M&S The Dark One Bar

So I took a little break from blogging this week because I have been overwhelmed with coursework and knew that it was important that I focus on my studies for a little bit. I hope that you all have had a wonderful Christmas and got everything that you wanted and so much more! Now, time for the good bit, the review.

My mum was desperate to get me some chocolate for a stocking filler and she managed to get me a few delicious bits and pieces, the first that I am going to review is this little bar from Marks & Spencer's. It is a simple bar, just plain dark chocolate, but I know that when dome well this can be an indulgent treat that can have you counting down the hours until your next fix of the stuff, and this bar is surprisingly really good.

It is really creamy with a good melt, the cocoa content isn't particularly high so you don't have much of a bitterness. The bar is nice and smooth and a perfect serving size with enough sweetness to be delicious. Overall I thought this was a tasty treat and I am sort of craving another bar if I'm honest!

Rating - 8.75/10

Vegan - Yes

Calories - 184

Buy Again - Definitely

Sweet Freedom Choc Orange Shot

As you may have read the other day I have recently rekindled my love with the deliciously warming drink that it hot chocolate. Thanks to the wonderful people at Sweet Freedom I am able to have this tasty drink once again! 

Today I am trying the Spiced Orange flavour, I had high expectations for this but at the same time I was a little sceptical because surely it couldn't live up to my high expectations. 

The flavour of the chocolate is just incredible, it is so rich it works perfectly when added to milk, although I would quite happily eat this off of a spoon... The orange spice is incredible, it has enough spice to add intrigue without being overwhelming and the Orange shone through beautifully. I think that I enjoyed this even more than the regular flavour! I can't convey how much I loved this and I would love to try the coconut flavour next!

Rating - 9.25/10

Vegan - Yes

Calories - 14 per 5g

Buy Again - Definitely!

Good Full Stop Vegan Bars

The very kind people of Good Full Stop sent me a lovely package of all their bars to sample and review. I love when this happens because it gives me the opportunity to try new things and share them with all you lovely people! All of the bars are vegan and are in the form of a raw food bar, they are moist, soft and squidgy. I loved them!

Choc Orange

This one had a very lovely cocoa flavour that worked well with the fresh and fruity citrusy orange. It reminded me of a Jaffa Cake a bit but a little milder and more cocoa flavoured.

I would definitely recommend this bar!

Rating - 8.75/10

Choc Mint

I am a massive fan of mint chocolate because I find it to be a refreshing combination whilst also being indulgent. The flavour of the mint was much stronger than that of the orange but that certainly isn't a complaint. I loved how minty it was without it tasting like toothpaste, the cocoa shone through nicely and pulled the who,e bar together. Very tasty!

Rating - 9/10

Double Choc

This was a simple and plain cocoa flavour which worked very well with the fruity goodness that makes up these bars. I really enjoyed it because it had the natural sweetness like the other bars with a slightly bitter flavour from the cocoa, but this was a really nice depth that it added!

Rating - 8.75/10

Cherry Maple

I was a tad sceptical of this flavour initially because most cherry flavoured things have a horrible medicinal quality to them and I hate it because I love fresh cherries! And I had never thought to pair it up with maple either but upon my first bite I realised that this was a perfect combination. The cherry was strong and natural, just how it should be which worked well with the sweetness brought to the bar by the maple. I think that this bar is great for anyone who wants a sweet snack whilst still being healthy!

Rating - 9.25/10

Mixed Nuts

I was a little sceptical about this flavour because I am not normally a fan of nutty bars because they can be quite bland and tasteless, but this bar was far from flavourless! It was sweet and nutty with a greatly moreish taste that left me wanting another bar! I was really impressed overall by the rich nutty bar.

Rating - 9/10

Raspberry

This flavour like all the others was absolutely lovely. The raspberry shone through very nicely and tasted natural and fresh. The bar itself was soft and chewy which simply added to the overall experience! Absolutely loved it!

Rating - 8.75/10

Smooze Coconut & Mango

For obvious reasons there is very little frozen delights on offer in the freezer sections during the winter months, but I find this to be a bit of a nuisance because I love to have a lolly ice of an evening! Unfortunately the vegan options become nearly non existent, so when my mum came home with a box of these I couldn't help but smile.

I had heard many good things about these lolly ices but I was a tad nervous about trying something new (I know it's odd but that is just who I am).

The flavour is incredible, it is very creamy with a lovely strong coconut flavour coming through, it combines well with the mango to create a perfectly refreshing combination. I was concerned that it would be really icy and a bit rubbish but I was so very wrong! I loved this and I can't wait to try the other flavours in the range, especially the pineapple!

Benefits

Smooze is a low calorie, freeze-at-home, tropical treat that is perfect for the whole family. Made simply from freshly-pressed coconut milk and pure fruit juices and purees, with one taste, you'll know you're eating something good.

Free from dairy, gluten, soy, nuts, artificial sweeteners, colourings and flavourings, Smooze is a portion-controlled, guilt-free indulgence guaranteed to delight; you'll fall in love with Smooze.

Rating - 9/10

Vegan - Yes

Calories - 66

Buy Again? - Already have!

