Ohh! So Good: Allergen-Friendly Food Blog
Celebrating Black History Month With Ohh! Foods Founder: Brittany Charlton
As we celebrate Black History Month in February, we acknowledge the great achievements and contributions of black people around the world. As part of this, we wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge the amazing black entrepreneur behind this women-owned business, Ohh Foods Founder, Brittany Charlton. Brittany spends her valuable and passionate energy building an Inclusive Snacking™ community, innovating allergen-friendly products and taking time to share her success to inspire other women all over the world. Years ago delicious vegan and gluten-free snacks weren’t readily available like they are today - and we can thank entrepreneurs like Brittany who are passionate about her brand and her customers to provide the best allergen-friendly snacking products, exactly how they want it. Great tasting with better quality!! I am trying to make this world a little safer and a lot sweeter with her vegan, gluten-free and allergen-friendly snacks - Founder of Ohh! Foods, Brittany Charlton. We interviewed our young Canadian black entrepreneur, Brittany Charlton about her women-owned business and opportunities for women in Canada. Q1. What energized you to create Ohh! Foods? A1. I’m a big believer in the idea of helping humanity thrive - and I love the idea of creating. I am always creating (Brittany smiles in reflection). Even as a kid, I always loved creating products and helping people in a way. With myself going through allergy problems as a teen and facing challenges with picking up the right snacking for me, I started making recipes in my kitchen that provided great taste while keeping allergen-friendly in my mind. I would share them with my family and friends and they all enjoyed it, so that gave me the freedom & confidence to grow my own business and make it scale up. Q2. What advice would you give to women who want to start their own business? A2. Always listen to your heart. Be intentional about where you are getting yourself into. Even if we may take the first step, taking the second and third steps becomes harder; keep listening. For me it’s like life - everything, in general, is like Monopoly, if you’re going to play a game in a certain way you cannot choose differently halfway through the game, make sure you’re playing until the end and playing it well, make effective strategies behind you and how you are going to do that. Do not get stuck in the thought process. Once you have a one-pager of what you think your idea is just start executing it and give it some time to realize if it’s sustainable and scalable. Throughout my journey, my mom has always supported me in trying out new things and understanding where my passion lies. I would say, listen to your heart and you’ll find the answers. Q3. When did you realize that your products were gaining visibility? A3. I think being named one of the Top 10 Vegan Products of 2020 by VegNews magazine is when I started to see gaining momentum in visibility for our products. Our commitment to innovation and meeting the needs of various dietary restrictions has earned us multiple accolades, and being named one of the Top 10 Vegan Products of 2020 was one of them. It has been a wonderful journey. Q4. Do you have a favourite product or innovation that you are proud of? A.4 I love all the products that I have created (Brittany laughs). But innovating products that are convenient and ready to eat is definitely an area that piques my interest. Our convenient Ohh Bites have gotten rave reviews from parents looking for allergen-friendly snacks, right through to adults looking for gluten-free or vegan snacks for their gym bags or movie night-in snacks. But, one of my favourite innovations is the edible Sunflower Butter Cup Cookie Dough… it is pretty dreamy! Q5. What are you looking forward to this year in terms of the product line? A5. This year, we are taking the current products and introducing new innovations in flavours including two new Ohh Bites flavours hitting the convenience check-out aisle, and a new flavour launching in our edible cookie doughs. We will also be expanding our edible Mini-Dough into the refrigerated convenience section in Walmart in spring 2023 which is exciting as well. So stay tuned… It is going to be an amazing year! If you want to hear more about Brittany’s journey, you can check out her recent interview on the podcast Connect The Dots: Connect the dots: Brittany Charlton If you haven’t already, join our newsletter to get updates, promo offers, random giveaway prizes and so much more. Be a part of our Instagram Family: https://www.instagram.com/ohhfoods/
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Sweet Desserts To Swoon Over This Valentine’s <3
Valentine’s Day dinner at a restaurant is kind of overrated… and overcrowded. How many times have we found ourselves typing ‘best restaurants near me’ or ‘best places to eat for Valentine’s Day”? Instead, how about considering desserts as the 2023 way to celebrate Valentine's Day? Let’s face it… every year we get stuck on gift ideas for Valentine's Day. So why not bake for someone special? From snack bites to ready-to-eat/ready-to-bake edible cookie doughs to ready-made frostings, we have something for everyone. So we propose, if you’re celebrating Valentine’s dinner at home, what's better than to top off that candle-lite dinner with some edible cookie dough? It's a unique idea and delicious! Our cookie doughs are not only delicious ready-to-eat, you can bake them in a few minutes, letting you whip them up right after that special Valentine’s Day dinner - making you look like a true wizard in the kitchen - but with no fuss! Here’s another Valentine’s Day delicious tasting tip! Get your hands on our snack bites (a real crowd pleaser) and then build Valentine’s heart shape display with our Apple Pie and Coconut Brownie snack bites as a sweet surprise to munch on while watching a romantic movie :) A Valentine’s Day gift idea that is sweet and absolutely delicious. Chocolate Chip, Sunflower Butter Cup & Birthday Cake Cookie Dough Ohh! Chocolate Frosting: https://ohhfoods.com/ And for the bakers out there… why not make sure your romantic meal ends on a sweet note with our sweet tasty frostings. Our chocolate and vanilla frosting are creamy, silky, and smooth which will melt in your mouth, it’s so good that you’ll want to eat it with a spoon. Vegan, Gluten-Free, Tree-Nut Free and Allergen Friendly Ohh! Foods make vegan desserts, snacking and frostings that are delicious, and taste like homemade, and will feel like an extra special expression of love. When you're already gluten-free, it can be difficult to know where to begin when looking for vegan treats to eat. Our products provide taste without compromise. It might be difficult to find products that are both gluten-free and vegan at times, but our collection of products that are both gluten-free and free of any animal ingredients. Is your valentine a chocoholic? Here’s one for the chocoholics. Try our chocolate cookie dough and decorate your cakes or cookies with our delicious chocolate-flavoured frosting and serve it to your partner. Mesmerize their taste buds with the ultimate burst of flavours. Satisfy your sweet tooth with our Ohh! Discovery Box which includes everything to celebrate your valentine’s night. Perfect for both you and your partner to snack on. Shop on our ohhfoods.com website or find Ohh! Snack Products on Walmart, Healthy Planet, Well.ca and Goodness Me! Happy Valentine’s Day! And remember… it takes a snack to know a snack 🙂. #OhhSoGood Kit Bundle And as a special boost to help you with your need last-minute gift idea for Valentine’s day, visit Ohh! Website (https://ohhfoods.com/pages/promo) and enjoy 15% off on your first purchase. Our products make you thrive on a gluten-vegan free diet. Ohh! Snacking Products do not contain dairy, gluten, soy or refined sugar. Our products are Vegan, Gluten-Free, Tree-Nut Free and Allergen Friendly. Make sure to join our Inclusive Snacking community. Until then, Happy Snacking!!
