Pollen + Grace is a London-based clean eating food delivery service who make healthy lunches and delicious sweet treats. Founded by Stephanie Johnson, their ethos is to find the beauty in nature and apply that to their food. I met the team at Balance Festival earlier this year so I was very excited to try their delicious snacks!

Raw Beauty Bar

The Raw Beauty Bar features antioxidant-rich superfoods like acai and acerola superfruits. Acai berries have more antioxidants than any other berries and boast health benefits such as fighting disease and promoting healthy skin. The acerola fruit is a type of cherry and is rich in vitamins C and A as well as riboflavin and niacin which are often artificially added to foods because of their fantastic health benefits. 

The bar itself is very attractive and features a crumbed based made out of cashews, sesame seeds, tahini, and coconut. The base has a great sticky sweet texture and the bar itself is delicious. The berry top adds a lovely tang and there's a subtle crunch from the seeds. I love this little bar and knowing how many health benefits it has!

The Mojo Bar

The Mojo Bar was the treat that I was most looking forward to as I had tried a nibble at Balance Festival and was immediately hooked! This salted caramel fudge bar is totally vegan and is enriched with superfoods like maca and cornflower petals. Maca contains numerous minerals which promote a healthy immune system and it also contains 20 amino acids which aid protein synthesis and promote healthy muscle repair. 

This bar tastes absolutely incredible! I couldn't get enough! I previously went on a bit of a rant about products claiming to be 'salted caramel' flavour when they're not, but this bar has the absolutely perfect taste and is just delicious! Knowing that it's vegan means it is a guilt-free treat and is perfect for after a demanding cardio session when you need a sugar-hit to feel better.

Sweet Potato + Peanut Butter Flapjack

The sweet potato and peanut butter flapjack comes in a very generous 100g portion and boasts 10.4g of protein. This flapjack is also vegan (if you don't mind consuming honey) and contains lots of great ingredients. The bulk of the flapjack is made with sweet potato and also features organic peanut butter, pumpkin seeds, and pecans which add a beautiful depth of flavour.

The bar itself is super crunchy thanks to the seeds and it is really filling! It's not very sweet but in this case, that's a good thing, as sometimes flapjacks can be way too sugary and buttery. This has a really nice earthy feel to it from the sweet potato and it's almost like a savoury snack. 

Raw Cacao Protein Bar

This gooey vegan cacao bar is protein-packed thanks to pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, hemp protein, and chia seeds. All of these are fantastic super foods which boast numerous health benefits. As with the flapjack, this bar is quite hefty and definitely super filling! It tastes delicious and isn't too dense or chewy like most protein bars! It has such an authentic taste and texture, rather than some which feel like they've just been mass produced in a factory.

Verdict

I absolutely love this brand. I love the ethos and their raw treats are not only delicious but they're healthy too! The food delivery service is a great idea and hopefully they'll be able to expand further in the future! It's definitely a 10 from me for these goodies.

Emily Fruit Crisps was launched in 2014 by Emily Wong and her partner Alex Ascani, after they travelled to the Far East and discovered a way of cooking fruit and vegetable crisps in a vacuum with RSPO-sustainable palm oil. RSPO is the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil and has the mission of making responsible and sustainable palm oil the norm on the mass market. At the moment, palm oil is not only bad for our health but it's bad for the environment and human rights, as Indigenous peoples are often forcefully removed from their land to make room for palm oil production and shockingly, slavery still exists on some palm oil plantations. By supporting the RSPO, Emily Fruit Crisps are paving the way for a change in this industry and setting a fantastic example to other companies.

Crunchy Banana Crisps

I've always been a big fan of banana chips, but they often contain lots of added sugar and artificial nastiness. So it was great to discover that with the Emily Banana Crisps it literally is just banana and a little RSPO palm oil! No added sugar, salt, or anything artificial. It's a great way to increase your daily intake of fruit, especially as bananas can be difficult to transport to the office or gym as they bruise so easily and go overripe so quickly.

Crunchy Pineapple Crisps

The pineapple crisps were a really nice surprise. I've never actually tried dried pineapple before and I wasn't sure what to expect, but it's delicious! Raw pineapple hurts the roof of my mouth sometimes, so eating the dried version is a great way to get all the taste and health benefits without that super tangy after taste! I know that plenty of people reading this might be thinking 'but that's the best thing about eating pineapple!' but it's nice to have a change.

