Life Box (Cleanse/Vegan Edition) - Review

I decided to go Vegan for the whole of February as part of the 'University Vegan Month Challenge' hosted by Animal Aid. They sent out a little information pack with a few vegan meal ideas and basic information about the foods I could and couldn't eat, which was super useful! I'm mildly lactose intolerant so I try to avoid dairy where I can anyway, but this was a really fun experiment and I made it through the whole month as a Vegan. And I had no naughty cravings either! Result.

Side Note: I will be doing a post on 'Simple Vegan Eating' for those of you that are interested, so keep looking out for that one!

Now, one of the reasons I didn't suffer from any cravings, was because I tried my very first Lifebox this month, which had SO many yummy Vegan treats in it, which brings me on to the subject of this blog post. Review time!!

 I'll start with a little bit of info on the company and the ordering process and then move on to all the juicy details!

So if you didn't know, Lifebox is a monthly box, full to the brim of superfoods, healthy snacks, drinks and loads of other good stuff. You can choose a box that suits your lifestyle, for example, Vegan, Gluten Free, Refined Sugar Free, Paleo etc so they really have catered for every dietary requirement under the sun which I think is awesome.  Plus you don't have to sign your life away with a direct debit like so many other subscription box companies. (If you've gone through the difficulty of trying to cancel a direct debit, you'll feel my relief hearing that.)

I went for the Cleanse Lifebox which was £20.95, which I don't think is bad at all, as there were so many goodies inside that I got to try, plus I've been introduced to loads of companies I'd never heard of. FYI this would be such a good present idea for a foodie.

Inside the February Cleanse LifeBox:

 Inspiral Kale-Os - Pizza flavoured Kale crisps. 
Need I say more? My first impression when opening the pack was that it looked like seaweed, but the dehydrated kale was sooo crunchy and the pizza flavour was amazingly addictive. SO GOOD.

Ugly Water - Fruit-infused sparkling water. The little hint of grapefruit is really refreshing but it doesn't take of an awful lot. Cute idea and packaging and definitely satisfies my fizzy drink craving, without all the nasties!

Ape Salt Coconut Curls - I thought these were gonna taste a little weird but they're actually so nice! If you like sweet and salt popcorn you'll love these. 

Kamalive Raw Chocolate Figs - I'm not the biggest fig fan, (I think it's the texture) so I gave these to my mum who loved them. I had a nibble of the cacao which was really tasty though!

Primal Bakers Heart Biscuit - THE BEST BISCUIT EVER. A magical blend of almonds, cinammon, chocolate, and vanilla. I'm extremely tempted to order a box direct from the bakery!

Nourish Love Macaroon - As per the instructions on the menu I devoured this. So coconutty (I know that isn't a word) and creamy and delicious. It's a tough life doing reviews like this all the time... NOT  

Four Sigma Mind Herbs - I didn't read the info before using, silly me, but this little sachet of goodness is great mixed with hot water to help with stress or concentration. Gave me a much needed boost on my lunchbreak at work! Add to a smoothie if you're not a fan of herbal tastes.

Healthbox Kitchen Apricot Energy Balls - These were probably the only thing I didn't like, simply because I'm not a fan of apricots.  Coconut flour added a lovely texture but the apricot was too overpowering for my taste buds. 

Pic's Peanut Butter Slug - Being a self professed Peanut Butter Addict, I knew I'd love this. The packaging is super cute and it's on par with the Meridian organic PB. (SO YUMMY)

Loula's Superfood Mix - I had half of this on top of my smoothie bowl to add some crunch, and then nibbled on the rest of this whilst being called a rabbit by my friends. How lovely.

Lifebox Organic Black Beans - I haven't actually used these yet as I'm going to make the Sweet Potato and Black Bean Soup from the recipe that comes with the beans! 

Pukka Organic Teas - I am English, therefore I like tea. Simple as. But seriously, the 'love' flavour was my favourite as the chamomile and lavender blend was really relaxing. The 'cleanse' flavour was a more acquired taste, so I'll save that one for the herbal drink fans!

Squeeze Wheatgrass Pouch - Luckily the flavour of apple and pear masks the wheatgrass as I've had a shot of that on a hangover and it was bloody horrendous. This was actually quite refreshing and made me feel like I should go on a retreat or start yoga classes...

Artic Power Protein Blackcurrant Powder Sachet and Sun Warrior Chocolate Vegan Protein - These are both really great options for new Vegans/Lactose Intolerant people wanting to add more protein into their diets (as most proteins come from whey). I'm definitely going to try and get hold of the chocolate protein when I get back into a gym routine... #SummerBodDreaming

Lifebox Golden Inca Berries - Now I snacked on these as I don't like dried fruit on top of my porridge. But these were really interesting, they were similar to raisins, just slightly sharper.

Ombar Raw Cacao Buttons - I definitely saved the best till last with these. Hands down, THE BEST non dairy chocolate buttons I've tasted. So morish, and the packets are probably a sensible size, as I'm not the best with portion control. Already found these in Holland and Barrett and bought a couple more packs. (And yes I've already eaten them all)





Verdict:
I absolutely loved my Lifebox, everything from the packaging and branding down to the careful selection of products is so well thought out and beautifully presented. I think it's a great purchase for someone new into a Vegan or Paleo diet, as there are so many new things to try. I felt like I was back in primary school opening a goodie bag that I'd won, full of loads of tiny presents! (Anyone know what I mean?)

I'm definitely going to be back for another Lifebox soon, they're also super friendly on Twitter and Instagram if you have any questions about anything at all!


SO let me know if you do decide to purchase a Lifebox, I'd love to know what you got and what you think of it! Or if you've tried a box like this from another brand, please share it with me! Any opportunity for me to eat food...

Thanks for reading your Dose of Healthiness

PR Disclaimer: The majority of things I review on this blog, including this LifeBox, were purchased by myself, however from time to time, I do get sent products in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way by brands/companies. If you are a company interested in sending me something for a review, you can contact me at sales@izzymariehill.com