Snikiddy Baked Fries

Snikiddy Baked Fries
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

French fries are quite often covered in delicious types of toppings and flavored dusting that always seem to be rife with wheat and this means that most of the time, the conversation held at the table of someone who needs gluten-free items will go something like this:

Do your fries have a topping?

Yes.

Is there wheat in the mixture?

Let me check with the kitchen.

(waiter comes back after an agonizing thirty seconds)

Yes.

Snikiddy Baked Fries
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

And even if the fries don't have a topping and they're free of gluten, they've very likely been put into a fryer with other assorted wheat-laden items and this means that it's almost impossible to guarantee that even the plainest french fries have been created with gluten-free cooking in mind.

Sometimes a restaurant will offer a gluten-free fryer (this option is usually accompanied by a larger than average selection of gluten-free menu choices), but not every restaurant or snack maker has caught onto the need for gluten free toppings.

While Snikiddy Baked Fries aren't the same sort of fries that might come on the side of a cheeseburger at a diner, they are a tasty snack that resembles a fry in shape and also has a fun seasoning on them. The flavoring covering the fries has ingredients like garlic, onion powder and turmeric, to give you an idea of the sort of taste that might be expected of this snack.

One of the positive elements of the company that makes this snack is that they confirm on their packaging that they do indeed segregate the facilities which create gluten-free food from those foods that do include wheat or gluten. It's worth pointing out for individuals who have Celiac disease, however, that there are areas of the factory that include the production of foods with soy and wheat.

Snikiddy Baked Fries
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

As far as the nutritional content is concerned, this snack does have a solid amount of calories in it, but it's not going to be a huge dent in anyone's diet. There are a few grams of fat more than might be appropriate for a snack, so this probably means that eating these crispy fries is supposed to be a treat and not a regular occurrence.

The general taste of this snack is something akin to Funyun (if you've ever had that onion-infused snack) and they're pretty light and crispy as well. They definitely don't have nearly as strong a smell as Funyuns though so don't think you have to eat them in seclusion so as not to let the world know you love onions.

Overall, this snack is pretty fun to eat and if you like the flavors included on the ingredients list, it's something that would be a nice midday snack or something to eat on a hike. It's kind of messy though so it's probably a good idea to have some napkins around. The messy factor is also a good reason to eat this snack outside or while over an area where it doesn't matter if there are a ton of crumbs around.

Snikiddy Baked Fries
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Snikiddy Baked Fries Report Card

The Good Stuff:

This is a fun and tasty snack and the best way to describe it is that it's a seasoned potato chip that just happens to be in the shape of a fry. Definitely worth trying if you'd like a seasoned potato type snack.

What Could Change:

The fat content in this snack is kind of high and while it's not something that would scare anyone away completely from eating it, downing an entire bag probably isn't recommended. A few handfuls here and there in the middle of the day are probably the best way to enjoy this snack.

NuGo FREE Carrot Cake Bars

NuGo FREE Carrot Cake Bars
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Way back in the dark ages known as the 1980s, there were many efforts by food manufacturers to make foods that were labeled as "healthy" and "nutritious." These generally sawdust inspired meal options were often found in health food stores where it was usually best to go in, get some vitamins and run out of there before you were seduced into purchasing a Tiger's Milk Bar on accident.

(those folks might bill their food as the "first" nutrition bar, but that isn't always something that warrants acclaim... let's hope they've improved their recipe over the past several decades)

NuGo FREE Carrot Cake Bars
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

And it's not hard at all to find various types of bars that are meant for everything from increasing energy to weight loss to nutritional boosts and for the most part, the majority of manufacturers of these things have accepted the idea that if something doesn't taste good, nobody will eat it. Notice the word "majority" in the last sentence since it would seem that not everyone has caught onto the wisdom that food needs to taste good.

Even if someone is staring at a bowlful of beets, those things better have been prepared in such a way that they will end up being tasty. For the folks who are in charge of making the recipes for NuGo FREE Carrot Cake Bars, it would seem as though they missed the mark a bit not only with the actual recipe, but also with the labeling on the exterior packaging. One might even suggest that a small amount of false advertising was at work here.