Crunchy Apple Crisps

The crunchy apple crisps were my absolute favourite! It looks like Emily has used red delicious apples in this and they're so tasty! Lovely and sweet, nice and crunchy, and devilishly moreish. What a great way of getting more fruit into your diet; this would be so perfect to go into a children's lunchbox instead of a packet of crisps, especially the little 30g bags that Emily makes.

Crunchy French Beans, Sugar Snap Peas, and Black Edamame

I won't lie, these were a bit scary when I first opened the bag! I'm not sure what I expected, but I didn't expect to see an actual bag of green beans! It's not something I've tried before; usually, you know what to expect when you open a snack food. But these were so surprisingly good! The perfect amount of salt has been added - a very minimal amount - so that you're not left with a furry mouth afterwards, but it takes the edge off the raw veg. This really is an amazing way of getting more veg into your diet: Im a nightmare for not eating enough vegetables, and when I do eat them, I just shove them in because I have to, not because I want to. But having a bag of french beans and sugar snap peas in a super attractive packet sitting on my desk made me want to eat them! Fantastic.

Crunchy Sweet Potato, Carrot, and Beetroot

The packaging on these is so colourful and inviting and so is the veg inside! There's the wonderful orange colour of the carrot and deep purple of the beetroot which makes them look fantastic. They have a really subtle salty taste, again, not too overpowering at all. If I were to close my eyes I could probably trick myself into thinking I was just eating ready salted crisps! If you are a crisp addict like me, these are the perfect solution! And there are so few ingredients that Emily can fit the ingredient list on the packet in 7 different languages!

Verdict

It's so refreshing to find a company who care about the environment and planet as much as Sundried with an equally ethical ethos. I feel really passionately about this brand because they have the potential to change the way we think about snacking. Putting these little packets into a child's lunchbox could mean they grow up loving fruit and veg instead of fat- and salt-laden potato crisps and other unhealthy snacks. It's also a great way for us adults to get more fruit and veg into our diets without even having to think about it because the attractive packaging and moreish tastes will make you want to eat it rather than it being a chore! It's absolutely a 10 from me for Emily!

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Easy Bean was founded Christina Baskerville who grew up on a farm and has always appreciated the health benefits of pulses (beans, lentils, and peas). After spending time working in tropical agriculture in Africa and Latin America, Christina realised how simple but delicious beans can be and that they deserve a higher 'culinary status'. She found that there are famous bean-based dishes in many countries, but not so much in the UK, so she set out to change that by producing delicious one-pot meals. Easy Bean's newest products are their chickpea crispbreads which I had the pleasure of trying.

Cheddar Crunch

The cheddar crunch crispbreads boast fantastic nutritional values, with nearly 15g of protein per 100g. The biscuits are a great thickness and texture, they are not so thin that they just break apart and they are not too crumbly. They are delicious on their own, but Easy Bean also have plenty of topping ideas available on their website. These crispbreads are incredibly moreish and before long I found I had eaten the entire packet! They'd make great party foods topped with different spreads and vegetables, and it's good to know there are no nasty surprises or artificial ingredients in them. 

Seaweed & Sesame

I was dubious about the seaweed flavour before I tried it as I don't have a great track record with this flavour! However, these crispbreads are absolutely delicious, and like the cheddar flavour they're great to eat even just on their own. The flavour of the seaweed creeps through in a subtle way without being overpowering, but it's definitely there. Seaweed has some great health benefits, including a rich supply of minerals such as calcium and iron, and it is also rich in protein and folic acid. The crispbreads are so moreish, but thankfully they are a guilt-free treat as the ingredients are all natural. 

Verdict

I love that Easy Bean shares Sundried's ethos of caring for the planet and sustainability. I think it's great that Christina has set out to promote the benefits of beans as they are quite an underrated ingredient in the UK. This unique concept is sure to be successful, and Easy Bean's flavoursome and interesting recipes mean that they stand out from the crowd in the frankly saturated health food market. These crispbreads are delicious and make the perfect snack, so it's a 10 from me!

