Maybe it’s because we are just into the new year, but it seems like every time I turn around, I see the word “detox.” 99% of the time, it’s used in a negative manner, and the message we get is that we have messed up and we need to fix ourselves. Thanks.
I have plenty of flaws and my diet is not perfect. Not even close. I try to stick to a whole-foods-plant-based diet. The plant-based part is easy. I haven’t eaten meat in 25 years and I’ve been completely vegan for almost 6 years. I do my best to eat lots of greens and veggies every day. But I fail. I have a sweet tooth. I don’t give in, since I don’t deprive myself, but I know there are healthier ways to satisfy my sweet tooth than buying the biggest vegan cookie I can find.
That’s where Rule Breaker Snacks come in. These snacks are 100% plant-based, gluten-free, non-GMO Kosher certified, and free from the top 8 allergens. What are they? Well they look like brownies and blondies. But looks are deceiving. These little guys are not made with flour and sugar, but with chickpeas (40%!), oats, maple syrup, and a few other non-scary ingredients:
Deep Chocolate Brownie:
Ingredients: Garbanzo beans (chick peas), organic maple syrup, gluten-free chocolate (evaporated cane juice, non-alcoholic natural chocolate liquor, non-dairy cocoa butter), sunflower oil, gluten-free oats, unsweetened cocoa powder, oregano, flax, pure flavor extracts, pure vegetable fiber, sea salt, and gluten-free baking powder.
Nutrition Facts: Serving Size: 1 Brownie (62g): Calories 170, Fat Cal. 80, Total Fat 9g, Sat. Fat 2g, Trans Fat 0g, Cholest. 0mg, Sodium 130mg, Total Carb. 23g, Fiber 3g, Sugars 14g, Protein 3g.
Chocolate Chunk Blondie:
Ingredients: Garbanzo beans (chick peas), organic maple syrup, gluten-free chocolate (evaporated cane juice, non-alcoholic natural chocolate liquor, non-dairy cocoa butter), gluten-free oats, sunflower oil, pure flavor extracts, oregano, flax, pure vegetable fiber, sea salt, and gluten-free baking powder.<
Nutrition Facts: Serving Size: 1 Blondie (62g): Calories 170, Fat. Cal. 80, Total Fat 9g, Sat. Far 2g, Trans Fat 0g, Cholest. 0mg, Sodium 85mg, Total Carb. 23g, Fiber 3g, Sugars 13g, Protein 3g.
(source)
So, how do they taste? I tried both flavors, and to me – it’s a draw. The Deep Chocolate Brownie tastes and feels like a traditional fudgy brownie. The Chocolate Chunk Blondie doesn’t have that brown-sugar taste that I associate with blondies, and I noticed the texture difference more. But the best part of this one was the chocolate chunks. They are huge. I was picking them out and savoring them. I think that’s what won me over.
Using chickpeas in baking isn’t new, so you could probably make these at home. But not everyone likes the hassle of baking and sometimes we just want something that’s good to grab and throw in a bag (by the way these are great for school lunches – no need to worry about banned ingredients with this treat). They can also be frozen, if you want to buy a bunch and save some for later.
So, you can buy the big cookie and TRY to eat one-half, which is usually the portion size, or you can simply buy the right size treat (these are 2.2 ounces, so they certainly aren’t tiny) and also get some legumes in your body. Not a bad option.
Rule Breakers can be found at some Whole Foods stores. You can also buy them online and even collect brownie points for some free product! Go ahead: break the rules.
