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A few months ago, I took part in this Crowdfunding campaign to support this nutrition-oriented app called Whatsinit? Remember the Make the Green Switch series where I find green alternatives to beauty products, Whatsinit is the equivalent but for food and gosh is it good.
Whatsinit? offers an opportunity to discover new snacks, precisely healthier alternatives to sugar-laden and artificially-flavored products. Our relationship with food is quite complex, there are a lot of diverging opinions on diets.
Our relationship with food is quite complex, there are a lot of diverging opinions on diets.
Add to that the growing number of people with food allergies or dealing with health issues that lead them to dietary restrictions. It is almost impossible to reach a consensus. I’ll be the first to admit that eating healthy is not easy, for me it is a journey. I’ve come a long way since my teenage years, I’ve learned a lot but there’s always room for improvement. Change is scary, hence why some people feel unsure about altering their food habits. Therefore, taking it step by step seems the most reasonable option (unless you have a health issue that forces you to change your diet drastically).
Whatsinit came up with an app that I believe will considerably improve our health habits – precisely because it does not require you to give up on easy, on-the-go snacks but offers you options that are just as tasty and simple, minus the additives and preservatives. You can download the browser extension which will work as your assistant and rate your shopping basket to suggest healthier swaps based on the foods you buy. These swaps are tried and tested, scrutinized by nutritionists. Their full story is (here).
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I pledged enough to receive a tote with a couple of snacks, but I kindly received a few additional bits (including the Kefir Zing drink). In terms of dietary restrictions, I don’t eat meat nor dairy products. I had no issues here since everything was vegan here. On Whatsinit?, you can personalize your assistant according to your dietary and nutritional requirements.
The puffy snacks
The savory: Neats sea salt rice crackers
Beware, once you eat one, you won’t be able to stop. They are so crunchy and light that I kept munching on them until the bag was empty. If you think that rice crackers are bland then you must try Neat’s crackers because they are flavorful, to say the least. What differentiates Neats to other rice snacks is the fabrication process: usually, they are made from rice flour paste and shaped through a nozzle (extrusion), whereas Neat’s snacks are formed by hand with whole grains of rice and consequently have a unique texture that keeps them extra crunchy. Also, Neat’s crackers are made in the UK without palm oil but sunflower oil which is low in saturated fat.
Ingredients: Rice (90%), sunflower oil, sea salt
The sweet: Ape snacks (crunchy coconut bites chocolate)
Just like the salt bites, these are supremely crunchy and filling enough to satisfy cravings. They have 5 ingredients. They are great for a mid-day refuel and the sachet is small enough for you to carry in your purse. I see this as a perfect alternative to biscuits and cookies. Definitely, something children could enjoy too because the taste of coconut is predominant. Gluten-free and vegan.
Ingredients: Coconut, Coconut Nectar, Tapioca Starch, Cocoa Powder, Rock Salt.
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The energy bars & fruit jerky
Wildtrail bars:
A fruit and nut bar with 5 ingredients. My favorite was the cacao one (does it surprise you? 😉 and it is an amazing after-workout snack or midday pick-me-up. It only has 5 ingredients, but the taste is there. I normally am not too fond of raisins in fruit bars as I find them too chewy and with a tendency to counteract the crunchiness but you can’t taste the raisins here. There are numerousMuesli and fruit/nut bars but upon closer look, a great number contain hidden sugar and various additives. With Wildtrail, you have the guarantee to eat a legit healthy fruit bar and you get the nutritional benefits from it.
Ingredients: peanuts, raisins, gluten-free oats, cacao, apple juice concentrate
Snact
Fruit jerky. Free of added sugar and hand-made. The little fruit bits are easy to eat, chewy and tangy. I was particularly excited about the flavors but I found the taste to be relatively mild. I could not really taste the raspberry (FYI, the snack is predominantly made of apples). It’s still enjoyable though. Now what I really want to applaud is the packaging: using an innovative film (made of various corn and wood-pulp based polymers) that is just as durable and impermeable as ordinary plastic packaging, except that it biologically decomposes in a home composter. It is certified 100% compostable. Just for that, I’d continue purchasing them.
