I recently enjoyed a bowl of SeedWise Grain Free Mixed Berries Clusters for breakfast, and to my surprise I found I didn’t miss the oats.

SeedWise’s hearty and flavorful chunks of sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, and chia seeds satisfied me as much as, and perhaps more than, any bowl of granola could.

Best yet, they go beyond breakfast. I find myself sprinkling them over yogurt and fruit and enjoying them straight from the bag for a quick and filling snack. 

The clusters are crunchy, fruity, and a little bit sweet—thanks to the addition of cranberries, blueberries, and aronia berries (a small, round, dark purple fruit native to North America).

A product of Canada, SeedWise began with the premise of providing powerful snacks that pack a seedy punch with no grains, fillers, gluten, tree nuts, dairy, soy, or sesame seeds. In addition to the Mixed Berries version, there are also Chocolate and Sweet + Salty flavors.

Each [q:1/3] cup serving contains 11 grams of dietary fiber, 6 grams of protein, and 2 grams of sugar (1 gram added sugar), as well as healthy fats. SeedWise Grain Free Clusters are vegan, Keto Certified, and Non-GMO Project Verified.

A variety pack of all three flavors (5.3 ounces each) can be purchased via Amazon for $24.99.

When I was a little kid, I remember being enthralled by the fluorescent colors my tongue would turn after sucking on ice pops. My friends and I would compare tongues to see who sported the brightest colors.

As an adult, I know those artificial colors were to blame, and I have no interest in reliving those colorful memories. But who wants to give up on the fun of enjoying an ice-cold freezer pop when temperatures soar?

Meet DeeBee’s Organics Gelato Pops. Creamy and smooth like gelato but fruity and refreshing like an ice pop, DeeBee’s are the best of both worlds. 

These nondairy freezer treats have no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives and are plant based and gluten free. The creaminess comes courtesy of organic coconut milk. Sweetened with organic grape juices and fruit purées, there’s no added sugar. And at only 35 calories a pop, they’re a guilt-free indulgence. 

On a recent summer afternoon, my husband and I relived our youth by strolling around outside insouciantly enjoying our ice pops. We sampled the three available flavors: Pineapple, Mango, and Lime.

The refreshing tropical tastes of the fruits shined through. Our favorite: mango. It was like eating slices of the real thing. But better. None of the pops tasted diluted or were too icy.

DeeBee’s Organics Gelato Pops come shelf stable. Just pop the BPA-free, single-serve pouches in the freezer for when you need them.

One (20-pop) package is $14.99.

Dan-O’s says right on its bottle to "Sprinkle Generously." With over 1,000,000 bottles of seasoning blends sold, that’s a lot of sprinkling going on.

Intrigued by the Cheesoning variety, I tried it on two veggie sides: steamed spinach and steamed artichokes. Upon opening the bottle, I immediately noticed how fresh the blend of Parmesan cheese, spices, garlic, onion, mustard seed, salt, and lemon and orange peels smelled.

Sprinkled over spinach, I found it added a cheesy and herbaceous flavor that elevated the greens. I also whisked some of the blend into extra-virgin olive oil for dipping artichoke leaves. The resulting Parmesan and garlic-infused oil was a lighter yet still tasty dip compared to typical mayonnaise-based recipes.

In both applications, Dan-O’s was all the seasoning I needed—including salt.

Gluten free with no sugar, MSG, GMOs, or chemicals, each sprinkling is a convenient and quick way to add flavor. Add the Cheesoning blend to pizza, pasta, raw or steamed veggies, baked potatoes, rice, eggs, popcorn, and more.

Dan-O’s has other varieties without cheese to choose from:

• Original (contains rosemary, garlic, onion, lemon peel, and orange peel)
• Spicy (heat is added to the original version)
• Chipotle (a smoky version)
• Crunchy (compliments of poppy and sesame seeds)

A helpful compilation of recipes using Dan-O’s is arranged on the website according to dietary needs: Vegan, Vegetarian, Keto, Paleo, and Mediterranean.

Found in over 18,000 stores nationwide, locate a retailer near you through their website.

For the longest time, the only conventional candy I’d touch would be those peanut butter cups covered in bright orange wrappers. Not anymore. I think their formula changed a few years back. I now find the peanut butter flavorless, and the chocolate flat tasting and greasy. Not to mention this brand is full of suspect ingredients.

But I didn’t want to forego my peanut butter and chocolate addiction. I mean, is there a better combination out there?!

Enter Justin’s Super Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups. Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified Gluten Free, and USDA Organic with Rainforest Alliance Cocoa, one bag contains six individually wrapped cups (each cup is .7 oz). A treat without the guilt, one cup has just 5 grams total sugar.

The formulation of these makes a chocolate and peanut butter lover like myself proud. The peanut butter filling was smooth, creamy, and not too sweet with the perfect touch of salt. The 80 percent cacao chocolate shell has an unexpected but welcomed hint of bitterness.

Justin’s was the first organic peanut butter cup out there. They’re avid supporters of the creatures that make our world special. Normally, I avoid products with conventional palm oil. Justin’s uses an organic, orangutan-friendly version. The company also supports friendly pollinators like honeybees. These essential creatures are responsible for one out of every three bites we eat! Justin’s works with local, state, and national organizations to protect and conserve them.

Justin’s Super Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups are satisfying, high-quality candies. You can share them with your kids, but I’d save them for yourself!