Sweet Freedom Choc Shot

I absolutely love hot chocolate, but after giving up dairy I found that I had to give up my beloved hot chocolate. This is mainly due to my laziness more than anything else because most instant powders like Options or Weight Watchers contain milk powder, and ones that don't can be a little rubbish. 
I was really craving a nice warm cup of hot chocolate last week and realised that I had some of this delicious Freedom Chocolate Shot in my fridge, so I read the instructions which to,d me that I could just add it to hot water but I wanted some indulgence on this cold winter day so I decided to use unsweetened almond milk instead. It used 200ml of milk with 20g of Chocolate shot and this created a delicious drink! It was rich and creamy with plenty of flavour! You would never guess that it was dairy free and even my mum and grandmother said that it smelt really nice. 

It was easy to make and took maybe two and a half minutes at most. I would strongly recommend this to both vegans and non vegans because you really can't taste the difference, plus you aren't left with all of the horrible gritty bits at the bottom which won't mix despite my best efforts!

Rating - 9/10
Vegan - Yes
Calories - 14 per 5g
But Again? - Definitely!

Leaf Liverpool

Leaf is an integral part of Liverpool Bold Street, without it the street just wouldn't be whole, with its buzzing atmosphere and delicious range of food and drink you can't give it a miss! They offer a large selection of vegetarian foods and a generous selection of vegan varieties, so you certainly aren't short for choice here! 

They specialise in serving tea (as you will have worked out from the name...) and they certainly do not disappoint with their variety, there is almost a whole page dedicated to it so there is a flavour for every mood. 

I have tried the Oolong Green Tea and I can say that it is perhaps the best cup of green tea I have ever drank, perhaps that is because it was loose tea and of a very high quality? I don't know what they do but it tastes amazing.

Onto the food. Today I decided to play it safe and go with the Red Pepper and Tomato Soup, I thought that the soup may be a bit generic and bland in flavour but boy was I wrong! The soup was thick and full of flavour, it came out in this massive bowel with a huge slice of bread to go with it (I forgot to ask for it without butter so I couldn't eat the bread but it did look delicious!)

They have two other soups on the menu, both the regulars are vegan and they do a speciality soup of the day which could be vegan, it all depends on the day.

They also offer a vegan breakfast option which consists of two falafel sausages, roasted vine tomatoes, field mushrooms, baked beans and toast. There are several items that could easily be made vegan with a slight alteration of asking for it without cheese so don't be disheartened if you don't immediately see something vegan because you can always ask! 

I am a big fan of independent cafe's and things because I like to support my local businesses so I wanted to spread the word to all of my readers that Liverpool does have a lot to offer! 

Tyrrell's Sweet & Salty Poshcorn

As you all know, I am a massive fan of popcorn, so it is a bit strange that it has taken me this long to actually try any of their range! So obviously I had to rectify this issue and try it immediately.
The popcorn itself comes in a lovely looking bag, I really like the simplicity of the design and how it looks quite posh and sophisticated whilst still having a fun look to it. I was equally impressed when I opened the bag to find that it was very well filled, everything looked evenly coated and I couldn't see any unpopped corns.
The flavour itself is lovely, just enough saltiness to work with the sweetness from the sugar. I really enjoyed it and you could tell that it was of a high quality!

Rating - 8.5/10
Calories - 119
Vegan - Yes
Buy Again - Yes!

Hartley's Sugar Free Blackcurrant Jelly

I enjoy having my little pot of jelly of an evening, but being vegetarian I find that I can be awfully limited with which flavour I can have, no strawberry, raspberry or orange for me unfortunately, so I was relieved when I realised that the Blackcurrant flavour was in fact vegan. 

The flavour is really nice, it is deliciously sweet and tastes a bit like the black Fruit Pastilles I think, the jelly was nicest served freezing cold straight out of the fridge. It has a good wobble to it and it was bursting with flavour which is pretty impressive considering it has no sugar in it and it contains less than ten calories!

My Mum who is currently on the Weight Watchers diet said that these are a perfect pudding to have of an evening with some yogurt and fruit, or even as a snack in between meals because it is quite filling. 

Rating - 8.75/10

Vegan - Yes

Calories - 8

Buy Again - Already Have!

Egg Cafe Liverpool Review

Eating out can be quite stressful if you are vegan or sometimes even vegetarian with the only options ever being soup or salad. It can be so boring going out for lunch with my friends when all I can order is soup when they are having these incredible sandwiches and meals. So you can imagine how thrilled I was to discover this little gem located on Bold Street in Liverpool! 

The cafe itself is very rustic looking and you can't help but feel instantly welcomed when you enter through the heavy purple doors, the smell which greets you is lovely and warming, especially on a cold winter day. There is plenty of seating options for big groups or small so there is never an issue with that.

The staff are so friendly and obviously enjoy their job and that shows in the high level of service that you receive from them, service with a smile has never been more true!

Now, onto the food! Most if not all of their food is vegan, even their famous cheese on toast is available to be made with vegan cheese! The bread is so fresh and fabulously thick, it also comes with a delicious serving of mixed salad, and when I say salad I don't mean a measly portion of leaves with a few slices of tomato, I mean fresh pasta salad, bulgur wheat salad, and other lovely yumminess! The prices are very reasonable and you certainly get your money worth in both taste, quality and portion size.

