More Reviews: Farmhouse Culture Kraut, Pure Bars, and Beanfields Chips

I'm back again with some more reviews!

Pure Bars - These are one of my very favorite brands of energy bars (in fact, they might be #1). The ingredients are wholesome, the nutrition is great, the flavors are delicious, and the packaging is cute (because that matters, right?). My favorite flavor is the Orange-Cranberry. This tastes just like a cranberry-orange muffin in bar form. It is delicious! I also really like the Apple Cinnamon; it's sweet and chewy with the perfect amount of cinnamon. I would never turn down the other flavors, but these two are my top picks.  If you are a fan of Pure Bar, be sure to check out their Twitter, Facebook, and newsletter. They often do giveaways on the first two, and the newsletter is a great source of information for all kinds of things relating to natural living. During the holiday season they also have a special fundraiser going on for the Lunchbox Fund. For every Facebook "like" or Twitter follow (see links above) that the Pure Bar gets, they will donate a lunch to a child in need. So head on over to their pages!

Farmhouse Culture Kraut - If the only kind of sauerkraut you've ever had is the soggy kind that comes out of a can, you are in for a treat. This stuff is crunchy, tangy, and delicious!  Since this kraut is raw (and it's also organic!), it contains the beneficial natural probiotics that the pasteurized varieties lack. Farmhouse Culture has created an array of innovative flavors, but the three I got to sample were the Classic Caraway (perfect for vegan reubens!), Horseradish Leek, and Smoked Jalapeño. All of them were delicious! I was originally afraid that the jalapeño would be too spicy (I like a little heat, but not a lot), but it was perfect. I also have to mention the great packaging: they come in glass jars with a screw-on lid, and the label is biodegradable. I enjoyed this kraut on sandwiches, salads, in wraps, and by the forkful.  The kraut will keep for several months in the refrigerator--great to know if you plan on stocking up.

Beanfields Chips - I really like these! They are made from beans and rice (complete protein!) and have a delightful crunch to them. I think they are good on their own, but they would also complement a variety of dips or spreads (hummus, guacamole, salsa, cashew cheese…the options are endless). I sampled four different flavors: Naturally Unsalted, Sea Salt, Pico De Gallo, and Sea Salt & Pepper. The Pico De Gallo and Sea Salt were my favorites. The Sea Salt variety might benefit from a little more salt, in my opinion, but they are still really good (and my favorite flavor for multi-purpose use). The Pico De Gallo has a strong cumin/taco-y flavor profile and this makes them delicious to snack on alone or with Mexican food. The Sea Salt & Pepper was my least favorite--they were just a bit too peppery and salty. But if you love other brands of salt and pepper chips, you will probably enjoy these. The Naturally Unsalted would be great for dipping, or any use when you don't want saltiness to overwhelm the other flavors. I actually don't mind eating them on their own, though, as they still have a good deal of flavor. It's also worth mentioning what the representative I emailed said about their chips, when I double-checked to be sure they were vegan: "All our products are all Vegan, by design, not by coincidence!" They are also corn free, gluten free...and delicious! I further contacted them about a question I had regarding the "yeast extract" ingredient in the Pico De Gallo chips (none of the other flavors have this). They were very prompt and nice about answering my query, which I really appreciate. I won't bore you with the details of our exchange, but it is always nice to know that there are companies that care about quality ingredients and satisfying their customers. I think all three companies that I highlighted today do that, and I am delighted that I was able to share these products with you all!

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of reviewing on this blog. I received no monetary compensation.