9 allergen-free foods from Expo West 2013
This vegan meal replacement drink—the first of its kind—was created by two parents for their daughter, who has cerebral palsy. It's GMO-free, hypoallergenic, made with organic brown rice protein (17 grams per serving) and contains 21 "superfoods," such as acai, chia and green tea extract, making it a nutritional powerhouse in a carton. Three flavors; my favorite is Vanilla Bliss.
These noodles are nothing short of a revelation. They're made with—wait for it—a single ingredient (plus water): either red lentils or black beans. That not only makes them completely gluten- and allergen-free, but also full of healthy, plant-based protein. And the texture is fantastic, not slimy or overly dense like some gluten-free noodles. I can't wait to find these in my local store.
The tastiest vegan burgers I've ever eaten. Free of the top 10 common food allergens, including gluten, eggs, sesame, soy and dairy, these certified-organic frozen burgers—in original and chipotle flavors—rocked my taste buds with a brilliant combo of quinoa, sweet potato, carrots, onion and spices. I predict they're going to turn the veggie burger category upside down.
Motivated "momtrepreneur" Cybele Pascal, who's also an accomplished allergen-free cookbook author, developed these soft, supertasty cookies for her son, who has multiple food allergies. I love the packaging icons indicating "free from" status (no gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, nuts and yes, fish). I’ve tried these out on several people and everyone loves them, especially the Oatmeal Raisin.
This line of organic, non-GMO, nut-free butters from Pinto Barn is the brainchild of the family of 12-year-old Lily (that's her in the photo), who has a severe nut allergy. Lily's also the force behind the company's "Field to Fingers" nut-free processing, including their own built-from-scratch nut-free facility. Best of all, the products are delish: creamy and full of flavor. Along with the plain soy butter, I'm partial to the Cinnamon Sugar.
I’ve guzzled my share of just-OK nondairy and nonsoy milks, but this one truly tastes like the real deal. Maybe that's because instead of just one nondairy element, it combines three—flax, rice and hemp—for a balanced yet neutral flavor. Added bonus: It's organic, full of omega-3s (2,500 mg per serving) and delivers added probiotics.
I'm a longtime fan of these certified organic, peanut-free treats, but I'm really happy about the new, playful packaging, debuted at Expo West. They're still free of soy, gluten, peanuts and tree nuts (they do contain a bit of milk powder), and the chocolate is Rainforest Alliance certified; they're also working on Non-GMO Project verification. A great allergen-aware treat for kids.
This company makes yummy granola and whole-food bars, as well as the tastiest and healthiest caramel corn I've ever tried (it's made with coconut oil). But I was especially taken with their new babybar, an organic, raw, five-ingredient teething bar made with coconut and chia—way, way better than empty-calorie, white-flour teething biscuits. A smart, allergen-free option for tots.
I continue to be amazed by these oat-based cereal cups. All you add is water (or milk), stir with the enclosed spoon and voila—a nutrient-dense, on-the-go breakfast or snack that's devoid of gluten, soy, dairy, nuts, eggs, refined sugar and GMOs. The original Goji Cacao wows me, and at Expo West they revealed three funky new flavors: Espresso Maca Mulberry, Maca Double Chocolate and my fave, Coconut Maple Vanilla.
I continue to be amazed by these oat-based cereal cups. All you add is water (or milk), stir with the enclosed spoon and voila—a nutrient-dense, on-the-go breakfast or snack that's devoid of gluten, soy, dairy, nuts, eggs, refined sugar and GMOs. The original Goji Cacao wows me, and at Expo West they revealed three funky new flavors: Espresso Maca Mulberry, Maca Double Chocolate and my fave, Coconut Maple Vanilla.
Food allergies continue to be a huge market driver for natural foods innovation. These nine companies at Expo West 2013 have created delicious "free-from" products that meet shoppers' needs to avoid common food allergens, such as gluten, dairy, soy, nuts and eggs.
Watch Elisa Bosley in action as she walks us through her faves from the show floor.
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