The Sensible Vegan

  • About Tabatha
    • Contact Tabatha
  • FAQ
  • Vegan Recipes
    • Vegan Blog
  • Vegan Reviews
  • Snack Box
  • Holistic Nutrition Program
    • FAQ
  • About Tabatha
    • Contact Tabatha
  • FAQ
  • Vegan Recipes
    • Vegan Blog
  • Vegan Reviews
  • Snack Box
  • Holistic Nutrition Program
    • FAQ

My Favorite Vegan Finds!

Review: Aunt Dottie's Greenjoy

5/28/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
I was shopping in Whole Foods the other day, and I saw a display for Aunt Dottie's products. I purchased the salad toppers and dressing previously, and they made an amazing vegan salad. Seeing the display again peaked my curiosity, so I ventured over to see what was on the table. The representative described the products as "a salad bar on-the-go." The packaging was attractive, but I wondered how it would taste. When I looked at the product, it reminded me of fruit leather in appearance. My five year-old daughter was with me as well, and she loves fruit leather. She was more than willing to try a sample! We both tried it and liked it, so I purchased a few additional bars to review.
Picture
The texture of the bar is similar to fruit leather, but it is not as tough, sticky, or sweet. I tried the beets & greens bar and the cacao & greens bar. They were both a hit, and my daughter loved them both so that was a plus as well. I am always looking for wholesome, kid-friendly vegan snacks, too!

Beets & Greens 
The beets and greens bar contains organic beet juice, organic apples, organic strawberries, organic carrots, organic spinach, organic cashews, organic beets, organic almonds, organic dates, lemon juice, organic kale, chia seeds, and spices.

Cacao & Greens
The cacao and greens bar contains organic apples, organic almonds, organic spinach, organic carrots, organic dates, chia seeds, organic cacao, and spices.
[object Object]
Picture
Overall, I am very impressed with the bars. There are nearly two servings of veggies per serving, no added sugars, and they are non-GMO, plant based, gluten free, and all natural. They were $1.99 per bar when I purchased them, and you can buy a box of bars or individuals bars. 

Thank you, Aunt Dottie's for another delicious, kid-approved product!
0 Comments

Review: Clean Eatz Alpharetta

5/24/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
In the quest to find amazing vegan food, last weekend I visited Clean Eatz in Alpharetta for the first time. Clean Eatz cafe serves a menu that  "accommodates all levels of clean eaters with the standards of (1) low calories, (2) low fat, (3) no sugar, (4) no added sodium, and (5) affordable." The menu has a great variety of items like wraps, bowls, salads, and burgers. I was very pleased to see that they offer organic tofu as a meat substitute.
Picture
In addition to the healthy menu, the cafe provides a positive, family-friendly and motivating environment as well. I absolutely love all the quotes on the walls! 
Picture
After looking at the menu, I finally decided to order the black bean burger and the buffalo cauliflower. I am so glad I did!  I love a great vegan burger, and this burger is well seasoned and packed with flavor. The buffalo cauliflower is tender, spicy, and absolutely delicious. The portions here are filling, and I definitely will be back soon.

If you're looking for a new place that offers a menu with quality vegan options, friendly and helpful staff, and a nice environment, then you absolutely must visit Clean Eatz Alpharetta!

​Have you visited Clean Eatz in Alpharetta? Share your experience below!

0 Comments

Review: PlantFusion Complete Plant Protein

1/10/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
In the quest to find the perfect vegan protein powder, I have tried numerous brands, flavors, etc.  I found some that were alright, but most of them were chalky, clumpy, artificial-tasting, and just not right. I was shopping at Whole Foods about six months ago, and I came across the PlantFusion brand. The label immediately caught my attention with phrases like: gluten free, no dairy, no soy, no animal, and 21 grams of protein...so I purchased it.
Picture
What's In It?

Well, it's easier to say what is not in it. It contains no dairy, soy, gluten (wheat), eggs, nuts, fish, tree nuts, or shellfish. It is also free of artificial flavors and preservatives.The PlantFusion website boasts that it is the only plant-based protein shake that compares to whey. It contains 4500mg of branched chain amino acids (BCAA) and 3,350mg of glutamine. BCAAs help improve exercise performance and reduce the breakdown of muscle.Glutamine also helps minimize the breakdown of muscle. It also contains a special blend of enzymes that make the product easily digestible. 

