Product Review: Alter Eco (chocolate and quinoa, and rice, oh my!)

A team of activists who strive to provide healthy food while working with small-scale farmers runs Alter Eco. The business is focused on fighting social and economic justice by maintaining Fair Trade and Organic practices. Alter Eco carries a variety of quinoa, rice, chocolate, and sugar.

I received a box of food products from Alter Eco to review in exchange for an honest review. The items were definitely some of my favorite products: chocolate & nutritious food that tastes good!

ORGANIC CHOCOLATE

• Dark Coconut Toffee - crunchy and toasted, wit a chewy bite, and a smooth buttery finish
• Dark Quinoa - light crispy crunch, an artisan update on a nostalgic childhood treat - 
• Dark Blackout - deep fruity intensity, not recommended for those afraid of the dark - 

My favorite bar of chocolate was definitely the Dark Coconut Toffee. Each bite was heavenly. The chocolate was sweet and had just enough coconut to be tasty, but not overpowering. I also enjoyed the other chocolate bars, but they contained higher amounts of cocoa, giving them a bittersweet bite. I did enjoy the crunch of the Dark Quinoa bar.

PEARL QUINOA

Closer to couscous, with an ever-so-slight crunch. 

I am new to cooking quinoa, but I was excited to cook something different for my kids. I prepared the quinoa according to the instructions on the package. Within 15 minutes, I had a small pot of fluffy quinoa. I placed it in a mixing bowl with one cup of applesauce, 1/4 cup of peanut butter, and a few shakes of ground cinnamon. It was a yummy breakfast. My kids gave it two thumbs up! 

THAI STICKY PURPLE RICE

This rare beautiful grain will make any recipe stick.

I was really interested in preparing the Purple Thai Sticky Rice. I decided to cook the rice and serve it with steamed vegetables. I was fascinated by the color and surprised by how it tasted so much like properly cooked sticky white rice. It was delicious. I also enjoyed that it cooked less than 25 minutes. The bonus was that my kids asked for another helping.

I was extremely pleased with the quality of these food items. I look forward to trying more products from Alter Eco and supporting such a cool and positive company.

Learn more about Alter Eco & their products:

http://www.alterecofoods.com/ (recipes are available)

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AlterEcoSF

Twitter - @AlterEcoSF

Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/alterecosf/

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Conscious Box is the best way to discover the most ethical and sustainable products on the planet! Focusing on strict tenets of organic, fair trade, and pure and natural products, each month Conscious Box will introduce you to healthy and honest alternatives for every aspect of your life and for every member of your family. Discover the best natural products, earn points for leaving feedback and reviews, and buy your favorites at incredible discounts!


I am thrilled that Conscious Box has given one of my readers the opportunity to WIN a 3-month subscription. That is a $59 value.

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August Vegan Food Swap

Yesterday, I was excited to find that the mail man had delivered a box of vegan goodies to me. My swap partner for August was Kimberly who doesn't have a blog or else I would link you all to her. Somehow, I must have sent Kimberly telepathic messages because she sent me items that I was craving or in need of. Below are the goodies I received:

• Earth Balance coconut & peanut spread
• Apple Sauce with Orange Zests
• Yogi Purely Peppermint Herbal Tea
• Candy Cane Lip Balm
• Sweet Chocolate Dream (dairy-free)

I love peanut butter, so I am looking forward to trying the coconut & peanut spread. I've never seen it before, but it was destined to find its way to my home. The applesauce with orange zests is another food product I've yet to come across, but sound very delcious. Being a chocoholic, I am very familiar with the creamy chocolate bar. It is one of my favorite treats. I was in need of lip balm, so you can only imagine how thrilled I was to find cruelty-free vegan balm in the package. Also, the weather is getting cooler which means I will be enjoying the peppermint tea soon.

You can learn more about the Vegan Food Swap here. Take a look back at the Vegan Food Swap package I received in July over here.

Sadly, since September is a super busy month for my family, I had to pass on swapping this month, but I'll be back mailing and receiving vegan awesomeness in October.

Book Review: Vegan for Life: Everything You Need to Know to Be Healthy and Fit on a Plant-Based Diet by Jack Norris & Virginia Messina

Vegan for Life: Everything You Need to Know to Be Healthy and Fit on a Plant-Based Diet

by Jack Norris & Virginia Messina

Date Published: July 2011

Pages: 283

ISBN 13: 978-0-7382-1493-1

Vegan for Life is an essential guide for anyone wanting to learn more about a vegan diet and for people already committed to a vegan lifestyle. Authors and dieticians, Jack Norris and Virginia Messina have compiled a book overflowing with valuable nutrition information about eating a plant-based diet. Along with facts about being healthy while eating a vegan diet, the authors also include sample menus for children, adults, seniors, and athletes. Vegan for Life debunks myths about vegans and provides realistic ways to thrive while eating a plant-based diet.

I appreciate how the authors are not preachy about transitioning to a vegan diet. Instead, they write about medical studies, facts, and the correct way to maintain good health on a plant-based diet. For me, this book is a must have for any vegan. I know this is a book that I will use as a reference for my family and myself over the years. I learned a great deal about vegan nutrient needs. You’ll also find helpful tips for vegans on a budget, a quick cooking guide, and a metric conversion chart.

Vegan Food Swap

Earlier this month I came across the Vegan Food Swap. I thought it would be an awesome idea so I signed up. The swap rules were to send a package of vegan goods to your swap partner (staying under $20) and include a handwritten note, then blog about the experience. 

I've been vegan for about four months now and I am always eager to try new vegan food. I thought this would be a fun way to discover food items that may not be available in my area. 

Plus, I love swapping mail. 

Yesterday my food box arrived from Elisa of Elisa In Real Life.

My package included:

- A bag of Uncle Jerry's handmade pretzels. Each pretzel is rolled and twisted by hand and baked in a stone hearth oven. They are delicious!

- A package of multigrain squares. They are a great snack and I enjoy them more than the typical thick and round rice cake.

- Two containers of soup - tortilla soup with baked chips and pad thai noodle soup. I am looking forward to trying them because I love soup.

- A bottle of aged Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, yay!

This was a super fun swap and I am looking forward to the next one. A big thank you to Elisa for the package and Cat (The Verdant Life) for putting the Vegan Swap together.