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February Blues
Happy February <3! Munching between meals has become almost a Canadian pastime. And every February, almost like clockwork, we ask ourselves “How to beat the February Blues?” or “Winter comfort snack food”. But how you snack determines whether or not snacking is a healthy practice. Not every snack is healthy, and not every snack that is healthy is a snack that’s vegan, gluten-free, tree-nut-free, soy-free and allergen friendly. Now wouldn’t a snack like that be stress-free? Snacking Bites Available in Apple Pie & Coconut Brownie Today, we are much more conscious of the impact our diet has on us and more and more of us are becoming aware of our gluten intolerance or allergies. For no other reason than to decrease the effects of gluten on our bodies, many of us are likewise switching to a gluten-free diet. It’s always ‘better late than never’! Our popular snack bites are made with just 5 ingredients and a home-style taste & comfort that’s reminiscent of Grandma’s kitchen. A snack that tastes so good that you’ll always come back for that homemade snack feeling. Apple Pie & Coconut Brownie Snack Bites are rich, sweet, satisfying and a real crowd-pleaser. Jam-packed with wholesome goodness in one bite, it’s the ideal treat for the late-night snacker. A pack of bites curled up under the blankets will provide you with all the protein you need to feel satisfied on these wintery, cold February nights. Our bites make you thrive on a gluten-vegan-free meal plan. When it comes to the ultimate treat, it doesn't get much better than our Gluten-Free Ohh Bites. If you haven’t tried them yet, then you’re definitely missing out on something. One of our customers reviewed our coconut brownie bites as ‘the perfect snack to add to your daily routine’ and we couldn’t agree more. Who would guess these delicious and fudgy indulgent coconut bites are gluten-free? It is made with Date Paste, Cocoa, Hemp Seeds, Maple Syrup and Coconut. Ohh! Coconut Brownie Bites Ohh! Birthday Cake Cookie Dough Pick Ohh! Foods sweet vegan snacks to make your day sweeter without any guilt or compromising on taste. Ohh! Snacking does not contain dairy, gluten, soy or refined sugar. Our products are Vegan, Gluten-Free, Tree-Nut Free, Allergen Friendly, and perfect snacking for people who care about healthy lifestyles, and people who are gluten intolerant. So what are you waiting for? Don’t lose track and order today to get your hands on your new favourite snacks. A little surprise for y’all in February, snacking bites are on sale for a limited time only, get a 2 for $6 offer at the Walmart store or online. Don’t forget to join our inclusive smacking community today, use code ‘Bites23’ and get 15% off on your first purchase. You would not like to miss this. 2 for $6 At Walmart Online or Store: https://www.walmart.ca/search?q=ohh%20foods&c=10019 We hope ( if you haven’t already) you’ll try our products. From our snack Ohh Bites to our edible cookie dough that is ready-to-eat and ready-to-bake, to our mini-dough snacking items - they won’t disappoint and will offer you a crave-able taste that you won’t forget. Shop on our ohhfoods.com website or find it on Walmart, Healthy Planet, Well.ca and Goodness Me! Visit your nearest Walmart store to get your hands on our Snacking Bites Join our newsletter to get updates, promo offers, random giveaway prizes and so much more. Be a part of our Instagram Family: https://www.instagram.com/ohhfoods/
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Snacking Right in 2023 - The Delight Of Discovering Tasty Snacks
As we set ourselves up for success in 2023, let’s ponder that ultimate question we always ask ourselves - how do we eat well without compromising on taste, spend hours prepping in the kitchen or go bust on grocery bills? First, let’s take a quick recap on 2022 to help answer that question. Ohh Foods had an incredible year in 2022. A huge thanks to everyone who engaged, supported, and helped build our community. We introduced new products and flavours, built up our Ohh Foods team, grew our Inclusive Snacking Community (we hope you joined too), hit over 10,000 Instagram followers and so much more! We are also so honoured to be partnering with Walmart Canada, Whole Foods, Healthy Planet, Community Natural Foods, and Goodness Me (and more news to come in 2023).! Making our vegan and g products more widely available to those