Good for You Goodies: French Meadow Bakery

  Hope everyone is having a super Tuesday! It’s not Monday, so that’s a plus right? But, it’s still not Friday—it will be soon enough! I guess I am looking forward to Thursday, Friday, and Saturday because I am heading down to Minneapolis to go apartment shopping! And of course we always hit up the Mall of America(I will take lots of pictures for those of you who haven’t been there). I have been there a gazillion times, so for me it’s just fun to look around and check out the new food places and stores! Our hotel does have free wireless(woohoo!) so I will still be around the blog world. =)

Now when I hear the word bakery, I am automatically taken off to some dough filled and flour covered room, scents of fresh baked bread, etc. When French Meadow Bakery offered to send me a wide array of products to sample, I jumped at the chance!—and no not just because their name contained “bakery”, although that was a plus because that almost guarantees goodness, right?

The Company: French Meadow Bakery

The Good for You Goodies: Assorted Breads, Cookies, and Pizza Crusts

The Chew Review: First off, I just want to thank all the amazing people at this company for sending me such a truckload(ok, not exactly—but alot!) of stuff. It was beyond my expectations for sure! My dad is the bread devourer eater of the house, and compared to my mom and I’s consumption, he can outdo us any day. So of course when I mentioned some new bakery bread came today, you better believe he came in acting innocent, but I already new his case. I figured it was the perfect opportunity to set up a little taste test station and get the family in on the fun.

  First, a little about French Meadow Bakery.--->

One Body, One Planet. Eat Well.

Since 1985, French Meadow Bakery™ has used only top-quality all-natural and organic ingredients, old world bread-baking techniques, ancient healthy grains and seeds, and cutting edge performance foods research to create baked goods the world loves. Here are four reasons you'll fall in love with us, too.

Our ingredients are all-natural.

Our skilled artisan bakers turn all natural, sustainable ingredients into tasty baked goods. We avoid using ingredients that contain genetically-modified organisms, which impact biodiversity in the plant world and have an unknown effect on human health.

We're certified by top agencies.

As a small company with sound practices, we're unwavering about standards of quality. We're certified organic by the USDA and Quality Assurance International, certified Gluten-Free by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization, and certified Low Glycemic for Diabetics by the Glycemic Research Institute. Search for Gluten-Free, wheat-free, and low glycemic index products.

Our foods taste good and are good for you.

We go beyond basic nutrition by using all-natural and organic ingredients that boost your health. Performance foods like hemp, sprouted grains, and flaxseed provide important vitamins, minerals, proteins, and good fats that help your body prevent and treat disease.

We're committed to sustainability.

Since its beginning, French Meadow Bakery™ has used ingredients and processes that help maintain the biological diversity and productivity of our world's resources. We use only certified organic grains and all natural ingredients grown in balance and harmony with nature. We support small farmers, the cornerstone of a natural, sustainable food system. And we're committed to educating our customers on the lifelong benefits of organic foods, which protect not only the planet, but our bodies and minds as well.

• Summer Bread

“Summer Bread was created for the season when our bodies crave lighter, nutritious fare. Added wheat germ enhances its nutritious properties, while its light, almost-white texture is ideal for warmer weather, or those transitioning from white bread to wheat. Plus Summer Bread is no longer a seasonal item: this best seller bread is available all year for a taste of summer any time.” I really liked how this wasn’t your standard shaped loaf—I know I am crazy like that! It was more of a round bread which means bigger slices—yay! It was a perfect bread for a turkey sandwich. Not too hefty, but light just in time for summer! It had a nice sweet taste to it and that heavenly bread aroma I love. Nutritional info here.

• Our Daily Bread

“Soft, sprouted whole grain bread made with CoroWise™ plant sterols for lowering LDL cholesterol and coated with chia seeds for a crunchy bite.”

This bread was very dark in color so I guessed it would have an earthier taste if you know what I mean? It’s made with a variety of wheat flours and Kamut which I thought was great because I just love my Kamut Puff cereal! This was denser than the summer bread and better for heftier methods of eating like toasting or sloppier sandwiches. Peanut butter and jelly anyone? Nutritional info here.

• Vegan Peanut Butter Bliss Cookies

“A harmonious blend of natural peanut butter and semisweet chocolate.”

My pros: All ingredients I felt were great! Not too long of a list either. Great balance of peanut buttery taste and semisweet chocolate made it a sweet delicacy! Plus you get to cookie bites for 150 calories.

My Cons: The size of these were definitely “bites”, as in gone in about 2 bites—I prefer my cookies flat and big. These did get a tad bit on the soggy side after taking them out of the freezer also.(That could be due to the fact of the extreme humidity we’ve had the past couple of days too.) Nutritional info here.

• Gluten-Free Coconutty Macaroons

“Naturally gluten-free macaroons with the tropical twist of coconut and semisweet chocolate.”

The pros&cons for these are pretty much the same as the previous ones except that I liked these better. I think I would definitely pick coconut over peanut butter in a cookie any day and these were not skimping on the coconut one bit! Nutritional info here.

• Gluten-Free Pizza Crust

[Picture from website]

“Enjoy pizzeria style gluten-free goodness from the comfort of home. We now offer Gluten-Free Par-Baked Pizza Crusts. Our crusts are certified gluten-free, lactose free and casein free and full of flavor. They are packaged individually in aluminum tins for your convenience and to minimize the risk of cross-contamination. Each package offers 6 - 10.5 inch crusts, just top and bake!”

I haven’t tried these out yet, but I have 6 of em’! I am saving them for when I move into my apartment to have a “make and bake” your own pizza bash!! I will definitely let you know how these turn out ASAP. Nutritional info here.

Thanks again French Meadow Bakery—your great! :-)