mediterranean snacks

Hello, friends!

I don't know what it is about that late fall/early winter weather -- whether it's watching big games on TV or snacking around a bonfire -- but it makes me want dips.  Hummus, ranch, queso, black bean (simply delicious recipe coming soon), guacamole...the more, the merrier!  As much as I loooove plain old tortilla chips, they don't always hit the spot.

Mediterranean Snacks has some yummy new HummuZ Crackers.  They're all natural and gluten free.  Their crunch is lighter than a cracker but more substantial than your typical chip.  They come in three flavors:

• Roasted Garlic

Photo via Mediterranean Snacks website

• Roasted Red Pepper

Photo via Mediterranean Snacks website

• Olive Tapenade

Photo via Mediterranean Snacks website

The folks over at Mediterranean Snacks were at the 2012 Celiac Awareness Tour at Xavier University in Cincinnati and graciously sent me one bag of each flavor to sample.  Unfortunately I took one of the bags (roasted red pepper) to a get-together, and the whole bag was tossed into a bowl with unfriendly, gluten-filled crackers.  I didn't get to try a single one, but  I didn't want to write my review until I had.  I didn't know it would take quite so long to locate them, but I finally have!!

They're all tasty and light, but the olive tapenade flavor is my tastebuds' favorite.

A bonus: they have since come out with Tapaz 2 Go, a portable mini-meal of hummus and sea salt lentil crackers.  The packaging is really cool & simple: the box flips over & turns into the perfect plate for the hummus!

These also come in three flavors:

• Classic Hummus
• Roasted Garlic Hummus (which I haven't yet tried)
• Red Pepper Hummus (my favorite!!) 

So who is Mediterranean Snacks?  They've been around since 2005, and their philosophy is based around Living Snactive -- combining a healthy attitude with an active lifestyle and nutritious snacks.  Many of their products are legume-based and have been certified gluten-free by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO).  If you have other dietary restrictions, there are more details here, and many of the products are GMO-free.

Check them out and find a new cracker/chip choice for yourself!  Another bonus: visit their website for a link to a $1 off coupon!!  (You need to have Java enabled.)

Happy eating :)

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Full disclosure:
The HummuZ Crackers were sent to me free-of-charge (longer ago than I'd like to admit) from Mediterranean Snacks in exchange for an honest review.  At the time, they were called HummuZ Crispz.  Beyond those samples, I was in no way compensated.  The opinions expressed above are mine & mine alone.

celiac awareness day & a luna protein bar giveaway

Happy Celiac Awareness Day!!

Yesterday I received an adorable package of LUNA Protein Bars.

Haven't heard of LUNA Protein? Here is an overview: 

• A whole nutrition bar for women
• Less than 200 calories
• 12 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber
• Core 4 nutrients: calcium, iron, vitamin D and folic acid
• Available in five gluten-free flavors: Mint Chocolate Chip, Chocolate, Chocolate Cherry Almond, Chocolate Peanut Butter, & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

(Photo courtesy of LUNA)

I tried 3: Mint Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, & Chocolate Peanut Butter. They're all cloaked in chocolate like a candy bar. 

Before I'd even finished the Mint Chocolate Chip, I texted my recently-diagnosed gluten-free mom to give her a heads up that she'll want to try these. The flavor is similar to my very favorite Girl Scout cookie. There are teeny chocolate chips in a chocolatey nougat with a hint of peppermint. It's it a little crunch that is satisfying. And it's not grainy!! 

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is very tasty too. I don't know how they make a gluten-free cookie dough that yummy, but I'm sold. It's not very often we get to have cookie dough flavored anything, let alone something that also has good nutritional value. 

I was going to save the Peanut Butter for later but gave in & ate it on a road trip to Toledo. Oops. It's drier than the other two - of course, it's peanut butter - but there is a hint of vanilla & almond that makes it more interesting to my tastebuds than a peanut butter cup. It's a good balance...but my favorite is the mint chocolate, hands-down. 

LUNA was the brainchild of the founders of Clif Bar and Company with a mission focused on "a dedication to quality, community, sustainability and a balanced work place".  

In my pre-gluten-free days, I really liked the convenience and nutrition of a Clif Bar. Since my diagnosis, I've been pretty skeptical of gluten-free protein bars; so often they're grainy and tasteless, and the tasty ones seem to only be available on specialty shops at a premium price. I'm a nursing student on the go. If I had time to track them down, I wouldn't have as much need for them, you know? Fortunately LUNA Protein Bars are available at a number of retailers: Kroger, Target, Walmart, etc. Check out their handy store locator here. 

So here's the really exiting part: 

LUNA has offered me the chance to run a giveaway!!   

I've chosen to do so using Rafflecopter so it's fair for everyone. What's the prize? A box of LUNA Protein bars in a flavor of your choice!  