who want allergen-friendly snacks and r or r dough offerings that are great tasting ready-to-eat at a store near you. Our best g treats are made with wholesome ingredients and our Ohh Bites vegan snacks are made with just 5 ingredients. Now to answer that timeless question we ask ourselves at the start of each new year… how do we eat well without compromising taste, time-stressing activities or guilt-ridden eats or snacks that break the bank account (especially today with high inflation costs hitting grocery shelves and our pocketbook). At Ohh! Foods we provide great snack options that can help start 2023 on the right foot. With Snacks that are Vegan, Gluten-Free, Allergen Friendly, Certified Gluten Free Oats, No Refined Sugar, Tree Nut and Peanut Free, they can not only satisfy your sweet tooth but there’s lots of goodness in every bite. These snack bites will almost bring you back to Grandma’s kitchen with the Apple Pie or Coconut Brownie Snack Bite taste that Ohh Foods brings to life in this #OhhSoGood healthy ready-to-eat option. Imagine instead of grabbing that bag of chips, you grab healthy gluten-free sweet snacks that give you instant nutrition like our Coconut Brownie Ohh Bites which are made with only 5 ingredients: Dates, Cocoa, Hemp Seeds, Maple Syrup, and Coconut. Sounds delicious? They are! And these snack bites are only 70 calories or less per serving, which makes it a delicious, soft & chewy snack without compromise. Especially great when you need a pick-me-up to be more productive at work or school, healthy snacks after a workout, perfect healthy snacks for preschoolers/kindergarten, a movie night-in snack or a snack bite on the go. Check out what some customers are saying about our Ohh Foods products. We're very thrilled to continue offering wholesome goodness, and nutritious snacks focused on taste and quality. Ohh! Foods Snacks are made free from the Top 10 Allergens - and we have some exciting products launching in 2023. So join the community to keep up-to-date on what’s coming. Our founder Brittany Charlton is a young entrepreneur who believes our products make a change in people’s lives. At 18, Brittany was rushed to the hospital and doctors discovered that Brittany has peanut and tree nut allergies which made it so challenging for her to find snacks that fulfilled her needs and satisfied her sweet cravings. She started making her own recipes by researching and received high appreciation from family and friends for her homemade recipes. She put in effort into preparing healthy snacks to help people who suffer from food allergies without compromising taste. Brittany through Ohh Foods products hopes to make the world a bit safer and a lot sweeter. We hope ( if you haven’t already) you’ll try our products. From our snack Ohh Bites to our edible cookie dough that is ready-to-eat and ready-to-bake, to our mini-dough snacking items - they won’t disappoint and will offer you a crave-able taste that you won’t forget. Now here’s a little January 2023 surprise for you for stopping by and sticking with us! Shop Our #OhhSoGood Special Bundle Deals Limited Offer Only: https://ohhfoods.com/pages/promo If you haven’t already, join our newsletter to get updates, promo offers, random giveaway prizes and so much more. Be a part of our Instagram Family: https://www.instagram.com/ohhfoods/ . Sounds too good to be true… it’s not. Try these products in 2023 to get that taste without compromising when snacking this year. Gluten-Free, Wheat-Free and Vegan Ohh! Bites Variety Pack. Ohh! bites snack-ready baked goods are free from the Top 10 most common allergens. Made in Canada. Shop us at the Walmart store or at Ohh Foods online. Shop Our Favorite Edible Chocolate Cookie Dip Dough, Birthday Cake Cookie Dough and Sunflower Butter Cup Cookie Dough: https://ohhfoods.com/collections/ohh-cookie-dough Shop More Options: Shop Ohh! Foods Discovery Boxes: https://ohhfoods.com/collections/discovery-boxes Shop Ohh Foods Limited Offer: https://ohhfoods.com/pages/promo Shop on our ohhfoods.com website or find Ohh! Snack Products on Walmart, Healthy Planet, Well.ca and Goodness Me! Be ready and let us know your favorite snack and all that you’ve tried, we love hearing from you! Please leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #OhhSoGood. We would love to feature you. Until then, Happy snacking! <3
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10 Unique Ways to Eat Cookie Dough!
