5 Fresh Items Seen at KosherFest

1. Nugen shakes

Ensure, step aside.

A new kosher product that will provide you with a daily dose of nutrition and help keep you fit and strong is soon coming to the U.S. from Australia.

The Nugen shake drink is a product developed by the Lubavitcher Spigler family. “It will be kosher, Cholov Yisroel and taste like a creamy milkshake,” Yossi Spigler told us in his Australian accent.

He said it is an ideal drink after a workout or walk and even for children or seniors needing their nourishment. Their chocolate and vanilla caramel flavors might also be an incentive.

“It is packed with essential nutrition and designed to support heart, muscle and bone health,” said Spigler, who’s done Chabad outreach work in Rural and Regional Australia.

Sidenote: They will only be available in the U.S. in late December/early January.

Website: nugensupplements.com.

2. Fresh Dress

Don’t let their edgy slogan (“da-n! that’s good”) fool you…

The Fresh Dress line of salad dressings created by the Erdvin family of Toronto aims to cover your veggies with healthy, delicious, wholesome and flavorful dressing.

Representing the family at KosherFest was Chani Bronstein (nee Erdvin), who explained that the company was formed after her father Eli Erdvin was diagnosed with Diabetes in the 90’s and some lifestyle changes were in order in their home.

Like a good wife and mother, Devorah Erdvin went to the kitchen and started preparing alternatives. When she brought it to his doctor, he asked if he could bottle it and sell it to his patients.

They say they use only fresh ingredients and no preservatives whatsoever. There’s Creamy Caesar, Green Goddess, Raspberry Vinaigrette, Lemon Garlic and Wicked Caesar. All are sugar free, gluten free, dairy free, have low sodium and low carbohydrates. Some are even vegan.

Sidenote: It must be refrigerated because of its natural ingredients.

Website: http://www.freshdress.ca

3. California Gourmet

If Jewish moms have been stressed over baking in the last 2 years, Trader Joe’s might be the reason.

When the specialty grocery chain changed a packaging process and labeled their semi-sweet chocolate chips as dairy, a widespread panic broke out, as reported at the time on COLlive.com. Even the Wall Street Journal picked up the story.

With other brands not up to par, Chana Shusterman of Pittsburgh took action. “I was sure they would become available again after a few months,” she says. “It never happened, so I decided to create my own (some say even better) substitute.”

The Chabad school teacher opened California Gourmet to produce a single product: Chocolate chips that are kosher, dairy free, gluten free and vegan with a 45 percent cocoa content.

“They are rich, creamy and delicious,” she told COLlive, “and have become wildly popular in a short time. They are great for baking, melting, and dipping, or just eating as a snack straight from the bag.”

Sidenote: A line of caramel chips is coming soon.

Website: http://californiagourmet.net

4. DeeBee’s TeaPops

Organic tea in a popsicle is the best way to describe TeaPops.

DeeBee’s Organics, another company operating out of Canada, is behind some delicious, refreshing treats to give to children in place of high-sugar frozen treats or other low-nutrient snacks.

Its founder, Dr. Dionne Laslo-Baker, is apparently an avid label reader who is obsessed with foods that taste good and contain bountiful health benefits.

Each TeaPop boasts the health benefits of organic tea or rooibos and organic super fruits with very few calories, ranging from 25-50 calories each. They are certified organic, kosher parve, non-GMO, as well as gluten free, nut free, soy free and vegan.

Website: http://www.deebeesorganics.com

5. Snackette

What do you do with healthy chips? Snackette!

The Brooklyn based company produces 2 flavors of Popped natural chips made with black bean (sweet salt and veggie). And there are 5 flavors of tortilla chips.

The company says their chips have 30% more of the hailed antioxidants than blueberries and contain salba seeds, a source of dietary fiber and healthy fat which have 8 times more Omega 3 than salmon.

“I’ve always had a taste for good food and since I’ve studied in the Hotel and Restaurant School in France, I’ve created healthy products that have great taste,” says the founder Sam Levy.

Kosher under KOF-K, the chips have no cholesterol, no MSG flavor enhancer, no trans fat, are dairy free, gluten free and are not baked or fried.

Sidenote: Each bag is equal to 1 serving of vegetables.

Website: http://snackettechips.com