Plant Hemp Vegan Snacks + Oil

One of the best things about blogging, besides meeting lovely bloggers and PRs and being part of such a supportive online community, is being able to try out new products and brands that I might not have come across if I hadn't been blogging.

Plant Hemp produce a range of hemp based products, grown in Canada. I was very kindly sent a couple of products to try. I haven't tried anything containing hemp before so I didn't know what to expect - I remember a couple of seasons of Bake Off ago, one of the contestants used hemp oil to make flapjack/breakfast bars, I think

I have the *Plant Hemp Super Minis Forbidden Fruit which are natural, suitable for vegans and gluten free. They come in little squares, two of which contain 110 calories, 4g protein and magnesium, manganese and iron. The bars are quite hard, I would definitely prefer them if they were softer but they do taste great - they have a nutty/seed and earthy taste. I've been having them as a snack with a cup of herbal tea. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

I also have the *Plant Hemp Oil which is a great source of omega 3 and 6; it is suitable for vegans, it is raw and it is non-GMO verified. There are so many brands of hemp oil online as well as SO many articles about it so it can be a little overwhelming. I have only used it a few times so far mainly as part of a very simple lemon salad dressing and it works well but I really need to try other recipes. It has a nutty/seed and earthy flavour so I think it would be great for upcoming autumnal recipes. There's a recipe on the Plant Hemp website for avocado hemp oil dressing which I need to try as I LOVE avocados. Overall rating: ★★★☆, 3/5.

Overall, I'm happy with both products, more so the super mini snacks but if these aren't your thing, they do have lots of other products including maple cinnamon superfood which can be added to smoothies. These products aren't going to be for everyone but I'd definitely recommend them if you are looking to try some hemp products but don't know where to start.

Have you tried any hemp products?

Snact Fruit Jerky

I have to admit that I'm a bit of a snacker, oops! Also I tend to pick out unhealthy or less filling snacks but Snact has come to the rescue. Snact make vegan, gluten free and 100% fruit snacks so they are not only healthy but they are yummy too.

I LOVE the packaging, it's spring like, colourful and easy to take on the go! The chewy fruit snack pieces are made from surplus and produce that would have otherwise been thrown away and discarded. So not only are they super healthy but they are helping use up food that would have been wasted.

I have both flavours and both are amazing! They are also 100% apple/raspberry and apple/mango fruit puree. Each 20g packet contains 62 calories, 0.5g protein, 0.03g of fat, 2.9g fibre and no salt; also each pack is one of your five a day.

- *Snact Apple & Raspberry Fruit Jerky (£4.50 for five packs): I have tried a couple of snacks like this and these are definitely my favourite! The pack doesn't contain much but the pieces are so fruity and tasty. They have an unusual texture that if you haven't had snacks like these before then it may take a little getting used to but I love them - I can go through these packs SO quickly. The pieces are sweet but not overly so and they are surprisingly filling. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

- *Snact Apple & Mango Fruit Jerky (£4.50 for five packs): I thought the Apple and Raspberry flavour would be my favourite but I like these more as they are quite tangy/sour which I LOVE. They have the same unusual but interesting texture. They are so moreish, I can easily eat a whole packet in under five minutes but unlike my other snacking, there is no post-snack guilt. I wish they had more flavours! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

Have you tried anything from Snact? 

Naked Noodle Snack Pots

March is national noodle month! I already have a post featuring Naked Noodle on my blog as part of the challenge with the Malaysian Laska Curry Snack Pot *which I loved*. I also received two other flavours of the snack pots from the lovely people at Naked Noodle.

- *Naked Noodle Cantonese Hoisin Duck: Firstly, if I saw this particular snack pot in a shop I would probably not bother to look at it as it doesn't seem to be suitable for vegetarians but it is! Yay! I think it's great that there are more vegetarian options available and all of these snack pots from Naked Noodle are suitable for vegetarians.

I'm not a fan of spicy food but all of the pots I've tried are mild so they aren't overly spicy. This snack pot tastes so good, it is a bit spicy but not too much and it does have a meaty kind of taste - I don't know it is authentic as I don't remember what meat tastes like after being a vegetarian for 11 years. I would definitely buy this snack pot as it is quite unusual compared to everything else I can buy as a vegetarian and it is really filling so it's perfect for lunch.

- *Naked Noodle Singapore Curry Snack Pot: Again, this snack pot isn't very spicy, it is more like curry sauce. The flavour of this pot is definitely my second favourite - it's quite aromatic and sweet which I love! My dad tried these too and he loves very, very spicy food so he didn't like them as much as I did. As with the other two pots, it is tasty and filling. Overall ratings: ★★★★★, 5/5.

I have to give all of these snack pots, 5/5 rating and I'd definitely recommend them! 

Have you tried anything from Naked Noodle? 

Chins Kitchen: Nankhatai

If you didn't know already, I love snacks and like most people I am pretty partial to a sweet snack, especially after my main meal of the day - a habit I have received from a friend of mine! I love the gingerbread biscuits I make but they can be a little time consuming so a quick option is always a good idea.

