25 Food & Drink Discoveries For May 2021 & Well Beyond
With everything happening in the world, there is still a lot of uncertainty going around. But everyone needs to eat, and there is no shortage of exciting food and drink offerings to order online. If you are searching for new food discoveries, you have come to the right place as I have been monitoring the latest and greatest from online retailers. Here are 25 recommendations available for ordering today.
It is no secret that sugar is public enemy #1 when it comes to being healthy. Unfortunately there is no shortage of options on the market that claim to have less sugar. But the problem is two-fold — many of those offerings taste unpleasant and are loaded with questionable ingredients that turn joyful moments into regret. Project 7 is there to offer a balance between making healthier choices while still enjoying the fun things in life, like candy. Through time-tested favorites like gummy bears, lollipops, and more, Project 7 gives you the mouth-watering, whimsical treats you crave with considerably less sugar and the cleanest plant-based ingredients. Arguably good enough to eat 7 days a week!
Raisels are the remixed version of a favorite nostalgic snack. The vegan, gluten-free golden raisins are made with sour, sweet and spicy flavors. As a great better-for-you snack or choice for kids, Raisels are made with real fruit and no artificial sweeteners, flavors or corn syrup. Raisels believes that getting part of your daily dose of fruit can be the as fun as it is nutritious. The snack currently has 7 unique flavors to choose from: Sour Watermelon Shock, Sour Lemon Blast, Sour Orange Burst, Sour Fruit Splash, Fiesta Pineapple Chili Limón, Tropical, and Raspberry.
Last month, King’s Hawaiian partnered with 3 of the most legendary sandwich makers from coast to coast — Joe’s KC Bar-B-Que in Kansas City, Primanti Bros. in Pennsylvania and Wexler’s Deli in Los Angeles — to put a “Hawaiianspin” on these eateries’ most popular creations for a limited-time. Thanks to the team at Goldbelly, I had the pleasure of trying a top-notch Z-Man Sandwich from Joe’s KC Bar-B-Qye, as featuring pulled pork and chopped pineapple tossed in a sweet and spicy glaze, as topped with provolone, crispy onion rings and BBQ sauce on toasted King’s Hawaiian Sliced Bread. Simply put, everything is better between King’s Hawaiian bread.
Harmless Harvest — the pink coconut water brand we all love — also made a 4/20-friendly dairy-free yogurt alternative. I had the pleasure of trying the brand’s 4.20 gift set, which included truffle crumb cakes, a grinder to crush toppings, matches to melt sauce, a hemp napkin, spoon, bowl, and of course, the Harmless Harvest dairy-free coconut yogurt.
Per the yogurt alternative itself, it is a plant-based, dairy-free, soy-free, vegan offering, as hand-scooped organic coconut meat. Naturally cultured with 7 live and active yogurt strains, it includes MCT’s from coconut and its available flavors include Plain, Strabwerry, Vanilla and Blueberry. This product currently comes in 2 sizes;: 4.4-ounce individual cups and a 24-ounce container.
So, you binged on sugar. Now what?
Well, you might have a sugar hangover.
But don’t worry – there is something you can do! So, let’s put the guilt and shame aside. What’s the next step? Click the link below to find out!https://t.co/IQikOnCU4X pic.twitter.com/yZzV6K4QQe
— goodandtastybakes (@goodntastybakes) February 23, 2021
Good & Tasty Bakes offers a delectable assortment of cheesecakes to whet any palate. The brand’s grain-free offerings are made with no added sugar and feature locally-produced butter and pure 100 percent rBGH-free cream cheese. There is zero high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors, or refined sugar or flour in these cheesecakes. And if you eat an entire one yourself, there should be any guilt felt over that, thanks to its reasonable calorie count.
Lemon Perfect is a naturally-refreshing, zero sugar cold-pressed lemon water with hydrating electrolytes and essential antioxidants. Lemon Perfect is available in 6 refreshing flavors — Just Lemon, Dragon Fruit Mango, Blueberry Açaí, Peach Raspberry, Pineapple Coconut and Strawberry Passion Fruit — and is Vegan, Keto-Certified, shelf-stable, Non-GMO and delicious. Pineapple Coconut and Strawberry Passion Fruit are its 2 newest flavors, as released in February. Lemon Perfect is available for purchase online via Amazon and nationwide at select retailers like Whole Food and Publix, carrying a suggested retail price of $23.88 for 12 bottles.
