The September GoodnessMe Box landed on my desk with ten exciting products and offers for Danny and I to taste, test and enjoy!
BROOKFARM - ENTERTAINER BROTHERS BLEND
- Vegan + Gluten Free + Peanut Free - RRP $4.95 for 75g -
- Website -
- Website -
Brookfarm have sourced the world's finest nuts including Australia's premium macadamias, pistachios, almonds and pecans and oven baked with them a hint of pure maple syrup and a light dusting of sea salt.
Entertaining has never tasted so good.
Fruit and nut mix generally lasts about as long as it takes to blink when I'm involved so it's no surprise that this nut mix was one of the first GoodnessMe Box items I reached for to trial. I made a half-hearted effort to divide it evenly so we could both try it but I have no shame admitting I may have ended up with more in my little baggy! Danny chose to go au naturel with his share while I added mine to my oats for breakfast with some mango chia jam and a very generous shake of cinnamon.
I thought this mix was just okay - I think it was the addition of pistachios which I love as a stand-alone nut but not so much as a member of a nut party like this. Danny
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Brookfarm have sourced the world's finest nuts including Australia's premium macadamias, pistachios, almonds and pecans and oven baked with them a hint of pure maple syrup and a light dusting of sea salt.
Entertaining has never tasted so good.
I thought this mix was just okay - I think it was the addition of pistachios which I love as a stand-alone nut but not so much as a member of a nut party like this. Danny
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MEKO - 100% PURE COCONUT WATER
- Vegan + No Added Sugar + No Added Flavours - RRP $3.00 for 300ml -
- Website -
Coconut water is mother nature’s best hydrator and the best tasting coconuts in the entire world are grown in Thailand. With a stable supply of young coconuts in the region, Meko guarantees the quality of their 100% Pure Coconut Water. Packed full of potassium, antioxidants and goodness, coconut water is super healthy.
Coconut water products tend to be a bit hit and miss for me. Truthfully, I've only actually found one that I like and, although its natural, it's flavoured. When I saw the can of Meko 100% Pure Coconut Water I was expecting to not like it for drinking but had a stockpile of recipes calling for coconut water that I could use it for.
After a run one morning I got home parched - a thirst that couldn't be tamed by water alone - and saw the can of Meko sitting in the fridge. Now was as good a time as any!? I gave it a tentative sip...
Oh
My...
So THIS was why people had been raving about coconut water!!! The contents of the can never made it to any of those recipes I was planning. It all disappeared in that very blissful moment of me standing in front of the fridge, door still open. Was it the fact that it was in a can rather than a tetra pack? Maybe it was because it was Thai coconut? I don't care - all I know is that I've been keeping my eyes peeled for more since then!
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- Vegan + No Added Sugar + No Added Flavours - RRP $3.00 for 300ml -
- Website -
Coconut water is mother nature’s best hydrator and the best tasting coconuts in the entire world are grown in Thailand. With a stable supply of young coconuts in the region, Meko guarantees the quality of their 100% Pure Coconut Water. Packed full of potassium, antioxidants and goodness, coconut water is super healthy.
Coconut water products tend to be a bit hit and miss for me. Truthfully, I've only actually found one that I like and, although its natural, it's flavoured. When I saw the can of Meko 100% Pure Coconut Water I was expecting to not like it for drinking but had a stockpile of recipes calling for coconut water that I could use it for.
After a run one morning I got home parched - a thirst that couldn't be tamed by water alone - and saw the can of Meko sitting in the fridge. Now was as good a time as any!? I gave it a tentative sip...
Oh
My...
So THIS was why people had been raving about coconut water!!! The contents of the can never made it to any of those recipes I was planning. It all disappeared in that very blissful moment of me standing in front of the fridge, door still open. Was it the fact that it was in a can rather than a tetra pack? Maybe it was because it was Thai coconut? I don't care - all I know is that I've been keeping my eyes peeled for more since then!
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LOVING EARTH - LUVJU CHOC CHIP TURKISH DELIGHT BAR
- Vegan + Raw + Organic - RRP $3.50 for 45g Bar -
- Website -
By combining the best of all the organic foods we source and produce, Loving Earth have come up with a new approach to snack foods: raw organic Luvju bars. With three fruit & nut superfood flavours and six chocolate superfood flavours, you'll find one to suit all tastes!
To be fair, I was expecting something a little different when I tore into this bar. For some reason I was expecting one of their coconut mylk bars?! I mention this because, like yoga and Harry Potter movies, I am not really a fan of the fruit-and-nut-smushed-together bars that are so popular. The Luvju bar didn't really stand a chance with me for that very fact. So let's focus on my main man and what he thought of the bar instead! Danny was super happy to have this snack all to himself and thought the love heart shape was a nice touch. He swears he tasted it but I'm pretty sure he breathed in and it was gone! The flavour got a big thumbs up but his main concern has around the price - he wouldn't be prepared to pay full price for the size of the bar and wasn't so impressed with the flavour that he would seek the bars out if he was out looking for a snack.