You don’t have to ask us twice if we want cookie dough! The answer will always be a resounding YES! Cookie dough, especially when it is Ohh! Foods Allergen-Friendly Cookie Dough that is free of dairy, gluten, eggs, nuts, sesame seeds, tree nuts and four other common allergens - who wouldn’t want to eat it with an ice cream scoop! Today’s blog post was written not to convince you to eat more cookie dough (that part you have down!), but to inspire you with new and unique ways that you can put your Ohh! Foods Cookie Dough to work in the kitchen. Don’t get us wrong, it is perfectly fine to eat your cookie dough straight from the tub, but when you have guests over for dinner, they might want something more than your kind gesture to share the spoon ;) That’s where we come in! We love to make, and eat, simple, wholesome vegan recipes that everyone, regardless of their list of food allergies can enjoy. Dessert is meant to be shared! Without further adieu, let’s get into the ten unique ways to eat cookie dough! Cookie Dough Hack #1: Mini Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sundaes Simply roll two small chunks of cookie dough into a ball and then flatten it into a disc. Bake at 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes, depending on the preferred doneness of your cookie and then allow them to cool. Add a scoop of vegan vanilla or chocolate ice cream between the two, sandwich them together and then eat! The best part about this recipe is that you can use whatever flavour of cookie dough that you like - chocolate chip, birthday cake or sunbutter cup! Cookie Dough Hack #2: Mini Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sundaes Have you ever been to a sundae bar or Menchies and seen their baby cookie dough bite balls? They make our eyes light up because they are the perfect sized bite for when you want a taste of cookie dough, but not a full sized scoop of it. Well, that’s exactly what we’ll be making today! Roll up your sleeves and roll out mini balls of cookie dough in all of your favourite flavours. Place the rolled balls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, freeze for 30 minutes and then transfer them to a storage container for future use. When you’re ready to eat them, simply pull them from the freezer and use them to top off your ice cream sundae or pop them straight into your mouth! Cookie Dough Hack #3: Chocolate Dipped Cookie Dough Pops Similar to tip number two, except this time use a larger cookie dough ball! Once you’ve rolled the cookie dough into a tight ball, skewer the ball with a straw or popsicle stick and roll it in chocolate. Place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freezer for 10 minutes. Repeat with as many flavours as you like - this recipe is a customer favourite! Cookie Dough Hack #4: Cookie Dough & Chocolate Banana Boats These banana boats are one of the most versatile desserts you can make. Kids love this recipe because they can get involved by helping to drizzle the chocolate and then stuffing the boats with their favourite toppings! Simply but a small section out of a banana lengthwise. Remove the peel and the banana so you have a “boat.” Fill it with dark chocolate and then top with cookie dough crumbles, berries, seeds or sprinkle! These are guaranteed to be loved at your next dinner party! Cookie Dough Hack #5: Brownie Stuffed Cookie Dough Cups We will say it again because your mouth likely dropped open in shock that you didn’t think of these first! Brownie Stuffed Cookie Dough Cups. Made with 3 ingredients, you’ll likely be making a triple batch so you always have these on hand! Simply grease a mini silicone muffin tin with coconut oil. Add 1 tablespoon of cookie dough to the bottom of the muffin tins and press it down with your thumb. The sides should curl up slightly. Then place half of a Ohh! Foods Coconut Brownie Bite in the middle and top with additional cookie dough. Bake for 5-10 minutes and then drizzle with dark chocolate! Cookie Dough Hack #6: Cookie Dough Pizza Here at Ohh! Foods, we are all for making delicious desserts that everyone can enjoy! Enter, the Cookie Dough Pizza. A cross between dessert and pizza that is equally as fun to make as it is to eat. Simply roll a half cup worth of cookie dough into a ball, flatten it into a thin disc and bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. Remove from the oven, allow it to cool and then top it with vegan icing or coconut cream, berries, sprinkles and/or the toppings of your choice. When it's time to dig in, cut the pizza into your desired serving size and eat it with your hands or a fork. We won’t judge! Cookie Dough Hack 7#: Cookies and Cream Smoothie This smoothie tastes almost exactly like the Cookies and Cream Ice Cream, but better! Well in our opinion it is because you can eat it without the stomach pain and allergic reaction! Simply blend 1 scoop of vegan protein powder, 1, frozen banana, 4 ice cubes, ½ tsp vanilla extract, 2 cups almond milk, 4 ice cubes, 1 tablespoon of sunflower or coconut butter and 2 tablespoons of Ohh! Foods Cookie Dough until smooth. Top with vegan whipped cream and drizzle with dark chocolate! Cookie Dough Hack #8: Dunkaroos This recipe had our team members light up like little kids! They loved seeing one of their favourite childhood snacks being recreated in an allergy-friendly version. Start by baking 10-12 mini cookies using your favourite flavour of Ohh! Foods Cookie Dough and allow them to cool. Next, whip up your favourite vegan chocolate or vanilla icing recipe, avocado chocolate pudding or coconut whipped cream. Dip, dunk or scoop - all three are great options! Cookie Dough Hack #9: Mini Ice Cream Cookie Dough Cups If you love ice cream, you are going to love this allergy friendly version of ice cream cookie dough cups! Start by greasing a mini silicone muffin tin with coconut oil. Add one tablespoon of the cookie dough of your choice to the tin and press it flat with your fingers. Then add a scoop of vegan vanilla or chocolate ice cream on top and smooth out with your finger or a knife. Place the tray in the freezer for 2 hours to set. Remove from the moulds, drizzle with dark chocolate and store in an airtight container in the freezer until ready to eat! Cookie Dough Hack #10: Cookie Dough Chocolate Bark This one's for the chocolate lovers! Simply melt your favourite dark chocolate bar over low heat. Pour it onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper and spread evenly with a spatula. Sprinkle with your favourite Ohh! Foods Cookie Dough flavour, sprinkles, coconut or whatever other toppings you desire. Freeze for 1 hour and then break into chunks. Store in an airtight container in the freezer until ready to eat!
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Healthy Eating Tips for Every Season!