On the packaging, one might think that this bar was supposed to taste approximately like a piece of carrot cake, albeit in some sort of bar form. But interestingly, in examining the overall packaging, it's rather easy to notice that there really isn't anything of note said regarding the fact that this is anything other than a piece of carrot cake hidden beneath a solid plastic wrapper.

NuGo FREE Carrot Cake Bars
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

The picture, the description and the title of the item on the front of the bar say nothing about the fact that what's inside doesn't bear any resemblance to carrot cake either in form and appearance or regarding taste. 

The subtle hint that the bar is "made delicious with cinnamon" is simply the company's way of trying to cover up the fact that they've pulled a fast one. There is not carrot cake here!

The company should be given a "thank you" regarding their attempt to offer some sort of snack bar (or nutrition bar? energy bar? who knows what this bar's purpose is...) to people who have gluten allergies, but it's hard to do with the current recipe. Really, the bar does seem as though it would be appetizing even though it sort of looks like a Rice Krispy Treat with some odd stripes of frosting on it, but the taste is just odd.

The nutritional content of the bar isn't that shocking and while the calories seem  ten or twenty above where they should be, the fat content and sodium shouldn't scare anyone away. The sugar in the bar is a tad bit high and if someone is actually worried about their calorie consumption and their daily dose of sugar and other ingredients, this particular bar probably isn't the right snack to eat.

NuGo FREE Carrot Cake Bars
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

NuGo FREE Carrot Cake Bars Report Card:

The Good Stuff:

Drawing a blank here. It's honestly not something this writer would recommend to anyone whether they needed a gluten free snack or not. In addition, suggesting that someone who was a fan of carrot cake try this bar might put them off carrot cake forever. This bar is best left on the shelf. Perhaps the company's other flavors would be a better choice.

Things to Improve:

Essentially, the entire recipe for this bar should be tossed and a new recipe should be created. The contents of this bar just don't remind one of carrot cake and while the advertised cinnamon is certainly apparent, this spice is hardly enough to cover up the fact that the bar tastes like a failed 1980s energy bar experiment and not a delicious slice of carrot cake.

There are certainly other gluten free bar options that are leagues better than NuGo FREE's carrot cake flavor and it shouldn't be that hard to find a suitable replacement for a gluten free snack.

Arico Cassava CrispRoot Ridged Cassava Root Chips Thai Ginger

Arico Cassava CrispRoot Ridged Cassava Root Chips Thai Ginger
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Fun for snacking or fun as a side with some sandwiches (that are made with gluten-free bread of course!), chips come in a million different varieties and finding a tasty flavor in a gluten free form is generally not too difficult as they do seem to be as plentiful these days as chips that do have gluten (although this author would love to see some tortilla chips made with soy sauce where the soy sauce didn't have wheat!).

And the one thing that really seems to stand out when you first open a bag of Arico Cassava CrispRoot Ridged Cassava Root Chips Thai Ginger chips is the whopping big load of spicy that comes out of the bag and shakes you a fair bit. That's okay sometimes. Strong chips can be rather delicious. But even a fan of chips such as these might be surprised at the significant sensation of burning that might seem to come from their poor taste buds after eating a few.

It can be a satisfying experience to open up a bag of potato chips (or any type of chips, really) and just toss them back while gazing, glass-eyed at the television or while watching a movie, but you can't do that with these chips. By the time you get to the end of this bag, your mouth would be on fire. And while that might be okay if you're drinking a little bottle of Tabasco sauce, it's kind of disconcerting when it's a bag of chips.

Arico Cassava CrispRoot Ridged Cassava Root Chips Thai Ginger
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Regarding the basic taste and and appeal of the chips on the basis of their recipe, it's actually not clear to this writer just which flavor in the recipe has made them so incredibly spicy. The ginger is definitely there, but there's something else as well.

The bag suggests that there's also something in the recipe called cassava root, but from the research I've completed, this particular type of tuber isn't what has made these chips particularly spicy. It's probably just an over-abundance of ginger.

