Review of SimplyNature's Organic Linguine

I live close to the US border, so I like to go there occasionally to shop. A few months ago I was there and discovered Aldi. I was immediately hooked, because their store brand organic foods are so much cheaper than anywhere else!

I have talked on other posts about how affordable organic food is getting due to store brands. Aldi is taking this to whole new level. Even after the exchange rate, the extra fee my credit card charges for international purchases and the toll on the bridge, it is still cheaper to shop there.

When I first saw this pasta I couldn't believe the price. It is ridiculously cheap! It's almost the same price as regular non-organic pasta. So I bought one to try.

And I wasn't disappointed. The taste is great. It's got a good consistency too (if you cook as indicated in the package). And it's also very easy to cook (like all other pastas).

Here's a picture of a dish I made with it:

(note: reviews for the other organic ingredients (also bought at Aldi) are coming soon!)

And of course I also love it because it has no refined sugar, and the ingredient list is simple:  just organic wheat and water.

My only complaint about this product is that I wish it came in a bigger package - for even more savings! (though its the same as other brands' package size) After I first bought and tried this, I've been buying 4-6 boxes per month. It would be much more practical if I could just buy one big package.

In conclusion, if you live on the US or near the border, I highly recommend this product (and most other organic things at Aldi too - stay tuned for more reviews). It's much more affordable than anything we buy in Canada. And for the Americans, it's a great and affordable way to buy organic.

Review of Lice Choices' Whole Fish Fillets

I have talked on a previous post about how much I love the chicken nuggets from this same brand.

These fish fillets are no different! They taste miles away from the fish fingers I used to eat as a kid. I think the key is that they are made from wild caught fish, as opposed to "fish meat" (or some other mega-processed fish ingredient).

The breading is similar (if not the same) as the one on the chicken. It tastes so much better and wholesome. It is not too fatty like the regular fish fingers I used to eat before going organic/free-range/etc.

I also love that they are sourced from Certified Sustainable Fisheries. It's so important to encourage people who are doing the right thing when it comes to farming. That's the other reason why I try to only eat organic/free-range/etc.

They are priced the same as the Chicken Nuggets, so I usually only buy them when they are on sale (which is reasonably often).

Like the Chicken Nuggets, I love these fillets because of the practicality. It's so easy to toss them in the oven and have a delicious meal, especially when I'm in a pinch and didn't have time to cook my usual protein (beans).

Another reason why I love these (and Chicken Nuggets) is that they have no refined sugar in the breading. It's hard for me to buy even (supposedly) healthy frozen food, because a lot of them also have refined sugar in the ingredients list.

I love these products and will continue buying them for as long as they are sold. I highly recommend them.

Review of Life Choices' Chicken Nuggets

I'm not one for processed food, but sometimes I get busy and need a quick and healthy protein. And for that, I usually turn to Life Choices' Chicken Nuggets. I love these nuggets!

First of all they are made from free-range, responsibly raised chicken without hormones or antibiotics. For the past 4 years I've been eating mostly vegetarian, but I occasionally do eat chicken. And when I do, it's always responsibly raised (either from Life Choices or from Whole Foods). I figured if I'm only eating organic, I also need to be consistent with my meat, and only eat healthy, chemical-free animal products.

The other reason is that I love the taste of these nuggets! I was invited by some friends to a popular local restaurant last year, where I tried a chicken dish. Oh how I regretted it! The chicken felt completely tasteless! And to make it worse, the consistency was very unpleasant: it felt like I was biting a rubber sole. It reminded me of why I never eat out. Life Choices' Chicken Nuggets, on the other hand, have real chicken taste. The difference is amazing! They are soft and crunchy. Once again, I realised how spoiled my palate has become.

The price is a bit high (about $14 in Loblaws in Ontario), but if you wait for them to go on sale, you at least get the best deal you can find ($9). Whenever this goes on sale I usually stock up on 2-3 packages.

I love these nuggets and will continue buying them as long as they keep making and selling them. I highly recommend them to anyone who wants to eat healthy or even, those who are vegetarians due to animal welfare concerns.