Good Planet vegan smoked gouda wedges review

Good Planet Gouda Wedges Review

I had noo idea that a vegan cheese wedge already existed in stores so I was so pleasantly surprised coming across this in Sprouts today. I knew that companies like Babybel have been testing this product, but I didn’t know Good Planet just up and came out with this. I actually had never tried any Good Planet products before so I was super intrigued to see what’s up. It is such a good option so let me share my Good Planet Smoked Gouda Wedges Review.

Good Planet Gouda Wedges Review

Overall this was awesome! I’m so excited about this it’s so yummy I’m already craving another. But let me narrow in on a few finer details.

Consistency

The consistency of the Good Planet Vegan Cheese Wedges is on point. It is so perfectly soft with just the right amount of give as you bite into it. The cheese also has a creamy mouthfeel and goes down the throat smooth. It is 100% exactly as I remember the consistency of snacking cheeses being and is sure to be beyond satisfying for any cheese lover. A+

Flavor

The scent is very cheesy and the flavor of the Good Planet Smoked Gouda wedges was really prominent and robust in both a yummy cheesy way as well as a slightly off-putting way. I’m not sure if it was the smokey flavor that was slightly overpowering the experience for me, or if it’s something in the formulation of the cheese that is perhaps slightly artificial that was standing out. I’m not a big fan of “smoked” in general (though I love Gouda), so it is very possible that that was the issue for me. It wasn’t off-putting enough to dissuade me from wanting to eat it, but enough to make me want to opt for different flavors like Original or Pepper Jack in the future. People who love smokey flavors will really really like it though.

Hand holding opened wedge of good planet smoked gouda vegan snacking cheese.

Good Planet Smoked Gouda Wedges Ingredients

Not crazy about these ingredients, especially the Palm Oil and there was no mention on the package that it is sustainably sourced. Definitely a “once-in-a-while” type of snack in my book because it’s pretty processed and not too ethically-sourced (despite the brand being called “Good Planet”).

Ingredients: Filtered Water, Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Modified Food Starch, Chickpea Protein, Sodium Citrate, Salt, Cane Sugar, Inactive Yeast, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum, Yeast Extract, Smoke Flavor, Nisin (Natural Preservative), Color Added

Price Point

I found my Good Planet Vegan Cheese Wedges at Sprouts for $5.99, so it comes out to roughly $1 per wedge. I’d say it’s pretty worth it occasionally because it’s a really satisfying experience.

Love cheesy things? Check out this Upton’s Mac and Cheese review while you’re here.

Share your Good Planet Gouda Wedges Review in the comments! Much love 🙂

Person Holding Beyond Fried Chicken Nugget with green KFC box in the background.

KFC Beyond Fried Chicken Review

Okay first of all this is the furthest from being a conscious consumer you can get, and I’m thoroughly ashamed for having tried this but rest assured I won’t be doing it again. But here it is: my KFC Beyond Fried Chicken Review.

I always like to try new “vegan” products once and it just so happened I was road tripping in the middle of nowhere last week. Although I did have a cooler full of Trader Joe’s Super Burritos (I’m well used to preparing ahead) so honestly this KFC stop was 0% necessary — curiosity got the best of me. But anyway, here it goes:

Closed green beyond fried chicken box on the table inside of a kfc restaurant.

KFC Beyond Fried Chicken Review

Is KFC Beyond Chicken tasty? Of course! But let us take a closer look.

The experience:

I ordered a 6 pack of KFC beyond nuggets with fries and a medium diet A&W root beer. Combo cost $11.15 before tax and tip (def higher than I remember for fast food). Sounds innocent enough, though, right? Nope.

I waited and I can’t describe how strange it felt to be sitting inside of a KFC. No — I didn’t even take them to go, and it felt so crazy (not in a good way) to actually be ordering and sitting in a KFC. It had been since middle school that I sat in a fast food place. The atmosphere is so strange and bleak and sad (IMO).

My meal came neatly packed in a white and green carton which easily folded open to reveal 6 deep fried plant-based chicken nuggets and medium fries. What happened to the potato wedges of yesteryear? They were replaced by fries in summer 2020, I have since learned.

Inside view when opening the box for the kfc beyond chicken with 6 nuggets and fries.

The taste:

Deep fried, lots of breading, chicken flavor — the taste at a glance is delicious! The flavor and consistency was no different than fried chicken nuggets. Not like KFC chicken necessarily but definitely a fair take on nuggets. The fries, though not the main event, were nicely crisp and seasoned (slightly oversalted)… but not as good as potato wedges as far as I can remember.

