More About New Vegetarian Foods....

I just got back from another ‘food show’ business trip to Toronto. The Grocery Innovations Show is a tradeshow for Food and Consumer product manufacturers, equipment, technology and service providers to exhibit their wares to manufacturers, brokers, wholesalers, distributors and government. My initial walk thru was  to establish which booths were of interest to me on behalf of Signature Foods ∣ Natural Gourmet, the company I work for.  After the quick dash through the aisles, I sat down in the comfy hip wireless lounge, made my list and set out to discover new things and gather lots of information.

You would think that in this day and age, suppliers, manufacturers and producers care about sustainability and offering their customers alternatives and better options. I was saddened by how little I actually came across, booth after booth. I approached a reusable bag company who boasted Canadian made products when asked. As I stood staring at a plethora of colours and prints, I inquired as to which bags were from Canada, the reply was ‘we have one bag, it comes in black only and is more expensive than the others.’ Not much information was offered other than this and in fact had to confirm that the bag was customizable. There was no promotion of why one would consider the purchase of a Canadian bag, how using a Canadian product lowers carbon footprints, supports our own economy etc... It appeared that this one item was there just so this company could say they offered Canadian content. 

On the topic of bags, I was also looking for paper bags for our artisan bread program and I wandered into the booth of the only paper exhibitor at the show which was an American company. We are good trade partners with the US, so of course this did not deter me. Although this company offered a display of bags that included an eco line, I was given a package of information. The sales representative apologized for knowing very little about this specialty product and directed me to check out the website. I appreciated his integrity in that he told the truth, but really?

I have to say that it was quite a change from the Canadian Health Food Association show from the week before. It is very interesting now that I look back at both tradeshows and compare the focuses of each. We have the select, less affordable natural food world and the show that feeds into the mass market.  One promotes health and wellness in many of the foods offered, endorsing the eco packaging, using post consumer recycled fibres, vegetable dyes and the sort. The other, not quite so! 

On a more positive front, I did come across a few booths that I think are worth mentioning:

Mrs. McGarrigle’s Fine Mustards

A cottage industry business that has blossomed from a one woman operation, to a successful retail store in Merrickville ON, an additional store in Warkworth ON and with more than 300 hundred retailers across Canada carrying her products. Mrs. McGarrigle’s offered handmade, all products made in her own production kitchen without using any preservatives or additives.  Visitors to this booth were greeted by a warm friendly representative of the company who was very proud to advocate the selling features people like me want to hear.

Mom Brands 

A family run Cereal Company that has a history of cereal making that goes back to 1919 in Cannon River MN. Their innovative, ‘bag the box’-free packaging caught the attention of larger retailers offering better quality products in larger formats for a lower price.  This company has social and environmental principles which I believe is why they are winning awards for quality, value and innovation. This is definitely a company worth reading about http://mombrands.com.  

Seasnax

“A nutrient-packed roasted seaweed snack which is vegan, gluten free and Non-GMO Project verified. It is made using 100% olive oil and just a pinch of sea salt.”  As I am a salty snacker, these are right up my alley! Seasnax is a socially conscious company that “believe it is important to contribute 10% of our annual net profit to non-profit organizations committed to making the world a better and gentler place for our children and our earth.” www.seasnax.com. Not local to me, but definitely worthy of writing about, and they taste great!

Nude Fruit

Although Zast Foods, the company behind Nudefruit was not at the show, I met with Ryan Pennie, one of the principals and I was particularly impressed with his new product.  It is a frozen fruit product that offers local Ontario fruit at the same price as the other brands containing fruit from far away. Eye catching packaging along with plans to offer more than the present 5 skus, I truly hope that this product makes its mark on the retail industry. http://zast-foods.com/Products/Nudefruit/0/0/0

There were a number of other booths that I thought were of interest and as I see these products on the market, I am sure I will find a need to share them with all of you at some point or another. If you have found a product you think we should know about, send us an email and share it!