They offer a different selection of specials every day so there is no chance of food being anything less than fresh, you can even see the cooks preparing the meals. They offer a great selection of vegan puddings and cakes with vegan custard to top them off with so even if you didn't fancy anything savoury there are still some good options available for you.

Overall I would urge anyone may they be vegan/vegetarian or not to go try this lovely little cafe, you won't regret it I can assure you. The food is incredible, the atmosphere is fantastic, and the service is sublime! 

Rating - 9.9/10

Kingdom Dark Chocolate & Cherry

I think that the dark chocolate market can be a little boring with the only flavour combinations being orange or mint, and as much as I do love them it can get a bit monotonous. My darling Mother bought me this bar because she is basically the best (love you mum). 

The bar is presented in a lovely wrapper that catches your eye immediately, the packaging design is really nice and I think that this adds to the whole experience. Upon opening the bar I was greeted to a strong smell of high quality cocoa, but no cherry which I found odd and initially I was worried that this bar was going to be a let down, but when I bit into it I couldn't help but fall in love.

The bar is creamy and smooth, the melt on it was fantastic which can be a problem for some dark chocolates. The cherry flavour shone through nicely, it was natural and subtle but not so subtle that you couldn't taste it. 

Overall this bar was an absolute delight to eat, I really enjoyed it and found it to satisfy my chocolate craving.

My mum got me this bar from a little vegan cafe in Liverpool called 'The Old Hardware Shop' and I would strongly urge anyone in Liverpool to visit it because it is a beautiful and quaint little shop!

Rating - 9/10

Vegan - Yes

Calories - 146 per 25g

Buy Again - Yes!

Vivani Dark Nougat - Vegan Tuck Box

One of my favourite chocolate bars growing up was Toblerone. I used to love the creamy chocolate with the nutty and gooey nougat, so you can imagine my delight when my mum bought me this as a special treat! A dark chocolate bar with chewy nougat running through the middle, I never knew such a wonderful thing existed!

The chocolate itself is absolutely delicious, it is such a good quality with its cocoa flavour shining through beautifully, it had just the right amount of sweetness. It melted really well, and I was impressed with how creamy it was. The filling was equally divine. The nougat was in tiny little pieces evenly scattered throughout the bar so you enjoyed some with every bite. Basically this bar was fantastic and delicious, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys good quality dark chocolate or just wants to try something new and different! Plus it is available from the Vegan Tuck Box for only £1 !

Rating - 9/10
Vegan - Yes
Calories - 566 per 100g
Buy Again - YES!!!

Almond Dream Salted Caramel Vegan Ice Cream

My reviews seem to be very ice cream based at the moment so I do apologise, but that won't stop me from writing another one! So here it is, another delicious offering from Almond Dream. This flavour was salted caramel, I was a little sceptical at first of this flavour, because how can they create caramel without milk, let alone a delicious version? Well they manage to do it very well indeed!

The ice cream itself is so creamy with lovely caramel and butterscotch flavours that you can't help but love. The ice cream melts very well, this itself is very impressive because vegan ice cream often just doesn't melt. It stays very icy and is just unpleasant to eat, but Almond Dream doesn't have this problem!

The ice cream was swirled with tasty salted caramel which was really nice and added a good depth to the overall flavour. This ice cream is so enjoyable to eat, I really can't convey just how much I love this brand and I can't wait to see what other incredible flavours that they will bring out! I'm hoping for a coffee flavour or maybe cookies and cream or a strawberry cheesecake would be incredible! In all fairness I would be happy with any flavour that they would release!

Rating - 9.5/10

Calories - 119 per 1/4 of a tub

Vegan - Yes

Buy Again -  YES!!!

Nutter Butter Bites

I have been absolutely desperate to try these little biscuits for ages but I can't find them anywhere, and then, just this week the little angel known as Amy sent me a lovely little package of peanutty goodness. I was thrilled to realise that they are also completely vegan! 

For those of you that don't know Nutter Butters are an American biscuit which are described as real peanut butter cookies which have that classic sweet, crunchy, rich peanut butter taste that has delighted taste buds for decades. If you love peanut butter, these peanut butter sandwich cookies will be perfect for you!

The biscuit has a deliciously sweet flavour which is almost butterscotchy with its richness, this perfectly balanced out the creamy yet salty flavour of the peanut butter. I was impressed that they actually used real peanut butter rather than a peanut flavoured cream! 

They are so incredibly moreish and tasty, I can imagine that these would be delicious with a cup of coffee! 

Rating - 9/10

Calories - 240 per pack

Vegan - Yes

Buy Again - Yes! 

Almond Dream Vegan Mint Chocolate Ice Cream

As much as I enjoy living a dairy free life, I must admit that I do miss some things. The thing that I probably miss the most is ice cream. I can't begin to express my jealousy when I see everyone tucking into the latest flavour of Ben & Jerry's whilst I am stuck here with sorbet. Don't get me wrong, I love the taste of sorbet and how refreshing it is, and I wouldn't go back to eating dairy but like everyone I do miss things. 

That is enough of my moaning though because now I have discovered something that has changed my life (okay, maybe an exaggeration but stick with me guys because I will get to the point eventually) Almond Dream ice cream. 

