The Luna Burger
Ohio may be well-known for its medical facilities (The Cleveland Clinic), museums (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Museum of Art), roller coasters (Cedar Point), presidents (8 of them were born here), athletes (Jess Owens, LeBron James), activists (Gloria Steinem, Edwin Stanton) but the Buckeye State is also the home of the Luna Burger: handcrafted organic non-GMO verified pure plant veggie burgers made with a foundation of black beans, spelt berries, brown rice, and oats grown on small family farms that utilize sustainable growing practices. Read more 
Nature’s Bakery Fig Bar
Keep it simple, have fun, and achieve balance in life through nature, activity, nutrition and community.
When I was a child, Fig Newtons were considered “healthy” cookies but when I grew up and realized these treats are made with not only high fructose corn syrup but also corn syrup, sugar, artificial flavors, and sulfur dioxide (sulfites), they were no longer worthy of shelf space in my pantry. Then, one day my daughter told me about the Fig Bar by Nature’s Bakery: whole grain fig bars with no high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, artificial colors, dairy, or trans fats. Certified non-GMO, vegan, and kosher, Fig Bars are the healthier choice when the craving for a fig bar hits. Read more
Yumbutter G0
Get some crazy nutritious, mouth-rockin’ delicious energy.
Adrian Reif and Matt D’Amour, co-founders of Yumbutter – world-changing nut butters – have a dream: to nourish the world while running the world’s most responsible food company. To accomplish these goals, they set out to make some of the most delicious and nutritious nut butters – peanut, almond, and sunflower – with wholesome ingredients that nourish on-the-go because eating nut butters out of a jar isn’t easy outside the home. Read more
Tolerant Foods Organic Pastas
Looking for a great source of organic and gluten-free plant-based protein? Consider pasta made by Tolerant Foods, a company crazy about the health benefits and taste of legumes (beans, lentils, peas, and garbanzos). With three different types of pasta – penne, rotini, and mini fettucine – made from either organic black beans or organic red lentils, there is a noodle for everyone. Read more
Jeff’s Naturals: Olives
Delicious shelf-stable olives from small family farms in Sicily, Greece, and Spain are now available through Jeff’s Naturals – a California-based company specializing in jarred Mediterranean products free of preservatives, stabilizers, artificial colors, flavors and sulfites. With seven types of jarred olives in the company’s product line, Jeff’s Naturals appeals to a wide variety of those who love their olives plain, stuffed, or sliced. Read more
Paul’s Grains
Paul’s Grains is a hidden gem in a land of few jewels. Most farmers in Iowa grown genetically modified corn and soybeans but Paul’s Grains has been growing a variety of grains (spelt, barley, buckwheat, oats, corn, soybeans, millet, flax seed,quinoa, and more) without chemical fertilizers since 1964.
Going against the grain, Wayne and Betty Paul purchased 160 acres of land in a small town in central Iowa called Laurel. After graduating from Iowa State University with a degree in agriculture, Wayne was introduced to chemical-free farming using healthy, natural fertilizers for weed and insect control, which is how it’s been done for 51 years. Read more
Gummies without the Gelatin
Never trust an adult who doesn’t like gummy bears, worms, or sour crawlers.
There is something special about gummy candy that brings out the kid in all of us. When a friend asked me “What do gummy bears, worms, cinnamon hats, sour crawlers, jelly rings, jelly slices, and hundreds of other gummy-type candies on the market have in common?,” my answer was “sugar,” which is not necessarily true (there are sugar-free gummies). Read more
Cacao Prieto
Chocolate makers – meticulous aficionados who choose to start with cacao beans to create their chocolates – are the rock stars of an industry that celebrates the subtle flavor differences of the cacao bean. Bars are now notable for the characteristics of the beans – the variety and where it was cultivated which are influenced by rainfall, sunshine, temperature, and the type of soil in which the bean was grown – and the multi-step process by which the chocolate maker takes large colorful cacao beans and turns them into a mouth-watering sensation. Read more
Broccoli Salad
When cole slaw doesn’t create as much excitement around the dinner table halfway through the summer as it did over July 4th, its time to mix things up a bit and serve fresh Broccoli Salad, a colorful and refreshing alternative to the traditional summer salads. Choosing flavors and textures that complement each other in both taste and presentation is the key here while keeping it simple with four ingredients. Think earthy, sweet, crunchy, and tangy. Read more
The Peanut Shop of Williamsburg
Anybody want a peanut? ~Fezzik
There are thousands of types of peanuts but only four major groups: Runner, Spanish, Valencia, and Virginia. These nuts (actually legumes, but that’s another story) differ in flavor, size, shape, and oil content and are therefore used differently. Most peanut butters are made with either the disease-resistant Runner or the Spanish (higher oil content) peanut while the Valencia is preferred for a southern favorite – boiled peanuts. Virginia peanuts – known for their large size and exquisite flavor – are generally sold in shell or roasted and salted. Read more
Paddock Post 