Brewer’s Crackers is an “upcycled” cracker company driven to reduce food waste in the craft brewing industry. As U.S. breweries in the U.S. produce over 1 billion tons of edible food waste each year that ends up in our already crowded landfills, Brewer’s Crackers aims to provide a solution to that on-going problem, as its grains are a valuable by-product from the beer-making process. The company recycles grains into its crackers and chips. In turn, it aims to rise above other cracker companies by providing our customers with an honest, healthy, sustainable, and delicious product.
My favorite of the Brewer’s Crackers offerings I tried was the Everything Flatbread. Inspired by the brand’s founder’s father’s Long Island bagel shop, this cracker arguably has “everything,” including rosemary, thyme, garlic, basil, black mustard seed and sesame. You can enjoy it on its own, dipped into something, or even as part of any dish that can use a nice crunch.
Crafted with 100 percent American beef, Stryve biltong is an air-dried beef snack made only from the highest-quality cuts of top round steak. It is a delicious, “good-for-you” snack that is high in protein and made from nothing artificial, thus ideal for keto and paleo dieters. With 16 grams of protein, zero grams of carbs, and zero grams of sugar, biltong makes for an excellent snack that will fill you up without weighing you down. It is great as both an everyday snack or a quick pick-me-up for energy. Stryve biltong snacks come in Original, Hickory, Spicy Peri Peri, Cajun, Teriyaki, Mesquite BBQ and Zesty Garlic flavorings.
Also great from Stryve is its Vacadillos, which is reportedly the first carne seca meat snack in the U.S snack category. Simply put, it is perfectly spicy air-dried meat with a variety of Latin American flavors. In Latin cultures, it is eaten as a snack and also used in cooking. Vacadillos provides 15 grams of protein, zero grams of carbs, and zero grams of sugar per serving, with no artificial ingredients or preservatives. Available in chili-lime and habanero flavor offerings, Vacadillos brings the heat. It can be purchased via their website and Amazon.
If you are a fan of kombucha, this is a drink you will want to keep within arms reach of your workspace. Mother Kombucha offers sparkling water infused with kombucha and it offers a delicious loophole to the common rule of “don’t drink your calories!” Agua Bucha comes in delicious flavors like Meyer Lemon, Grapefruit and Key Lime, while incorporating naturally occurring organic acids and B vitamins from the kombucha. At only 4 calories and 1 gram of sugar per can, it makes for an enjoyable way to switch out boring old water from time to time. Now available via Amazon.
A popular purveyor of top-notch teas in various forms (loose leaf, tea bags, blended, matcha), Oteas is committed to using high-quality hand-blended ingredients and 100 percent plant-based packaging. This commitment puts Oteas in a league of its own, environmentally-speaking, in making a plastic-free, biodegradable and a true zero waste consumer product. It is not easy for me to pick a favorite from the brand — which partners with 1% For The Planet — but the Black Tea With Caramel is definitely up there.
Crofter’s Organic has a new spread on the market: Crofter’s Organic’s New Strawberry Banana Spread. Available exclusively at Whole Foods locations in July nationwide, this classic combo may bring back the nostalgic flavor of your childhood with wholesome ingredients in tact. You can add it into a bowl of ice cream topped, onto a sandwich or into yogurt, as a multi-faceted topping that serves many culinary purposes.
Fruity Pebbles Birthday Cake Cereal
PEBBLES cereal is a timeless breakfast classic that families have enjoyed for 50 years. Launched in 1971 after Post secured licensing rights from Hanna-Barbera, PEBBLES cereal was the first brand ever created around a TV show character. One of the most revered cartoons of all time, The Flintstones aired on prime-time television from 1960 to 1966, and the characters have returned in countless specials and films. The cereal was named for Fred and Wilma Flintstone’s daughter Pebbles.
To celebrate its 50th birthday, PEBBLES cereal launched a new limited-edition Birthday Cake PEBBLES cereal last month, as featuring festive, colorful flakes in blue, pink and yellow, and a classic vanilla birthday cake and frosting flavor. The new Birthday Cake PEBBLES cereal is available in 3 package sizes: 10 ounces, 19 ounces and 40 ounces. Each box features a recipe for Dinosaur Egg Cake Pops and Flintstones-inspired Stone Age party games on the back. Other recently-launched PEBBLES products include PEBBLES Crisps cereal snacks, a Duncan Hines Fruity PEBBLES Cake Kit, Fruity and Cocoa PEBBLES light ice creams and International Delight Fruity and Cocoa PEBBLES Coffee Creamers.
