If you’re in the loop about the top foodie events that are happening in the UK this year you probably bought a ticket to the Allergy Show that took place last weekend in London, 8th -10th of July. The Allergy Show is the largest of its kind in Europe showcasing hundreds of free-from brands all the way from sugar free, gluten free and dairy free to GMO free. We had the privilege of attending this fantastic event and found some super tasty products that we found exceptional. Read on for our 5 Top Buys from the ‘Free From’ Allergy Show and where you can get your hands on them!
1. Jim Jam’s Hazelnut Chocolate Spread
There’s not one person I know who doesn’t love Nutella. It’s amazing but as I’m sure you know it’s not great for your health and it’s high in sugar which is especially bad on your teeth. That’s why I was overjoyed to find Jim Jam’s Hazelnut Chocolate spread which tastes exactly the same but has 83% less sugar than leading brands! It’s kinder on teeth, better for you in comparison and won’t give you that horrible sugar rush and subsequent slump afterwards. It’s even gluten free too. Find it in selected Holland & Barrett stores and online at Ocado.
2. Livia’s Kitchen Raw Millionaire Bites
A simple oat base, covered with a gooey date filling, topped with a thin layer of delicious raw organic dark chocolate. Sounds delightful doesn’t it? That’s exactly what these raw millionaire bites are made of and they come in Almond & Raisin flavour and Chocolate Orange. My personal favourite was the Salted Date Caramel. You never have to feel guilty about having a sweet treat ever again. Not only are these absolutely delicious, they are free from gluten, dairy and refined sugar. They’re vegan friendly and you can get your hands on these moreish little bites in Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and many other stores. Find your nearest stockist at Livias Kitchen.
3. ‘Really Healthy Pasta’
The Really Healthy Pasta range is perfect for people like me who love carbs but want to cut down on them in order to lose weight or feel less bloated. These healthy pasta alternatives are made with gluten free and nutritious ingredients like the Buckwheat & Golden Flaxseed Penne and the Red Lentil Penne which I bought at the show. They also do Mung Bean, Chickpea and Black Bean varieties, plus they come in fusilli or penne forms. Each pasta is made just with that single ingredient, nothing else at all! No added fillers, additives or GMOs and it’s organic. Head to Really Healthy Pasta to get yours.
4. Garbanzo Dry Roasted Chickpeas
Garbanzo is American for chickpeas and it seems like ‘garbanzo’ is going to become a popular word in the UK vocabulary if these lovely little snack packs hit it off with the public. These dry roasted chickpeas are high in fibre and natural protein, suitable for vegetarians and are gluten free. The snack packs come in a variety of flavours including Coffee Coated and Sesame Seed & Honey, plus many more. Each 30g pack contains less than 150kcal and you can pick them up in your local Holland and Barrett. An ideal healthy alternative to the usual fat and sugar laden snacks you would buy in the shop on your way to work, these are tasty yet give you so many health benefits into the bargain.
5. Koko Dairy Free Yogurts
Koko use coconuts to create deliciously creamy yogurts that are so much better for you than most other yogurts. Most yogurts are high in sugar and are made with milk so if you’re vegan or allergic to dairy then Koko will be your favourite go-to snack. They also do coconut milk in cartons which is a perfect alternative to cow’s milk in porridge and cereal. Coconut milk is full of vitamins, dairy free, soya free and suitable for vegans. Their coconut milk matches the calcium content of regular semi skimmed cow’s milk so you’re not losing out on essential nutrients for your skin and bones. The yogurts come in five flavours but my two favourites are the Coconut & Lemon and Raspberry. Sold in Morrisons and other retailers and can also be found at Koko Dairy Free.
Of course there were many other awesome products at the Allergy Show, but these are the ones that caught my eye and sold me with their tastiness. If you can make it to the show at the end of this year and leading into 2017 they are also held in Liverpool, Glasgow and Berlin so head on over to the Allergy Show to find out how you can get tickets. This is certainly not one to be missed and it’ll totally tickle and delight the foodie in you!
