8 Jun 2013, Comments (0)

Buddha Chocolate Raw Organic Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups

Author: Healthnuttxo

Finally!!! Someone has made an almond butter cup instead of a peanut butter cup! Don’t get me wrong… I’m all about the peanut buttah, and just jumped on this whole almond butter bandwagon rather recently. However, it’s refreshing to see almond butter be a star in a product other than just a jar. Now…when will they make powdered almond butter…? But that’s another story.

The kind folks at Buddha Chocolate asked if I would like to try their Raw Organic Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups. Obviously I obliged. I am a Type 1 Diabetic on a rather strict diet, with little wiggle room for sweets. However, an occasional bite of a treat I think is healthy for both my sanity and my sanity. (Did I say that twice?)

I got one single cup, and then a package of two cups, with one to eat and one to share (awww).

I opened the single one, wrapped generously in a pretty gold foil.  It’s a decently sized piece of candy, with the circumference almost being my entire palm. Its vegan, fair trade, dairy free, gluten free, and soy free, 78% cacao, and made in Brooklyn according to the label.

The chocolate part is quite bitter, so hopefully you are a dark chocolate fan if you decide to try these. It has it’s sweetness, but the potency of the bitterness of dark chocolate overwhelms the sweetness. The cup however, is very soft and smooth, and almost melted in my hand as I held it. The almond butter on the inside was the perfect compliment. Salty and a teeny bit gritty, it provided a good amount of flavor and really gave it a salty kick.

Overall, I like em! Dark chocolate really isn’t my thing (milk> white > dark in my opinion) but it was still enjoyable. I think especially if you like dark chocolate you will enjoy these. A nice take on the traditional peanut buttah cup! 3 1/2 stars

Here’s the nutritional facts. The ingredients are Cacao, almonds, coconut, palm crystals, mesquite, vanilla bean, and Himalayan Crystal Salt.

23 May 2013, Comments (0)

Alexia Mushroom Bites

Author: Healthnuttxo

….Mushroom bites? Really? Mushrooms?

Don’t be grossed out! They were actually pretty good. And I’m not really a mushroom fan… I tend to pick them out of my entrees or just leave them on the side. I went through a brief period where I loved mushrooms and then I had just one mushroom that was too squishy and that there ended my mushroom eating career.

But I was willing to give mushroom bites a chance? Alexia sent me these for free to try, and being that I do love a few of Alexia’s products, such as their sweet potato tots/fries, I was more than willing to try these. I heated them up in the oven and a friend of mine and I gave them a try.

After cooking these guys up, I noticed they were about half of the size of a ping pong or golf ball. They had a mild garlic flavor and were a tad bit peppery as well. The breading falls off pretty easily, but is absolutely delicious. Not dry at all, and full of flavor. The mushroom itself is rather moist, a little squishy (but hey! It’s a mushroom!) but small enough so it is not overwhelming. It doesn’t really have much flavor by itself.  I got one bite with no mushroom at all (can you spot it above??! haha) which was of no complaint…some good ol’ breading :) The bites as a whole were not too salty either, which  I really liked since I feel like frozen food is always LOADED with sodium. These were perfect by themselves…no condiments needed!

I actually really enjoyed these! I only got to eat like two of them since I’m on a lower carb diet for now, but I definitely wanted more! My friend seemed to like them as well. I give them 4 stars


16 Apr 2013, Comments (0)

Eppa Organic Sangria and Casa Noble Organic Tequila

Author: Healthnuttxo

In honor of Earth Day, I was sent some free Earth friendly alcohol to review! Woo!!! (I AM of legal age….no worries!)  I was sent a bottle of Eppa Organic Sangria and Casa Noble Tequila to try. Eppa Organic Sangria is a red wine, “made with organically grown grapes, organic fruit blend of pomegranate, blueberry, blood orange and acai juices” (according to the bottle). It sounded absolutely delicious and I couldn’t want to try a glass. Hey- if you are going to drink, you might as well choose something organic, eh? ;)

It had a slightly fruity smell to it, with deep and rich undertones. A very dark purple in color, as you can see from the picture above. I am not normally a wine drinker but…I liked this one! It was sweet at first, and then I really tasted some of the rich berry flavors. I really liked the subtle warmth and kick at the end, assuming to be from the citrus essences as the bottle describes. Fruity and sweet, but not overly sweet, it was very refreshing and very good. 4 stars.

