Recently I was blessed enough to receive a package of raw vegan dehydrated products from The Goodness Company to try and share with you, my lovely readers. I was familiar with the company through looking at their website and from this I was struck by what an innovative and appealing concept it boasts, in terms of raw foods and nutrition.
Since becoming interested in raw myself, and experiencing what an amazing effect including lots of raw foods can have on one’s health (for me, it particularly helped with my digestive issues), I have tried almost all the dehydrated products I could find on the shelves of health food stores. Some have been delicious, whilst some were disappointing. The thing which I noticed though, is that there seemed to be a lacuna in the Australian raw food market in terms of crackers, cereals and granola – the things people often can’t make themselves because of issues such as not owning a dehydrator or being time poor. There just wasn’t a large selection of these products on offer and they were often hard to source. However, the Goodness Company changes all of that with an extensive range of raw foods, both dehydrated and fresh, which are being made readily accessible to health inspired hipsters around Australia.
So what was it about The Goodness Company that immediately grabbed me? I guess it lies in the great pleasure of finding like-minded people. Charlotte, the co-founder, was led to the power of live food nutrition through her and her family’s own health problems, namely gluten and dairy intolerance. This is a very similar platform to that which launched me into the world of plant-based healing, post discovering I had Coeliac’s disease. Yet what we share in common, as I’m sure many of my readers do too, goes much deeper than that spark of a journey. It is an overarching nutritional philopsophy built on the belief in treating our bodies with love through providing nourishment by consuming a plant-based diet of full of organic, enzyme rich, whole foods. This means food that is free from gluten, dairy, refined sugar, animal products, artificial additives, GMO ingredients, and that is instead low GI, naturally delicious, healthful, eco-friendly and sustainable, made with good intention, full of superfoods and positive energy.
So without further ado, here are Charlotte’s answers to my five ‘taking five’ questions that I asked her, followed by my review of two of the Goodness Company’s products.
I hope you enjoy reading her responses as much as I did.
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Taking Five with Charlotte from the Goodness Company
Why are you passionate about raw foods?
I discovered raw foods after becoming disillusioned with the standard gluten and dairy free diet and its lack of nutrition about 4 years ago. When I started feeding my family on a high percentage raw diet I realized what an incredible effect the diet had on health, energy, vitality and general well being. Weight stablized, skin, hair and eyes sparkled and energy levels rose plus everyone’s attitudes to life became brighter. It was like a metamorphosis. I found the higher proportion of raw nutrient dense and superfood enriched foods we ate, the lighter, healthier and happier we became. It is easy to be passionate about something when you see such dramatic and life changing results.
What philosophy does The Goodness Company embody?
We believe that food is medicine but it doesn’t have to taste like it.
Nutrient dense food properly prepared will give you abundant energy and vitality and well being. Our job is to mix, blend and dehydrate to create new combinations and tastes for ultimate taste, benefit and maximum nutrition.
We believe Mother Nature not scientists got it right.
We use as much un-hybridized heritage fruits and vegetables as possible. Food with life force is important. If the food we eat can’t regenerate itself, if it is cooked (dead) or has no viable seed how can it energize our bodies?
We believe less is more.
We combine a few ingredients of the highest organic quality for maximum benefit. Eating nutrient dense food helps you consume less, feel better, snack less and be attracted to healthier food options. A spiral that leads to a healthy life and food journey.
We believe that it’s never too late to start the journey to full health and well being, to slow the process of aging, fight chronic disease and to rediscover the bounty of youth and vitality. The power is in our hands in what we eat everyday.
Your products say that they are ‘made with love.’ Could you say a little more about why positive energy is important in our food?
Positive energy towards everything in life causes very different outcomes. We love what we are doing and what it can do for not only ourselves but for our clients. If we didn’t believe this we would not be hand producing our products. Food should be a labour of love. It is both enriching and nurturing. We love that and what we do, but more importantly what it does for us.
What are some of your top super foods to include in ones diet?
Alkaline rich almonds, spirulina, algaes and sea vegetables, coconut oil, green leafy vegetables, carob and cacao, goji berries, maca, bee products and fermented foods.
If you had to serve a three-course meal to convert someone to the taste and nourishment of raw foods, what would you make?
Young coconut ravioli stuffed with tree mushrooms and truffles, raw green tea noodle laska and a seaweed salad, followed by a chocolate and raspberry tart.
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I threw that last question in just for fun as I love hearing other peoples’ ideas on nutritious yet decadent meals for inspiration. Plus it makes a great point that a plant-based diet is anything but bland and boring!
It was also awesome that fermented foods came up in terms of superfood choices for a healthy diet. You can read more about the imporance of this in my post here and learn how to make your own fermented sauerkraut.
A big thank you to Charlotte for sharing.
Now, lets take a look at some of the actual products. In this post I will be reviewing the Goodness Company’s dehydrated breakfast options.