With the summer in full swing and the days being at their hottest, it can only mean one thing. Barbecue season is in full swing! We are hitting up the beaches, drinking on the patio, dusting off our bicycles and eating ice cream like it is going out of style! The much anticipated summer season has arrived and we are basking in all of its glory. Like the season, a trend that rolls around at this exact time of year is a dieting trend. You’ll hear people say, “summer is coming” or use the phrase, “bikini season,” and begin to restrict their food intake, start a new crash diet or avoid foods altogether. All of which are 1) no fun, 2) setting you up for failure and likely leading to a binge and 3) teaching you that food has some level or morality being good or bad. In today’s blog post, we are going to be sharing how you can eat healthy year round. You don’t have to restrict your intake to solely clean foods, or whatever title you choose to give them. We are going to be talking about the key elements to include in each of your meals and various ways to treat yourself without an ounce of guilt! Grab your Ohh! Foods Cookie Dough and write these tips down, or better yet, write them on a post it note and stick it to your fridge! Tip #1: Choose the healthiest carbohydrate The dreaded carb conversation. We crave nothing but potatoes, rice and grains during the winter months and then eat salads like we are rabbits during the summer. What gives? Naturally, our bodies hold onto more body fat during the winter to keep us warm. We lean towards soups, stews and chilis filled with starchy carbs to keep our bellies happy and full. But when the weather turns and the sun comes out, most people experience a shift in their appetite and naturally eat less due to the warmer weather. When we do eat, it is typically lighter, more watery foods such as watermelon, fresh fruits, salads and so on. Because we are spending more time outside, we crave foods that have a higher water content to keep us hydrated throughout our busy days. In the health and wellness space, carbohydrates are frowned upon and are usually labelled “bad” and “good.” Some people take it to the extreme and cut them all together by following the keto diet, and then there are others who eat a predominantly plant based diet containing mostly starchy carbs. Our body’s preferred source of energy is carbohydrates, glucose to be exact. We need the sugars to serve our muscles and brain to fuel our summer activities. Carbohydrates serve one need, they provide us with energy to function when they are consumed. Where they get us into trouble is when they start to take the shape of ice cream, cookies, pizza, fries and grilled cheese sandwiches on the regular. The next time you are at a barbecue, event or out for dinner, build your plate first by choosing foods that contain the most amount of water first. Start with your fruits and vegetables - always! This ensures that 1) you are hydrating yourself while you eat, 2) you are eating your micronutrients and 3) you will eat less overall because of the amount of volume these healthy carbohydrates contain. This rule applies year round, instead of foregoing carbs all together in an attempt to shape up for the season or to shed some water weight, choose the best carbohydrates and put a smaller serving of the “fun carbs” on your plate. We guarantee you that by the time you finish your healthy carbs, protein and fats on your plate, that you’ll be too full to eat the rest! Tip #2: Fill your plate with vegetables first This tip ties directly into the first one. Imagine you are at a buffet, the world is your oyster, or in this case, your food coma. When you’re building your plate, you have an endless number of foods to choose from. Start with vegetables. Half of your plate should consist of a variety of colored vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, carrots and onions. Once it's half full, head over to the protein section and choose a palm size serving. This could be a cup of legumes or beans, a combination or grains and nuts or a serving of tempeh! Next up, healthy fats. This could be a drizzle of olive oil, a handful of nuts/seeds, a scoop of guacamole - you’re the judge! After all that, then head over for the fun stuff - the stuff that you really want to eat, but know deep down that you will be keeled over with stomach cramps if you eat your bodyweight worth of it. That stuff. This ensures that you eat from the vegetables, to the protein, to the fat, in the order that it will be fully digested. At this point, you should be full from the abundance of healthy food you just consumed that you won’t be able to eat all of the rest! The other perk about using this tip, is there is no deprivation. You can eat anything you put on your plate, but only after you eat the good stuff first. Gone are the days of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), say hello to the “I Can Eat Anything” mentality! Tip #3: Drink plenty of water! Have you ever thought about how odd it is that we are given water before, during and after our meals? Water waters down our digestive enzymes. You heard that right. Water actually dilutes our digestive juices and makes it harder for our bodies to break down food - especially if you are using it to help wash down the peas that you hate... Yes, it helps to take up space in your stomach if you drink it beforehand, but how do you feel afterwards? Probably like one of those slush puppy machines whose contents are constantly churning. Instead of drinking water with your meals, aim to drink plenty of water throughout the day - we’re talking liters! Drink water first thing in the morning, between meals, during your workouts and before you go to bed. Our body is made of water, so give it what it needs to function optimally! When it comes to meal timing, try to stop drinking water 15-30 minutes before you eat. It's common for individuals to use liquids as an aid to wash down their food because they aren’t chewing it enough. Instead of using water to lubricate your food, let your saliva do the work. The more you chew your food, the more surface area you expose your saliva to and offer them the opportunity to work their way into every crevice to be broken down. So when in doubt, chew your food more! This tip will not only help you eat less overall, but it will also help you get the most nutrients out of your food by helping your body break them down into smaller pieces. This tip is a triple whammy, hydrate during non-meal times and then chew like a boss when it is. Tip #4: Eat With Your Eyes Eat with your eyes - count colours, not calories! Who doesn’t love a good rainbow? Well, now you have the opportunity and goal, to create a rainbow on your plate everytime that you eat! Numerous studies have shown that we eat with our eyes, we are visual creatures - and that’s a good thing! When your meal is visually pleasing, we take pride in the time it took to make and eat slower. We are more mindful with our eating intentions and often eat less because we are savouring every bite. Aim to have 3-5 colours on your plate at every meal. This could be a cobb salad with romaine lettuce, onion, tomatoes, vegan tempeh bacon and a vegan blue cheese dressing. It could also be a colourful stir fry with avocado and sesame seeds! The options are endless and if you have kids, make it a game or challenge - how many colours can you fit onto your plate! Tip #5: Eat food, mostly plants. Four short words, but strung together by Micheal Pollen that hold unshakable meaning. Our bodies love healthy carbohydrates for two reasons, 1) because they are loaded with water and 2) because they break down into glucose, our most readily available source of energy. It goes without saying that we should strive to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables throughout the day to meet our body's needs. Going back to the earlier tips, our plates should be primarily fruits and vegetables. Get creative in the kitchen - how can you add more fruits and vegetables to your meals? Can you use butternut squash noodles instead of pasta? Can you substitute in cauliflower rice in replacement of whit rice? Think outside of the box, literally, release your grip on the box of risotto, and see what healthy changes you can make to meals that you already love eating! There you have it, five easy tips to take you from the seasonal eating mentality to eating for the long run. Whenever you need a healthy snack or dessert, confidently reach for your Ohh! Foods Cookie Dough or Bites because you know they are full of healthy fats, complex carbohydrates and real food that will make your body sing with energy all year round!