Next up, the Tequila!

Casa Noble Tequila is Earth friendly because all of the processes that go into making the Tequila are natural. The tequila is organic as well. Bonus!!!
I decided to mix it with some juice. Whenever I have straight alcohol I prefer to mix it with cranberry juice or some type of fruity beverage over soda. I think the flavors and carbonation in soda overpower the alcohol sometimes.
This tequila  itself was very good. It went down smoothly and provided a nice after burn. It went well with the juice I mixed it with and just had a very clean and pure taste and feel to it. Nice!! 4 stars

Overall, impressive! I am not a *huge* alcohol drinker, but when I do drink it is nice to have options that are Earth friendly and made with organic ingredients. :)

HAPPY (EARLY ) EARTH DAY EVERYONE! :D

You can view more information on Eppa’s website here, if you are interested.

9 Apr 2013, Comments (9)

Cackalacky Review & Giveaway!

Author: Healthnuttxo

Hey!

Source

So  I was recently featured on a friend of mine’s awesome website who also does reviews, Freezerburns. We all did a video review of the Cackalacky spice sauce, which you can see here.

Now you can finally put face to name! haha.

SO- on behalf of Cackalacky, they are offering a giveaway!
What will you win?
You can win the same prize pack featured in the video, or this stuff here.

How to enter? LEAVE a comment below! 1 comment for each entry!

1. What would you like to try Cackalacky spice sauce on? (side note: I tried it/cooked it with on ground turkey another day- sooooo good!)
2. Did you picture what I looked like to be what I actually looked like? ;)

GIVEAWAY ends April 13th 12 pm EST. U.S. Only.

*******giveaway now closed******* Congrats Ashley! Look out for an e-mail from me :)

2 Apr 2013, Comments (0)

Ateevia Botanica PRIME Daily Pain Defense Cream

Author: Healthnuttxo

I was sent a free sample of the Ateevia Botanica PRIME Daily Pain Defense Cream. It is made to help allieviate pain associated with inflammation, such as “arthritic joints, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, tendonitis, lower back pain, heel pain [and] sports bruises” according to the box. It is also made with “PRIME THERAPY” which is “a powerful biocehmical storehouse of 100% natral phytonutrients that are packed with essential anti-inflammatory properties. PRIME uses Mother Nature’s own plant-derived medicine to conquer inflammatory pain naturally and safely”, according to the box as well.

The texture is thick and slightly gritty. If you use your hands to rub it into a part of your body there is a slight residue left, but nothing a simple hand wash can’t fix (unless you are using it for arthritic fingers, I suppose!). DO make sure you follow the directions and keep it away from the heat- I accidentally left mine somewhat close to my radiator and the consistency changed to a bit more liquidy.

I have a history of a torn meniscus. Every now and then it acts up and becomes swollen, say if it is one of those humid and rainy days, or if I went too heavy for squats or lunges, or did something like sprints. I had a slight tear that never had surgery and never was fully healed. This is where I put the cream. It leaves a very faint brownish color on my knee, but nothing super noticeable.  The smell is fresh, and almost plant-like.

While I don’t think it produced drastic changes, I think it did help a bit. I used it before going to sleep on a day when it particularly hurt, and I woke up with my knee less stiff and swollen. I think with regular use, this stuff could be quite effective. I especially liked that my knee wasn’t as swollen in the morning (I did sprints AND legs that day…oops!).

Overall, I think it’s worth a shot. I like that is a natural product, for sure. The texture is a bit iffy, but hey, you give and take a little for something that is natural and works. I do like the smell too, for any of you who have used Mineral Ice (guilty) I HATE the smell of that stuff! This has a natural, fresh and plant-like smell. Overall, 3.5 stars. If you have tried this, I’m curious as to what you think!

8 Mar 2013, Comments (4)

Irene’s All Natural Apricot Puffs, Lemon Cranberry Puffs, and Meringues

Author: Healthnuttxo

JUST when I’ve been so good on my diet… (egg whites, oatmeal, chicken, veggies, you name it!) I get a whole box of cookies to try from Irene’s. What’s that? My diet out the window? Womp. (not really complaining though- thank you guys for your generosity!)

I have tried the Raspberry Puffs from Irene’s in the past. LOVED THEM, and was offered to try the Lemon Cranberry and Apricot versions. Irene’s also sent me some meringues to try as well.

For obvious reasons, I tried the Apricot Puff first.