Beyond the first glance though, the experience fell apart for me. Not only psychologically did I feel like this is so wrong and disgusting, the beyond chicken was just so so deep fried and processed and unnatural and most definitely loaded beyond comprehension with MSG. My mind and body were just saying “this is SO BAD.”

I almost felt like my mouth was going slightly numb and tongue was lightly coated in a layer of processed gunk from this unidentifiable fake food. I was able to eat 3 of them before I threw in the towel and said “I can’t do this.” I’m just not used to things so deeply fried and full of additives so my body and mind definitely freaked out a bit, despite the taste being good initially.

Holding a beyond fried chicken nugget with green kfc box on the table.

The consistency

I’ve heard people mention that their beyond nuggets were rubbery or dry, but that was not the case for me. They were easy to chew and swallow and had a slightly moist consistency simple to pull apart and savor. Maybe it’s because mine were so fresh and I ate them at KFC? Not sure how they’d hold up after a long drive home or if they’ve been sitting out of the fryer for awhile.

Chicken-like consistency of a bitten vegan nugget.

KFC Beyond Fried Chicken Review Conclusion:

KFC Beyond Chicken is a great option for the right people, but a terrible option for the wrong people. Let me elaborate:

  • For meat-eaters. First and foremost I’m SO HAPPY these nuggets exist so that there may be less and less torment and torture and abuse and slaughter of chickens. If it can sway a meat-eater away from eating real chicken, that is sooooo wonderful. These nuggets serve an important purpose of enticing current chicken KFC eaters looking to make more ethical choices and for that I’m forever grateful this option exists for people.
  • For fast food-loving vegans/vegetarians. This option is probably also good for plant based eaters who either aren’t in it for the animals or already eat Fast Food and MSG-packed foods like Doritos anyway. It’s another great fast food option to add to the growing list of fast food options for plant-based eaters. If you’re not in the mood for an impossible burger, here’s another yummy choice. So happy for plant-based, fast-food convenience for those who seek it!
  • For seasoned vegans. For vegans who lean more towards whole foods and organics, this is definitely not the product for you. Maybe in a serious crunch with absolutely no options but honestly I’d opt for a giant bag of tortilla chips from the gas station before stepping foot into a KFC again. If your body is not used to Fast Food, you won’t feel good beyond the first bite. Let me save you the trouble and tell you: don’t bother trying this. It brings no joy physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually.
Small size option of kfc secret recipe fries.

Alternative:

If you want REAL vegan fried chicken that fu$%&ng ROCKS, stick with Atlas Monroe Fried Chicken. You can order online and bake it in the oven or air fry, and be on vegan chicken cloud 9. It’s the best I’ve had yet (along with the PFC Unchicken from Peacefood Kitchen in New York City). If you have a Native Foods or Veggie Grill nearby those are also pretty good!

Atlas Monroe Vegan Fried Chicken Sandwich on a bun with tomato lettuce and sauce
Atlas Monroe

Did you try the Beyond Chicken from KFC? What did you think?

Starbucks Sugar Cookie Latte Review (video)

Excited to see a new dairy-free holiday drink on the menu, I went to Starbucks to try the Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte. However, I got mine hot and used oat milk instead of almond milk because I don’t really like iced coffee beverages, and also I prefer the creaminess of oat milk. My usual go-to holiday drinks at Starbucks are Chestnut Praline and Gingerbread since they both can be veganized, but Gingerbread seems to be off the menu this year 🙁 Here’s my full Starbucks Sugar Cookie Latte review.

Let me come right out and say that I did not like the Starbucks sugar cookie latte. It has absolutely no central, discernible flavor (in my opinion) that would pop out and make it memorable. I get a very subtle “baked” sense, nodding to the fact it’s a baked sugar cookie. I also get a bit of a layered sweetness, rather than and in your face sugar taste, which kind of (big emphasis on “kind of”) reminds me of a rainbow cookie. It has little red and green sprinkles on top that give you a couple crunches of extra sugar but it didn’t really add much besides a nice visual touch. Overall it’s just blah and not very enjoyable unless you like drinking sugar for the sake of drinking sugar.

That being said, I have heard that some people like it so don’t take my word for it. Feel free to give it a try if still compelled to do so!

Conclusion

I would not get the sugar cookie latte again. I appreciate the attempt by Starbucks, and especially love that it’s vegan by default, but it’s just not good or memorable. Not only would I not get it again, I couldn’t even finish the one I got. It was just too “blah” and felt like a waste of calories, since I wasn’t getting any enjoyment from it. No idea why there would switch gingerbread latte for this, as gingerbread has such a distinct special holiday flavor. I used to even just get gingerbread syrup in steamed soy milk (before oat milk) and it was SO. GOOD. Like a teddy-bear-hugging-your-heart-good.

