconut milk, and only 1g of sugar; however, a serving
has half of the daily upper limit of saturated fat. KiiTO is ideal for athletes, or
adults who want added protein in their diet. Shake the bottle well before drinking,
and testers preferred them cold. www.drinkkiito.com
Taylor Gale, VRG Intern
