Mi-Del Chocolate Chip Cookies (Gluten Free)

Didn't think it was possible, but Mi-Del Chocolate Chip gluten free cookies rival any wheat flour cookie that I've ever eaten.

Many gluten free food producers try to simultaneously be free of all other allergens (ie: egg, soy, peanuts) to appeal to a wider market, and foods free of other allergens tend to be made gluten free. Though this allows for greater selection, breads tend to taste very "factory made" without wheat, dairy, eggs, soy etc. The fact that these cookies are ONLY free of wheat is likely the secret to their amazing taste!    

All of the ingredients are natural; 

gluten free flour (corn flour, soya flour, potato flour, corn starch, rice flour, potato starch, xanthan gum), organic dehydrated cane juice, organic chocolate chips (organic sugar, organic chocolate liquor, organic cocoa butter, organic soya lecithin), nonhydrogenated canola oil, butter (may contain annatto), egg whites, unsulphured molasses, corn starch, natural flavours, baking soda, sea salt, soybean lecithin (used as emulsifier). 

5 small cookies equal only 130 calories, and the fat content is low at only 4.5g per serving.   

Usually, a 227g bag of cookies is $3.99-$4.99 at the grocery store, but I found this one on sale for $2.99!

I encourage you to head to your nearest grocery store and look for this product (and request it if they don't carry it!)

Gandhara Designs

Though my blog posts deal mainly with food and cosmetics, I will also take the time to review other products that promote health, and positivity in the world.

International Education Development Expert, Dr. Sky McLaughlin, is helping women in Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Nepal get out of poverty by selling their handmade crafts, jewellery, and clothing abroad. The small company Gandhara Designs, uses a direct trade approach, which allows artisans to receive higher than fair trade prices for their work.

Though prices are high (ie: a black onyx/silver ring is $180 CDN), non-handmade rings retail for similar prices in North American jewellery stores. So if you are planning to make a purchase such as this, it may as well benefit craftspeople instead of a large company.

Above, a picture of the apron that I purchased from Gandhara Designs at a tradeshow last year. At the same event, Dr. McLaughlin spoke about her work with women in Afghanistan.

Though Dr. McLaughlin's business is based in Edmonton, Alberta, her website allows you to order online. Some of the more affordable items include; glasses cases, bookmarks, and hair clips - which could make great (and thoughtful) gifts.

Check out Gandhara Design's page on Facebook and follow Dr. McLaughlin's upcoming blog .

Julie's Organic Sorbet - Blackberry

A healthier alternative to ice cream? From the outside, this product looks amazing - only 60 calories per frozen fruit bar, which contains all natural/organic ingredients. Though I haven't called the company, all ingredients appear gluten free.

Two problems:

1) The taste - These remind me of Sun Rype fruit snacks. There's nothing wrong with Sun Rype fruit snacks, but basically, they are a quick way to have "fruit" during a busy day. If you purchase Julie's Organic Sorbet bars with the intention of replacing a delicious dessert, it doesn't really work.

2) The price - $5.99 CDN. Most frozen gluten free or specialty products (bagels, bread, desserts etc.) hover between $5-7 dollars per package. Though people with celiac disease can claim a certain portion of this on their taxes, each grocery trip is pretty expensive. Trying new products for the first time is always a gamble, and this is why I'm blogging about my own experiences.

Verdict, I will look for a real ice cream or frozen yogurt that doesn't contain gluten or mystery ingredients, and I'll eat some real fruit on the side.

BIG - Shampoo by Lush

The old shampoo that I was using had ingredients such as "PEG-150 Distearate" (whatever that means). It claimed to create "daring volume". My hair is very fine, and I've unsuccessfully tried multiple products to make it thicker.

"BIG," a unique shampoo made by Lush, actually works - and it is made of fresh, natural ingredients. If you've never heard of Lush, I suggest you visit their website . All Lush products are handmade and have a sticker with a picture of the ACTUAL PERSON who made it.

Though the main ingredient in BIG is sea salt, it (surprisingly) does not dry out hair, as other ingredients work simultaneously as a conditioner. It has a gooey consistency and you only need a tiny bit for each wash.

Two downfalls of this product:

1) Because Lush uses such natural ingredients, BIG has an expiry date two months after the day it was made. Yet, the 325g container is filled to last for roughly that time period.

2) Each pot of shampoo/conditioner is $22.95 CDN. It's tempting to keep trying cheap drugstore brands, hoping that they will display amazing results using their fancy chemicals - but I'm sticking with a safe product that works (even if I have to order online ).

Watch for future reviews on Lush henna hair dye and tea tree face cleanser.