The ice cream itself is lovely and minty without tasting like toothpaste, it is so creamy and delicious, you would never realise that it isn't made with dairy! The chocolate chips were evenly mixed throughout the tub, something which can be major problem for some brands who have all of their flavouring clumped together in one bit. It is just such a delicious ice cream. The melt is very good, it doesn't go icy like you normally find with non dairy ice cream. 

We know how much ice cream is loved by the kid in all of us, and as the weather turns there is no better treat than curling up on the sofa to watch a movie and dig into your favourite ice cream.

Now you can get stuck into a rich and creamy tub of Dream ice cream that is Free from Dairy and Gluten. Spoilt for choice from Salted Caramel, Praline Crunch, Velvety Vanilla or intense Mint chocolate chip the range is made from Almonds which makes it so rich and creamy and suitable for vegetarians and vegans too!

Rating - 9.5/10

Vegan - Yes

Calories - 154 per 1/4 of a tub

Buy Again - YAAASSSS!!!

Ben & Jerry's Cinnamon Buns Ice Cream

This review is courtesy of my mum because I don't eat dairy. So thank you darling mother, I appreciate the sacrifice that you had to make! 

Her first reaction was that it was absolutely magical. When I asked her to elaborate she was initially lost for words because she said that it was just so good. The ice cream itself is creamy and caramelly, this worked incredibly well with the deliciously moreish chunks of cinnamon bun. The chunks of cinnamon bun were more like cookie dough which was a bit of a let down because it was expected that it would be more like the brownie batter that you get in the brownie ice cream. 

The cinnamon shone through beautifully, it had enough spice to add intrigue but paired with the perfect amount of sweetness so that it feels indulgent, yet light enough to eat the whole tub in one go, if you were inclined to do so that is!

My brother enjoyed this ice cream paired with a caramel apple cake, he said that the combination was perfect and the ice cream had enough flavour not to be overwhelmed by what you pair it with, whilst being subtle enough not to be the only thing that you can taste. 

Overall this was a win in my household and I am only sad that I couldn't join in myself, but as you will see in my next few reviews, I have found some tasty alternatives!

Rating - 9/10

Vegan - No

Calories - 273 per 100g

Buy Again - Yes

Fruit Bowl Sea Shapes

I am a sucker for anything cute. Seriously, you wouldn't think that I am nearly twenty years old... So here is another review of something adorable and predominantly aimed at children, but you know what? Things aimed at children are often more fun, initiative and sometimes even more healthier than their adult counterparts! Because there is such a big emphasis on things being natural, low in sugar, and free from all sorts of crazy additives.

Anyway, I have bored you enough with my lecture to make me feel better about me preferring children's snacks, so onto the review!

As you will have worked out, these were all natural chewy fruit snacks in the shape of sea creatures. They contain enough fruit to classify them as one of your five a day which I think is pretty impressive seeing as they are only 18g! You can really taste the fruit in it and it was quite strong so each bite was sweet and full of flavour.

Rating - 8/10

Vegan - Yes

Calories - 52

Buy Again? - Yes

Propercorn Smooth Peanut & Almond Popcorn

Popcorn is easily one of my favourite foods (as you will have noticed from my excessive popcorn reviews...) So I jumped at the chance to try this brand new Peanut & Almond popcorn from the incredible brand that is Propercorn. 

First off I am going to comment on the packaging because it is honestly stunning. It is minimalist with a good helping of style. I just love it and I think that it epitomises the brand as a whole. 

I can't get over how unique this flavour is, I would never have thought of having nutty popcorn, and not just the obvious peanut, but the under-utilised almond too! Now, the only question is, does it live up to expectations? 

Well the short answer is oh dear lord yes! It surpasses my expectations. It is creamy and nutty as though you are eating nut butter with the delicious fluffy, bouncy crunch of popcorn. It is so well done, the coating is even throughout and there wasn't a single unpopped corn in any of my bags, which is really impressive because in some brands there is more unpopped corns that there are popped!  

This bag felt so indulgent, I can't believe that it is only 120 calories because it tastes so good! It is just divine and I love it. Plus, it is fabulously vegan! 

Rating - 9.75/10

Calories - 120

Vegan - Yes!

Buy Again - YES!!!

Branston Spaghetti

When I think of spaghetti, my mind immediately goes to Heinz, and I would never think of deviating from Heinz. They are a tried and tested brand whose recipe has been perfected, but today whilst perusing the shelves in my local Tesco, I came across this tin of Branston spaghetti. I was intrigued, what could Branston bring to the plate (pardon the pun, but I couldn't resist) that other competitors could not? Because surely you can't really vary spaghetti in a tomato sauce all that much. 

So I opened the tin, with a little apprehension, and emptied it into my bowl and cooked for three minutes so that it was piping hot. The spaghetti itself was short cut which I think that I preferred because there is a better sauce to pasta ratio. The sauce had an interesting flavour to it, it wasn't your usual overly sweet tomato sauce, it had more depth and flavour to it, it sort of had a bit of a Branston kick to it which worked really well, initially I wasn't too fond of it but after a few spoonfuls I started to really enjoy it. There was a bit of a spice to the sauce and this overall helped make this an enjoyable addition to any meal or even as a meal in itself because I did find it to be very filling!

