Sunday Grocery Segment: Soul Foods Mac and Cheese

Being college students who are constantly on the lookout for the healthiest, cheapest, and (most importantly) yummiest groceries, Caitlin and I thought it would be a good idea to do a segment on Sundays about our favorite grocery finds! This week I've decided to tell you guys about Soul Vegan Macaroni and Cheese. About a week ago, my parents and I were at Whole Foods and were offered samples of this scrumptious mac and cheese. It was one of those fateful grocery store samples where as soon as you get the tiniest taste, you are immediately grabbing armfuls of boxes and putting them in your cart to buy. This mac and cheese is 100% vegan and 100% delicious. 

It comes from a sustainable Chicago-based company that makes all vegan dishes known as Soul Vegan. Whole Foods is currently offering their BBQ Delights rib tips, macaroni and cheese, and lasagna. These dishes all contain no animal products and a list of ingredients that you can actually read in one breath and understand! This is a company that I am proud to support.

The other night I made my macaroni and cheese in the oven with some steamed butternut squash on the side that I had on hand. The macaroni and cheese holds together like a casserole and smells absolutely delicious. When I took the first bite I was completely intoxicated. The macaroni was perfectly tender, and the "cheese" was creamy and flavorful. If you blind-folded me and force fed me this dish, I would not in a MILLION years be able to tell that there is no cheese present in this dish whatsoever. Being a non-vegan, I love cheese as much as the next person but it is always very exciting to find healthy, environmentally conscious dishes that don't sacrifice their deliciousness!

Here you can see just how gooey and hearty this entree is! It is extremely healthy with 9 g of protein per serving and no cholesterol! After this I am definitely going to be trying the BBQ Delights (which my mom says are equally as delicious) and the lasagna dish. If you are interested in checking out Soul Vegan products, stop at your local Whole Foods store and definitely do not pass up the samples if they have them! You can also visit their website here to learn more about their products and values. Stay tuned for more Sunday grocery articles and be sure to comment with all of your thoughts and suggestions for other yummy foods! -Megan

Calling All Hummus Fans

I have to admit I am guilty of making the trip to over to WholeFoods for some speciality grocery items...one item that I never leave off my grocery list is Chicago Raw Food's hummus.

Chicago Raw Food is an organization that strives, "to deliver only the highest in quality of fully uncooked, 100% plant-based products to an under-served community in need." Not only is the whole "raw" movement a major health trend with added health benefits, but it highlights the quality of the ingredients being used. I am a firm believer that in cooking, simplicity is the sign of perfection and this hummus is flawless.





















This hummus, only consisting of nine ingredients (sprouted garbanzo beans, lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), tahini, garlic, parsley, Himalayan Crystal Salt (HSS), cumin, and cayenne), has an acidic taste and a different consistency, unlike traditional hummus. Pairs nicely with the traditional carrots, celery, apple slices, or crackers. Sometimes I even spread some on toast when I make a sandwich for an extra flavor kick!

One thing I wish is they would make it in a bigger container...tend to eat about half of it in one sitting. Also it is not the most budget friendly ($6.99 at WholeFoods), but if you're in it for the taste, I would recommend it!

Loving this brand of hummus, I naturally wanted to explore the Chicago Raw Food Website and the menu. They are located at 131 N Clinton, Suite 7. Saving the address you can count on a visit from Megan and I to check out the hype over the "raw" food scene!

You can find this raw hummus on the shelves in the refrigerated section (by the prepared foods stations) at the WholeFoods located off at the North/Clybourne Redline stop.

- Caitlin -