Tag Archives: snacks

Skinny snacks: gluten free

I’ve tried two “skinny” snacks lately that I’m hooked on.  I kind of hate that I’m even calling these skinny snacks, but they’re skinny in shape and low in calories, so the name fits.  None of these snacks will make you skinny, especially when you eat four servings at a time like I do.  But they sure are tasty!

Skinny Snack #1

Skinny Crisps

I tried a free sample of these at G-free NYC last week and loved all of the flavors, but I picked up a bag of the cinnamon crisps and have hardly put down the bag since. The most interesting part about these is that they taste just like pita chips baked with butter and cinnamon, but they’re low carb! (?)  The first ingredient is ground almonds, then chickpea flour, organic ground golden flax seed, psyllium husks, organic dehydrated cane juice, and olive oil.  So there’s NO rice flour, like most gluten free cracker products, and they’re so much more indulgent. Well, they taste more indulgent, but they’re really not (8 big crackers for 120 cals)

Skinny snack #2

Annie Chun’s Seaweed Snacks

These are basically like fish food for people.  They’re a great thing to mindlessly snack on at work, and have a ton of Vitamin A.  You will look like a weirdo eating these, but they’re pretty addictive.

Skinny Snack #3

Falafel Chips

I brought these to a potluck at work, and was surprised to hear how much everyone loved them!  The spicy chips taste JUST like the crispy part of falafel, only they aren’t fried (11 chips for 118 cals) and you can store them for longer.

Snack it up!

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Thanks, Orville – Super simple gf dessert

Although it may be hard to believe, sometimes I want something besides ice cream for dessert.  Tonight I pulled out the creativity and made some kettle corn from Orville Redenbacher, then topped it with Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips.

It’s like trail mix, only you can eat more of it!

Give me this stuff and a good trashy magazine, and I’ll be set all night.

Frozen Lara Bars? Genius!

 

Look for the polka dots!

 

Have you seen the new Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Chocolate Chip Brownie, Carrot Cake, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip flavors of Lara Bars?  

Ever since I saw them on another blog (which one is escaping me now) – I was on the look out for these in my local Whole Foods and health stores, but for weeks they evaded me.  I couldn’t even find them online!  

Then, just when I thought hope was lost, I found them at Sunac (26th Street and 6th Avenue).  I scooped up a cookie dough and a brownie (they still don’t have in the peanut butter ones, sigh.)  

So chock-full of chocolate, and only FOUR ingredients!  Makes a girl almost feel like it could be a little tiny bit good for you? 

THEN – I saw the genius idea to FREEZE them!  Why didn’t I think of that? 

So I put one in the freezer at work and ate it while walking to the subway on my way home on Friday.  Nothing better to put a nice cherry on top of a work week 🙂

Next up – freezing it and mushing it up into some vanilla ice cream.  

Also, finding the peanut butter ones!

Guess what I got in Chicago?

Garrett’s Popcorn!

Usually I go for the Chicago Mix (half caramel and half cheese), but this time I got the Pecan Caramelcrisp.

Best part is that all Garrett popcorn is made without gluten!  Plus they give free samples 🙂

Buy some for your mom for Mother’s Day?

Or for yourself?

I don’t know, but you should get some.

Match-up: Primal Strips vs. Stonewall’s Vegan Jerky

I know what you’re thinking – there is more than one type of vegan “beef” jerky?  Yes.

And you’re actually recommending them as something I should eat?  Yes.  (If you are vegetarian, but still enjoy salty protein-filled meat-imitating snacks) 

But Anna, whatever jerky should I choose?  

No worries, I’m here to help.  DING DING DING – let the match up begin!

First up: Primal Strips

Texas BBQ and Hickory Smoked are Gluten Free - note the handy icon in the upper right of the package

 

Buy me. 

Primal Strips are truly amazing.  A feat of food engineering.  I don’t understand how those food scientists could make soy taste and feel so much like dehydrated meat. Seeing as I haven’t eaten meat in about four years, this is about as primal as my eating gets.  These strips are only 80-90 calories each, and pack about 10-12 grams of protein each.  They’re also almost fat free, and have no cholesterol.  They’re perfect for a mid-afternoon snack (and even give that guilty-pleasure salt satisfaction, without eating a bag of chips).  These are super chewy, fun to eat, and have a ton of meat-ish, BBQ flavor.  

I’ve been eating Primal Strips for a few months now, so when I saw that the store across from my office started carrying them I was super excited.  They also started carrying Stonewall’s Jerquee.  So I thought – what’s better than one kind of vegan gf jerky than TWO KINDS?  Pretty much nothing.  

So I picked up a package of Stonewall’s Jerquee and started snacking.  This jerky is in little nuggets rather than a strip.  

Nuggets

 

These, however, were not the primal experience I was seeking.  With such pleasant olde time wild west mascot, you’d think that the product would live up to the packaging.  (They also have about 12 different flavors, which was exciting to me).  However, the package of Teriyaki jerquee that I had tasted like dog food.  It had a grainy texture, unpleasant dog food/stale smell, and left my mouth drier than Cheetos and cardboard combined.  I forced myself to eat about half the package (it cost $2.99 so I couldn’t bring myself to just chuck it).  But then I had to give up, drink some water, and throw them out.  

*Sidenote – what’s with the spelling of jerquee?  Makes my skin crawl just typing it. 

Heavyweight Champion = PRIMAL STRIPS!

So, if the thought of vegan jerky doesn’t repulse you – go get some!  They’re available at Whole Foods (near the register at my store). 

Don’t get Stonewalls Jerquee.  Unless you run out of dog food.