Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Working at an elementary school, I see first-hand how many kids deal with food allergies. Alas, both of my own kids still need to carry around an epi-pen and are careful to avoid all foods with nuts. Jaxs Monster Mix started as an idea of a mom in search of a wholesome allergy-friendly snack for her own child with food allergies.

Jaxs offers a few different varieties, but the variety we tried was Jaxs Monster Pop Mix. This unique snack mix contains gluten-free sea salt pretzel twists, vegan cheesy corn nuggets, and sweetened banana chips.

Jaxs Monster Pop Mix is delightfully crisp and crunchy. It is a little bit salty and a little bit sweet, so it satisfies any snack craving. In addition, this mix is non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan, nut-free, Kosher, and contains no artificial colors.

Each one ounce bag contains 140 calories, and is the perfect size to take on the go. My not-so-little soccer player appreciated it for his post-game refueling.

If you are looking for an allergy-friendly snack that will appeal to kids, check out Jax’s Monster Pop Mix!

Where To Purchase Jaxs Monster Pop Snack Mix

Jaxs Monster Pop Snack Mix is available for purchase through their online store.

Jaxs Monster Pop Snack Mix Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a 12-pack of Jaxs Monster Pop Snack Mix!

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

I have been trying to increase our family’s intake of DHA Omega‑3s, which are linked to reduced inflammation, improved blood flow as well as optimized heart and brain health. Therefore, I was excited to learn more about Wild Planet Foods, which specializes in canned seafood that cares about the planet. Read more about their commitment to sustainable fishing practices here.

Wild Planet Albacore Wild Tuna

When I opened my first can of Wild Planet Albacore Wild Tuna, I could immediately tell a difference between Wild Planet and other brands of canned tuna. The directions say not to drain it, because the tuna is only packed with the natural juices from the tuna itself (no extra water or oil is added).

My son made a quick tuna salad for a picnic lunch by simply adding some olive oil-based mayo and relish to the Wild Planet Albacore Wild Tuna.

I remember my mom making tuna salad sandwiches for dinner on the days we had piano lessons because there was no time to cook! Having some cans of Wild Planet tuna ready to go in your pantry can definitely be a timesaver.

Wild Planet Skipjack Wild Tuna

One of my kids’ favorite snacks is onigiri, which are Japanese rice balls with filling. We recently bought tuna and salmon onigiri from a grocery store in Little Tokyo, so I thought why not make them at home?

I mixed a can of Wild Planet Skipjack Wild Tuna with a tablespoon of mayo and a couple of squirts of sriracha.

Using my onigiri mold (this can also be done with your hands), I scooped in some rice, layered some of the tuna mixture and topped it with more rice. The mold helps you achieve the perfect traditional triangle shape.

Serve with some sheets of nori (seaweed) for a quick and easy snack! One can of Wild Planet Skipjack Wild Tuna and two cups of rice (before cooking) was enough to make eight onigiri.

Wild Planet Tuna Ready-To-Eat Meals

Wild Planet also sent me a few of their Wild Tuna Ready-To-Eat Meals. These meals are perfect for eating on the go because they do not require any refrigeration, heating, cooking or additional preparation. They would be perfect for my son and husband to pack for their next Boy Scout camping trip.

The Wild Planet Ready-To-Eat Meals come in three flavors:

• Wild Tuna Pasta Salad
• Wild Tuna White Bean Salad
• Wild Tuna, Bean & Corn Salad

I brought the Wild Tuna Pasta Salad along on our picnic. The chunks of tuna were sizable and the flavors from the tomatoes, red peppers, olives and pasta melded well together. It was surprisingly filling!

Where To Purchase Wild Planet Foods

Wild Planet Foods are available online, Sprouts, Ralphs, and a store near you. I have also been stocking up on cans of Wild Planet tuna at my local Costco!

Wild Planet Foods Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win an assortment of Wild Planet Foods!

Disclaimer: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

One of my favorite finds from Expo West 2022 was Pop Daddy Snacks. Their boldly flavored pretzels and popcorn are highly snackable (and difficult to stop eating!). Their motto is “Bold Snacks made with Big Heart,” and this care is evident in the quality of their products.

Pop Daddy Pretzels

Pretzels are one of my favorite snacks in the salty category. However, Pop Daddy really elevates the pretzel experience with their innovative and delicious flavors.

Pop Daddy pretzels are available in the following flavors:

• Yellow Mustard
• Dill Pickle
• Cinnamon Sugar
• Garlic Parmesan
• Perrin Beer Cheese
• Hot Sauce
• Peppercorn Ranch
• Smoked Gouda
• Maple & Brown Butter

That’s quite a lineup, right? When I was at their booth at Expo West, I had a difficult time choosing which flavors to sample since they all sounded so good. Pop Daddy uses natural ingredients and each flavor really comes through with their pretzels. Each individual pretzel is coated with just the right amount of seasoning, which results in a craveable and crunchy snack.

This guy gives the Pop Daddy Garlic Parmesan pretzels his seal of approval!

