1. Mandira’s Kitchen Vegetarian BBQ Box
Based in Silent Pool, Mandira’s Kitchen creates delicious freezer meals and accompaniments, such as chutneys and ice creams. It also provides bespoke catering and food experiences, such as cookery lessons and spice tours.
An all-woman team prepares dishes made using fresh produce, containing no gluten and with vegan and dairy-free options. The vegan and vegetarian recipes are all authentic traditional Indian dishes and haven’t been adapted to be vegan or vegetarian by substituting meat for something else.
We received one of Mandira’s Kitchen Vegetarian BBQ Boxes to try out. It included a generous selection of Vegetable Samosas, Paneer Malai Tikka, Tandoori Gobi, Sweet and Sour Aubergines, Chana Chaat Salad, Potato Salad, Spiced Corn on the Cob, Beetroot Raita and Naan Bread with Mango and Cardamom Gelato for dessert.
Delivered straight to our door, we just had to cook some of the dishes on the BBQ, while transferring the rest onto serving plates. Quick, easy and absolutely delicious. This was such a delectable meal and the Indian twist made such a nice change from conventional BBQ fare.
My only criticism is that there is no explanation on which dishes needed cooking or not. I was able to figure it out pretty quickly but it would have been easier if a menu and some direction was included with the box.
Verdict: ★★★★★
Price: from £60
Get it from: Mandira’s Kitchen
2. Whole Earth Golden Roasted Crunchy Peanut Butter
Put an extra special layer of Olympic gold on your morning toast with this special edition of Whole Earth Golden Roasted Crunchy Peanut Butter.
Sealed with an Olympic gold medal paper tamper seal with special Team GB branding, the whole jar is 100% plastic-free, reflecting Whole Earth’s mission of making products that are good for you and good for the planet.
Whole Earth Golden Roasted Crunchy Peanut Butter is ideal for those following a plant-based diet and contains absolutely no artificial flavours or preservatives.
This special edition is extra crunchy and has a silky smooth creamy texture. The roasted peanuts deepen the flavour and make this peanut butter deliciously indulgent.
Verdict: ★★★★★
Price: £4
Get it from: Sainsbury’s
3. Shaken Other®
Made with coconut milk, Shaken Other® milkshakes are available in either chocolate or strawberry flavour. Dairy-free, they contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.
Shaken Other® milkshakes are high in Calcium, Vitamin D and Iodine. They also contain some Vitamin B12 and have less than 5% added sugar.
We loved the chocolate one. The coconut milk is not too overpowering and makes these milkshakes a nice option for a breakfast on the go or for a healthy snack.
The strawberry milkshakes were not as nice (hence the two lost stars below). We could hardly taste the strawberry flavour and were left slightly disappointed especially as we enjoyed the chocolate flavour so much.
Verdict: ★★★✰✰
Price: £1.30
Get it from: Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Boots
4. Bites We Love
Following their success in The Netherlands, Bites We Love are launching in the UK. This is a healthy snack option, made from crunchy peas available in three different flavours: Sea Salt & Black Pepper, Smoked Paprika, Sour Cream & Jalapeño.
I was very happy that these were a big hit with my kids, as they contain 60% less fat than comparable vegetable snacks and crisps. They are also vegan and palm-oil free which pleases my Greenpeace eco-warrior daughter!
Bites We Love are available in generous 100g resealable pouches. High in fibre, they are a good source of plant protein, making not only a great snack option but also a tasty addition to lunch boxes. Warning: they are really addictive!
Verdict: ★★★★★
Price: £2.25
Get them from: Sainsbury’s
5. HiP Chocolate
HiP Chocolate (Happiness in Plants) is a new range of vegan-friendly creamy oat milk chocolate which has 30% less sugar than your average bar of dairy milk chocolate.
HiP Chocolate is the brainchild of James Cadbury (the great-great-great-grandson of the original Mr Cadbury).
It is made from slavery-free single-origin chocolate and comes in bright, innovative and colourful plastic-free packaging.
Available in four delicious flavours: Smooth & Creamy, Cookies No Cream, Salted Caramel and Salty Pretzels, this is delicious plant-based chocolate that ticks all the right boxes.
Verdict: ★★★★✰
Price: £3
Get it from: Selfridges and Holland & Barrett
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