Sea Salt Kale Chips - Aldi

Sea Salt Kale Chips - Aldi

Two (somewhat) healthy Aldi reviews in a row?! Well, after Aldi's lack luster ranch flavored kale chips (more like kale croutons) I figured they deserved a chance to redeem themselves. Plus, my immune system failed me this week so I've got I the flu. Missing out on all that sunshine and nice weather while hiding under a pile of blankets and binge watching The X-Files has made me want to eat healthier in an effort to speed up my recovery. It's likely a dietary placebo to make me think I'll get better faster, but who know? Eating a little bit healthier couldn't hurt, right? Bring on the chips!

SimplyNature Ranch Kale Chips - Aldi

SimplyNature Ranch Kale Chips - Aldi

Drinking kale juice in the morning is gross. I gave it a shot, and it's not for me. (My boyfriend enjoyed it, but it makes me miserable.) 

I did it to be cool and healthy like all the fancy lifestyle food bloggers out there with their coordinated dishwear, fabric napkins, and aged wooden table food photos, but I just can't do it. That's not me. I'm a messy, junk food eating, blank-background photo food blogger. Kale chips are way more my speed.

Kale Blazer Naked Juice - Aldi

Kale Blazer Naked Juice - Aldi

Before I start today's review I have to make my first ever foodie-decree. (Imagine the text below being read in a town-crier voice, complete with a ringing bell.)

Oyez! Oyez! On this day, the second of January of 2016, I declare that all trendy, health-based, hipster-y foods shall henceforth be referred to as buzz-foods. God save the foodie!

Even though kale isn't as "hip" as it was a year ago, I still consider it to be one of the biggest buzz-food offenders. Everyone tosses kale into their recipes to make themselves seem hip and relevant, while also making their dish seem fancier and healthier than it really is. Plus, it was just last year that NY and NJ had this news-worthy kale-shortage. For those of you who don't know, winter storms were coming and all the foodie hipsters ran to the grocery stores to stock up on kale for their green juices before the blizzard hit. Really? A giant storm is coming and kale was the grocery staple you went for? If green juice and kale are hibernation-hoarding-worthy, I figured, why not check it out for myself?

Brad's Raw Leafy Kale - Home Goods: Moorestown, NJ

Brad's Raw Leafy Kale - Home Goods: Moorestown, NJ

A bit of a seasonal stretch, but I thought I would add these Kale chips to my October reviews. Why? Because this specific flavor is called, "Vampire Killer" of course. (Yummier than a stake to the heart.)

I think this might be first time I have ever bought kale chips. Prior to this my family has always made our own at home using sea salt and our oven. While similar, these chips are a little different from mine. First of all they are raw, which means they are not dried using heat (like my oven method). Instead, these are crisped using a dehydrator that never goes above 115 degrees. Secondly, these are flavored with garlic and vegan cheese. I never though to flavor mine with cheese before. I definitely have to try that next time we make a batch.

The packaging is simple and clean. It's a clear clam shell container with a wrap-around label. I like the earthy brown color and faux texture on the label, but I feel like it's typography could be a little cleaner. For example, look at the 'B' in 'Brad." It seems so far away from the rest of the letters. Little things like proper kerning can really make a product look finished.