Ingredients: Whole apples (80%), raspberry purée (20%)
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The drinks
Kefir Zing sparkling elderberry
I have to confess, I absolutely dislike Kombucha. I’ve tried various brands and flavors but I just can’t finish the drink. So I expected to have some trouble with the Kefir Zing drink. At first, I was a bit taken aback as the taste is strong but it grew on me after a few sips. It tastes less acidic compared to Kombucha. Since I don’t drink coffee or alcohol, the Kefir water is as strong as it gets for me. I don’t love it but I can totally drink it without grimacing and that for me is a huge positive point. Kefir normally contains dairy but not this one which is amazing. I’d recommend this brand if you want to drink some good bacterias and actually enjoy it.
Ingredients: Live Kefir Water, Elderberry Infusion (elderberry, elderflower, echinacea root, liquorice root, ginger root), Raw Cider Vinegar and Stevia.
Nix and Kix Peach-vanilla
When I saw Vanilla on the label, I initially squirmed because it brought back memories of trying the infamous Coca-Cola Vanilla, which to me was one of the biggest atrocities ever created in the world of beverages lol. (I did love Cherry coke though…) I simply enjoy Vanilla in desserts, not drinks. The combination of peach and vanilla however, was surprisingly good, not sickly sweet. Add to that the little Cayenne kick which elevates the drink. A great alternative to regular sodas and energy drinks, I can totally see it being used for cocktails too.
Ingredients: Sparkling water, fruit juices from concentrate 35% (grape, lime, peach), bourbon vanilla and other natural flavorings, cayenne and serenade chili extracts, natural coloring extracts (safflower, sweet potato), citric acid.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Chocolates
Ombar
I’ve had Ombar chocolates before but I had never tried the ones with fillings. The Ombar centers have a rich, creamy coconut-vanilla center that makes the chocolate more decadent. They are beyond delicious. This is definitely the one to try if you’re not used to eating raw chocolate or dark chocolates. An excellent alternative to those Kinder chocolates and other sugary treats.
Ingredients: creamed coconut*, coconut sugar*, raw cacao*, coconut oil*, cocoa butter*, ground vanilla powder*. *certified organic. Cocoa solids 60% minimum.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]My favorite discovery: Gregory’s Tree
Toss your Twizzlers, Gregory’s tree Blueberry & Raspberry fruit twisters are the BOMB diggity!! SO delicious. Glutenfree, nut-free and vegan. The double fruit twists are made of pure fruit juice. There is zero added sugar, the sweet taste comes from natural fruit sugars, aka fructose. The fruits used are organic which is great since berries are amongst the fruits that are most contaminated with pesticides. I wish these existed when I was a fussy kid that refused to eat anything remotely healthy and resembling a fruit. They taste and look like candy: chewy, sweet and rich in flavor and you won’t even miss candy anymore once you try these. I’ll definitely be purchasing them in bulk haha.
Ingredients: Concentrated Apple Puree, Concentrated Apple Juice, Concentrated Raspberry Juice, Concentrated Blueberry Juice, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Natural Flavouring, Black Carrot Concentrate (for color), Pectin (for setting) Sunflower Oil and Carnauba Wax (for glazing).
Overall, I was really impressed by the quality of the snacks suggested. Most of them contain fewer ingredients, all natural and without added sugar or high amount of saturated fat. I’ve discovered brands that were completely new to me and found some snacks that I’d definitely purchase myself. Whatsinit? is an amazing app that aims to revolutionize our way of looking at food and helping hand towards making healthier food choices. You will be able to quickly and easily identify and understand food ingredients. As of now, the London-based business is focused on UK brands, but I am assuming that they might expand in the future as it is a very recent project (they officially launched last year).
What do you think of these snacks? Are you interested in this application?
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