Happy Cooking!

Laurie & Lyndsay

Being Vegan at Halloween

I had asked Lyndsay last week if she had any ideas for this week’s newsletter. I have been pretty busy traveling for work and am a tiny bit brain dead. She suggested I address being Vegan at Halloween, Having been extremely allergic to many strains of bacteria in milk her entire life, Lyndsay knows the struggles children and adults face today walking in the isles of the groceries stores and all those yummy chocolates and candies staring at your in every aisle, the impulse purchase racks at the cashier! Now as an adult, this is no real biggie, we don't have to go to school on November 1st and share our loot with our friends.  As a child that goes to school the day after Halloween trick or treating, it would be pretty sad if you had no loot to speak of. 

If I was a parent today, I would love to think that I could allow my child to do the ritual begging door to door for sugary loot. I have fond memories as a child visiting the older ladies from our Parish, who back then made candy and caramel apples or assorted bags of kisses and sweet tarts. We knew the homes we visited and back then. It was pretty safe living in a small town with the populations of nine thousand with neighbourhood watch just something everyone took part in.  In this day and age, I am surprised anyone lets their children go anywhere other than trick or treatin’ to family friends and neighbours they know and know well!

As vegetarians and vegans, I guess the trick is how to handle the candy after the fact. There are dentists and natural practitioners who offer to buy back candy. This leads me to finding vegan treats that you can buy for home.  

Little Duck Organics have great little gummy treats. I first sampled this product last year at the Canadian Health and Food Show in Toronto. Liked it enough to go as far as discussing distribution for this company in the Ottawa region: www.littleduckorganics.com

Barkleys All Natural confectionery has truffle bars, all natural mints and kayer bars sweetened with organic coconut palm sugar. This company puts out Halloween mini chocolate squares: www.barkleys.ca
                                   
Surf Sweets has yummy gummies that are vegan, kosher, non gmo, GF and made in a facility that does not process the 8 major allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, milk, egg, soy, fish, or shellfish/crustaceans). Offer gummies, sours and jelly beans as well as a Halloween Spooky Spiders:  www.surfsweets.com 

Yummy Earth makes vegan lollipops in nine delicious flavours, strawberry, watermelon, pomegranate, grape, cherry, apple, blueberry, blood orange, and mango. This company certifies organic, GF, Kosher and their products are made in a facility that does not process any of the eight major allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, milk, egg, soy, fish, or shellfish/crustaceans). Check out their site for other vegan treats: www.yummyearth.com

Justin’s nut butters make a fantastic peanut butter cup. As children, Lyndsay and I grew up in Smiths Falls, ON where a Hershey Plant produced a good percentage of the Reese Peanut Butter Cups and it was always one of my favourite treats so this one was a great find from Massena NY. Have not seen it here on the Canadian side, but I am sure that will change soon: www.justinsnutbutter.com

Camino is an organic fair trade company that is hits a little closer to home for Lyndsay and me. This company is a Canadian success story and began in Ottawa-Gatineau region of Canada in the Province of Quebec. A Coop business model was developed by three young entrepreneurs just over 10 years ago and is winning awards on both sides of the border for their business model and their dedication to social responsibility. Not only do they make great chocolate, but their baking cocoa and their drinking chocolate mixes are second to none: http://www.lasiembra.com/camino 

As I am not a sweet lover, I don’t go looking nor is these types of products on regular shopping trips, but I do love gummies and chocolate so it is nice to know these products are out there. If you have a product that you think our subscribers and newsletter recipients should know about, send the information along.

Last thought, as a vegetarian or vegan are you handing out whatever is on the shelf for standard candies or are you reading to make sure there is no gelatin and other animal products added? I know in our household, we don't give out gummies or gym for the sake of gelatin & aspartame... what are you giving out this year?

Happy cooking!