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How to Make Every Meal Healthier
Raise a hand if you have ever meal prepped for the week ahead, only to cave when your friend offers you a slice of their Canadian Pizza loaded with cheese, bacon, sausage and pepperoni. If your mouth watered a little bit while you were reading that, you weren’t alone. We all have our own guilty pleasures, some are worse than others, but everyone has a weakness when it comes to their favourite food! But what if there was a way to eat your favourite foods while staying on track and avoiding the pattern of eating foods you love and then feeling ashamed for consuming them afterwards? Food is meant to be enjoyed, savoured and even celebrated. Every meal is an opportunity for you to nourish your body from the inside out. In today’s blog post, we are going to be sharing our best tips for turning your “cheat meal” or “unhealthy meal” into an everyday occurrence, it's that healthy! Grab a pen and paper, you’ll want to write down these five ways to make your comfort foods something that you can feel good about eating! We’re going to healthify them to boost your energy, improve digestion, balance your blood sugar and design them to help you not eat the entire batch or pan! Comfort food - what exactly are we talking about? These words mean different things to different people. Comfort foods for one individual could be food that they grew up with such as curries, ramen, sushi...you get the gist of it. But for most of us, comfort foods are usually our favourite sweets and treats. These being ice cream, cookies, candy, chocolate, chips, nuts, burgers, fries, pizza, tacos… are you drooling yet? We thought so. Stay with us! We promise you’ll get as excited about these healthier versions as you do for the real thing! 5 Tips To Make Your Favourite Dishes Healthier! Tip #1: Skip the Simple Carb There are simple and there are complex carbs. Both of which are wildly different! Simple carbs are white pasta, bread, potatoes and sugar, while complex carbs are whole grinas, beans, legumes, fruits and vegetables. There is a world of a difference, especially when it comes to your blood sugar. Our pancreas, a small organ located on the right side of our body under our ribcage, is responsible for secreting insulin to help us store the sugars that we consume from the sources above. This little organ only has so much power before it has to rest. Which means that if we’re still consuming sugar even after our pancreas has capped out, it’s insulin producing abilities and diminished and we have moved into fat storage mode! Skipping the simple carbs simply means to reduce or eliminate your consumption of white bread, potatoes, rice, chips and refined and/or processed foods. If it's offered as a side, pass on it and load your plate with colourful vegetables. Or better yet, make a healthier alternative such as whole grain or brown rice, chickpea pasta, beet chips or sourdough bread. This rule does not have to be ingrained in stone. It can be flexible. If you’re celebrating a special occasion such as a birthday, eat the cake. Eat until you feel satisfied (which is likely before your plate is clean!) and ensure that you eat plenty of healthy foods to get your nutrients for the day. This rule is not meant to make one feel restricted to a list of foods they can or cannot eat, but rather help them see a completely different list of foods they can eat that are more nutrient dense and healthier for them in the long run. Tip #2: When In Doubt, Add More Fibre There is a reason Bran Buds were a best seller! Everyone knows the importance of fibre, but no one knows why it helps you feel fuller for longer! Fibre is found in all of the healthy alternatives listed in point number one; whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables. These plant-based foods are loaded with high amounts of fibre that help you fill up faster and assist in the detoxification process. As you consume more fibre, more water will also be stored with it, making you feel fuller for longer. This is also the reason why you feel bloated after having a ton of carbohydrates - for every gram of carbohydrates that you eat, you store 4 times that of water. So when the scale spikes after a high carb weekend, rest assured that it is almost all water! This dynamic duo between fibre and water is key to helping signal your brain that you’ve had enough to eat. As we start to fill up, our body releases the hormone, leptin, our hunger satiating hormone, which triggers a neuronal reflex back through our bodies where we then choose to stop eating or push past that comfort point. Combine this fibrous tip with intuitive eating and you have an eating plan that you can follow for the rest of your life! Tip #3: Limit the Sugar Numerous studies have shown the effects that sugar has on the pleasure centres in our brain. Imaging also shows that it is as addictive and powerful as cocaine in exciting our brain reward centres. What does this mean? The more we have of it, the more we want it. It’s a dangerous relationship really - destined for failure from the get go! Maybe you’re reading this and you’ve found yourself saying, “but I don’t use any sugar in my recipes or meals.” Where the real heavy hitters are hiding is in the drinks, sauces, condiments, seasonings and the obvious, the candy. The next time you reach for one of your comfort foods, start to peel back the label - literally, sometimes they hide the ingredient list! Look at the number of grams of sugar in one serving, knowing that we often eat more than what is recommended and count how much you are consuming. In an ideal world, women consume 6 teaspoons of added sugar daily, while men consume 9 teaspoons. If you’re feeling a little guilty for consuming foods that have been secretly packed with sugar, or angry for being duped by some “so called health foods” claiming to be a more nutritious alternative - you are not alone. Nowadays, there are thousands of healthy foods available to us. Ohh! Foods has created Cookie Dough and Bites that are made from whole, plant-based foods that taste delicious! Their cookie dough is made from rolled oats and just enough natural cane sugar to make it sweet enough to love, but not too sweet that you can’t stop yourself from eating the entire tub! Their energy bites are even better - made with dates, apples, raw cacao and shredded coconut, it