Earlier this month, Boxed Water Is Better — the most renewable packaged water alternative to plastic bottles — announced that it is teaming up with Alaska Airlines to offer less impactful packaged water to passengers as a part of a joint mission to address the world’s on-going plastic pollution problem. Starting this month, Alaska Airlines will begin to replace single-use plastic bottles in First Class with Boxed Water’s 92 percent plant-based cartons, effectively removing 7.2 million plastic bottles a year, which is equivalent to approximately 98,000 lbs of plastic. The initiative is one of many in Alaska Airlines’ commitment to sustainability and a continuing step forward in reducing inflight waste.
Alaska Airlines tie-n aside, Boxed Water is a proud member of 1% For The Planet and partner of the National Forest Foundation and Ocean Blue Project. Boxed Water is available for purchase from its website and via Amazon.
Arguably the healthiest jarred tomato sauce available, Otamot’s sauces are made with vegetables cooked at optimal temperatures for nutrient retention with no additives. Rich in flavor and versatile, Otamot’s sauces are probably unlike any other store bought sauce you will find. Veggie-filled, nutrient-dense and with no added sugar or preservatives, its organic, gluten-free, plant-based sauces are extremely versatile. You can use them with pasta, pizza, stews and Bloody Marys alike.
In just under 2 years, Otamot founder Andrew has scaled Otamot Foods from a small start-up to a global food brand. In turn, you can now find Otamot in Whole Foods nationwide, while the brand is exporting to China, Korea and Japan. It is also a QVC favorite, as you will see from the video embedded above. The brand will be hosting a “Cook & Learn With Otamot” event via its website on June 16, 2021 at 6:00 PM EST in partnership with Simple Mills.
Deliciously-creamy and tasty plant-based beverages, the shelf-stable, organic drinks that are Better Than Milk start with the simplest sustainable and renewable ingredients, as combined with Italian spring water from the Lessini Mountains in Northern Italy. In turn, its beverages are organic, Non-GMO verified, vegan and kosher, and while not containing dairy, lactose, gluten, carrageenan, soy, artificial flavors, sulfites orcholesterol. These plant-based milk drinks are made in a state-of-the-art, environmentally-conscious facility, as its cartons are FSC-certified and the plastic caps are bio-based made from sugarcane. Better Than Milk currently produces 5 mouthwatering offerings: Unsweetened Almond Drink, Almond Drink, Unsweetened Oat Drink, Unsweetened Rice + Calcium Drink, and Rice Hazelnut Drink.
Old Trapper Smoked Products has produced its signature line of authentic handmade beef jerky from its headquarters in Forest Grove, Oregon since 1969. In turn, that is over 50 years of experience, as complemented by continued investments in state-of-the-art processes, resulting in top-quality products that are distributed nationwide. A family-run business, Old Trapper offers a full line of high-quality, naturally smoked meat snacks using only the best lean strips of beef, the freshest seasoning ingredients and real wood-fired smoke.
Its later offering is Old Trapper’s Zero Sugar Beef Jerky, which allows snack lovers to enjoy their favorite meaty treat with none of the sugar and a tiny fraction of the carbs. Old Trapper Zero Sugar Beef Jerky has no sugar, just 2 grams of carbohydrates, 0.5 grams of fat and 14 grams of protein per one ounce serving.
DREAMS AREN’T THIS GOOD — yes, all caps — is a craft salsa and tortilla chip brand that has developed a cult following. The brand was founded by Texas native, now a New Yorker, Matt Bennett, who started making his own salsa when he was a teenager. Since his move to New York a few years ago, he has moved beyond the original Tex-Mex flavors and has started incorporating all kinds of ingredients to come up with new adventurous flavor combinations like Just Dance (jalapeno pineapple), Now Or Never (avocado pepper) and Girls Girls Girls (blueberry coconut). Reportedly, Bennett’s goal is to eventually have DATG become “the Ben & Jerry’s of salsa.”
Matt Bennett is also creating an emotional connection with consumers by infusing music and pop culture into his brainding. Each salsa flavor is named after one of his favorite pop songs. And for each salsa jar or chip bag sold, DATG donates $.05 to one of several partner charities, all causes important to the founder. Thus, you have great people doing great things, and making the world a better place in the process.
For all and every grilling situation, we can never forget the veggies. It can sometimes be a challenge to upgrade vegetable dishes, but sometimes a top-notch olive oil that will do just that. Casas De Hualdo Cornicabra (suggested retail price of $10.99) is one of Casas De Hualdo’s native varieties in the Castilla la Mancha region. This delicious olive oil is remarkably-flavorful, with green aromatic notes of fresh herbs, almonds, and green apples. It will certainly elevate any dish, and can be purchased via shop.casasdehualdo.com and Amazon.