Really, best course of action for me (and most likely for others as well) is to stick to a local coffee shop that stocks Fairtrade coffee and espresso (shout out to MOE Coffee in San Diego), and get one of their inventive dairy free holiday drinks. There are some really good ones!!

While you’re here, check out my Starbucks Chickpea Bites review.

Carton of whole Not Milk with a sip in a clear glass on a tile counter.

NotCo Not Milk review

I tried the NotCo NotMilk today for the first time! It is pretty rare these days that a new vegan item really catches my attention but this just seemed so different from other vegan milks on the shelves so I was very curious to try it. Vegan whole milk sounds so appetizing for some reason, doesn’t it? I haven’t had milk since I was maybe 11 so of course I can’t clearly remember what it tastes like, but I’ll give you a full scope of my experience with this innovative NotCo Not Milk product via my not milk review.

“Whole” Not Milk Review

I got the “Whole” NotCo NotMilk from Whole Foods, which is currently priced at $4.99. They also have 2% Not Milk. On opening it I was intrigued by its milk-like slightly off-white color and lightly milky sweet scent. The first sip was surprising because it doesn’t taste like other non-dairy milks at all — it is totally unique. It really fills the mouth with exactly what I remember milk tasting like, but with a sweet undertone and after taste rather than a sour one.

It’s also surprisingly refreshing. I don’t really think to down oat or almond milk when I’m thirsty, but this has that super satisfying milk drink finish going on. I don’t know if you remember that feeling of drinking milk when you’re thirsty and the satisfaction that brings, but this brought that same satisfaction that I didn’t even remember until I sipped this. It really fills the mouth and quenches thirst.

Not Milk Review from a Milk Drinker

Quote from my hubby who DOES drink real milk. “Milk is my favorite drink and this is delicious. Really good. It feels like milk so if you like that milk taste and drinking milk, you will definitely like this.” So there. You heard it from the horse’s mouth that NotMilk is indeed reminiscent of real milk. (I’m not sure what that horse expression even means really, but I think I used it correctly).

NotMilk Whole Milk Ingredients

Kind of more ingredients than I like to see in my milk, personally. But you be the judge for yourself.

Water, Sunflower Oil, Pea Protein, Contains less than 2% of: Sugar, Pineapple Juice Concentrate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Gellan Gum, Acacia Gum, Salt, Monocalcium Phosphate, Natural Flavor, Cabbage Juice Concentrate, Vitamin D2, Vitamin B12.

NotMilk Nutrition

Per 1 Cup Serving:

Calories 100

Total Fat 8g

Cholesterol 0g

Sodium 180mg

Total Carb 4g

Fiber 0g

Total Sugars 3g

Added Sugars 2g

Protein 4g

—————————-

Vitamin D 4.6mcg

Calcium 320mcg

Iron .9mg

Potassium 570mg

Vitamin B12 .8mcg

Not Milk Price

At Whole Foods, NotCo NotMilk is priced at $4.99.

NotMilk Review Conclusion

The taste of Not Milk is delicious and even a milk-lover in my home tried and loved it as well, saying it tastes a lot like real milk. Though I really enjoyed it, I am not sure how I feel about all the ingredients. I prefer my milks to be just a few whole ingredients. However, if I’m ever really in the mood for a milky drink, or if I’m having non-vegans staying over my house, I would definitely get this again. Probably a three times a year kind of purchase for me, with oat and almond remaining as my main staples. For hardcore milk lovers though, this is a must-try.

While you’re here, check out my Silk vs. Ripple Half and Half review.

Upton's Naturals Deluxe Cheesy Bacon Mac review with added spinach and broccoli.

Upton’s Naturals Cheesy Bacon Mac Review (Video)

I love mac n cheese!!! I know I’m not alone with that statement. The ooey gooey cheesy goodness brings such comfort, and it’s so exciting that so many brands are making vegan versions. Though my favorite is just making mine homemade, I do try a store bought one every now and again. I’ve been seeing the Upton’s Natural in stores but I am so stuck on my Annie’s Sweet Potato and Pumpkin one that it took me until now to try it — and I’m glad I did! Here is my Upton’s Naturals Cheesy Bacon Mac Review.

Upton’s Bacon Mac n Cheese Review

The preparation.

