Thursday, October 17, 2013

Vigilant Eats Maca Double Chocolate cereal - Oct. 18, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Vigilant Eats
Maca Double Chocolate Superfood Oat-based cereal
Good +
Weight: 3 oz. (85 oz.) in 1 container
Calories: 310 calories in 1 container
Cost: $4.19 for 1 container
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Hemp Theme Week.

This morning I enjoyed another organic, vegan chocolate breakfast cereal (Maca Double Chocolate Superfood) from Vigilant Eats (Bloomington, IN), made with gluten-free oats and hemp powder.

I added a few walnuts, some toasted hemp seeds, and a little hemp milk, and I had a satisfying, filling breakfast guaranteed to power my activities until lunch.

Similar to the company's Goji Cacao flavor of oat-based cereal I ate earlier this week, this single-serving container was conveniently packaged with a foldable black plastic spoon. All I needed to do was to pour in some liquid (cold or warm water, milk, or alternative milk), and stir.

Criollo e Cannabis bar - Oct. 17, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Antica Pasticceria Muzzi
Criollo e Cannabis bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 2.11 oz. (60 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 330 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $7.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Sigona's, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Hemp Theme Week.

Despite the inclusion of the word "Cannabis" in the name of this Criollo e Cannabis bar from Italian chocolatier Antica Pasticceria Muzzi (Roma, Italy) -- and the leafy green logo -- this 55% Criollo dark chocolate bar with toasted cannabis seeds contained no mind-altering chemicals (THC). This bar had a touch of mellow, malted grain flavor, and slight crunchiness from the tiny riot of seeds.

In the U.S., toasted hemp seeds are adding texture and flavor to an increasing variety of snacks, cereals and dishes these days.

Foodstuffs are often included under discussions about "industrial hemp" -- to differentiate some hemp products from marijuana with the active ingredient THC -- a substance subject to a ban enforced by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Hemp seeds and hemp fiber are the main "legal" items that have emerged in the market*. And hemp seeds have been showing up in chocolates in recent years.

*For centuries, hemp was grown in the U.S. for many purposes (including fibers for rope, clothing and paper, oil, resin, pulp, fuel). 

Vigilant Eats Goji Cacao cereal - Oct. 16, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Vigilant Eats
Goji Cacao Superfood oat-based cereal
Good +
Weight: 3 oz. (85 g.) in 1 container/serving
Calories: 300 calories in 1 container/serving
Cost: $4.19 for 1 container
Purchased from: Abe's Market (online order)

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Hemp Theme Week.

I remember enjoying muesli, the Swiss/German uncooked oat-based cold cereal that pre-dated* most granolas. Today's Goji Cacao Superfood oat cereal from Vigilant Eats (Bloomington, IN), reminded me of a hipper, gluten-free, organic version of muesli with a few more exotic ingredients thrown in for good measure: crunchy cacao nibs; chewy, slightly fruity, dried goji berries; and hemp flour -- as well as gluten-free oats and cinnamon.

All I needed to do was to add some cold water to savor the satisfying mix of flavors and textures in a conveniently packaged breakfast (single serving container with a foldable spoon). And this hearty cold cereal kept me going all morning. And, at the same time, I could, the Vigilant Eats website promised, participate in the "delicious justice"(superfood) that was helping to power the latest food revolution. It's good to see this kind of passion, as it takes a lot of energy to keep a small business going and growing. So, hats off to the gang at Vigilant Eats for making a tasty, healthy, gluten-free cereal alternative.

*Most credit a Swiss physician for developing and popularizing muesli, around 1899-1900. 
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