Laurie

Natural Home Remedies for Allergy Support

This past weekend, our very large family got together for the last weekend bbq before the nieces and nephews go off to school. This has become an annual event that our mother, Lyla hosts and it always ends with roasting marshmallows and s’more assembly! 

Lyndsay and I have a devilish little ginger headed nephew named Finn. He is bright and energetic and oh so quick! On my watch, Mr. Finn managed to get into the fruit platter long before the buffet was ready and literally swallowed 3 large strawberries, all the while looking around to see if I was aware. The problem is, Finn is only 2 and has no idea why he is kept away from this fruit he loves so much. He has a terrible sensitivity to strawberries so before the night was out, he was wailing with discomfort and off he went home with his dad, brother Lane. 

I went to work the next day (Tuesday after the Labour Day long weekend in Canada) and a colleague came to my desk with itchy watery eyes and a runny nose, looking for my stash of tissues. Where am I going with this, you might be wondering? I got to thinking that there must be natural remedies that will help us with our allergies and food sensitivities. I know that when I take in certain foods that my body does not agree with, I head to the fridge for Acidophilus and Digestive Enzymes. This is a simple solution for foods, but with the seasonal allergies, natural remedies do not appear to be so simple, or are they? 

When our bodies ingest certain things that it perceives as a toxin or foreign, an allergic  reaction is how the immune system protects the body from what it ‘recognizes’ as damaging. Our immune system is the body’s suit of armour. Most of what we experience is not what would be considered an allergy, but hypersensitivity causing an allergic reaction. The itchy water eyes, the sneezing, the hives, the rashes...are just plain annoying!  

I discovered some very useful information, below are three possible home remedies that are already part of my daily intake:

Yoghurt:

Dr. Mehmet Oz: 

Yogurt that hasn't been pasteurized contains Lactobacillus acidophilus-a healthy bacteria that makes milk become yogurt. It also fights off fungus-related infections, which is one of the reasons why yogurt is good for you. It works by helping to prevent the overgrowth of fungus that shouldn't be able to grow in your body.

If you aren't a big fan of yogurt, you can take Lactobacillus acidophilus in supplement form. Take 20 milligrams twice daily.

Raw Apple Cider Vinegar: 

"Raw Apple Cider Vinegar is hands down our favorite remedy for stopping most allergies like pollen, dander, dust, animal’s food, etc. We aren't kidding! We wish more people knew about this amazing home remedy for allergies.

We have found that when apple cider vinegar is taken either as a daily tonic or at the first sign of an allergy (i.e., sinus headache, stuffy nose, watery eyes), one can completely stop the histamine response or allergic reaction.

Taken from: http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/allergies.html

Vitamin C Rich Foods:

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, consuming foods rich in antioxidants, including vitamin C, may help reduce your allergy symptoms. Vitamin C is present in a variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus fruits and juices, papaya, kiwi, baked potatoes with skin, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cauliflower, kale and red bell peppers. Vitamin C can also be reaped from vitamin-fortified foods, such as cereals and fruit smoothies.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/284871-foods-that-fight-allergies/#ixzz25mwqNuJE

Fish , Fish Oils, Nuts,  Omega Fatty Acids:

Because omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats with anti-inflammatory properties, increasing the consumption of these healthy fats can reduce immune dysfunction and help alleviate allergy-related conditions.

Taken from: http://exploreim.ucla.edu/wellness/a-guide-to-natural-ways-to-alleviate-allergy-and-sinusitis-symptoms/ 

As per usual, here are a few sites that will offer you more information:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/364235-foods-that-heal-allergies/

http://exploreim.ucla.edu/wellness/a-guide-to-natural-ways-to-alleviate-allergy-and-sinusitis-symptoms/

http://www.liferesearchuniversal.com/allergy.html

We wish all of you a happy entry into fall and allergy season. With any luck, those of you who suffer may get some relief by doing some research and possibly discovering what helps with your allergy and sensitivity issues.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Laurie and Lyndsay