It’s super easy to prepare Upton’s Naturals Cheesy Bacon Mac because the noodles are precooked and the “cheese” sauce is all pre-made and ready to go in the packet. You simply combine and stir them in a sauce pan for 3-7 minutes. Of course the frozen microwaveable ones are even easier to just pop in the microwave, but I prefer to avoid the microwave as much as possible so this is the next (quickest) best thing since you don’t need to boil noodles or make a powder into sauce.

The flavors.

Very flavorful! Such a nice smokey flavor thanks to the actual liquid smoke. This smokey, bacon-y flavor tends to be the dominant one in this mac n cheese but not in an overpowering way. The first flavor you get is that savory bacon flavor followed by a little rush of cheesy flavor. It is a really nice balance, and it is what I expected since it is a bacon mac n cheese. However, if you are looking for a super cheesy flavor with the bacon flavor in the background, you may be a bit disappointed and may be better off with the regular cheesy one since that one doesn’t have the liquid smoke. Also, it’s worth noting that the ingredients are nice and clean like nutritional yeast and mustard so it doesn’t give a weird artificial cheese flavor.

The consistency.

The noodles are really nice and don’t taste pre-cooked and the seitan bacon is sooo nice and tender and full of flavor. The cheese sauce goes a long way and lends itself well to the dish, but I wouldn’t say it’s super super creamy or anything. I would personally add a little bit of vegan butter, unsweetened almond milk and a touch more nutritional yeast to make it a bit creamier and round out all the flavors. That being said, it is just fine as it is as well and is very complete and satisfying in and of itself.

The nutritional content.

Let me finish off this Upton’s Naturals Cheesy Bacon Mac Review by sharing the nutritional content. I ate almost the whole pack myself although it says there are two servings. It can definitely be 2 servings if it was a side, but not as a full meal. For a full meal you’ll likely want the whole pack. Here’s what’s in it:

Ingredients:

Durum wheat semolina, nutritional yeast, rice bran oil, vital wheat gluten, wheat flour, soy sauce (soybean, wheat, salt), cornstarch, paprika, sea salt, liquid smoke, mustard, onion, garlic, turmeric, sugar.
Contains: Soy, Wheat.

Nutrition Information:


Serving Size: 143 g
Servings Per Container: 2
Calories Per Serving: 270

Amount per serving (% DV)
Total Fat: 6 g (8%)
Saturated Fat: 1 g (5%)
Trans Fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg (0%)
Sodium: 270 mg (12%)
Total Carbohydrate: 44 g (16%)
Dietary Fiber: 4 g (14%)
Total Sugars: 1 g
Including 1 g Added Sugars (2%)
Protein: 10 g
Vitamin D: 0 mcg (0%)
Calcium: 50 mg (4%)
Iron: 1.2 mg (6%)
Potassium: 170 mg (4%)

So there you have it! My Upton’s Naturals Cheesy Bacon Mac Review. While you’re here, check out my Atlas Monroe Fried Chicken review as well 🙂 And let me know what your favorite vegan mac n cheese is!

Atlas Monroe Vegan Fried Chicken Sandwich on a bun with tomato lettuce and sauce

Atlas Monroe Vegan Fried Chicken Review

I have been hearing about Atlas Monroe vegan fried chicken for months now. When I was a kid I seriously loved all kinds of chicken, especially fried chicken — so I was super excited when I learned about Atlas Monroe taking the vegan fried chicken game to the next level. In the 17 years I’ve been vegan, companies constantly develop the mock “beef” products but they never seem to develop the “chicken” products, which have remained virtually the same breaded soy protein all this time. Hopefully those days are behind us now thanks to Atlas Monroe!

Finally, this past Memorial Day Weekend they had a popup shop in San Diego so I was able to take the 20 minute drive from where I live to their little shop in a nondescript area of Chula Vista neighborhood where a few people were gathered. Me and my fiance got our food and drove to the oceanfront to have a nice view while we ate it in the car. Here’s our review.

Atlas Monroe Vegan Fried Chicken Review

Okay overall this chicken is sooo tasty and way more substantial and satiating than any other vegan fried chicken I’ve had. There are a few things to note, though, so let me break it down into specifics:

Breading

I missed that crispy breading on fried chicken so much and the outside of this vegan chicken was incredibly crispy and flavorful. The breading was every bit as indulgent (and more!) as fried chicken I remember from my childhood. Irresistibly yummy. It also adhered perfectly to the chicken part, no idea how they pulled that off since vegan breading is hard to do. It was great.