Rating - 7/10

Vegan - Yes (as far as I can tell)

Calories - 

Buy Again? - Probably

Nak'd Strawberry Protein Crunch Bar

Nak'd is quite easily one of my favourite brands out there. They offer such a wide range of products, each with a delicious and often innovative flavour to them. But whilst having such a healthy reputation, they still manage to taste so incredibly good. This is what I live about them, they dispel the myth that healthy food can only be bland, flavourless, and boring!

So that's enough preaching from me, now onto today's review- Nak'd Strawberry Crunch Bar and this is what Nak'd have to say about it.

Our Nākd Strawberry Crunch bar is every bit as yummy as you would expect from smooshing real strawberries together with fruits, nuts and protein crunchies, resulting in a seriously satisfying texture and long lasting tingly sweetness. What makes our new Crunch bars so special is the protein that we pack into each and every one of them, providing an irresistible crispy crunchiness that keeps you fuller for longer. With 100% natural ingredients, no added sugar or syrups and free from just about everything that could cause a fuss- including being free from wheat, dairy and gluten, this is a gorgeously yummy and nutritious snack that we’re sure you’ll love!

The bar is a little smaller than the other bars, it weighs only 30g rather than the usual 35g but if I'm honest, you can't really notice the difference because it looks just as big and it is still as filling so I really wasn't too bothered. 

The crunchy bits in it are really good because they add an interesting texture to them which helps to set it apart from the usual bars.

The strawberry flavour was lovely, sweet, and easily identifiable as naturally strawberry, something which is quite rare for most foods. 

Overall I loved this bar and enjoyed it with my breakfast, I felt full and satisfied until my lunch several hours later so I would strongly recommend this bar!

Rating - 8.5/10

Vegan - Yes

Calories - 107

Buy Again - Definitely!

M&S Souper Sweet Potato and Black Bean Soup

I really dislike soup. Like, I seriously hate everything about it. It has no real consistency to it, it is often like water, and it normally smells strange. So you will probably be thinking, ‘Why oh why is she reviewing soup if she hates it so much?’ But friends, stick with me here and do continue reading my review for it is fraught with twists and turns that would put even Agatha Christie to shame! 

I began off as a sceptic, I didn't even want the soup but my mum had kindly bought it for me as a treat because the weather is getting colder. I was far from excited at the prospect of having soup for my lunch. 

I put it into the microwave with plenty of reservations, but these seemed to slowly fade away as the smell of paprika and spice creeped through the kitchen, I felt myself warming to the idea of this soup, I thought, at least it will taste okay.

The real change happened when I poured it into my pretty bowl and I was engulfed by the tempting aroma and I was shocked at just how thick it was, with massive chunks of sweet potato and loads of black beans and red peppers. My eyes lit up and I finally began to feel excited at the prospect of my lunch. This excitement only increased as I took my first spoon full. I cannot put into words how much I enjoyed this soup, it was incredible. It was laden with vegetable and a thick and satisfying chilli sauce. There was enough heat to add a kick but not so much that it made it an unpleasant experience. 

Overall I absolutely loved this soup and I would definitely consider having this soup again and I would even venture out and try some other soups from Marks & Spencer’s!

Rating – 9/10

Vegan – Yes

Calories – ?

Buy Again - Yes

Skittles Crazy Sours

I know this may sound absurd, but I have never actually had Skittle's before. They had just never really appealed to me, and when i finally did develop a slight curiosity for them I realised that they weren't actually suitable for vegetarians! And, as expected, when I knew that I couldn't have them I only wanted them more... 

So my mum treated me to not just one bag, but three so that I could get the whole Skittle experience. I am a big fan of sour sweets so I decided to try the 'Crazy Sours' first.

I shall go through them by flavour and colour because there is a good chance that I have got the flavours wrong... (The see no evil monkey emoji would have been perfect here, but I am a professional so I shall refrain).

Green (Apple)

I am pretty certain that this flavour was apple, and it was the very first one that I tried. I am glad that I went with this because it tasted a lot like a deliciously tart and crisp Granny Smith Apple! It was sour enough to make your mouth water, but not so much that it was painful to eat, so definitely a win in my opinion.

Orange (Orange)

Even I could identify that this flavour was orange, and if I'm honest, this was by far my least favourite flavour. It tasted really artificial and I found myself leaving most of them out if I'm honest or giving them to my Mum to eat. So this flavour wasn't too great and I think it could do with being taken out of the mix and replaced with a more interesting flavour like pear or perhaps even lemon & lime! Comment below with any better alternatives!

Pink (Raspberry or Strawberry)

This was my favourite flavour, I loved that they had a sour tang that helped to cut through the very sweet flavour of some berry-I am not entirely certain what berry, but I am confident that it was a berry. I think that his was my favourite flavour but I actually really enjoyed all of the flavours so it is only a slight favourite.

Purple (Blackcurrant or Blackberry)

This flavour was a bit sourer than the other flavours but again it worked well, the fruitiness came through well and I enjoyed this flavour, whatever it was.

