Enlightened - Black Cherry Chocolate Chip ice cream - July 29, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Beyond Better Foods, LLC

Enlightened 

Black Cherry Chocolate Chip ice cream 

Good

Weight: 1/2 cup (72 g.) / 1 Pint (473 mL) in total container

Calories: 90 calories in 1/2 cup serving

Cost: $2.99 for 1 container

Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate Chip Week.

Today's Enlightened Black Cherry Chocolate Chip ice cream, from Beyond Better Foods, LLC (Bronx, NY), was part of a line of low-fat ice cream pints and bars containing less sugar and more protein and fiber. Today's pint clocked in at only 360 calories (90 calories per 1/2 cup serving).

Granted, the list of ingredients was longer than some other favorite brands, but it could have been worse. Except for the carob and guar gums it looked relatively appealing. And, did I mention it included less sugar?*

The texture, taste and finish of this ice cream was quite good.

*That's a plus. It would be interesting to taste ice cream without any sweeteners. This ice cream was sweetened with erythritol and a wee bit of cane sugar.

Nature's Path Foods - Dark Chocolate Chip waffles - July 28, 2018

Chocolate of the Day:

Nature's Path Foods Inc.
Dark Chocolate Chip Gluten Free and Wheat Free (waffles)
Good
Weight: 3.7 oz. (105 g.) / 7.4 oz. (210 g.) total box of 6
Calories: 330 calories in 3 waffles
Cost: $4.99 (estimate) for 1 box of 6
Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate Chip Week.

Today's (frozen) Dark Chocolate Chip Gluten Free waffles from Nature's Path Foods Inc. (Blaine, WA) made for an indulgent Saturday morning breakfast.*

Heated in a non-stick pan, and finished with a topping of melted chocolate (sauce), chopped almonds (and fresh peach slices on the side), these organic waffles provided a quick, delicious breakfast fuel for an adventure with friends.

*Apologies to Nature's Path. This box was squished into a full freezer; and, sadly, the box became a bit compressed at both ends.

Van's - Chocolate Chip Snack Bars, Waffles - July 27, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Van's 

Chocolate Chip chewy baked whole grain snack bars

Good

Weight: 1.2 oz. (35 g.) in one bar

Calories: 150 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $ part of a larger box

Purchased from: missing information 

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate Chip Week.

Today's Chocolate Chip chewy baked whole grain snack bar from Van's International Foods (Vernon, CA) helped power a nature walk in the baylands and a busy day at work.

Van's has offered both conventional and gluten free items (including waffles, pancakes and snack bars—some with chocolate) for many years.
  
Today's sweet, cookie-like bar was a blend of warm oat, fig and chocolate flavors with a hint of vanilla. The fig paste and concentrate added flavor and helped bind the ingredients together.

Bart's Bakery - Chocolate Chip GF Cookies with Pecans, Walnuts - July 26, 2018

Chocolate of the Day:

Bart and Judy's Bakery, Inc.

Chocolate Chip Cookies with Pecans and Walnuts

Good +

Weight: 1.13 oz. (32 g.) / 6 oz. (170 g.) in total box

Calories: 132 calories in 8 cookies

Cost: $4.99 (estimate) for 1 box of approx. 45 cookies

Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate Chip Week.

Today's Extra Chocolate Chip Cookies with Pecans and Walnuts were from Bart and Judy's Bakery, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA).

Bart and Judy Greenhut created these bite-sized, gluten-free cookies that were relatively light and crispy-crunchy—and made richer with Belgian chocolate chips and bits of roasted nuts. The cookie base was made with butter, fresh eggs and "Bart and Judy's Proprietary Gluten Free Flour Blend."

The box contained two individually-sealed packets, permitting smaller servings while prolonging freshness.

Bart's Bakery - Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies - July 25, 2018

Chocolate of the Day:

Bart's Bakery

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Good +

Weight: 1.13 oz. (32 g.) / 6 oz. (170 g.) in total box

Calories: 132 calories in 8 cookies

Cost: $4.99 (estimate) for 1 box of approx. 45 cookies

Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate Chip Week.

Today's Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from Bart's Bakery (Los Angeles, CA) were part of a larger product line described as "Bart and Judy's The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World."

These small cookies were relatively light and crispy-crunchy with a light peanut butter and chocolate touch. They were made with real butter, fresh eggs, "Bart and Judy's Proprietary Gluten Free Flour Blend" and Belgian chocolate chips.

At only "11 calories each" these provide a relatively light cookie snack. The box contained two individually-sealed packets, permitting smaller servings while prolonging freshness.

Flax4Life - Chunky Chocolate Chip Gluten Free Muffins - July 24, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Flax4Life
Chunky Chocolate Chip Gluten Free Muffins
Good +
Weight: 3.5 oz. (99 g.) / 14 oz. (396 g.) in total container or 4 muffins
Calories: 359 calories in 1 muffin
Cost: $8.99 for 1 container of 4 muffins
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate Chip Theme Week.

Today's Chunky Chocolate Chip Gluten Free Muffins hailed from Flax4Life (Bellingham, WA).

Flax4Life offers a line of chocolate and/or chocolate brownie gluten free muffins (as well as other non-chocolate flavors) with flax. They're all quite tasty. Muffins aren't necessary low calorie, but one of these is so satisfying, you won't feel like you need to eat more.

And these Flax4Life muffins with chunky chocolate chips/pieces really did taste better than most other gluten-free baked goods.

Sun-Rype - Good Bites - Chocolate Chip - July 23, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sun-Rype Products Ltd.

Good Bites - Chocolate Chip

Good

Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 5.3 oz. (150 g.) in total package

Calories: 120 calories in 1 serving (3 pieces)

Cost: $4.99 for 1 package

Purchased from: Safeway, Danville, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Seeds Theme Week; and Day #2 of Chocolate Chip Week.

Today's Chocolate Chip Good Bites were from Sun-Rype Products Ltd. (Kelowna, B.C. Canada) and were composed of dates, seeds and chocolate chips (and cocoa powder) with a light dusting of gluten-free oat flour and traces of "natural flavor" and sea salt.*

Dates contain fiber and phytonutrients and act as a rich, moist binder for otherwise dry ingredients. However, dates are also loaded with sugars and have an almost overly intense, dried fruit sweet flavor, unless balanced with nuts, seeds, grains and/or chocolate.

Fortunately, today's compressed bites contained 4 different kinds of seeds and seed butter, and tasted well-balanced. Although the more subtle chocolate flavors were overshadowed by these other flavors.

This bar was vegan and did "not contain peanuts, tree nuts or gluten."

*Ingredients: dates, pasteurized seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, flax, chia), dark chocolate chips, sunflower seed butter, cocoa powder (processed with alkali), gluten-free oat powder, apple juice concentrate, natural flavor and sea salt.