doesn’t get realer than that! Tip #4: Portion Control Of all of the points, this one is the most effective because you can visually see how much food you are consuming. Gone are the days of guessing how many tablespoons of Cookie Dough you have. This tool gives you a fast and easy way to catch yourself in the moment, pause and choose to keep eating or stop all together. Start with your health food alternatives; your Ohh! Foods Cookie Dough and Bites, coconut oil popcorn, sugar-free candies and nut/seed mix. Portion single servings into small plastic bags that are labelled and easily accessible. The next time that a sugar craving hits you, reach for your pre-portioned serving and you’ll discover how quickly it really goes! If you want a second serving, you’ll have to physically get up and get it, versus reaching further down the bag. Seeing your wrappers and having a visual cue of how much food you’ve consumed so far, is an easy way to prevent yourself from overeating even on the good stuff! Tip #5: Intuitive Eating Intuitive eating is exactly as it sounds. Eating when you’re hungry, stopping when you’re full and not feeling an ounce of guilt for what you consumed. Most individuals are used to sticking to a meal plan or food routine that determines their portion sizes for them. We’ve become accustomed to being able to clear our plate because it “fits our macros” or because we had a hard workout. But what if, what if we ate until our body said, “hey friend, I’m good now! Thanks for the food.” It’s a crazy idea right? Except for the minor detail that we used to follow intuitive eating for years before technology and dieting apps evolved. The next time you’re in a situation where the elements are beyond your control, take a deep breath and begin. Listen to your hunger cues, take small bites and chew until your food is the consistency of applesauce. If you’re hungry, have a second serving or scoop, if not, politely pass and carry on the conversation that you were having during your meal. If you’re hungry when you get home, make something else! When you wake up the next morning, don’t automatically jump back into your food routine. Wait until your body gives you the cue that you’re ready for more food and then get right back into your normal way of eating! Next Steps: There you have it! Five tips to help you healthify your favourite comfort foods simply by swapping the starch, scaling back the sugar, adding some fibre, portion controlling yourself and learning to eat intuitively. No one is a perfect eater, even if they say they are! So cut yourself some slack as you adjust to your healthier way of eating - these are habits you will keep for a lifetime!
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Allergies 101: What are they and how can we fight them naturally!
There are some words in the dictionary that sound light, airy and fun. And then there are words like “allergies” that feel heavy and stick out like a sore thumb. If you have allergies, our heart goes out to you because we share your pain! Ohh! Foods was created because of our owner, Brittany’s, serious allergies to peanuts and tree nuts. She was frustrated that she couldn’t find a healthy, allergen-friendly snack on the shelf of any store, so she took it upon herself to create an option that everyone could enjoy. Ohh! Foods Cookie Dough and Bites was launched in 2018 and it has taken the market by storm ever since then. Although allergies are becoming more and more severe, one thing hasn’t changed, the ability for everyone to enjoy their Ohh! Foods treats without breaking into hives! Yay for allergen-friendly options! In today’s blog post, we are going to break down the why behind allergies. Why do we react? Why do we get allergies? How can we keep them at bay? We’ll be covering all of those topics and more. Grab your Ohh! Foods Cookie Dough and keep reading! The Allergic Sequence: The allergic sequence of events begins when you inhale, ingest, swallow or come into contact with the allergen. Our proteins take a defensive strategy to combat the allergen and naturally create a protein called Immunoglobulin E or (IgE). This compound binds to the food molecule and triggers a cascade of events that cause the release of histamine, a chemical that is released by the white blood cells into the bloodstream when the immune system is being attacked by a potential allergen. In other words, it's basically a superhero coming to the rescue! You might not feel like you are being rescued when you experience a feeling of warmth, redness in your face, light-headedness, shortness of breath, dizziness, anxiety, pain, loss of consciousness, nausea or diarrhea, but we promise you that your body is hard at work fighting for you on the inside! It may take several hours for the reaction to subside depending on the severity of it. For some, it may be a few minutes, for others it may be a few weeks. So now that we now how and why allergies happen, let’s talk about a few superfoods you can eat to support your immune system and to help your body fight off these pesky allergies! Natural Allergy Reducing Tips: 1. Stay Hydrated! This is extremely important for not only reducing allergens, but for your health in general. Our bodies are composed mainly of water, therefore we should drink plenty of it! Studies have shown that when we are dehydrated our bodies produce higher histamine levels that drive allergies. That’s the opposite of what we want! Keep yourself hydrated by either drinking plain, fruit-infused water, electrolytes or vitamin C packets. Simply add them water, drink and repeat often! Not only are you boosting your hydration levels, you are increasing your vitamin C intake, strengthening your immune system and increasing your energy levels as lethargy is often confused with dehydration. Water can do so much more than help your body ward off allergies and infection. Think of it as your energizing drink! 2. Vitamin C The ultimate immune boosting powerhouse. Vitamin C single handedly protects our cells from damage from external threats. It can reduce the severity of our allergies while simultaneously combating infections. Vitamin C acts as a natural antihistamine, a powerful anti-inflammatory and naturally helps to repair tissue damage. You can find Vitamin-C in fruits and vegetables such as; red bell peppers, strawberries, broccoli, brussel sprouts, potatoes and citrus fruits. Another way to boost your Vitamin C levels is by taking your Vitamin C packets regularly to keep your allergies at bay and your immune system year round! If you want to take it up a level, juice the core of a pineapple and mix it in with your Vitamin C shot. Pineapple contains an antioxidant called bromelain that is a natural antihistamine. 