Lentil Stew Inactive Site

I am always on the lookout for new sugar-free/very-low-sugar, vegan power bars and this new (to me!) pegan thin protein bar gets a very solid 4.5/5 stars!

Running out the door for a bike ride, heading out to the gym, needing a quick lunch on the go – that kind of lifestyle requires quick, nutritious, protein-packed snacks. The Pegan Thin bar packs in 20 grams of protein and only 190 calories! Best of all, it tastes like chocolate cake, but without any guilt!

The thing I like best about this bar is that it is insanely filling! I’ve eaten a whole slew of protein bars in my 13 years as a vegan and some are more filling than others. But, no exaggeration, this bar fills me up for hours. After eating one, I feel like I’ve had a big meal. You will not be disappointed in it!

The only reason I am shaving 1/2 star off my otherwise sterling review of this product is that the price is really high. I ordered a box (see photo below) online from Julian Baker, located in Oceanside, CA. From what I’ve read, they have some really fabulous treats! All of them are vegan, organic, and gluten-free, which is totally awesome. That said, the box of 12 bars is $29.99, which comes out to $2.50 per bar. That’s pretty steep for a power bar. Luckily, they did not charge additional shipping! You can order the bars here: https://julianbakery.com/shop/. I see also that they have other items that I am interested in trying! Future reviews are likely forthcoming!

If you have tried them or have other vegan/sugar-free/gluten-free products to recommend, definitely leave a comment!

Every day, innocent people go away to prison for long stretches, sometimes even on death row. But, few of them are ever exonerated, as shown in the incredible documentary series, The Innocence Files.

The series, available on Netflix, succeeds on nearly every level – concise backgrounds of victims, detailed analysis of evidence, and compelling interviews of victims, prosecutors, police officers, detectives, and families. The only reason to give this series 4.9 out of 5 stars, is because some of the “here’s what happened after” segments were lacking. (I really wanted to know what happened to the exonerated, in greater detail, after they were released from prison.)

The Innocence Files will make you question everything you know about the criminal justice system, and the presumption of innocence and guilt. I hope I never am called to serve on a jury because this documentary series has made me question absolutely everything. In one case, the accused had not one, but FIVE eyewitnesses who pointed him out in the courtroom. Doesn’t matter – nothing is what it seems, and he was completely innocent. In other cases, (now) controversial bite-mark evidence sent many, many people to prison and it turns out that this sort of “evidence” is completely bogus.

The most compelling part of this series is the in-depth interviews with the accused, and the accusers. Prosecutorial misconduct is rampant, and absolutely shocked me to my core. The background shots of prisons and actual crime scenes are worth the view.

In the end, it is the overall positive messages of the victims that really bring the series home. How can someone possibly forgive people who knowingly lie in court or prosecutors who willingly push for a conviction, knowing that the accused is not guilty? And yet, somehow they do.

If you are able to watch the series on Netflix, please make a comment below about your thoughts on the documentary and criminal justice in the U.S. I don’t think I’m alone in my disgust.