Laudemio Frescobaldi Olive Oil
And speaking of olive oil worth checking out, assuming you keep a collection of oils in your kitchen… Laudemio Frescobaldi (suggested retail price of $39.99) is a unique emerald-green and robust extra virgin olive oil with authentic Tuscan aromas of freshly mown grass and artichoke. This product will elevate any recipe calling for olive oil, such as meat dishes. A luxury brand that lives up to the hype Laudemio will be sure to make that lasting impression. Laudemio Frescobaldi can be easily purchased on Amazon and delivered right to your door so you can give your family the true taste of Italy without having to leave your home.
Bushwick Kitchen is a sauce company which is known to serve up finger-licking, flavor-addicting sauces and condiments for foodies looking to elevate their meals or share a unique culinary gift with friends and family. Bushwick Kitchen was founded in January 2014 by an entrepreneur and a culinary enthusiast with the ambitious goal of launching a business from concept to finished product in 30 days. The first product, Bees Knees Spicy Honey, was born. By the end of the first year, Bushwick Kitchen had shipped over 9,000 bottles of honey — all bottled, one at a time, by hand, in Brooklyn, New York to every state in the USA and 27 countries.
Close to 20 years since its founding, the Bushwick Kitchen line has grown to 15 lip-smacking, tongue-drooling products, including its Trees Knees maples, Weak Knees srirachas and our Bees Knees honey collection. Sourced from the best sugar makers in the U.S., Bushwick Kitchen’s Trees Knees maple syrup is 100 percent organic and Grade A for rich amber color and flavor. Trees Knees maple syrup is made with all-natural, minimal ingredients to ensure the highest quality and taste in every bottle, all of which gluten-free, paleo-friendly and vegan. Every bottle of deliciousness continues to be infused, mixed, packaged, and shipped from the Northeastern Region of the United States.
Dino Bars are wrapped in edible paper, while its bars themselves are non-GMO, USDA-certified organic and free from nuts, gluten, soy and dairy. You won’t find artificial flavors, preservatives, or refined sugar either. What’s in them, you ask? Just 10 healthy all-natural ingredients — fruits, oats, hemp hearts, coconut oil — and a mess-free coating that parents will love. They are available in 3 fun flavors: Strawberry, Blueberry, and Mango. Meanwhile, the brand has also been known to release limited-edition flavors. Available in 10, 20 and 30-count boxes via Amazon, Dino Bars prices start at $21.90.
KrackCorn is light caramel popcorn that’s irresistible. The brand launched just a year ago, as based on a home recipe from its co-founder’s grandmother. It now has a warehouse, 7 employees and can be found in over 400 stores, including Safeway locations. Followers of KrackCorn’s Facebook page are likely to find coupons and special offerings, so be sure to give that page a “like.”
Previously I covered Wilde Chips for The Hype and loved what I tried. After all, its chips were made from 100 percent all-natural chicken breast, had 10 grams of protein, came in 6 crave-worthy flavors and were made with just a few simple ingredients. Thus, they were simultaneously crispy, paleo-friendly, gluten-free and grain-free.
The newest offering from Team Wilde are its Pork Chips. Far from a pork rind, this new snack is made from 100 percent premium pork shoulder and delivers 10 grams of protein and 9 essential amino acids per serving in a crispy, low-sugar package. In turn, these Wilde Chips are keto-friendly, gluten-free, grain-free and paleo-certified. The Pork Chips are now available in 4 delicious flavors: Golden Mustard BBQ, Sweet Chipotle, Black Pepper Bacon and Chili Lime Verde.
Pretzelwich NYC was created by a mompreneur, as her lucky test subjects’ response encouraged her to pursue this business venture. Its concoctions are super-inventive, combining pretzels and sweets via incredible flavors like S’moreswich, Strawberrywich, Toffeewich and Browniewish. It is the sort of offering that you can bring to a party or just as easily put out as finger-food for a dessert spread. As sold in 15, 30 and 60-packs, for each Pretzelwich box purchased, the company donates $1.00 to Candlelighters NYC, a charity organization supporting kids fighting cancer.
GOOD GOOD’s Jams & Krunchy Keto Bars
Made with real fruit, low calories and no added sugar, GOOD GOOD’s line of delicious jams are currently available in 6 flavors: Sweet Blueberry, Sweet Apricot, Blackcurrant, Forest Fruits, Raspberry, Concord Grape and Strawberry. With just 4 to 5 calories and 4 grams of sugar per serving, these jams are perfect for satisfying any sweet cravings. Plus they are all keto-friendly and suitable for plant-based, diabetic and consumers.