3. Apple Cider Vinegar Shots If only these were the classic tequila shots that you used to take on Thursday nights in University…These are the adult allergy shots that help to combat inflammation, allergies and support digestion. Boring. We know. All jokes aside, apple cider vinegar is a powerful immune booster that helps to break up mucus and reduce inflammation. The symptoms that one experiences with inflammation can be similar to those of allergies, so it's important to ensure that inflammation levels are at an ultime low so your body can focus on freeing your airways and allergies! 4. Turmeric You likely remember the turmeric lattes craze last year. Turmeric lattes were a hot commodity and for a good reason! Turmeric contains curcumin, which can help prevent the release of histamine from our mast cells in the event of an allergic reaction and can inhibit anaphylactic reactions. Turmeric is also a well-known anti-inflammatory fighting powerhouse and is commonly used to help minimize swelling and irritation caused by inflamed sinuses. Almond milk lattes are delicious, but do your allergy fighting body a solid by ordering a turmeric latte or adding a hearty teaspoon to your next meal! There you have it! Four superfoods (one of which is practically free!) that you can add to your meals to boost your immune system, improve your body’s ability to fight off allergies and inflammation and to better your health in general. When you are craving something sweet and need a snack or dessert that is free of all allergens, turn to the dessert you love and trust - Ohh! Foods. Cookie Dough and Bites that are free of the top ten allergens!
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The Ohh! Foods Origin Story
What started as an allergic reaction to peanuts, quickly became a woman’s mission to create an inclusive snacking company with one mission, to offer snacks that everyone can enjoy! Ohh! Foods is more than just a snack making company, they are a community doing their part to make the world a little safer and sweeter for everyone - one bite of cookie dough at a time! Brittany Charlton, the founder and CEO of Ohh! Foods, developed a new allergy to peanuts at the age of 18. After recognizing the allergy, Brittany took to finding peanut-free versions and alternatives for her favourite foods and snacks - only to discover that there were hardly any on the market. This set Brittany into creation mode and she took to making her own treats! She saw this as an opportunity to begin innovating, experimenting and having fun in the kitchen making tasty and safe snacks that her and her friends and family could enjoy. Years later, it was her mom that encouraged her to share her recipes with the world. Fast forward to today, Ohh! Foods now offers 5 products, all of which are vegan, gluten free, allergen-friendly and free of the top ten allergens. After experiencing allergies first hand, Brittany went above and beyond to ensure that anyone and everyone could enjoy her products safely and would become as obsessed as she is with them! In the fall of 2018, Brittany launched Ohh! Foods and roughly 8 months later, their Apple Pie and Coconut Brownie Bites were on the shelves at Sobeys, Healthy Planet, Metro and Bed Bath and Beyond! Business was thriving and the Ohh! Foods' name was starting to become a household name for the parents whose kids struggled with allergies. And then the world was shaken with a pandemic. The majority of small businesses had to close their retail stores and in person shopping became a thing of the past. Online shopping took the world by storm. Like most businesses during this time, Ohh! Foods lost a significant number of accounts they had partnered with and the revenue that came along with it. The pandemic forced many hard working entrepreneurs out of business after years of hard work. But not Brittany. Brittany took on the pandemic with the mindset of “What Do People Need.” She realized that they needed something new, something comforting, something that they could turn to when they are hungry and need a snack that is free of every allergen. She went forth and created their cookie dough line. In August of 2020, Brittany launched Ohh! Foods Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough which sold out in 3 days. After struggling to survive the pandemic, Brittany finally knew what her customers wanted, and she delivered! One month later, Ohh! Foods Birthday Cake Cookie Dough took to the market and was another fan favourite! Following shortly after in its footsteps was the Sunflower Butter Cup Cookie Dough - also known as peanut butter cookie dough’s cousin, but it tastes better and is vegan, gluten free and allergen-friendly! Fast forward to today, Ohh! Foods has 5 products on the market with many more to come and has officially partnered with UNFI. A team of experts that are a part of UNFI, known as the UpNext team, is composed of leading experts who seek out, mentor and educate emerging brands. They help to deliver on trends and create the new generation store experience that consumers are looking for. In other words, they are helpging to ensure that everyone knows about Ohh! Foods and the incredible products that they have to offer. Ohh! Foods is destined to become a household name in all homes, not just the ones where allergies exist. When Brittany started Ohh! Foods, she did so with the vision of being able to sit down with her friends, family and community and all enjoy a tasty snack together. Her business was built upon the belief that food plays an important role in our lives and that it should be inclusive. Ohh! Foods has evolved to become the snack that customers reach for when they are craving something sweet or when they need to make cookies for a party where there are known allergies. Ohh! Foods is more than just a company, it is a community of like minded individuals who are bringing awareness to the innovation of allergy-friendly snacks and sharing them with the ones closest to them. Ohh! Foods for one, Ohh! Foods for all!
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