I was very kindly sent two sets of Nankhatai which are indian inspired shortbread! I've only tried regular, plain shortbread so haven't tried anything like this before. Chins Kitchen make indian inspired sweet treats and cakes which are all handmade, so they are extra special.

- *Chins Kitchen Nankhatai Chai Spice: I love chai spice drinks but I haven't ever tried it in food form so I was excited to give this one a go. I love the way they are packaged, it is so cute and professional but still has a handmade and authentic feel. The chai spice shortbread are in circular shapes rather than the traditional rectangular shapes. They are so buttery, crumbly and melt in the mouth. The chai spice flavour is subtle but still noticeable and it makes a lovely change to traditional shortbread - I love it!

- *Chins Kitchen Nankhatai Almond and Cranberry Shortbread: Again, I love the packaging of this set, it would make a unique and cute gift or addition to a hamper. The almond flavour does come though nicely and thankfully for me (as I'm not a fan of cranberries), the fruity cranberry flavour isn't as predominant. There is also a gorgeous cardamon/spice to them which I love and again they are are so buttery and yummy!

Overall, I'm really impressed, not only with the delivery, presentation and packaging but they both taste so yummy, especially the chai spice flavour. It is a nice and welcome change to the plain, traditional english shortbread biscuits. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

Have you tried indian inspired shortbread? Have you tried anything from Chins Kitchen? 

Healthy Snacking: Burts Lentil Waves

I have to admit that I am a bit of a snacker, I do love snacks throughout the day - especially around midday when my energy levels drop. Thankfully most of my snacks tend to be healthy such as smoothies, vegan raw fruit and nut bars, vegan soft pretzels but sometimes they are far less healthy!

I was kindly sent the *Burts Lentil Waves (£1.99, pack of 6) which I have seen before but I haven't tried them until now. They are free from added flavourings, colourings and MSG. Additionally they are less than 99 calories per packet and contain 40% less than than the regular Burts potato chips.

- Burts Lentil Waves - Sour Cream & Chive: I think that sour cream and chive has to be my favourite flavour of crisps (or chips however you want name them) so these were the first ones I tried. I love them! They are a little unusual in shape but I don't mind as they are so moreish - I will definitely be looking out for these as a healthier alternative to crisps.

- Burts Lentil Waves - Lightly Salted: Ready salted or sea salt crisps are another favourite of mine, especially with the vegan dill/ranch style dip I make! These ones are yummy too although not as good as the sour cream and chive flavour, to me anyway.

- Burts Lentil Waves - Thai Sweet Chilli: Now these are something my sister would LOVE, she loves spicy snacks/crisps but sadly I don't. However these actually surprised me, they taste like sweet and sour sauce which I love with crispy tofu! They are SO good, I was going to give the second packet to my sister but now...I'm not so sure - sorry Aimee!

Overall, I would definitely recommend these snacks, as not only are they a healthier alternative and they don't contain any negative ingredients (if that makes sense) and they are less than 99 calories per pack but they also taste so good! I love the sour cream and chive flavour the most as well as the thai sweet chilli. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5!

Have you the Burts lentil waves? What are your favourite healthy snacks? 

Veganuary: The Primal Pantry Paleo Bars

As 2016 is now here *how did that happen?!* and the want to have a healthy and productive start is compulsive, I want to change my diet to not only become healthier but to purposefully focus on areas that need extra care or attention.

It doesn't matter if you use an expensive skincare range if you aren't putting the correct and nutritious food into your body so it can be as healthy as possible. One area that I am going to try and focus on in 2016 is my skin and hair as with regards to my diet, I can neglect those areas.

Certain foods and vitamins can benefit the skin and hair such as almond oil, omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins C and E. The *Primal Pantry Raw Paleo Bars (£1.49 each, 45g) contain many ingredients to benefit the skin from the inside out such as macadamia nuts which help support healthy cell membranes as well as supporting skin healing, coconut oil which contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties and dates which help in maintaining a health digestive system as well as other fantastic and natural ingredients.

I have the coconut and macadamia bars which are fantastic, healthy snacks (perfect for on the go) and they taste so good! I love coconut anyway and especially in these bars - I've been having mine when I get that mid afternoon slump and I want to curl up in front on the TV. They give a boost of energy and they make me feel good as I'm putting healthy, natural and skin benefiting ingredients onto my body rather than heavy carbs and not very nutritious ingredients.

They have other flavours too such as almond and cashew, brazil nut and cherry, hazelnut and cocoa and their newest bar - apple and pecan which I will have to look out for! I'd definitely recommend these bars and they are inexpensive too. Oh and I love the brand name and aesthetic. They can be purchased from Holland and Barrett, Ocado and health food stores. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

Have you tried anything from The Primal Pantry?

Weight Watchers Cookies

Christmas has come and gone and we are now in a new year and with that comes a want to change out lifestyles and habits to become healthier and better in 2016. I am aiming to eat healthier, drink more water and look after myself more although I do love a treat and if I didn't have little treats once or twice a week then I don't think I could stick to eating healthily for a long time...oops! I personally think that food, cooking and baking is something to be completely enjoyed so I would never want to stop that.  

