Gourmet Raw Vegetable Crisps review

Gourmet Raw believes in making healthy tasty food that’s actually good for you. They don’t cook their ingredients - they keep them raw so they retain all the enzymes and nutrients that occur naturally. With all the enzymes and nutrients alive and well, Gourmet Raw foods will therefore boost your system, aid digestion and help you take on more energy. Well, that all sounds fabulous but what do their products actually taste like ? We received a couple of bags of their raw crisps to review.

Initial reactions weren't very positive. As I poured them out of the bags on to the plates, the Madhouse Mini-Testers said "yuck, they look like squares of cardboard" ! The uniformly cut square shapes and off-putting brownish colour are, admittedly, less appealing than normal crisps but if they're a healthier option and actually taste nice, I'd be more than willing to overlook the visual aspect.

We started off with the Spicy Thai carrot ones, which are made of sprouted buckwheat, flaxseed, fresh carrots, lemongrass and a hint of lime. Taste-wise, they actually reminded me a bit of the Jenny Craig Carrot and Coriander Soup that I'd eaten the day before. The kids weren't overly keen but still kept nibbling them.

They slightly preferred the look and taste of the beetroot ones, turning them all over so that they were purple side up (they have one brownish side and one purplish side) because they said they looked nicer ! They're a bit sweeter and not as spicy as the carrot ones so they got a better reception from the kids.

The red pepper ones were their favourites though, partly for the taste but also I think because they have a more normal crisp colour.I have to say that to be perfectly honest, we all thought that they are not as tasty as proper crisps, but because they are so much healthier, we would eat them again. They're also great for putting in kids lunchboxes or offering with pre-dinner drinks, for anyone trying to watch their waistline.

Ingredients-wise, they are faultless. They contain about 150-200 calories per 40g bag but, as Gourmet Raw explain, they are "the perfect snack, with nothing to feel guilty about: made from sprouted buckwheat, which is full of protein and fibre, Gourmet Raw then add locally grown vegetables, herbs and seeds that are crammed full of vitamins and minerals. Each variant is slowly dried  in order to retain all the naturally occurring enzymes and nutrients present in the carefully selected ingredients. Every packet contains no preservatives, binders or chemicals...just 100% natural ingredients packed with goodness."

They are 100% natural, organic, dairy free, wheat free, raw & living, gluten free, vegan, non GM and prepared under 40.5 ̊C. (A raw food diet is based on the belief that the most healthy food for the body is uncooked. Although most food is eaten raw, heating food is acceptable as long as the temperature stays below 40.5°C.)

Followers of the raw diet believe that enzymes are the life force of a food and that every food contains its own perfect mix. These enzymes help us digest foods completely, without relying on our body to produce its own cocktail of digestive enzymes.  It is also thought that the cooking process destroys vitamins and minerals and that cooked foods not only take longer to digest, but they also allow partially digested fats, proteins and carbohydrates to clog up our gut and arteries.

To be honest, I have no idea if all that is true or not but I do know that these raw crisps are a much healthier option than fat-laden regular crisps so, especially while I'm being careful about what I eat, they're the perfect option.

***If you buy online on the Gourmet Raw website, you can use my affiliate code GR008 which gives you a 10% discount. ***

star rating : 4/5

RRP : £1.99 for 40g 


for more information : http://www.gourmetraw.com/

Other reviews you may be interested in :

new Nakd bars 

Nakd Crazy Cola & Tangy Lime Flavour Infused Raisins review

Natural Balance Trek Bars