Ape Snacks was founded in 2014 by Zack Nathan after his mum inspired him with her delicious homemade coconut snacks. Zack and his family have always followed a paleo-based diet which involves eating whole, unprocessed foods that cavemen would have eaten. After heading to university in America, Zack found himself frustrated with the lack of healthy food available, as most snacks are full of processed chemicals and added sugar. So he dropped out of university to develop his own brand and the rest is history!

Crunchy Coconut Bites - Chia Seed / Sesame Seed

I love the packaging on these snacks as it's so fresh and the colour scheme really works with the healthy ethos of the brand. The crunchy coconut bites have an interesting texture and come in perfect bite-sized pieces. They're very easy to eat and would make the perfect alternative to crisps when the craving strikes. The chia seed flavour is great, and chia seeds are a fantastic ingredient to include as they boast several health benefits. These bites are slightly sweet but also slightly salty which I really liked and the seeds add a brilliant extra crunch.

Crispy Coconut Curls - Pepper & Spice / Lightly Salted

The crispy coconut curls are delicious and so moreish! These definitely hit the spot if you are craving a salty snack so swapping out your crisps for these would be a great healthy food choice. The pepper and spice flavour has a hint of cinnamon which I assume comes from the original inspiration for Zack's snacks when his mum roasted coconut pieces with cinnamon and other spices. This flavour works really well and left me feeling satisfied. The lightly salted flavour is also great and I could've eaten them all day!

Verdict

I'm a big fan of the story and ethos behind this brand and I love the hard work that Zack has put into developing this new company. Having a healthy alternative to salty snacks like crisps and popcorn is great and these really are delicious! Coconut itself has lots of health benefits and paired with super foods like chia seeds, Ape Snacks is on to a real winner here. There are a lot of sweet fruit-based health foods on the market so Zack has done well to tap into a niche that no one else seems to have yet explored. It's definitely a 10 from me!

Boostball is a homegrown UK brand whose ethos is to provide the nation with 'less ingredients, more protein'. Their high protein balls contain all natural ingredients which have various health benefits. The high protein content is conducive to muscle growth and they only contain natural sugars found in fruits and plants. I was excited to try their products as they sound as delicious as they look!

Maple & Cinnamon Roll

The balls are raw and cold-pressed which means they don't lose any vitamins or other nutrients during the production process. The Maple & Cinnamon Roll flavour balls have a looser texture than the others which makes them easier to chew. They're nice and light with just the right amount of cinnamon flavouring without it being over-powering. There are three balls in each pack and together they provide 11g of protein which is impressive for such a light snack!

Chocolate Orange Mud Cake

The chocolate orange mud cake was definitely my favourite flavour! So chocolatey and moreish, I could've eaten them all day! They are lovely and sweet without the help of artificial additives and the orange flavour shines through really well. This flavour feels so decadent and indulgent, you could eat them to cure a sweet tooth or chocolate craving without having to feel guilty, winner! 

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough

The peanut butter cookie dough flavour was a personal highlight too. After spotting peanut butter listed on the ingredients, I confirmed with Boost Ball's 'Chief Roller' Dan Chambers that no palm oil is ever used in any of their products, which is a really important point. Palm oil is not only bad for our health but it's bad for the environment too, yet it is a really common ingredient in many processed foods, including peanut butter. So the fact that Boost Ball steer clear of it is a big tick from me. 

Coconut Fudge Cake

 The coconut fudge cake balls are covered in flaky desiccated coconut which I love, although it did make a bit of a mess on my desk! The texture is quite hard, I decided that eating each ball whole was the best option rather than trying to bite into it. But this is definitely not a negative quality; they are not so hard that they are difficult to chew. They are perfectly sweet without any added sugar or artificial sweetener which is great. 

Verdict

Boost Balls are the perfect snack whether it's to satisfy a craving for something sweet or just something to get you through the mid-afternoon slump at work. It's so great knowing you can have something healthy to snack on that won't taste awful and has lots of protein in it as an added benefit. I love the branding and packaging on these and they're perfectly pocket-sized so you could even take them on a run or a bike ride. It's got to be a 10 from me!

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