Firstly, some brief thoughts on breakfast as it relates to us here. Whilst there are many raw choices for your first meal of the day, such as smoothies or puddings, these are often time consuming. In this busy life we sometimes just need a nutritious breakfast option that is ready to go in the morning! That is why it can be really helpful to have a nutritious cereal on hand. And no, I’m not talking about anything you might find at the supermarket, which are heavily processed and generally full of sugar. I mean a cereal that is completely natural as well as being low GI so that it will both give and maintain energy. What we eat in the morning really is important for setting up the rest of our day nutrition wise.
Product Reviews
Note: Any of the observations or recommendations of products on this blog come from my own true opinions and observations, and what I personally believe to be healthy. In no way am I paid to advertise, promote or endorse any of the products that I review.
”Crackle Crunch”
I was excited to try this as I haven’t seen anything else like it on the market. Basically it is smashed sheets of dehydrated activated buckwheat plus some other yummy ingredients, depending on the flavour. It comes in either ‘Chocolate’ or ‘Orange.’ First I read the ingredients and nutritional stats. I love that I could count the number of ingredients on my fingers and that, more importantly, they were all natural and familiar. I tried some of the Chocolate Crackle Crunch straight out of the bag as a dry snack. Some of the chunks were quite thick, so were perfect for eating this way. For those who are familiar with the taste of raw cacao powder, that is the prominent flavour. For those who haven’t tried cacao powder, imagine the taste of hot chocolate but cleaner and crisper on the palate (and much better for you as it isn’t processed and contains all the lovely antioxidants!)
There is sweetness to it, however it is quite mild and not overpowering the way I have found some raw cereal products to be. I think the more savoury buckwheat cuts the cacao and sweetener nicely. Although I’ve generally never been a big chocolate person, I really liked it and think that if you are a chocolate person then this will knock your socks of baby! I also tried the smaller / thinner ‘flakes’ in a bowl with almond mylk and berries. Chocolate and berries = winning combo. This was easily my favourite way to eat it – a great replacement for your usual bowl of Special K (read: processed sugar and gluten marketed as healthy) or your kids’ morning Coco Pops (aka hyperactivity and learning difficulties in a packet). I also thought that a chunkier piece of the Chocolate Crackle Crunch could easily replace a chocolate biscuit to enjoy with your tea.
The orange flavour was also good. Again, not overbearing but strong enough to give that citrus-y kick. This was fresher and lighter than the chocolate version and, being fruity, reminded me of summer. Again I dished it up with some of my homemade almond mylk which is a serving suggestion I definitely recommend. The taste is neutral enough without being boring that I’m sure children would also love it. Can be eaten by the handful as an easy raw snack too.
“Granola”
Whilst I really enjoyed the innovation of the Crackle Crunch products and think they are totally delicious, the granola took out the gold medal in my books.
Before finding out I was a Coeliac, I was a long term member of the granola breakfast club. It was one of the things the thing that I missed most when I went gluten-free. There was simply no replacement for a decadent bowl of crisp nutty oat clusters in the mainstream market. I couldn’t find any gluten-free granola products, only the sorry gluten-free mueslis that tasted like cardboard attempting to be disguised by sickly amounts of dried fruit. Since my early days on the hunt for gluten-free breakfast cereals there have (thankfully) been many innovations, as the demand for such has become greater. Yet the only type of product that has surpased traditional granola, in my opinion, are the raw options now available. All hail the rawnola! I could tell just from looking at The Goodness Company’s version that it was a surefire winner: golden clusters of yummies such as almonds, pepitas, buckwheat and sour cherries. Into my bowl it went with some berries and my almond mylk (I see a pattern forming here) for one sexy breakfast experience! Yes, moaning ensued… don’t judge me.
The granola is full of flavour with a slightly caramalised taste. This is nicely balanced by the lemon and vanilla so that is smooth and not too sweet. I didn’t need a large quantity and it kept me full and energised for hours on one of my working days, so I know this cereal has real staying power. In terms of nutritionals, this comes from the combination of complex carbohydrates, healthy fats and being low GI to keep blood sugars balanced and a steady release of energy. This is what we need from breakfast, rather that the spike in blood sugars that conventional cereals invoke, followed by a crash and the craving for more refined sugars and carbohydrates – a dangerous cycle. For healthy raw breakfast fare and snackage, I definitely recommend trying this granola. Like the Crackle Crunches, it too can be eaten dry, straight out of the bag, as a muesli bar or cookie replacement. Paired with my cup of organic peppermint tea it was delish.
A big pat on the back to the team at The Goodness Company. It’s great to see quality raw food made available to the masses. Everything can be purchased through the online store on the website and the products are also stocked in local stores, such as my beloved Taste Organic.
If you would like to try these breakfast products to see for yourself, stay tuned for an upcoming giveaway!
I hope you found this post helpful. There are more to come on raw crackers and activated nuts, which I look forward to trying and sharing.
If you are loving the emergence of more raw food options in Sydney, as I am, then make sure you didn’t miss my review of the newly opened Sadhana Kitchen – read about it here.
With love and a cheers to healthy mornings,
Lolita
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