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- Vegan + Raw + Organic - RRP $3.50 for 45g Bar -
- Website -
By combining the best of all the organic foods we source and produce, Loving Earth have come up with a new approach to snack foods: raw organic Luvju bars. With three fruit & nut superfood flavours and six chocolate superfood flavours, you'll find one to suit all tastes!
To be fair, I was expecting something a little different when I tore into this bar. For some reason I was expecting one of their coconut mylk bars?! I mention this because, like yoga and Harry Potter movies, I am not really a fan of the fruit-and-nut-smushed-together bars that are so popular. The Luvju bar didn't really stand a chance with me for that very fact. So let's focus on my main man and what he thought of the bar instead! Danny was super happy to have this snack all to himself and thought the love heart shape was a nice touch. He swears he tasted it but I'm pretty sure he breathed in and it was gone! The flavour got a big thumbs up but his main concern has around the price - he wouldn't be prepared to pay full price for the size of the bar and wasn't so impressed with the flavour that he would seek the bars out if he was out looking for a snack.
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COCOLIFE - COCONUT OIL SPRAY
- Vegan + Cold Pressed + Gluten Free + Chemical Free - RRP$8.95 for 150g Can -
- Website -
Cocolife are passionate about coconuts and live and breathe the benefits of the versatile fruit as they only source the best quality coconuts for their customers. Cocolife’s Organic Virgin Coconut Oil consists of mainly short and medium chain fatty acids, which are more easily digested by the body.
I first saw a can of coconut oil SPRAY in the shelves of my local health store a couple of months ago and was immediately intrigued but with a refillable spray bottle at home that I'd just topped up I would have been buying it more for novelty and interest than necessity. When it popped up in the GoodnessMe Box I was more than happy to have finally gotten my hands on some! I use spray oils pretty regularly - They are quick, easy and I find I can get away with a lot less than if I glug it in out of a bottle. But some spray oils contain added nasties including weird and wacky propellants. I loved that Cocolife has none of these AND has that lovely coconut aroma. I did notice that it left a bit of a 'cloud' after spraying - I've had similar with other spray oils before - but I was comforted in the knowledge that it wasn't packed with odd chemicals that I was breathing in. I noticed that the oil did solidify if I left it to sit, unheard, after spraying it out if the can but this is a common feature of coconut oil so it didn't concern me. Everything I cooked in the oil browned nicely and tasted great and it was super convenient. At $8.95 a can, I think it's well placed to become my new go-to for my regular spray oil option!
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- Vegan + Cold Pressed + Gluten Free + Chemical Free - RRP$8.95 for 150g Can -
- Website -
Cocolife are passionate about coconuts and live and breathe the benefits of the versatile fruit as they only source the best quality coconuts for their customers. Cocolife’s Organic Virgin Coconut Oil consists of mainly short and medium chain fatty acids, which are more easily digested by the body.
I first saw a can of coconut oil SPRAY in the shelves of my local health store a couple of months ago and was immediately intrigued but with a refillable spray bottle at home that I'd just topped up I would have been buying it more for novelty and interest than necessity. When it popped up in the GoodnessMe Box I was more than happy to have finally gotten my hands on some! I use spray oils pretty regularly - They are quick, easy and I find I can get away with a lot less than if I glug it in out of a bottle. But some spray oils contain added nasties including weird and wacky propellants. I loved that Cocolife has none of these AND has that lovely coconut aroma. I did notice that it left a bit of a 'cloud' after spraying - I've had similar with other spray oils before - but I was comforted in the knowledge that it wasn't packed with odd chemicals that I was breathing in. I noticed that the oil did solidify if I left it to sit, unheard, after spraying it out if the can but this is a common feature of coconut oil so it didn't concern me. Everything I cooked in the oil browned nicely and tasted great and it was super convenient. At $8.95 a can, I think it's well placed to become my new go-to for my regular spray oil option!
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LEDA - BANANA LEDA BAR
- Vegan + Gluten Free + Naturally Sweetened - RRP $1.90 for 80g Bar -
- Website -
LEDA Nutrition started producing gluten and dairy free health food bars in 1996 to cater for increasing dietary and allergenic requirements. Equally important to them was the growing number of health conscious consumers seeking healthier snacking alternatives.
Danny and I have had Leda Bars before - they are a quick and easy snack idea to keep on hand. Neither of us have gluten issues but there aren't a lot of 'cakey' type bars on the market that fit our plant-based diet so we were happy to find Leda and to discover they weren't exorbitantly priced. We normally grab the apricot flavour so the banana was a new experience.