Jams aside, GOOD GOOD also has keto-friendly bars on the market. Its latest Krunch Keto Bar flavor is Cashew Nougat. These protein-packed keto bars include collagen, fibers and no artificial sweeteners, giving you a taste of true deliciousness with every bite. The keto bar literally taste like candy, but only has 2 grabs of carbs per serving. In addition to the launch of new Krunchy Keto Bar flavor, GOOD GOOD has unveiled new packaging across its product lines. GOOD GOOD can be purchase via goodgood.net, Amazon and select Walmart locations.
Fancypants Baking Co. is a “better-for-you” cookie manufacturer, producing cookies for the fresh bakery and grocery departments of natural, conventional, club and online platforms nationwide. Fancypants uses exclusively non-GMO Project Verified, nut-free ingredients and plant-based dyes, which allows them to capture the growing segment of the population-focused on healthier snacking, food allergy awareness and clean, sustainable ingredients. Fancypants operates a Global Food Safety Initiative Audited manufacturing facility with a perfect rating of AA from BRC International.
Its “upcycled” cookies come in 3 flavors: Okara Chocolate Chip Cookies, Double Chocolate Cookies (made with coffee cherries) and Vanilla Oat Cookies (made with oatmilk pulp). This new line furthers the company’s mission to reduce food waste while creating delicious snacks embodied by the Fancypants motto “Eat a Snack, Save the Planet!”
Tortillas are a staple no Latin household can live without. Now there is an authentic brand that offers the tastiest tortillas, even vegan and low-calorie versions, that are oh-so-scrumptious and have the flavors of home: Mr. Tortilla. Brand founders Anthony and Ronald Alcazar knew they had a product that was high-quality, authentic and delicious, but the challenge was getting it on the shelves. So they chose a different route — online sales — and the results have been outstanding, as they are now the #1 best-selling tortilla on Amazon.
Mr. Tortilla has reportedly created the world’s first 1 net carb, 15 calorie taco tortilla. Great for Keto diets, vegan taco lovers and those wanting a guilt-free creation alike, Mr. Tortilla delivers on so many levels. As 20 one-carb tacos are equal to 1 street taco in terms of carbs, this could be an excellent addition to your next home-cooked Taco Tuesday.
Last month was National Garlic Month, and Dorot Gardens specializes in developing, producing and marketing frozen seasoning products all over the world. The company was established in 1992 and is fully owned by Kibbutz Dorot in the southern part of Israel. The kibbutz has more than 3,500 acres of field crops — garlic and herbs – which are picked, and then immediately chopped, packaged and frozen in a unique fast freeze process, maintaining their taste, freshness, and nutritive value. Over the years, the company has grown and expanded, and today is reportedly the largest supplier in Israel of fresh frozen seasoning products.
History aside, Dorot Gardens’ all-natural garlic products are free of gluten, dairy, soy, and nuts, and free of artificial preservatives and ingredients. They are also soon to be Non-GMO verified, Vegan, OU Kosher, and Halal.
Last but definitely not least… BeanVIVO are reportedly the only legumes in the U.S. that come in pouches like this. Just stick the pouch in the microwave for a minute, and you have a wonderful start to a meal. Seasoned organic beans that are high in protein, these beans are rich in healthy macro and micronutrients. They are chock full of fiber, which helps you feel satisfied while you are on-the-go. You can enjoy these selections — as now available via Amazon — as a meal, or a side dish, or on their own. And further interesting about BeanVIVO, each pouch has a QR code in which you can scan and see where exactly the beans came from.
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Darren Paltrowitz Darren Paltrowitz is a New York resident with over 20 years of entertainment industry experience. He began working around the music business as a teenager, interning for the manager of his then-favorite band Superdrag. Since then, he has worked with a wide array of artists including OK Go, They Might Be Giants, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham, Loudness, Rachael Yamagata, and Amanda Palmer. Darren's writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including the New York Daily News, Inquisitr, The Daily Meal, The Hype Magazine, All Music Guide, Guitar World, TheStreet.com, Businessweek, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, and the Jewish Journal. Beyond being "Editor At Large" for The Hype Magazine, Darren is also the host of weekly "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" series, which airs on dozens on television and digital networks. He has also co-authored 2 published books, 2018's "Pocket Change: Your Happy Money" (Book Web Publishing) and 2019's "Good Advice From Professional Wrestling" (6623 Press), and co-hosts the world's only known podcast about David Lee Roth, "The DLR Cast."
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