Yellow (Pineapple)

This was a really nice flavour and probably the strongest in its sour flavour, but this was probably because pineapple is naturally a sour fruit. The flavour only intensified as you chewed away at it.

Rating - 8.25/10

Vegan - Yes

Calories - 218

Buy Again - Yes!

IQ Chocolate

As you will have noticed from my reviews, I eat a lot of chocolate, and you know what? I don't care, because I eat a really healthy diet and I am allowed a treat at the end of the day before I go to bed. So you can imagine that when I came across this brand of chocolate that boasted a menagerie of health benefits, I just couldn't resist trying it! They are all dairy free, nut free, gluten free, vegan, and low GI so the main question is, can something so healthy taste any good?

Well the answer is yes, but be warned, this chocolate isn't for the faint of heart or for those that see Dairy Milk as the perfect bar, because this is as far from Dairy Milk as you can get. The flavour of the cocoa is raw, it hasn't been processed or sweetened, it is an acquired taste, I myself wasn't a huge fan, so I decided to split the bar with my Dad and he couldn't get enough of it, he said that it was the perfect addition to his cup of coffee and that you only needed a few squares to satisfy your need for chocolate. It was a little bitter but somehow still creamy in a way. It was a nice change from my usual evening snack and it was good to know that I was eating something so full of healthy ingredients so there was no reason for me to feel guilty about enjoying this bar. The coffee flavour was probably my favourite but that is because I have a soft spot for coffee, I particularly enjoyed how there were pieces of raw coffee in it, it added a lovely texture to it.

Rating - 7/10

Vegan - Yes

Calories - 197

Buy Again - Probably

Cheetos Flamin' Hot

Cheetos are a major brand in America, and I am pretty certain that they used to exist here in the UK a good while ago, I vaguely remember them being advertised when I was little but I may be wrong… Anyway, they have been relaunched here and I was excited to discover that the ‘Flaming Hot’ flavour appear to be suitable for vegans.

Maize , Rapeseed Oil , Flamin' Hot Flavour [Flavourings (contains Soya, Wheat), Sugar, Flavour Enhancers (Monosodium Glutamate, Disodium 5'Ribonucleotide), Fructose, Salt, Dried Onion, Soya Sauce Powder (contains Wheat), Hydrolysed Soya Protein, Dried Garlic, Colour (Paprika Extract)] .

I really enjoyed these, they were softer than Wotsists and melted in your mouth, the flavour was nice because it wasn't too spicy but there was enough heat to add interest to them, it was more of a warming quality and I really enjoyed that, as did my Mother. Thankfully they never stained your hands or left much of a smell on them (a massive pet peeve of mine!)
Overall I think that these are a really nice snack to have, lots of taste and few calories l they are perfect for those on a diet (my mum insisted that I let everyone know that they are only 2 pro points on Weight Watchers).

Rating – 8/10
Calories – 69
Vegan – Yes
Buy Again - Yes

Sainsbury's Free From Choc n Crispy Bar

I love chocolate. It is just fab. But unfortunately for those of who don't eat dairy for whatever reason, we are often limited to dark chocolate and although I do love a bit of good quality dark chocolate, sometimes I am craving something so much more simple, like a Cadbury's Crunchy or something like that. So I was quite excited when I found this whilst perusing Sainsbury's. It is a dairy free chocolate crispy bar! 

The bar itself is nicely sectioned off so it can be broken easily into nice sized chunks. The chocolate flavour itself was pretty decent, it was quite creamy and had a good melt and wasn't like plastic which is always a bonus. The crispy bits were nice although I felt like they could have put more in so that it would add a bit more of an intrigue and whimsy to the texture of the bar itself.

Overall this makes a nice snack to enjoy of an evening with your night time snack. It was a change from my usual dairy free buttons and I would probably have this again.

Rating - 7.5/10

Vegan - Yes

Calories - 165

Buy Again - Probably

Heinz Spaghetti Hoops

I know that this will sound daft, but I only recently discovered that Heinz Spaghetti Hoops were vegan. For some bizarre reason I was under the impression that the pasta was made with egg, but upon further examination I realised that they are in fact vegan (or at least as far as I can tell). Heinz Spaghetti Hoops are a staple product in most households, and it is no wonder because it is quick, easy, healthy, and most importantly, super yummy! I love them, they are perfect for lunch because of how filling they are, plus a big tin is only 214 calories which is pretty darn amazing in my opinion! Okay I do realise that they are quite sweet and not to everybody’s taste, but I really like the sweetness because it works well against the starchy spaghetti. The spaghetti itself is of a good quality and has a nice flavour to it. Basically, I love Heinz staple products, I don't tend to like it when they try weird new flavours and variations. Stick with what you know and you can't go too wrong, although, if Heinz are reading this I would really appreciate a vegetarian/vegan sausage and beans or spaghetti! Or maybe a vegan spaghetti bolognese? 

Rating – 9/10

Vegan – Yes (As Far As I Can Tell)

Calories – 107 per ½ a Tin

Buy Again? – Already Have!

Starburst

Starburst are a staple sweet in the UK and from what I have seen they are very popular in the U.S. With a larger variety of limited editions than we get here, but when do we ever get the exciting flavours ? Anyway, that's enough of my pet peeve, I will get onto the review.

