ne of my favorite things about working with Homeschooling Today is that I get to review products—books, curriculum, online courses. This is the first time, though, I’ve received food to check out. Y’all, I was made for this.

Healthy

If you aren’t familiar with Azure Standard, let me introduce you to them. Azure distributes bulk and specialty health foods to communities across the country. I highly recommend you read the “Who We Are” page on their website, but this is key:

Notice it says, everyone. Azure strives to make it not only accessible but also affordable. So many of you make sacrifices in order to homeschool your children. Healthy food should not be one of them, though!

Quick

When you hear “healthy,” you may be like me and also hear the word “time-consuming.” Although we know that our health and our families’ health are worth the time, it can still feel a bit overwhelming. Good news: healthy does not necessarily mean time-consuming. That’s a myth we need to let go of!

Good

Maybe the idea of eating healthy appeals to you, but after years of eating processed foods, it simply doesn’t sound very tasty. Our American palates have become accustomed to salty, sweet, and (here in the South) fried. Not that these flavors and frying can’t still be enjoyed, but there is a lot more variety to enjoy.

A new flavor for me: carob! If you aren’t familiar with it:

Carob is a rich, flavorful, ancient superfood that comes from the seed pods of an incredible, sustainably-grown tree. It is best known as a substitute for chocolate, popular with folks who have chocolate and dairy allergies or wish to avoid caffeine, but it is also a delicious dessert in its own right. —Azure Standard

Azure sent me three mixes that included carob, and I have to confess something: knowing it was used as a chocolate substitute, I somehow expected it to taste just like chocolate. But it’s not chocolate. So, “at first bite,” I did not immediately fall in love. As we know, though, love sometimes takes time and the more I ate, the more I started to appreciate carob for its own flavor. I kept going back for just a little more. (I told you, I was made for this review… I was committed!)

Missy J’s Carob Brownie Mix. These chewy and rich brownies taste a bit decadent, but are filled with healthy ingredients. For those who need to avoid caffeine and/or dairy, they absolutely can’t be beat. Pro tip: Be sure to let them cool completely before slicing. I like to learn the hard way, so you don’t have to.

Missy J’s Carob Cookie Mix Whole Wheat. This is a version of a “chocolate chip cookie” you can be confident is good for your family, thanks to its nutrient-dense ingredients. I liked the richness, and my husband enjoyed them with a cup of coffee. Yum!

Missy J’s Carob Salted Oatmeal Cookie Mix. These are gluten-free, so I brought six of the cookies to a co-worker who cannot tolerate gluten. He said, “These are moist, chewy, and really good!” I know he meant it since he sat and ate the plate of cookies that morning. They were also my favorite. I used butter and egg, but there are instructions for making it dairy- and egg-free as well.

Enjoy! I sure did!