Atlas Monroe Vegan Fried Chicken Sandwich with Substantial Breading
Chick’n

When you get past the breading to the “chicken” part again it’s a really nice consistency and flavor. There are a lot of yummy spices in it that give it a burst of flavor that other vegan chickens simply don’t have (I think there was even possibly a tiny touch of curry powder?). The texture is more juicy and dynamic than other vegan meats. When you pull it apart it looks and behaves more like a piece of chicken. Definitely spongier than meat, but it is a nice departure from the generic texturized soy chicken that is literally always the same — wayy more substantial and satisfying.

Preparation

The one issue is that because the vegan “meat” is kind of spongy, it sopped up a lot more oil than other products would in the deep frying process at the pop-up shop. The oil saturates not only to the breading on the outside, but the meat on the inside too. I maximally enjoyed while eating, but for hours afterward me and my fiance couldn’t move. This may be a normal feeling in general with fried chicken that maybe I don’t remember, but my body was crying for water and handfuls fresh spinach after. For this reason, I would definitely prefer baking or air frying when I purchase the chicken from their website. If it was baked or air fried it literally would have been perfect.

Bite taken of the Atlas Monroe vegan fried chicken sandwich.
Fixin’s

At the pop-up shop I really liked the toasted bun and the fresh lettuce and tomato. The sauces were also good, tho I couldn’t quite distinguish what they were. I think there was a garlic sauce on it, which was too strong for my fiance. For me it was fine. However, the meat is actually so flavorful that I would really put a more neutral sauce, like vegan mayo or ketchup, so I can fully enjoy the flavor of the chicken without any interference from a flavorful sauce. On the side would be better I think. I also got the fries and they were really good. Again, kind of too fried for me but what do I expect from french fries?

Portion

Filling!!! Even just the sandwich on its own was definitely a full meal. The fries were super extra I personally did not need them — a spring salad would have been a better compliment to it actually. Vegan burgers or chicken sandwiches are almost never filling enough on their own. However, this sandwich was big!! and filling!! You will definitely be getting enough food. Even my fiance who is always still hungry couldn’t take another bite by the end. A+ for giving enough food. I appreciate that since it’s true that vegan places often really don’t give enough, especially for what they charge. This was enough.

Atlas Monroe Fried chicken sandwich in to-go box with ketchup and fries.
Price Point

When you think fried chicken or chicken sandwich, it’s really more of a fast food or budget food item typically. So it is kind of against my logic to spend $21 per person on vegan fried chicken sandwich combo. The sandwich was $17 then it was $2 extra for the fries and $2 for a standard bottle of water — plus tax and tip. However, this is all very specific to the pop-up location I went to. I know they sell their product on their website and have their chicken available at other locations, which may have different prices. In my opinion, although it was a great amount of food, $14 for the whole combo would have been a more fair price. As a vegan, I feel I shouldn’t have to pay $20 to have some fried chicken. But I know it’s a pop-up so maybe that factors in to the cost. Anyway, I wouldn’t consider it a very accessible price point.

Digital receipt for Atlas Monroe vegan meal, $52.74 total for 2 combos with water.
Overall

All in all I would say Atlas Monroe’s vegan fried chicken is extremely good. I would definitely be careful to not deep fry, but otherwise it makes for a phenomenal sandwich. It is extremely satisfying in a way that no other vegan chicken is. Fried chicken lovers will absolutely love this product. However, I would love to see it at a more accessible price point. I probably won’t go to the pop-up again, but I would definitely buy from their website and prep myself one day if it becomes available. I hope to see this on the shelves in grocery stores everywhere. I’m excited to see what’s coming up in the future for Atlas Monroe — grateful that they’re stepping up to the plate and innovating vegan chicken products.

Holding Atlas Monroe vegan fried chicken with bacon sandwich after taking many bites.

About Atlas Monroe

Atlas Monroe is a vegan food company that specializes in vegan fried chicken. They have been featured on Shark Tank, and have won the prize for Best Fried Chicken by Extra Crispy at the annual Fried Chicken Festival. Products are sold on their website, though they are often sold out. They also sell at different restaurants, pop-up shops and fairs, which you can learn about on their Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

Starbucks chickpea bites opened package, a vegan option.

Starbucks Chickpea Bites and Avocado Protein Box: Review

Starbucks finally came out with a vegan option on their menu. But it’s not a pastry or muffin or cookie or a cute bistro sandwich, it’s falafel with guacamole. I don’t want to sound ungrateful but falafel is not exactly what I was hoping for when I emailed Starbucks several times in the past 15 years to add a vegan menu option. And avocado is kind of a weird thing to pair with it. However, there is something to be said for Starbucks Chickpea Bites and Avocado Protein Box.