The serving size is a prety hefty scoop. I was concerned that when I added my almond milk to my blender bottle with the protein powder, it would not thoroughly mix. 
Picture
How Does It Taste?

When you read the ingredients and see things like artichoke protein, organic sprouted amaranth powder, organic sprouted quinoa powder, and cocoa, you may wonder if the chocolate flavor will be overpowered by everything else. It definitely is not. The chocolate flavor is very rich and smooth. The powder mixes well with my almond milk in my blender bottle as well. There is no chalky taste, and no clumps.

I am impressed with the taste, quality ingredients, and health benefits of this amazing product. It is an excellent post-workout shake, and it is part of my daily routine!

0 Comments

The Flying Biscuit-Breakfast Review

9/17/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Flying Biscuit is an award-winning cafe with Southern hospitality and charm. It's known for delivering great food and a welcoming atmosphere. Although the Roswell location is very close to me, I am ashamed to say I have only eaten there twice in eight years. The first time I ate there was about five years ago, and I was not vegan at that time.

Last Friday I had a day off from work, so I decided to try breakfast at The Flying Biscuit. The menu has many different selections, but I was curious about the vegan options. I scanned through the menu, and the Tofu Scramble caught my eye. Of course, when the waitress took my order, I asked if the biscuits were vegan. She replied, "I think you're the first person to ever ask that!" Sadly, they were not, but she quickly offered me a vegan option, wheat toast with no butter.

I finally decided on my order: Tofu Scramble, Oven Roasted "Moon Dusted" Potatoes, and whole wheat toast, no butter.
​

Tofu Scramble
The ingredients of the Tofu Scramble include: tamari-marinated tofu scrambled with red and green peppers, onions, spinach and mushrooms. Tamari is a rich, gluten-free, naturally fermented soy sauce. I tell you this, the Tofu Scramble is absolutely delicious! The flavor of the tamari and the peppers and onions really takes the tofu to another level. The spinach and mushrooms make it a flavor packed, filling, hearty dish. 

Oven Roasted "Moon Dusted" Potatoes
The potatoes are the perfect compliment to the Tofu Scramble. They are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside and dusted with a tasty blend of herbs and spices. 

The portions of food were very substantial. The Tofu Scramble also comes with fresh fruit. I highly recommend this dish. The Flying Biscuit got this one right, and I will be back soon!

0 Comments

Jilly's Cupcakery: Vegan Cupcake Review

8/26/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
In the quest to find great vegan cupcakes, I stumbled upon Jilly's Cupcakery. I had no idea that they even had a vegan cupcake on the menu, so I was pleased to see it. I stopped by the Alpharetta location and figured I'd ask, and there just happened to be four left. I left with one chocolate and one vanilla cupcake.
Picture
The vegan cupcakes do not disappoint. The cake is light and moist, and the icing is sooo decadent! They use fresh ingredients, decorate the cupcakes by hand, and they are vegan and gluten free as well. If you're ever in Alpharetta, stop by Jilly's Cupcakery on Highway 9. You are definitely in store for a gourmet treat!
0 Comments

Quorn Spicy Chik'n Patty Review

8/22/2016

2 Comments

 
Picture
Before I became vegan, I regularly ate Quorn products. They have a great taste and texture, and I was disappointed that they did not offer a vegan option since the regular patties contain egg. I was at Whole Foods recently, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the word "vegan" on the new box.  I definitely had to take a box home to try.
Picture

They still have the great taste and texture of the original patties, but when they put "spicy" on the packaging of this box, they were not lying. If you do not enjoy foods with spice and heat, then you may want to steer clear. With ingredients like cayenne pepper, white pepper, black pepper, ginger, and kibbled chili, you understand what I am saying concerning the spiciness factor.

When the heat of the peppers combines with the flavors of garlic, onion, paprika, and tomato, the taste is perfect. The breading delivers a delicious crunch, and the patty is tender and juicy.

Overall, I am impressed, and I will continue to purchase this products to use in various dishes like burritos and salads as well. Thank you Quorn for the non-GMO, vegan, meatless and soy-free, spicy chik'n patties!