The number of calories and fat in these chips are approximate to what you'd find in just about any normal potato chips and the nice thing about them is that they don't have trans fat, which is often something that mainstream chip companies still seem to sneak in their chips somehow. Really, trans fat is something that no food companies should be offering their customers, but since it still exists in some chips, it's a good idea to always take a look at the back of the bag to make sure it's not there.

If you're looking for a chip that's a different experience from the sort of chips that would generally be found on the average store shelf (cheddar, plain, sour cream & onion), these chips could be an interesting twist on a classic snack. They definitely look like potato chips, but the flavor is probably something you've never had before.

Arico Cassava CrispRoot Ridged Cassava Root Chips Thai Ginger
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Arico Cassava CrispRoot Ridged Cassava Root Chips Thai Ginger Report Card

Good Stuff:

The consistency and crispy texture of these chips are such that it would likely be a great idea to pair them with a sandwich for lunch, although eating too many of them might be a bad idea. Just a serving or two is enough and if you like ginger, these chips should be a fun snack.

Not So Good Stuff:

For the most part, these chips are such that their taste is kind what you'd expect out of a bag of jalepeno chips (spicy!) and the technique of making those chips so spicy is a questionable technique since the bag doesn't really warn the purchaser that they're buying a bag of ferociously spicy chips. But if spicy is your thing, these chips will definitely deliver and do so in a type of way that's not the expected spices and herbs or vegetables.

Late July Dude Ranch Multigrain Snack Chips

Late July Dude Ranch Multigrain Snack Chips
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

It would seem that chips of all kinds are one of the more popular items for companies to offer the public in a gluten free form and this is often because traditional tortilla chips don't usually have any wheat flour in them anyway unless it's in the flavor mixture. 

Notice I say "usually" as a lot of seemingly innocent tortilla chip manufacturers toss soy sauce in their mixture and this ingredient has wheat - so always look on the label of any tortilla type chips to confirm ingredients and even then, consider asking the company itself whether its chips contain any gluten or wheat, even if the listing of ingredients suggests they don't.

But generally speaking and as far as snack or tortilla chips are concerned, a company can usually come up with a tasty topping for the chips that is naturally gluten-free or isn't really missing anything significant if substitutions are made. The nice thing about a number of these chip varieties is that they often taste almost the same as a general snack for anyone to eat whether they have problems with wheat and gluten or not.

Late July Dude Ranch Multigrain Snack Chips
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

And often such chips can also be considered copies of mainstream gluten-filled options such as Doritos (who would have thought Doritos would have wheat?) as often the texture and taste of a lot of these chips will tend to mimic more well-known varieties and brands.

(Note that Frito Lay suggests on their website that several varieties of their Doritos DO NOT contain wheat. The original flavor of Doritos - Nacho - DOES contain wheat)

Copying well known manufacturers is fine in most cases as there's no reason to reinvent the wheel. Since ranch tastes good on everything (personal observation but likely an opinion held by anyone who has ever tasted ranch dressing), it's not surprising that a gluten-free style chip would be created in this flavor.

Late July Dude Ranch Multigrain Snack Chips
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Regarding Late July Dude Range Multigrain Snack Chips, these chips are likely trying to imitate the popular Doritos flavor "Cool Ranch," as they are not only triangle in shape but are a tortilla-style chip that's ranch-flavored. And generally speaking, the taste of these chips does come close to what an actual bag of Doritos would taste like although the Late July chips seem to be a little thicker overall.

Taste-wise, there aren't any real complaints to be had outside of the general note that these chips are somewhat impressive in their ability to come visiting your senses for hours after you actually eat them. You might have popped a few of these during lunch, but you'll definitely be left a stark reminder in your nostrils hours later when you sit down for dinner. 

Late July Dude Ranch Multigrain Snack Chips
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

One of the better aspects of these chips though is that they've got significantly lower calorie and fat content than Doritos as 28g of chips from Late July (which is approximately 12 chips) has 120 calories and 5 grams of fat while Cool Ranch Doritos pack 150 calories for the same weight and a heavier 8 grams of fat. 

Even if you're not looking specifically for gluten free products (which, realistically you could actually eat the Cool Ranch Doritos if you chose and had gluten-free requirements), the calories and fat on the Late July chips are a lot more attractive.