Now I do realise that most people will have tried Starburst before (or Opal Fruits as they were formerly known) but I feel that they deserve a review seeing as they are a national treasure and accidentally vegan! 

Blackcurrant

These had a good strong flavour, and unlike many Blackcurrant flavoured things, it wasn't unpleasant. I tend to avoid Blackcurrant flavoured things for this very reason because often they are too tart or just flavourless but these Starburst seem to have perfectly mastered the combination. Sweet but with a slight sour tang. 

Lemon & Lime

I think that these are my absolute favourites in the pack. I love the fresh flavour of the citrus and how the flavours are so natural tasting. They taste so refreshing, which I one is an odd description to apply to a sweet but it is true. 

Orange

It is shocking how much this actually tastes of fresh oranges. The flavour is just wonderful, I am a lover of all things orange but it is very rare that it is done well and by done well I mean tasting natural. It is obvious that the people at Starburst have used real fruit juice to flavour it rather than artificial additives and it really does shine through.

Strawberry

This flavour was sweeter than the others, but because this was strawberry it worked perfectly. The flavour shone through brilliantly and it is obvious why Starburst are such a well loved sweet all over the world.

Rating - 9/10

Vegan - Yes

Calories - 182

Buy Again - Yes!

Twining's Fudge Melts Green Tea

I really do enjoy green tea, but it isn't to everybody's taste because it can be quite bitter, but the wonderful people at Twining’s have found a solution to this problem by infusing the classic taste of  green tea with the modern favourites such as Fudge Melts. I was a tad sceptical, because how can they combine these two flavours together which are usually worlds apart?

But somehow Twining’s manage this beautifully. The flavour is subtle enough that you can still taste the green tea, but you can still enjoy the indulgence of creamy, rich, and caramelly fudge. The smell is simply heavenly and even had my mother wanting to try a cup (despite her hating green tea usually). The fudge flavour is so authentic and natural tasting, this also helps to get rid of the bitter after taste. It also helped that I have finally learnt how to brew tea correctly! My best tip is not to squeeze the tea bag, instead just pull it out without squeezing it because that is where the bitterness comes from.

Rating – 9/10

Calories – 1

Vegan – Yes

Buy Again – Yes!

M&S Apple Crisps

I am a fruit lover, I mean I seriously love fruit. It makes me happy and it makes up about 2/3 of my diet. I have it in many different forms; fruit in juice, dried fruit, frozen fruit, and regular fruit. So it was only a matter of time before I tried the Marks & Spencer's dried Apple crisps. These are thinly sliced apples baked in an oven with just a little bit of lemon juice on them to stop them from browning (I think). They are totally healthy, full of goodness and most importantly, they taste great! The flavour is strongly of apple, just as it should be. There is nothing artificial about this and the crunch is fantastic, they are so crisp, far superior than when I attempted to make my own which some how managed to be simultaneously burnt and uncooked... As you can guess they were pretty awful and went straight in the bin.

Anyway, overall I really enjoyed these as an addition to my lunch, it was a nice variation on my normal popcorn, they are quite pricey but to be honest you are paying for quality so they are worth the price tag.

Rating - 9/10

Vegan - Yes

Calories - 105

Buy Again? - Yes

Peanut Butter Oreos (UK)

Oreo’s have quickly become a staple biscuit in the UK, but despite this there has been very little variety on offer except for double stuff, which let’s be honest are nice nice enough but far from revolutionary or exciting, especially when compared to what is on offer all over the globe. I would love to try some of the more adventurous flavours like s’mores or red velvet, but finally the UK has got a bit of variety! We have peanut butter!
Unfortunately these are not vegan which meant that I couldn't try them so I have given that job to my brother, the lucky lad!
So this is his opinion not mine and his tastes are very different from mine, but hopefully he will give you a good idea of what these are like.
The combination of crunchy chocolate biscuit and a creamy peanut butter centre worked well, but that was no surprise because it was a tried and tested pairing. The peanut butter had a nice hint of saltiness which worked well with the sweet chocolate biscuit. Overall these are a tasty snack and the UK is lucky to have them! It is a shame that they have whey powder in them, but other than that they are pretty good!

Rating – 8/10
Vegan – No
Calories – 53
Buy Again - Probably

Fox's Frozen Strawberry Biscuits

I am a sucker for anything cute and whimsical, so it is only natural that I would pick up a bag of these Fox’s Frozen Biscuits! They are basically a round biscuit with a Frozen themed icon printed into them, I thought that this was a nice touch rather than it being the generically boring biscuit, which in my opinion is a major cop out when companies make a themed product but the theme only extends to the packaging! Anyway, the biscuits were good, crumbly and crunchy in texture, the strawberry flavour came through quite nicely as it was rather subtle, but I often find that strawberry flavoured things tend to be artificial and too strong but this worked well. I can imagine children would love to take these to school with them in their packed lunch box, I'm not too sure that I would choose these as my new favourite and go to biscuits but I would certainly have them again! My Mum tried a pack and agreed that they were really nice and said that they were a great way to get a sweet hit whilst on a diet. 

Also, I have looked at the ingredients and I am pretty certain that they are suitable for vegans, I have checked several times and as far as I can see they are vegan but correct me if I am wrong.