Pop Daddy Popcorn

As its name would suggest, Pop Daddy’s original product was popcorn. The founder wanted to make a healthier alternative to microwave popcorn which can contain questionable chemicals and artificial flavors. Pop Daddy popcorn uses pure olive oil and natural ingredients, so you do not have to feel guilty about munching away. Pop Daddy popcorn is available in the following flavors:

• Original
• Kettle
• Butter
• White Cheddar
• Dill Pickle
• Chipotle BBQ
• Hot Sauce
• Black Pepper
• Smoked Gouda
• Garlic

Pop Daddy uses non-GMO kernels grown on family farms in Michigan and Indiana. As soon as I opened the bag I immediately noticed that each piece of popcorn is fluffy and tender. It turns out that Pop Daddy uses a special type of popcorn with little hull, so there is less of the often annoying hard part of the kernel. Just as with their pretzels, Pop Daddy popcorn’s flavors are bold and addictive!

Where To Purchase Pop Daddy Snacks

Pop Daddy Snacks are available for purchase through their online store or at a store near you.

Pop Daddy Snacks Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win an assortment of Pop Daddy snacks!

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

My son is starting to have a growth spurt and it seems like he is constantly on the search for something to eat. The challenge for me is to find non-junky snacks that will help fill him up. At Expo West I found a delicious snack for him with natural ingredients: Brave Good Kind Tender Chicken Bites.

When I first heard about these chicken bites, I was a little skeptical. While I am a fan of beef jerky, I have never tried a chicken version. However, we found these Tender Chicken Bites to be quite tasty. They really are tender, unlike many other types of tough jerky that can be difficult to chew. Each bite is very flavorful-my son could not stop eating them!

Brave Good Kind Tender Chicken Bites are available in three flavors:

• Original
• Hot Honey
• Teriyaki

We enjoyed all of the flavors, but the Hot Honey was our favorite. It was not too spicy (at least to our palate), but had a nice little bite.

Brave Good Kind products have all-natural ingredients that are minimally processed. The chicken they use is raised without antibiotics. Each serving of the Tender Chicken Bites contains 9-10 grams of protein, which makes it a great snack choice to keep you satiated. These snacks are also gluten-free and do not contain MSG. If you are looking for a healthier version of jerky, I would definitely check out Brave Good Kind!

Where To Purchase Brave Good Kind Products

Brave Good Kind products are available through their online store or at a store near you.

Brave Good Kind Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win SIX packages of Brave Good Kind Tender Chicken Bites!

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

ExpoWest is happening this week, and one of the many exhibitors that will be showcasing their natural food products will be Mary’s Gone Crackers. Mary’s Gone Crackers are organic, plant-based and gluten-free. I had the opportunity to try out a few different varieties, and they are not your “ordinary” crackers.

The “Original” Mary’s Gone Crackers contain four key, whole ingredients – brown rice, quinoa, flax and sesame seeds. They come in four flavors:

• Original
• Jalapeno
• Black Pepper
• Herb

The Super Seed Mary’s Gone Crackers add pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds to the mix. They come in five flavors:

• Classic
• Everything
• Seaweed & Black Sesame
• Basil & Garlic
• Rosemary

As you can see, these hearty crackers are packed full of seeds and goodness. They are the perfect snack for when you are craving something crunchy.

We also tried Mary’s Gone Crackers Real Thin Crackers. I would say these crackers have more “kid appeal”. They come in the following flavors:

• Tomato Basil
• Olive Oil + Black Pepper
• Chipotle
• Sea Salt
• Garlic Rosemary

These snackable crackers contain chia seeds, which I am trying to incorporate more of in my diet. The two flavors we tried, Garlic Rosemary and Chipotle, are both savory and satisfying.

I made a simple mini charcuterie plate with Mary’s Gone Crackers, cheese, salami and grapes. These crackers would also pair well with hummus!

Where To Purchase Mary’s Gone Crackers

Mary’s Gone Crackers are available for purchase through their online store or at a store near you.

Mary’s Gone Crackers Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win SIX boxes of Mary’s Gone Crackers!

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Expo West is fast-approaching, and I am looking forward to attending in-person after a three year hiatus. I cannot wait to connect with more natural food brands and share about them with you. Today I am talking about one of the hundreds of exhibitors, Dewey’s Bakery. For those of you in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Dewey’s probably needs no introduction. The first Dewey’s Bakery opened there in 1930!

Dewey’s sent us an assortment of their Cookie Thins in the following flavors:

• Triple Ginger (*Please note that the packaging shown for this flavor is being updated to the new packaging shown for the other flavors.)
• Salted Caramel
• Meyer Lemon
• Toasted Coconut
• Brownie Crisp

After sampling these delectable flavors, it is truly difficult to choose one standout. Dewey’s Bakery Cookie Thins are all delightfully thin and crisp. As a ginger fan, the Triple Ginger’s use of three types of ginger (candied, pureed, and ground) really spoke to me. The touch of sea salt in the Salted Caramel cookies adds just the right savory note to balance out the sweetness of the caramel. I also appreciate that Dewey’s Bakery uses clean, non-GMO ingredients and no preservatives, artificial flavors or synthetic colors.  

I paired the Meyer Lemon Cookie Thins with a mug of green tea for a lovely mid-afternoon tea-time snack. The bright citrus flavor really shines through in these cookies.

Another pairing that would make a nice Valentine’s Day surprise is a small plate of Dewey’s Bakery Brownie Crisps served alongside a cup o’coffee. The Brownie Crisps are perfect for any chocolate lover (like myself).

Where To Purchase Dewey’s Bakery Products

Dewey’s Bakery products are available for purchase through their online store, or at a store near you.

Dewey’s Bakery Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win five boxes of Dewey’s Bakery Cookie Thins!