Late July Dude Ranch Multigrain Snack Chips Report Card

The Good Stuff:

There are a lot of chip varieties that you wouldn't think would have wheat, but do indeed contain a type of gluten and so if you're a fan of ranch chips, this snack should do the trick. The calories and fat, as pictured above, are also pretty respectable for a bag of snack chips.

What Could be Better:

These chips won't knock your socks off and you probably won't fall to your knees thanking the heavens above that you've been granted some ranch flavored chips, but they do the job admirably and anyone who enjoys ranch flavored tortilla chips and requires gluten-free food should be plenty satisfied with a bag of Late July Dude Ranch Multigrain Snack Chips.

Glutino Gluten Free Pretzel Twists

Glutino Gluten Free Pretzel Twists
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Pretzels aren't really a complicated food, but the are something where the main and first ingredient is usually wheat and this means they're off limits as a tasty snack to anyone who needs gluten free food. 

And that's unfortunate since they're a terrific snack that can be flavored in all sorts of ways and can be made in just about any shape imaginable (I am partial to the classic twisted pretzel shape).

Coming in a rather giant bag, Glutino Gluten Free Pretzel Twists seem to be available only in a party size (at least at most grocery stores in Los Angeles), but for anyone who has the storage room for a big bag of these simple snacks, it's probably worth the space. There are a few manufacturers out there who make gluten-free pretzels and Glutino might have a lock on the best snack in this category that tastes really close to what a traditional wheat-filled pretzel would taste like.

And any food that has gluten-free stamped on the front of the bag yet tastes like an item where the gluten hasn't been removed is a big positive in this author's opinion. Grabbing a handful of these pretzels definitely won't leave you feeling like you've just had some solidified sawdust (early versions of gluten-free pretzels from a few manufacturers have definitely earned such labels).

Glutino Gluten Free Pretzel Twists
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

These pretzels definitely have a satisfying salty flavor and although the salt content in foods is usually something that a person should be aware of and adjust their diet for if a particular food happens to have a ton of salt, pretzels are a food which probably don't need such consideration. They're supposed to be a salty food and pretzels with no salt kind of taste like sawdust whether they have wheat in them or not. Do be advised that these pretzels have a fair bit of fat in them though. It shouldn't be a concern unless someone accidentally downs an entire bag in one shot.

Glutino would get huge gluten-free brownie points if they added soft pretzels to their selection of gluten-free pretzels as so far such an item has yet to hit most store shelves from any manufacturer. Since Glutino has gotten into a few types of frozen dinner type entrees, the least they could do is think up a recipe for a big soft pretzel. That food would be reviewed in this blog immediately if it existed.

Glutino Gluten Free Pretzel Twists
Photographh Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

At a basic level, everyone loves snack food and being able to toss bag a few handfuls of pretzels while watching a movie, doing homework or driving on a road trip is pretty satisfying and for anyone requiring a gluten free version, Glutino's Pretzel Twists definitely fit the bill.

Glutino Gluten Free Pretzel Twists
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Glutino Gluten Free Pretzel Twists Report Card

What They Did Right:

Pretzels are not an especially complex food and as long as the right amount of salt and buttery taste covers these simple snacks, it's hard to go wrong (unless you decide to try a fat-free, low-salt pretzel... but why would anyone sane ever do that?)

Pretzels earn a nice distinction as a food that won't break the scale with the calories and fat and although they're a salty little food, as long as someone doesn't go overboard with them, they probably won't break the scale. It's lucky that people who require gluten free and wheat free versions of pretzels actually have a version that tastes good (honestly, it's probably the fat content in these things that makes them taste delicious; the fat is a tad bit high per serving).

What Could Be Better:

A soft version! This really isn't something that impacts their current pretzel offerings, but consider it a request for the future...

As for the only item that really warrants being criticized, it's probably the fat content. It's easy to throw back a few servings of these pretzels in a sitting and each serving has six grams of fat (this author is not sure what ingredient has caused the pretzels to have a few extra grams of fat per serving than they should). Just be careful about eating no more than about two servings for a snack.