The first time I heard the name, I thought it might be a yoga studio or some kind of alternative healing center. Earth Balance seems like an unusual name for a line of food products, at least on the surface. But once you start to read a little more about the company, the name makes more and more sense. To begin with, all their products are non-GMO (most verified by the Non-GMO Project). They also sponsor the Institute for Responsible Technology, a not-for-profit organization founded by Jeffrey Smith, whose admirable goal is to try to convince a sufficient number of consumers not to buy GMO products. If there isn’t enough demand for these products, it will become economically unfeasible to produce them and, by extension, the GMOs themselves.
There’s more, of course. Earth Balance uses palm oil in many of their products. Palm oil can be a controversial ingredient, because much of it is produced in a manner conducive to deforestation and habitat loss for endangered species. But this manufacturer is committed to purchasing palm oil produced in a sustainable manner, as well as organic palm oil produced in Brazil.
Further, Earth Balance uses a packaging system called Spot-Pak, which requires less packing material and allows more product to fit into a smaller space. Additionally, their tubs and cartons can be recycled in most areas. All Earth Balance products are gluten-free, lactose-free, egg-free, and vegan, so they fit handily into a plant-based diet (or one in which you’re trying to incorporate more plant foods).
Well, that’s great, you’re saying, but what about the products themselves? I must admit I have not tried many of the company’s products. But I have tried their snacks, and I can recommend those enthusiastically. The Vegan Buttery Flavor Popcorn and Vegan Aged White Cheddar Flavor Puffs are solidly good. As usual, I miss the dairy element, but I know a lot of people who can’t or won’t eat dairy these days. If you’re one of them, either of these is a good choice. You get crunch and some real flavor along with it.
Better still, I think, is the Vegan Aged White Cheddar Flavor Popcorn. There’s something about the way the flavorings used combine with the popcorn to make a snack so tasty I almost forget that it isn’t made with real cheese (anyone who knows me recognizes that this is a very big deal). But of all the Earth Balance snacks, my favorite is the P.B. Popps. They’re described on the package as “popcorn cuddled in peanut butter and a bustle of oats.” I didn’t know oats came in a bustle, frankly, but these little spheres, accompanied by a generous quantity of peanuts, are hey-I-swear-I-only-had-a-few-handfuls-why-is-the-bag-almost-empty good. Crunchy with a bit of chewiness from the oats and peanut butter, a little salty, a touch of sweetness… what more could you need in a snack?
Give these snacks a try, and bring some balance into your life. Now, where *did* I put that bag of P.B. Popps?