How to enter:

1. Click this link to access the widget or scroll down a teeny bit.
2. Log in with Facebook or your email address. (The winner's info - and only theirs - will be shared with LUNA for shipping purposes.)
3. Complete the steps of your choice to earn entries!
4. A winner will be randomly selected at the end of next week & notified via email!

 Good luck, and happy eating!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



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Full disclosure: 
The goodies were sent to me free of charge in exchange for an honest review to help celebrate Celiac Awareness Day. Beyond the samples shown above, I received no compensation of any sort.  The opinions expressed in this post are mine & mine alone. 

gopicnic turkey pepperoni, turkey stick, sunbutter, & salmon

This week I tried the Turkey Stick + Crunch on Tuesday at lunch, Turkey Pepperoni + Cheese meal on Tuesday after work & before a meeting with the Young Professionals of the American Cancer Society, and Sunbutter + Crackers on Wednesday night.

Here are the contents of the Turkey Stick + Crunch meal:

• Old Wisconsin Turkey Snack Stick
• Popchips Barbeque Potato Chips (Scott's preferred flavor)
• Niagara Natural Tropical Fruit Bites
• Sweet Perry Orchards Baja Blend Fruit & Nut Mix (a GoPicnic exclusive)
• Enjoy Life Double Chocolate Crunchy Cookie

The whole thing was delicioso.  I'd love to name my favorite part.  The turkey...no, the fruit snacks...wait, the cookie!  I don't know!!  I'd seen the package at Jungle Jim's one day a few months ago and was so excited about Old Wisconsin Turkey Snack Sticks being gluten free, I bought a tray of them.  It's the closest to a Slim Jim stick I've found.  According to the FAQs section on their website, all meats (with the exception of beef jerky) are gluten free.

A plus: the crunchy cookie had a 75 cent coupon for an Enjoy Life Crunchy Cookie Box, 6.3 oz or more.   Woohoo!

Because I ate the Turkey Pepperoni + Cheese meal in the car before my meeting, I couldn't get any decent pics with my Blackberry.  (How dare I not have my camera!)  But the fact that I don't have a picture also means I devoured the whole thing.  Mmm.

It included:

• Bridgford Turkey Pepperoni Slices
• Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers
• Copper Cowbell Asiago Gourmet Cheese Spread (a GoPicnic exclusive)
• Mariani Dried Cranberries & Pineapple
• Brown & Haley Almond Roca Buttercrunch Toffee Candy

The Almond Roca Buttercrunch Toffee was definitely my favorite part.  Inside this pink wrapper is a golden nugget, enclosing the yumminess.  I've never been that into Heath bars, despite them being one of my parents' favorites.  If they tasted like this, oooooooooh.

On Wednesday night, I broke out the Sunbutter + Crackers.  Whoa - yum!!

Included:

• Sunbutter® Sunflowerseed Spread
• Crunchmaster Multi-Grain Crackers (Sea Salt flavor)
• Enjoy Life Seed & Fruit Trail Mix (in Mountain Mambo)
• Niagara Natural Tropical Fruit Bites
• Enjoy Life Double Chocolate Cookie

This particular meal is all-natural, gluten free, vegan, and free of 7 of the 8 common allergens - not to mention fantastic!  I'm thinking I might need to buy a six-pack of just these!!

I saved what I expected to be the best for last: Salmon + Crackers.

• GoPicnic Chili Lime Salmon Spread
• Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers (in Original)
• Sweet Perry Orchards Ginger Zip Fruit & Nut Mix
• Seapoint Farms Dry Roasted Edamame
• Brown & Haley Almond Roca Buttercrunch Toffee Candy

For those without food allergies and other sensitivities, those of us with them become very accustomed to inspecting everything we eat for our enemies.  For me: gluten, ginger, and onion.  Out of habit, I read over the label on the salmon.  When I came across both ginger and onion, I let out an audible sigh of dismay.  I already knew the fruit and nut mix was out of the question for me, but the salmon?!  :(  

Sooooo...the Sweet Perry Orchards Ginger Zip Fruit & Nut Mix, GoPicnic Chili Lime Salmon Spread, and Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers (because it's just not right to give a spread without some crackers!) will be part of the December to Remember giveaway on Sunday.  Comment and/or follow to enter to win!!

I'd tried the other 2 items - Seapoint Farms Dry Roasted Edamame and Brown & Haley Almond Roca Buttercrunch Toffee Candy - in previous GoPicnic meals.  They were as tasty today as they were earlier this week.  I ate the candy for dessert (after reheating some leftover simple, homemade chicken parmesan I just happened to have in the work fridge) and stuffed the edamame in my coat pocket for the Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo tonight.

Again, be sure to comment and/or follow to enter to win!