Of any dried fruit or jam, it is APRICOT that I like the most. So sweet yet tangy and delicious. The puff was thick, about the width of my thumb, with a jam in the middle. The crust of the cookie was soft and doughy. It tasted kind of like a standard buttery pie crust, but a bit sweeter from the sugar granules. The fruit part was delicious as expected :) Not super smooth, and had a bit of texture. Delicious. Tangy and sweet as it should be. The bottom of the cookie was a bit harder and “supported” the cookie which was nice. I liked the fruit component a lot here, but felt the cookie/crust part was a little bland and dense, so  4 stars.


Next up, the Lemon Cranberry.

This one was not as wide as the apricot, but still good. The crust part of the cookie tasted pretty much the same, but a bit sweeter as I think part of the jam/fruity part of the cookie soaked into it. The fruity part was good- more lemon than cranberry flavor and had a refreshing tartness. It reminded me of raspberry lemonade- sweet yet tart and delicious. The cookie seemed lighter than the Apricot version, and a bit sweeter. I liked the crust part of this cookie better than the Apricot, as it wasn’t as dense,  so  4 stars.


Next up, the meringues!

In a chocolate and vanilla version I would assume (black and white colors). Both were very delicate, the “brown/black” meringue smelled like cocoa powder, and had a chocolately flavor as well. Very sweet, and melted in my mouth instantly. The whiter meringue was also good, and I preferred that one over the “chocolate”. It was sweet like icing, and had a better flavor. Overall, 3 1/2 stars.


Overall, Irene’s makes some seriously yummy cookies! Addictive. I like how their slogan is “Always fresh, Always Homemade!” and they are made with natural ingredients. I also like how they were sweet yet had savory components (for the puffs) and how the meringues were just the sweet treat I need after a meal to fix my sweet tooth without derailing my diet. After all, moderation is key :)

5 Mar 2013, Comments (0)

Nature’s Earthly Choice Easy Quinoa in Sundried Tomato Florentine

Author: Healthnuttxo

A new love of mine…Quinoa. Definitely a new grain in my life, but since I am trying (read: failing but trying really hard) to eliminate the gluten in my diet…insert Quinoa! And quite perfect, no? A good serving, a cup or so cooked, has quite a bit of fiber as well as protein. Plus it has a satisfying taste and texture, so it feels like I am actually eating something worthwhile.

Anywho, I was sent this to try for free from the company. Followed the directions to a T and then spooned it into a bowl. Looks delish, eh?

Easy to make? Uhhhhhh yes. First time making quinoa and it came out just right (or at least I think??). Add water, let cook, add seasoning packet, etc. etc. Easy peasy.

It was a tad chewy, but not super chewy, and I liked that it had a little bite to it. But… the Taste verdict? it was alright. It was VERY salty. Too salty actually. I wished that I only put half of the flavor packet in, instead of the whole thing. However, problem easily solved with the addition of some plain, steamed broccoli to absorb some of the flavor. Aside from being salty, it had garlic undertones and was quite potent. It did have a tad bit of an off flavor, which I contributed to the sundried tomato. I feel like sundried tomato is either a I-freaking-love-this thing or a gross-what-is-this kind of thing. I’m not sure which one I am yet…hah.

Overall… 2 1/2 stars. Can’t say I’d try this particular flavor again with the whole packet of seasoning…maybe half. Or maybe plain. Or maybe I just need a new flavor. Or maybe I’m just not a sundried tomato fan? Who knows. But I am willing to try quinoa again and again! :-)

16 Feb 2013, Comments (3)

Banana Chobani Greek Yogurt

Author: Healthnuttxo

Source

Never fear- I am alive!!!!! SORRY for the mad delay. I promise for more regular posts- have had a very hectic past few weeks but I am officially back :)

Today’s review…CHOBANI! You all know how much I freaking love Chobani. One a day, minimum, with top flavors (in my opinion at least) being Pineapple, Strawberry Banana, Peach and Black Cherry. Could eat em all day every day. Waiting for a Chobani Peanut Butter flavor (….what?!)

Today’s review, the Banana Chobani. I WAITED AND WAITED AND WAITED for this day to come. I was stoked. The second I saw it on the shelf I bought it, fully knowing I had a drawer full (yes, I store my Chobani in the fridgerator drawer where produce is supposed to go :P ) and didn’t need to buy any more. Who cares!? Bought it.