Starbucks Chickpea Bites and Avocado Protein Box Review

Okay, so it took me months to actually try this because I thought it was a ridiculous option at a coffee shop (if I want falafel I’ll go to a middle eastern spot). For this reason, I waited for a moment that I needed an easy on-the-go meal rather than something that I specifically wanted to pair with my coffee. That day came last week. Let me review each element of Starbuck’s vegan protein box: 

The chickpea bites

These are actually way more yummy than I expected. I fully thought they’d be dry, crumbly falafel wannabes. However, they totally had a cafeteria chicken nugget vibe going on. I say cafeteria because since they’re packaged and cold they don’t have that crispy finish. The outside is a nicely seasoned breading, and the inside is soft and slightly moist and holds together nicely. Not dry at all. Really a lot like a casual chicken nugget from my childhood. I enjoyed it a lot.

The avocado

Even the thought of packaged guacamole makes me sick so I did not expect to like this at all. I opened the container just a tiny bit because I expected to try a little and not have the rest, but I ended up finishing it! It is absolutely nothing like fresh guacamole, but it didn’t have any gross weird packaged guacamole taste. It tasted like the fresh ingredients listed, just a smooth avocado, lime, jalapeno, garlic and salt—nothing else. Somehow it tasted fresh despite being packaged. I didn’t love it but I was definitely able to finish it without getting grossed out.

The veggies

The carrots and snap peas are fresh and crisp. I especially liked how crunchy, juicy and lightly sweet the snap peas were. It was a nice accompaniment to round out the meal. The veggies were also good for dipping in the avocado, because the chickpea bites weren’t quite strong enough to be dipped without coming apart a bit. 

The nuts and seeds

I was full after the meal, so it’s convenient that the nuts and seeds are packaged in their separate little bag for later. I actually forgot I had these and found them in my bag on a camping trip and ate them on a short hike. It’s about a handful or so of sunflower seeds, almonds, pepitas and dried cranberries. Not the freshest or most crisp nuts in the world, but it was a nice, balanced pick-me-up.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 560

Total fat: 37 g

Cholesterol: 0 mg

Sodium: 710 mg

Total carbohydrates: 43 g (13 g fiber, 7 g sugar)

Protein: 15 g

Ingredients

Chickpea Bites [Chickpeas, Water, High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Breadcrumbs (Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Distilled Vinegar, Malted Barley Flour, Yeast, Sea Salt, Leavening (Sodium Bicarbonate), Spice Extractive), Chickpea Flour, Contains 2 Or Less Of Rice Starch, Yellow Corn Flour, Salt, Spices, Sugar, Guar Gum, Vinegar, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Corn Starch, Dehydrated Parsley, Toasted Sesame Oil, Maltodextrin, Cultured Dextrose, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Corn Syrup Solids, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, White Distilled Vinegar, Food Starch Modified, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Tapioca Dextrin, Lemon Juice Solids, Breading Set In Vegetable Oil], Avocado Dip [Avocado, Sea Salt, Onion, Garlic, Jalapeno, Pepper, Lime Juice], Dried Fruit And Nut Mix [Unsalted Roasted Almonds, Dry Roasted Pepitas, Oil Roasted Sunflower Seeds (Sunflower Seeds, Sunflower Oil), Dried Cranberries (Cranberries, Sugar, Sunflower Oil)], Carrots, Snap Peas

Allergens

Treenuts, Wheat

Conclusion

Overall better than I expected but still NOT something I want with my coffee. It’s kind of doesn’t make sense for this option to be at Starbucks, but if I ever want a quick, easy, healthy, on-the-go meal that’s under $7 I would get this again for sure. But the odds of my thinking to stop at Starbucks for lunch is very unlikely so I’m not sure how often I’ll actually think to do it. It’s probably a great option for parents to grab for their kids’ lunches too while they’re ordering their morning coffee.

Request

Starbucks thank you for the chickpea nuggets but please add a vegan bakery item! It’s seriously not difficult I promise. You’re wayyy behind pretty much every local coffee shop and several chains at this point (Peet’s, Argo Tea, Think Coffee, Whole Foods Cafe, etc.). And also, please switch to 100 percent Fair Trade or Direct Trade! I have no choice but to opt for my local coffee shop (Holsem <3) so that I can have FAIR TRADE coffee with a delicious vegan muffin. Or I just brew my own fair trade coffee and bake my own pastry at home. Make a bold move into a more humane realm, Sbux. These baby steps are appreciated but not enough.