Nutrition info:

Serving size: 1 Patty     Calories: 120    Fat: 3g     Sat. Fat: 0.5g    Cholesterol: 3mg    Sodium: 300mg    Carb: 18g   Fiber: 2g   Sugar: 2g    Protein: 7g​
2 Comments

El Azteca Sandy Springs: Acapulco Salad

4/27/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Before I order food from a restaurant these days, I peruse the menu in search of vegan selections. Today we ordered take out at my place of employment. After looking at the menu, I finally settled upon the Acapulco Salad from El Azteca Mexican Restaurant in Sandy Springs. The salad normally comes with lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, onion, bell pepper, shredded cheese and a choice of chicken, tilapia, or shrimp, so I made a few substitutions. 

I requested an addition of black beans, no avocado, and a side of pico de gallo and guacamole. They said it would be no problem for the changes. 

I have encountered several restaurants that will not modify their menu, and I have also ran across a few that claim to have "vegan" options, only to find out that they really don't understand what vegan food is...very frustrating! 

I didn't know how my food would look, or if the modifications would be correct, but when I opened the container I was pleasantly pleased. The presentation was beautiful! In addition to making the changes, they also included fresh sliced carrots, sliced avocado, and purple radish. There was an equal amount of all ingredients instead of it being mostly lettuce. The pico de gallo provided the perfect amount of zestiness and heat, and the fresh guacamole was authentic, creamy, and flavorful.

This healthy, hearty, vegan version of the Acapulco Salad should definitely be on the menu, and I will be ordering it again in the near future!
0 Comments

Beyond Beef Beefy Crumble

4/5/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Before I became vegan, ground turkey was a staple product in my diet and also in many of my recipes. I've tried meatless products in the past, but I was looking for a soy-free and Non-GMO meatless product as well. Then, I discovered Beyond Meat products!
Picture
The texture of the product is an almost perfect consistency of ground beef or turkey. It tastes great, and it is GMO-free, soy-free, and gluten-free. There are 13 grams of protein per serving and only 4.5 grams of fat. I used it in a pasta dish, and it worked very well. I am looking forward to trying other products from this brand!
Orgain Organic Protein Plant-Based Powder, Creamy Chocolate Fudge, 2.03 Pound
Picture
0 Comments

Pure Bliss Chocolate Sun Butter

3/13/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
I truly found a treasure when I discovered this product at Whole Foods! These organic sprouted seed bites are nut-free, non-GMO, gluten free, USDA Certified Organic, and Vegan!

At 180 calories, 3 grams of fiber, and 5 grams of protein per serving, this product is not only good for you but an excellent source of natural energy. With ingredients like sunflower butter, dates, pumpkin seeds, and flax you may think that it's too healthy to taste good...but that is totally not the case.
Picture
The bite-sized treats are perfect for kids' hands, and my four-year old loves them so much that I have started buying two bags at a time instead of one. If a nutty, chocolaty flavor isn't your thing, Pure Bliss Organics has several other flavor combinations to choose from as well. If you like a rich, creamy, brownie-like texture and flavor, then you've found your product.

This has definitely become a household staple! Look out for future recipes posts highlighting a homemade version as well!
Orgain Organic Protein Plant-Based Powder, Creamy Chocolate Fudge, 2.03 Pound
0 Comments

365 Vegan Pizza

3/12/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
I purchased this pizza from Whole Foods for $3,99, and I received $1.00 off with the Whole Foods app. It is a personal-sized pizza. Toppings on the pizza include: Daiya and Vegan mozzarella cheese shreds, spinach, tomatoes, kalamata olives, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, black pepper, and red pepper.

One pizza is a full serving and contains 380 calories, 9 grams of protein, and four grams of fiber.



Picture
The combination of ingredients and seasoning provides for a very wholesome and delicious pizza. You forget that it is dairy free because the Daiya cheese tastes great and melts as well. The pizza contains 17 grams of whole grains, and it is a great source of fiber, iron, and vitamins A and C.

The only issue I have with this pizza is the 880 milligrams of sodium, but I do not eat a lot of sodium in my overall daily intake. If you eat a lot of salt, then you may want to make the pizza two servings instead of one.

I will definitely be purchasing this product again. In a future post, I will be sharing a low sodium version that you can make at home!
0 Comments
Forward>>

    About Tabatha James

    Tabatha James is a wife, mom, and children's book author navigating her way through a vegan way of life!

    Vegan Archives

    September 2019
    June 2019
    September 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    January 2017
    September 2016
    August 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016

    Vegan Categories

    All
    Bakery Reviews
    Movie Review
    Product Reviews
    Restaurant Reviews

    RSS Feed

Picture




 ​​              ©2019 thesensiblevegan.com                                 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.