While I don't think diets, counting calories and specific diet brands are needed, I do like lighter/low fat options every so often. I was very kindly sent some cookies from Weight Watchers and we have been loving them recently. 

*Weight Watchers Spicy Stem Ginger and Belgium Chocolate Cookies (£1.99): These have to be my favourite, to me they taste like ginger biscuits/cookies which I haven't had for so long. I love the ginger and chocolate combination! Each cookie contains only 72 calories and 2.9g of fat which I think is great for a little treat. They are very moreish and I'd definitely recommend them. 

*Weight Watchers Chocolate and Fruit and Nut Cookies (£1.99): As with the previous cookies, these taste quite nostalgic to me and they are quite yummy. They contain Belgian chocolate, sultanas and hazelnuts. They're not my favourite but I think they would be quite popular and as with the others, the calories for each cookie is really low at 76 calories. The amount of fat in this variation is higher at 3.6g. 

*Weight Watchers Triple Nut Cookies (£1.99): Out of all three cookies, these contain the most calories and fat which is to be expected as nuts naturally contain quite a lot of fat but it is healthy fats which are needed. The cookies contain almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios. Sadly I think these are my least favourite as the pistachios taste quite artificial and very strong although others may like that. 

Overall, I think the cookies are great little post-christmas treats when you have a sweet or chocolate craving and they don't contain too much fat, sugar or calories so you don't feel as guilty! I love the ginger and the chocolate, fruit and nut cookies - they are a hit in our house. 

Have you tried these cookies or any Weight Watchers products?

Food Stocking Fillers

Ever since I was a child, I have always received chocolate or sweets in the christmas stocking and I still do as let's be honest, chocolate for breakfast is a christmas tradition...and why not! I usually receive a Lindt santa or chocolate orange but here are my alternative stocking filler or baking/food hamper picks!

*Mighty Fine Milk Chocolate Honeycomb Bar (£1.79, 50g each): It contains the finest handcrafted honeycomb and Belgian milk chocolate. It's made in England and it is suitable for vegetarians but not vegans. I love milk chocolate and honeycomb so this was definitely going to be a winner for me. One of my favourite chocolate bars growing up was a Crunchie bar and this is like a grown up and more refined, sophisticated Crunchie chocolate bar. I'd be very happy to receive one of these in my stocking on christmas morning! 

*Nakd Christmas Pud Bar (75p, 35g): We all know that I am a big fan of the Nakd bars, I've been sent a range of them to review on my blog and I have also purchased a couple of boxes too! My favourites include: caffe mocha, cocoa crunch and pecan pie. They have now brought out a christmas bar and as with the others it is made of raw fruit and nuts, it is one of your five a day and it is 100% vegan as well as being gluten, wheat and dairy free. This bar contains dates, cashews, raisins and natural flavourings. I personally have never had a christmas pudding so I don't know if this actually tastes like one but to me it is spicy (in a cinnamon/christmasy kind of way), fruity and rich. I do like it but I personally prefer the sweeter bars on the whole. 

Overall, I think both options would make great stocking fillers or baking/food hamper additions. The honeycomb bar is a lovely and delicious indulgence and the Nakd bar is festive and tasty but it is suitable for those who are vegan, lactose intolerance, coeliac and it is the much healthier option. 

Have you tried either the Mighty Fine Honeycomb Bar or any of the Nakd Bars? 

The Crackin' Egg Co Sweet Chilli Eggs

Another product I was very kindly sent, *The Crackin' Egg Co Sweet Chili Hard Boiled Eggs (£1.59, two pack) which is one of the more strange items I've been sent - red eggs! I haven't tried anything like this before but they do look interesting!

Eggs are a fantastic source of protein especially for those who don't eat meat or fish like me and they also contain a lot of vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin A, B12, D, B2 as well as selenium and more! Eggs do contain fats but it is the good healthy fats that are essential for the body. Eggs are pretty much a quick and easy superfood! 

The Crackin' Egg Co eggs are coloured depending on the flavouring that comes with them, for example, the red eggs come with a sweet chilli powdered sachet. There are also salt and pepper packs which are coloured blue and sour cream and chive packs which are coloured green. I think the coloured eggs would be great for children especially if they don't like eggs as it could definitely make them more fun to eat. 

One of the things that is great about these eggs is that the shelf life is an amazing 4-6 weeks which would be fantastic for mums or students in particular, in my opinion. They are easy to carry around in the packaging and easy to peel too, if a little messy. The eggs can be a little stained with the colour of the dye on the shell but other than that they are normal and delicious. I'm personally not a fan of chilli (or any spicy food actually) so my sister tried the sachet and while sceptical at first she loved it - she said the chilli sachet was perfect. 

Overall, I think these are a great idea and perfect for students, mums or on the go. Eggs are a fantastic low calorie, high protein and nutrient rich food to eat! There are numerous flavours to choose from and you can also buy a pack of four eggs which are £3.49 per pack. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

Have you tried any of the hard boiled eggs from The Crackin Egg Co? What do you think of these packs?