Silk vs ripple half and half side by side vegan creamers for coffee

Silk vs. Ripple Half and Half (Video Review)

Vegan Half and Half is starting to become easier to find. Half and half is creamier milk with more fat content, but it doesn’t contain all that sugar that is in creamers. After trying the Silk one and falling in love with it… I noticed the Ripple half and half on the shelves so I was super curious about which is better! In this video I’ll compare Silk vs. Ripple Half and Half so you can see the differences for yourself before you purchase.

Silk vs. Ripple Half and Half Verdict

Overall, I like Silk Half and Half more because I find it creamier. However, both are really really good options! Ripple was even better than expected. Here are some specifics from my comparison:

  • Lightness: Ripple seems to lighten the coffee slightly more in terms of color than Silk. Silk still lightens it a lot but surprisingly Ripple lightened it even more.
  • Creaminess: Silk definitely has a creamier mouth feel than Ripple, but Ripple still does elevate the coffee nicely.
  • Flavor: Again silk has more of a creamy and I’d say almost very very lightly buttery flavor that marries with the coffee beautifully. Ripple doesn’t have much of a strong flavor but it gives just a distant tinge of sweetness which is nice.
  • Calories: Silk half and half has 15 calories per Tablespoon and Ripple half and half has 17.5 calories per Tablespoon.
  • Sugar: Silk half and half contains 0 g of sugar and Ripple half and half contains less than 1 gram of sugar.
  • Silk Half and Half Ingredients: Coconutmilk (Filtered Water, Coconut Cream), Oatmilk (Filtered Water, Whole Oat Flour), Organic Coconut Oil, Faba Bean Protein, Baking Soda, Natural Flavor, Gellan Gum. CONTAINS COCONUT.
  • Ripple Half and Half Ingredients: Water, Sunflower Oil, Pea Protein, Organic Cane Sugar, Contains less than 1% of Sea Salt, Sunflower Lecithin, Tricalcium Phosphate, Natural Flavor, Acacia Gum, Guar Gum, Gellan Gum.

What’s your favorite vegan half and half? Try your own Silk vs. Ripple half and half experiment at home and let me know what you think 🙂

Vegan easter candy, like chocolate bunny and peanut butter eggs on table with blue background.

Best Vegan Easter Candy (2021)

Easter is just around the corner, which means 2 things: bunnies and chocolate (oh, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ). I’ve been lucky enough to try lots of vegan Easter candy, so I wanted to share the list of my very favorite chocolates for this colorful occasion. I recently bought a ton of Sjaak’s Easter chocolate this year at ION Natural Market in Connecticut when visiting my sister. It’s sooo good! Thanks for stocking up, ION!

Spring goes hand-in-hand with chocolate eggs, peanut butter eggs, hollow and solid bunnies, and more vegan Easter candy wonders. Here are the best cruelty-free, non-dairy chocolates for Easter for you and your loved ones (kid-approved):

Sjaak’s

Sjaak’s has been making high-quality organic, vegan chocolate since 2004. They have chocolates for all occasions, including their extensive easter chocolate selections. For Easter, Sjaak’s sells:

  • Melk® Chocolate Bunny Filled with Gummy Bears
  • “Paleo Bunny” Coconut Milk Chocolate Bunny
  • Chunky Peanut Butter Filled Dark Chocolate Eggs
  • Caramel Filled Melk® Chocolate Eggs 
  • Vegan Egg PB Filled with Bunny Bites
  • Peanut Butter Crunch Egg
  • White Chocolate “Bunny Pop” on Coconut Milk Chocolate Egg
  • Coconut Lime with Coconut Milk Chocolate Easter Bunny Bite
  • Cinnamon Churro with White Chocolate Easter Bunny Bite
  • Cherry with Dark Chocolate Easter Bunny Bite
  • Mini Almond Butter Bunny in Melk® Chocolate

Buy Sjaak’s vegan Easter candy here

No Whey

No Whey’s vegan easter confections are soo indulgent, and all their products are 100 percent milk-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, gluten-free, egg-free and soy-free. Here are their Easter candy options:

  • Milkless Easter Bunny
  • Milkless White Bunny
  • Hollow White and Milk Chocolate Bunny
  • Mini Cream Eggs
  • Milkless Surprise Eggs
  • White Chocolate Bunny Pops
  • “Milk” Chocolate Bunny Pops
  • Easter Truffles

Buy No Whey vegan Easter chocolate here

Lagusta’s Luscious

Lagusta’s Luscious is based in New York so I would visit them in New Paltz whenever I was heading upstate and their shop is a-ma-zing. This fine vegan chocolatier has a unique and impressive selection of absolutely scrumptious vegan Easter chocolate:

  • English Cream Eggs
  • Peanut Butter Eggs
  • Milk Chocolate Marble Eggs
  • Strawberry Marble Eggs
  • Peanut Butter Bunny
  • Solid Chocolate Bunny
  • Chocolate Nougat Bunny
  • Strawberry White Chocolate Bunny
  • Woodstock White Chocolate Bunny

Buy Lagusta’s Luscious vegan Easter chocolate here

Rose City Chocolatier

Rose City Chocolatier sells vegan, belgian artisan chocolates. They have lots of wonderful Easter options from bunnies to eggs to truffle sets. Here’s their fine chocolate delights:

  • Chocolate Easter Shape Minis
  • Vegan Petite Eggs
  • Easter Chocolate Bunny Box
  • Vegan Easter Gift Sets

Buy Rose City Chocolatier Easter candy here

Lake Champlain

Though not a fully vegan company, Lake Champlain has a nice selection of vegan chocolate for easter. This Vermont-based chocolate shop sells the follow for Easter (all organic and kosher):

  • 5-inch Classic Dark Organic Bunny
  • Dark Chocolate Carrot
  • Semi-Solid Dark Chocolate Baby Bunny
  • Hoppy Easter Dark Chocolate Bar

Buy Lake Champlain Easter chocolate here

Moo Free

Moo Free hails from across the pond in England, and offer up a yummy selection of dairy-free chocolates for all occasions, including Easter. Here’s what they’ve got:

  • Organic Mint Chocolate Easter Egg
  • Vegan Milk chocolate Egg with Sour Cherry
  • Milk Chocolate Mini Eggs
  • White Chocolate Mini Eggs
  • Bunny Bar

Buy Moo Free vegan Easter candy here

Get your vegan Easter candy fix by browsing the options at these chocolate company’s websites or if you’re lucky you’ll find some in stock at your local natural market. Be sure to order soon to get them in time for Easter, and order in advance each year so you get your favorites before they sell out.

What’s your favorite vegan Easter chocolate? Be sure to share in the comments and Happy Easter to all!

Peet's vegan breakfast sandwich after two bites with vegan cheese, beyond sausage, and just egg.

Peet’s Vegan Breakfast Sandwich Review

I was so excited that Peet’s launched a fully plant-based breakfast sandwich. Peet’s vegan breakfast sandwich consists of an everything bagel thin, a slice of vegan cheddar cheese, Beyond sausage and Just Egg. I drove over to the Peet’s Coffee location in Solana Beach, California on a cloudy day to try this vegan delight.

Peet’s Vegan Breakfast Sandwich from Peet’s Coffee in Solana Beach, California

To start, the Peet’s plant-based breakfast sandwich was even better than I thought. Of course it’s not like a big ooey gooey egg, cheese and sausage from your corner deli, but as far an on-the-go breakfast sandwiches it’s right in line with other fast food breakfast sandwiches as far as I can remember (Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Burger King, etc). I haven’t had a convenient breakfast sandwich in over 16 years so I’m super grateful to Peet’s for stepping up to the [vegan] plate when all the other places have not.

Peet’s Vegan Breakfast Sandwich Review

The overall sandwich was more flavorful and juicy than I expected. Let me break it down by ingredient:

The bread. To start, the sandwich bread is a flavorsome, lightly toasted everything bagel thin with sesame and poppy seeds. A lot of times bagel thins can be quite bland but this one was not — it lent itself perfectly to the sandwich.

The vegan cheese. The non-dairy cheddar worked perfectly in this sandwich. It is just one slice but when melted one slice goes a long way. The cheese was melted beautifully over the sausage and pulled the sandwich together making it ooey gooey (and combatting any potential dryness). We all know cheese takes anything to the next level, and this sandwich is no exception.

The Beyond sausage. Their preparation of Beyond breakfast sausage was great. They don’t dry it out at all, they retain its juiciness so it gives a very scrumptious, satiating feeling to the whole sandwich. And of course, the flavors in the Beyond sausage are on point — there is such an explosion of savory flavor.

The Just Egg. Just Egg is very impressive. This plant-based egg, made with mung beans, is not too flavorful, but gives a nice fluffy eggy consistency to compliment the flavorful sausage and cheese. It brings all the right textures that you would expect in a breakfast sandwich.

In conclusion, each element of Peet’s vegan breakfast sandwich works perfectly together to provide a satisfying on-the-go option for vegans and anyone looking to reduce their impact on the planet. It is currently priced at $5.95 and I paired mine with a creamy oat milk vanilla latte. Thank you Peet’s for adding this option to your menu!

Find a Peet’s Coffee location near you. Have you tried Peet’s vegan breakfast sandwich? Be sure to share your thoughts in the reviews.