The January 2021 Degustabox : Breakfast & On The Go

 

I really can't get my head around it being 2021. I keep writing 2020 whenever I write the date and it never normally happens so I think this is my brain trying to write off 2020 and pretend it didn't happen ! We are indeed in January 2021 though, and the postie kicked off the year with a brand new Degustabox delivery.

This month's Degustabox has a theme of Breakfast & On the Go. Even if there's not much "on the go" at the moment, with us sitting through another lockdown, this month's box contains lots of snacky things that the kids are more than happy to snack on !

The first product that we pulled out of the box was the Baker Street Rye & Wheat Bread (RRP £1.69). This is a half loaf, containing about eight slices, so it won't last long, but it comes in clever packaging designed to retain freshness - reseal the packaging after opening to keep it fresh for 7-10 days. It is made with a sourdough starter and is stone-baked. It is high in fibre, low in fat, dairy-free, contains no added sugars (just those occurring naturally) and it's suitable for vegetarians and vegans. It's very nice as toast or in sandwiches - the only problem is, with four of us eating it, it doesn't last long !

Barley Cup (RRP £2.50) is an interesting option for those who drink lots of tea and coffee and want something different to reduce the amount of caffeine consumed. Made from cereal grains and chicory roots, it is low in caffeine and vegan-friendly. It's supposed to taste similar to coffee but as we don't really drink hot drinks (apart from the odd hot chocolate), we'll be passing this on to someone else to enjoy. Available at Holland & Barrett, independent health food stores and amazon.

Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard Vegan Mayo (RRP £2.50) is a vegan-friendly mayo, perfect for sandwiches, dips and salads. I didn't notice at first that it was a vegan-friendly product (they should make it more obvious on the jar so that it leaps out at you when you're browsing the supermarket shelves), so I went to investigate. It contains Sunflower Oil, Water, Dijon Mustard, White Wine Vinegar, Salt, Pea Protein, Concentrated Lemon Juice and Thickeners: Xanthan Gum and Guar Seed Flour. Well, there you go - presumably the pea protein is what replaces the eggs in "normal" mayonnaise? Either way, it's very tasty and we've been gobbling it up in ham and chicken sandwiches (which rather defeats the whole object of it being vegan - oops !). Available in Tesco.

Gregory's Tree Organic Strawberry Fruit Twists (RRP 2 x 89p) were rapidly devoured by the kids ! No complaints from me as they're one of the healthier snacking options out there. Made from juicy organic fruit that is bursting with flavour, the tasty twisty snacks are gluten free, contain no added sugar, are vegan-friendly and only 60 calories per pack. Available at WHSmith, East of England Co-op, Planet Organic and Amazon.

Lizi's Super Muesli (RRP 75p for a 50g pack, £3.50 for a 500g pack) offers some tasty breakfast options. Boost offers a blend of mango, papaya and turmeric to beat fatigue and boost your immune system. Toasted oats are combined with turmeric for its anti-inflammatory properties and it also contains added vitamin C and B6. Focus is your helping hand when you need to keep your mind alert. It contains brain boosting vitamin B6 and zinc to stay sharp, alongside hazelnuts, pecans, hemp, maca and pomegranate seeds. A great way to start the day. 

Mallow Puffs (RRP £1.59) is another vegan option, offering a Salted Caramel Mallow Bar Dunked in Belgian Dark Chocolate - a puffy snack that is as tasty as it sounds, made with UTZ certified cacao and natural flavours and colours. A bit on the expensive side but it's lovely.

Sun-Pat Peanut Butter (RRP £1.50 for 200g) is a firm favourite here at The Madhouse, so I knew this would go down well. On toast, in sandwiches (with or without added bananas) or in cookies, it always gets a warm reception !  Each jar is packed with 96% peanuts and is full of natural protein. We got smooth, while other Degustaboxers got Crunchy, which is what we usually buy. Very nice.

Mister Free'd Tortilla Chips Avocado (RRP £1.59) are a great idea as they offer the taste of guacamole without all the fuss of actually making it. The perfect way to avoid the hassle of having a perfectly ripe avocado when needed (how many times do we end up with either a rock hard, unripe one or a gone-too-far mouldy one in the bowl ?!). They're gluten-free, high in fibre and taste great. The only slightly off-putting thing is the price - £1.59 for a small bag is a bit on the expensive side, in my opinion.

 

Nat Bears Breakfast Cereal (RRP £2.90) are a fun breakfast choice for kids because they come in a cute bear shape. Available in Honey or Chocolate flavours, each pack contains six bars ... umm bears ! Just put them in a bowl and enjoy them with milk. The number one ingredient is wholegrain oats and there are no artificial colours or flavours. Each box contains six portions, so it's a bit on the pricey side, but kids will love them !

St Pierre Millionaires Waffle & Brioche Waffle (RRP £1) are perfect for a little moment of much-needed me-time. Sit down with a hot drink, rip open the pack and mmmmm, let your worries waft away as you bite into the tasty offerings ! The Millionaires Waffle, made with real Belgian chocolate, soft creamy caramel and a waffle biscuit is utterly delicious, but the soft Brioche waffle is very tasty too. Délicieux !

Whitworths Shots Fruity Biscuit (RRP £1.60) are another delicious snack. The box contains four tubes (perfect - one each !) and each snack pack provides a very reasonable 93 calories. Sunshine sultanas, cranberries and white chocolate-topped shortcake biscuits - they all go perfectly together. Very tasty ! (Have you noticed how often I've been saying that in this box ?!)

Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles (RRP £1.29 for 150g sharing pack) are one of my favourite sweets. Every sharing bag contains a mixture of five fabulously fruity flavours: blackcurrant, lemon, strawberry, lime, and orange. Still irresistibly chewy and now vegan friendly for even more people to enjoy! OK, I will admit it, I might have hidden these somewhere the kids won't find them for me to enjoy - tee hee hee !

Trek Power Millionaire Shortbread (RRP £1.75) is part of the new higher protein range. 100% plant based ingredients, vegan, gluten free and containing no artificial sweeteners or refined sugars, so you can eat it with a totally clear conscience ! Very tasty but a bit on the expensive side, so this would be great as a special treat.

 A subscription to Degustabox costs £12.99 per month including delivery, with each box having a value of much more than that, but the great news is, I have a discount coupon code for you which means you'll get the first box for just £9.99 - enter code PKUFE at the checkout. 

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Disclosure : We received the box in order to write an honest review. As a Degustabox blogger, I receive all of the products that go into the monthly boxes, but subscribers may not get exactly the same selection.