Opened the Chobani up with pure excitement. Gave it a taste and….

Meh. It was ok. It had the notorious creamy and thick texture CHobani is known for. It had a tang to it- as in it wasn’t super sweet and kind of felt dulled down. Almost like banana puree was put on the bottom of a lightly flavored yogurt. Kinda like…. baby food. (Wait…I know what baby food tastes like?)

I just wish it was sweeter. Double edged sword I know, since that would require adding sweetener. But maybe use riper bananas? A different type of bananas? or some stevia? I may try it again, and add a Stevia packet, but I hate having to add sweetness to things that are already sweetened. Mind you I do not eat a lot of sugar (I’m a Diabetic) so don’t think I have an accustomed taste for sweet things.

Overall, 3 stars. Not on my top list for CHO, but would buy again. Why not? Gotta have my Chobani :)

19 Dec 2012, Comments (0)

Own Nighttime Lip Therapy and Day Lip Treatment

Author: Healthnuttxo

HEY! I am back :) I promise posts will be less sporadic!! Have you missed me? ;)

Back in action with a review about not a food, but a product! Own Nighttime Lip Therapy and Day Lip Treatment. I got a free sample of each from the company and was excited to give them a try! Just in time for winter, where lips are vulnerable to harsh winds, cold temperatures and other crappy factors that lead to not-so-nice looking lips. Unless you live in some hot climate year round I suppose…then I’m just insanely jealous ;)

I have been using the treatments for about 2 weeks or so. What I like about them is that they have a ball on the tip, so you don’t need to squeeze anything out of a tube or use your finger to apply (which I am not a fan of due to bacteria!). It felt smooth going on, and not a lot came out at once so you do need to roll it a few times over your lips to get a good application on.

I did notice subtle changes, but I don’t think it was 100% amazing. I would be sitting doing work, and noticed myself applying the day treatment a few times because it dried out rather quickly. I don’t know if that’s to say my lips were “absorbing” the treatment or if it was just wearing off. I do like the feel of it on my lips after I put it on, however, as it’s smooth and leaves my lips feeling supple. I don’t like how it doesn’t last that long, as other products I have used in the past.

Overall, it’s cool, unique, I like the small tube and the rolly-ball, but it’s not as effective as I would have liked it to be. Still worth a try- 3 stars.

28 Oct 2012, Comments (4)

Quest Bar Chocolate Peanut Butter, Strawberry Cheesecake, Peanut Butter Supreme Bars

Author: Healthnuttxo

Another round of Quest Bar reviews! I love these things! I am very grateful the people over at Quest Bar sent me a generous sample box for free so I can try all of their flavors. Today’s review will be of the Chocolate Peanut Butter, Strawberry Cheesecake and Peanut Butter Supreme Quest Bars. As always, these bars are gluten free, high in fiber and low in sugar! Woo!

Let’s do the Chocolate Peanut Butter first. (Because why not??! :p)

This bar was soft and chewy, and significantly more chewy than the other bars I have tried. It had a bit of an odd flavor, and I felt it tasted a bit artificial. I can see how it would be labeled a “chocolate peanut butter” flavored bar, as I detected elements of both. It was certainly a sweet chocolate peanut butter flavor rather than a savory one. I do think the chocolate flavor overpowered the peanut butter, and the peanut butter flavor was rather mild. It was a good bar, but not my favorite. 3 stars

Next up, Strawberry Cheesecake.

This one was YUMMY. Dare I say…it replicated a strawberry cheesecake almost perfectly? Or to the best of the ability that a bar could do? It had a slight tart yet sweet flavor from the strawberries, yet a subtle cream cheese flavor as well. The flavors complimented each other quite beautifully, and I found myself almost happy eating this bar. It was SO good! Very moist, and the perfect mouthfeel. I loved how I could actually detect and taste the strawberries as well. 4.5 stars

Lastly, the Peanut Butter Supreme bar.


This one was also quite tasty. A good amount of peanut butter flavor, which I certainly liked. I found it to be a little more salty than sweet, and quite dense. I enjoyed the bits of nuts dispersed throughout the bar as it added extra texture and crunch to the bar. I think if it was a tad sweeter and a tad less salty, I would have liked it more. However, still a good bar, but a little on the bland side. 3.5 stars

Overall, Quest Bars seem to be a hit. I have liked pretty much every flavor that I have tried! :-)

Here is the nutrition of the Strawberry Cheesecake Bar

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