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| Bob of Bob’s Red Mill |
Doughnut wall aside, the amount of vegan and gluten-free products has escalated significantly since my first visit to the show years ago. There is also a significant focus on superfoods and healthy snacking alternatives as well as non-GMO products.
I’ll be covering the show in multiple posts. This first one concentrates on healthy snacks, as well as spreads, jams, honey, syrups All of them I found to be unique, interesting or helpful. Some have a great backstory. They are in no particular preference order and are definitely all worth a try.
Superfood Crunchy Snacks & Crackers:
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| Lentil Turmeric Crackers |
These bean protein-rich snacks are a delicious alternative to cheese puffs. Packed with fiber and antioxidants Beanitos are Corn, gluten, trans fat, MSG, and GMO-free.
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| Organic Crunchy Carrot Sticks
Brand new from Rhythm Superfoods and are available in three flavors. these nutrient-packed, dehydrated, organic Carrot Sticks are an easy and tasty way to get fiber, potassium, and Vitamin A into your day. I loved all three varieties but was personally partial to the ranch flavor.
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A patented technique removes the moisture from cheese while keeping all the nutrition and flavor. what’s left is the crunch with big cheesy flavor. Moon cheese also comes in Gouda, Pepper Jack, and Mozzarella flavors. Definitely one of the best snacks in the universe.
Fact: Detroit Friends Chips are one of three black-owned potato chip companies in the world.
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| Enlighted Broad Bean Crisps |
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| Superseedz Organic Spiced Shelled Pumpkin Seeds |
Hands down these ware one of the most delicious and easy to serve hot snacks I had at the show. White cheddar cheese curds are ready to be deep fried from the package. The cheese curds come in a choice of buttermilk breaded, hot buffalo or beer battered as well as Cajun, ranch, taco, and garlic.
Bars, Spreads, Honey & More
Founded by actors Kristen Bell, Ryan Devlin and Todd Grinnell, products with social missions always capture my full attention. The company targets worldwide malnutrition, by partnering with several non-profit organizations. For the sale of every bar, one lifesaving nutrition packet is delivered to a child in need somewhere in the world. 3.5 million delivered so far. “We make ridiculously delicious snack bars, but we’re not really a snack bar company.” P.S. The Wild Blueberry & Pistachio bar is my new jam.
In addition to crunchy snacks, creamy dips can be hazardous to your diet and your waistline. Created by a 16-year-old vegan, Bitchin’ Sauce has come up with a yummy almond based alternative that is perfect for dipping and also to use as a sauce. Available in 6 flavors, the dips are preservative free, gluten-free and vegan. I sampled all of them. Every one was a winner however, The Bombay flavor stole my heart and won my tastebuds.
These products are attached to an eatery in Fredricksburg, VA owned by Adrian and Casey Silversmith. The goal of the company is to provide an extraordinary PB&J experience. The spreads are available in flavors like Salted Butterscotch Peanut and Sweet Thai Chili Peanut. Strawberry Champagne and Spiced Peach are some of the jelly flavors. Everyone in your household can mix and match to create their own unique. PB&J.
This fantastic line of boozy delicious jams was born because the creator, Cathy Cowan wanted to get back to brunch. A mom of two and wife made a mimosa in jam form and the idea for the company was born. Cathy, along with her Pro Basketball player husband Jaz has poured their creativity and love into On the Rock.s using only the freshest fruits and premium liquors. Fantastic flavors include The Big Appl Jam (apples and cinnamon whiskey), Night in Paris (pears, strawberries & vodka) and Patron Paradise (orange, pineapple, limes, strawberries and tequila). These are definitely “not your mama’s jams!”
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| Argan Oil Almond Butters |
This line of Moroccan almond butter uses argan oil as an ingredient. It produces a smoother texture and intensifies the flavor. Called “liquid gold”, Argan oil makes the products rich in vitamin A and vitamin E. It is also packed with antioxidants, Omega-6 fatty acids, Omega-3 fatty acids, and linoleic acid. Casablanca born Nadia Gara grew up eating Argan Almond Butter. Known as “Amlou” it is a delicious Moroccan dip that has been in Moroccan kitchens for centuries. Nadia’s product is made from a family recipe, Handed down for over 75 years from the Atlas region of Morocco. The butter is Gluten-Free, GMO-Free, and Dairy-Free.
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| Keto & MTC Oil Birthday Cake Flavored Almond Butter |
Besides the unique flavor and that it’s made specifically for Keto and low sugar diets, this almond butter comes in small individual squeeze packages. This delicious almond butter has a decadent taste and contains no palm oil is vegan and gluten-free.
Two of my favorite products came from the Savanna Bee Company. The company produces a line of gorgeous specialty honey in flavors like Lavender, Orange Blossom, and Rosemary. Hands down, my favorite was the showstopping Black Sage. The company also put up a display of a large raw honeycomb surrounded by a beautiful selection of crackers, bread, fruits, and cheeses.
My first thought was I need to do this for my next party. Luckily, they sell the smaller versions online so I can do just that.
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| Meyer Lemon Flavored Raw Honey |
While I’m on the honey train I have to mention this luscious Meyer Lemon flavored product. Nature Nate’s produces 100% raw and unfiltered honey. Perfect for tea or to drizzle over ice cream.
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| Runamok Flavored Maple Syrups |
It’s a good thing I do not live anywhere near this northern Vermont based maple syrup company because I would probably move in. Uninvited. Along with pure maple syrup, Rumamok has created a collection of infused, smoked and barrel-aged maple syrups. Because of this, I spent an embarrassing amount of time at this booth sampling their extraordinary range of flavors. I originally stopped by because I was curious about their Jasmine Tea flavored maple syrup I had spotted in their press material. The Jasmine Tea flavor is incredible. Other flavors I loved were the Smoked with Pecan Wood and the Merquén -Smoked Chili Pepper Infused syrups. More beautiful flavors include Cardamom, Hibiscus, and Elderberry. OMG.
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| Jalapeño Fire Syrup Packets |
I was intrigued by this product from Little Bird Kitchen. The sweet spicy syrup you can carry around with you to amp up the flavor of meals on the road. The company also makes a Fire Powder, a finely ground candied jalapeño powder which would be great on popcorn or as a barbecue seasoning.
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| Flavored Vegan Mayos |
This microalgae-based mayo from The Good Spoon comes in several flavors and most contain 60% less fat than regular mayonnaise. The Classic is a great option if you are looking to replace your regular mayonnaise with something healthier. If you are a spice girl like me, you might be partial to the delicious Smoky Spicy version.