We devoured ours crumbled and put on top of some fruit-tofu mousse for dessert. We both enjoyed the banana flavour but agreed that apricot still holds top billing. The one thing that strikes me about these bars (and most gluten free baked goods I've tried) is the texture - they always seem a bit more 'gummy' which certainly doesn't change the deliciousness of the bars but is worth noting for anyone who is expecting these to be as cakey as their gluten filled counterparts.
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- Vegan + Gluten Free + Naturally Sweetened - RRP $1.90 for 80g Bar -
- Website -
LEDA Nutrition started producing gluten and dairy free health food bars in 1996 to cater for increasing dietary and allergenic requirements. Equally important to them was the growing number of health conscious consumers seeking healthier snacking alternatives.
Danny and I have had Leda Bars before - they are a quick and easy snack idea to keep on hand. Neither of us have gluten issues but there aren't a lot of 'cakey' type bars on the market that fit our plant-based diet so we were happy to find Leda and to discover they weren't exorbitantly priced. We normally grab the apricot flavour so the banana was a new experience.
We devoured ours crumbled and put on top of some fruit-tofu mousse for dessert. We both enjoyed the banana flavour but agreed that apricot still holds top billing. The one thing that strikes me about these bars (and most gluten free baked goods I've tried) is the texture - they always seem a bit more 'gummy' which certainly doesn't change the deliciousness of the bars but is worth noting for anyone who is expecting these to be as cakey as their gluten filled counterparts.
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YOUSLI - GLUTEN FREEDOM MUESLI
- Vegan + Gluten Free + Super Food - RRP $16.95 for 500g Tube -
- Website -
The team at Yousli think it’s time for food lovers to get excited about brekky again. Not just any brekky, a healthy one that you can make your own way – one that makes you feel good. Choose from pre-made mixes or create your own mix all delivered to your door!
Another day, another breakfast courtesy of the GoodnessMe Box! Danny was kind enough to let me have this one all to myself so I used half in a bowl along with some bran flakes, blueberries and peanut butter and the rest went into my gob during the day as random snacks. I love the Yousli concept. You can either buy one of their pre-mixed options like this gluten-free creation or pick from a huge selection of high quality ingredients to 'blend you own' which I had previously done via their easy-to-use website. Being able to make your own muesli this way allows you to make a creation filled with the flavours and ingredients you love without having to spend big dollars on stocking up of separate ingredients! The price means that it's not an everyday breakfast option for me but it's great to have in the pantry for those days when I wanted to feel a bit special before I start my day.
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- Vegan + Gluten Free + Super Food - RRP $16.95 for 500g Tube -
- Website -
The team at Yousli think it’s time for food lovers to get excited about brekky again. Not just any brekky, a healthy one that you can make your own way – one that makes you feel good. Choose from pre-made mixes or create your own mix all delivered to your door!
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KOKOPOD CHOCOLATE - SMOKY BLACK BAR
- Vegan + Artificial Flavour&Additive Free + Gluten Free - RRP$10.00 for 100g -
- Website -
Kokopod was born out of a young Brisbane couple’s desire to share with family and friends the finest quality chocolate not available in Australian stores. As the word spread, Kokopod launched an online shop to satisfy the cravings of gourmet chocolate lovers across Australia.
I love salt and I love sugar but as time goes on I have realised I'm not so keen on them together (I'm looking at you, Arnott's Lemon Crisps!) Now don't get us wrong - the chocolate (72% dark couverture) was decadent - rich and smooth and felt extremely indulgent - it was more the combination that had us both with perplexed looks on our faces. And whilst the name promised 'smoky' we both didn't pick up any of this. In all, the chocolate looked stunning and tasted good but I think the real sticking point that we couldn't overcome was the price point. At $10.00 for 100g this was above what we'd pay even for a fancy gift. If you're a cocoa connoisseur who has the palate for appreciating truly exceptional chocolate I think Kokopod is for you!
- Vegan + Artificial Flavour&Additive Free + Gluten Free - RRP$10.00 for 100g -
- Website -
Kokopod was born out of a young Brisbane couple’s desire to share with family and friends the finest quality chocolate not available in Australian stores. As the word spread, Kokopod launched an online shop to satisfy the cravings of gourmet chocolate lovers across Australia.
I love salt and I love sugar but as time goes on I have realised I'm not so keen on them together (I'm looking at you, Arnott's Lemon Crisps!) Now don't get us wrong - the chocolate (72% dark couverture) was decadent - rich and smooth and felt extremely indulgent - it was more the combination that had us both with perplexed looks on our faces. And whilst the name promised 'smoky' we both didn't pick up any of this. In all, the chocolate looked stunning and tasted good but I think the real sticking point that we couldn't overcome was the price point. At $10.00 for 100g this was above what we'd pay even for a fancy gift. If you're a cocoa connoisseur who has the palate for appreciating truly exceptional chocolate I think Kokopod is for you!
In the box but not reviewed this month : Nativa - Natural Sweetener, The Beauty Chef - Glow $20 Voucher, Rosehipplus - Rosehip Oil Roll-On.
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