Product Review – Sweet Earth Natural Foods

Since I love to cook and experiment with fresh ingredients, the thought of prepared, microwavable meals usually makes me cringe.  Sure, they’re convenient when you’re short on time or not in the mood to put something together, but in my past experience have always been either too bland, overwhelmingly salty, full of “filler” ingredients (we’ve all had the burrito that’s 80% rice), and not all that satisfying.  However, when I was recently given the chance to sample and review a few products by Sweet Earth Natural Foods, a Pacific Grove, CA-based company that boasts actual “nourishing and delicious vegetarian prepared foods,” my interest was piqued.

Glancing over the ingredient lists of the burritos on their website, I was pleasantly surprised to see foods like chia seeds, anasazi beans, coconut milk, and bok choy—not at all run-of-the-mill “filler” ingredients!  On top of that, I actually recognized all of the ingredients listed; no funny chemical names, additives, or hydrogenated whatevers.  This had potential…delicious potential.

Furthermore, the opportunity to try Sweet Earth Natural Foods couldn’t have come at a better time.  I was going to be traveling to a new city for several days to compete in a national-level triathlon race, and was anxious about having limited options for convenient, nutritious, race-worthy vegan food.  On top of this, I was in the process of packing up for a cross-country move, so my usually well-stocked kitchen was running low on creative ingredients in my efforts to cut back on food purchases before the move.

By the time my box of Sweet Earth Natural Foods goodies arrived, I was really excited to give the products a try.  I received four of their signature, 100% vegan burritos: the Big Sur Breakfast, the Curry Tiger, the Kyoto, and the Anasazi.  Sweet Earth also sent over three boxes of their seitan* varieties: Traditional slices, Chipotle Style strips, and Curry Recipe Satay.

* For those of you who have never tried seitan, I highly endorse it!  It is a mainstream product in Asia and the Middle East, but is gaining popularity in the U.S. as a versatile, tender, and more sustainable alternative to meat that is enjoyed by many omnivores and vegans alike.   Did I mention that it contains about 20 grams of protein in just a 3oz serving?  One important fact to keep in mind is that it is comprised of mostly wheat gluten, earning it the nickname “wheat meat,” and therefore not recommended for those sensitive to gluten (I personally try to limit gluten in my diet, but love having seitan once in a while!).

The Burritos

The burritos are typically frozen and have a one-year shelf life in the freezer, but since they had thawed by the time I received them, I decided to keep them in the fridge, where they have a shorter shelf life of seven days (four burritos in seven days? Challenge accepted).  They can be heated in either the microwave or oven, and even though I usually avoid the microwave, I tried both methods for comparison.  Note:  If you’re storing these in the fridge as opposed to the freezer, you don’t need to heat it quite as long as the recommended times listed on the packaging.

Big Sur Breakfast (microwave prep):  VegNews voted this burrito one of the Best in Show at the 2012 Natural Products Expo West, and I can see why!  Though the first few bites were a bit dry, the great breakfast flavors totally hit the spot.  The potato and spices stood out the most, followed by the soft texture of the tofu and little bites of smoked seitan.  A classic, and my favorite of the bunch!

Anasazi (microwave prep):  Loved the butternut squash!  The chipotle and chili flavor were definitely distinct.  I topped it off with some slices of avocado and it was a great complement.

Kyoto (oven prep):  A unique blend of Japanese ingredients.  The adzuki beans and edamame were a nice twist on traditional bean burritos, and the ginger gave it a little extra kick.  I also liked that the tortilla for this oven-baked burrito was slightly crunchier than its microwaved counterparts.

Curry Tiger (oven prep):  Some nice yet subtle Southeast Asian-inspired flavors, including turmeric, cinnamon, and cardamom.  Definitely not what you would expect from a burrito, but this was my boyfriend’s favorite!

Bottom line

These were all really tasty in their own ways, and surprisingly filling.  The unique flavors, wholesome ingredients, and high protein content did not disappoint;

I would definitely get them again for traveling or to keep around as quick meals  

The wraps were the only things that I didn’t totally love, but they didn’t detract much from the overall experience.  It would be pretty neat to see Sweet Earth offer a gluten-free burrito someday, perhaps the Kyoto without seitan, and with tamari and a rice-based wrap in place of the soy sauce and wheat!

Oh yeah, and that triathlon I mentioned earlier?  I had some of the burritos in the days leading up to the race, and both my taste buds and tummy were happy.  None of the dreaded stomachaches-from-eating-something-new-too-close-to-race-day, and I even set a personal best, so yay Sweet Earth burritos!

The Seitan

I had a lot of fun cooking with the seitan, and created several stir-fry dishes with them.  I grew up eating a range of seitan dishes, but the curry and chipotle varieties were definitely different from any I’d ever had.  The packages stay fresh in the fridge for up to 90 days.

Bottom line

I actually really enjoy making my own seitan and coming up with my own flavors, so might not personally purchase these on a frequent basis.  However, I like that Sweet Earth Natural Foods carries their seitan products in unique flavors and several cuts/textures for extra variety, and the convenience factor cannot be understated.  They also provide some simple recipes for inspiration on their website.

Besides burritos and seitan, Sweet Earth Natural Foods also carries veggie burgers, sesame energy bars, vegan pies, and exotic soups, all with a California-inspired flare.  At the moment, their products are limited to a variety of stores located mostly on the West Coast, which, lucky for me, is actually where the cross-country move mentioned earlier in this post is taking me.  If those products are anything like the ones I’ve already tried, I am surely going to be hitting up my nearest Whole Foods to grab a few of them.   Especially the pies…who can resist a good vegan pie as Fall approaches?

When it comes to prepared foods, Sweet Earth Natural Foods won over my skeptical heart with its wholesomeness and execution, and stays true to the slogan “Keep it fresh, keep it real, and don’t be afraid to spice things up.”