Rating – 8/10

Vegan – Yes

Calories – 115

Buy Again - Probably

Natural Balance Foods Protein Trek Bars

The most annoying question you get when you become a vegetarian and even more so when you are a vegan, is where do you get your protein from. This is the first thing people ask you and it is absolutely infuriating because there are so many plant based sources of protein and as humans we don't actually need as much protein as we are led to believe, but anyway, whenever someone mentions protein bars, my thoughts automatically turn to  Natural Balance Food's Trek Protein Bars . And once you have tried them, these will be your go to protein bars, they are not exclusively for vegans or athletes, so if you like what you have read and fancy a change, then go to the website and pick up a mixed case today and find out your favourite, so follow the link and check out the whole range of Natural Balance Protein Bars .Here is a bit of information about Trek bars.

With 10g of protein per bar, these beauties are at the top of the sports nutrition food chain! Made with a delicious combination of fruits, gluten free oats and nuts to keep you going, these healthy snacks are ideal for refuelling after the gym, and they also make great breakfasts on the go. Try one and see for yourself!

Banana Blast

I really enjoyed this flavour, it had a lovely subtle and natural banana flavour to it, something which is rather rare, there is also hints of cinnamon which worked really well with the banana. Overall I really loved this bar and can imagine it would be really nice when heated up in the microwave with lashings of (vegan) custard on top!

Berry Burst

The berry flavour came through very well, whilst still maintaining the nutty sweetness that one would associate with raw food bars. I can't get over just how natural these bars taste and I think that it is a testament to Natural Balance for making these so healthy and delicious!

Cocoa Chaos

Now I really liked this bar, but be warned, if you are expecting something that tastes like a bar of Dairy Milk then you will be disappointed because this is cocoa flavoured not chocolate. The flavour is more earthy than the others but that is something which I really enjoyed, I like the taste of raw cocoa. Overall this is a good bar but don't go in expecting it to taste like a brownie.

Peanut Power

This was my absolute favourite, it tastes just like peanut butter and I love it. It isn't overly sweet which I think works very well here because this prevents it from becoming cloying and unpleasant. It is an excellent source of energy and I can imagine that this would be fantastic for anyone in need of a boost in energy.

Natural Balance Protein Bars

Fresca Original American Soda

My usual go to drink is Pepsi Max, but I have given it up because the quantity I was drinking was far from healthy... Anyway, I decided to treat myself and have a fizzy drink, but not one of the dull British fizzy drinks, an American one! 

This is a brand called Fresca which specialises in low calorie citrus soft drinks, apparently it did used to be available in the UK, but it was discontinued by Coca Cola but released all over the globe, this can is specifically from the fabulous USA!

The flavour is quite subtle, though this is not a bad thing, it tasted like sparkling water with a slice of lemon in it and it was rather nice. It was very refreshing, especially after being chilled in the fridge for a day. It wasn't quite as strong as a lemonade, or particularly sweet but once again, that was not a bad thing. If they started selling this in the UK I would definitely start drinking it, until then I suppose I will have to enjoy it as a rare treat saved for special occasions!

Rating - 7/10

Vegan - Yes

Calories - 0

Buy Again - Yes

Del Monte Smoothie Lollies

I often find that traditional lolly ices are quite unsatisfying, they leave me feeling just as hungry and they normally have a watery flavour to them that is quite unpleasant and far from refreshing. So I have found this fabulously fruity alternative in the form of Del Monte Smoothie Lolly Ices! They come in two flavours, raspberry and mango-I am not a big fan of the mango one so I shall leave this review to another day when I am feeling a bit more harsh.

The raspberry one is packed full of fruit and you can tell from the fresh flavour. There is no hint of anything artificial, which is a lovely change because most things now tend to taste manufactured or have that strange aftertaste that just isn't natural.

I really do love these lolly ices and I have them every night because I am a creature of habit, plus they taste delicious!

Rating – 9/10

Vegan – Yes

Calories – 81

Buy Again – Indeed!

M&S Sticky Rice with Tenderstem Broccoli and Roasted Red Peppers

Lunch whilst trying to live a vegan or dairy free life can be quite difficult whilst you are out and about so it essential to have some safe foods that you know you can go to without fear. I find this a problem, because soup, which you would presume would be safe, often has hidden ingredients such as animal stock, cream, or egg. This can be infuriating for people with dairy intolerances or those living vegan lifestyles. So my current go to is from Marks & Spencer's Chargrilled Red Pepper & Tenderstem Broccoli Sticky Rice Salad. 

It is absolutely delicious and surprisingly filling, I tend to avoid white rice in favour of things like quinoa or bulgur wheat, so this was something a bit different for me, and I am pleased to say that I really enjoyed this. The broccoli has been steamed and is soft yet has a bite to it, the red pepper is sweet and soft, and the rice was sticky and really indulgent in taste. I really did enjoy this and found it to be a thoroughly satisfying lunch. I found the sauce to be a little strong so I used it as a dip rather than pour it all over. 

I particularly enjoyed the carrot and ginger because it added a nice depth to the overall flavour of the meal and it helped to break up the flavour of the rice.

Rating - 9/10

Vegan - Yes

Calories - 316

Buy Again - Yes!