Seven Sundays is a company building a better food system that works in harmony with nature and benefits all. For example, their sunflower seeds are grown by local farmers using regenerative practices. Regenerative practices are good for the soil, water and pollinators. Seven Sundays also does something called upcycling. Upcycling is a process that utilizes ingredients to their fullest nutritional potential and minimizes or eliminates food waste. The sunflower seeds used in their cereals are first cold pressed to extract the sunflower oil. This leaves behind the sunflower seeds minus the oil. The leftover sunflower seed pieces, which still have a high nutrient content are then milled, sifted and upcycled into a high-protein flour used in their cereals.
One of the cereals that makes use of the upcycled sunflower protein, and the product being reviewed for this article, is Seven Sundays Real Cocoa Cereal. This cereal is grain-free, gluten-free and contains no refined sugars or artificial flavors. There are only eight ingredients: Cassava, Sunflower Protein, Dates, Coconut Oil, Cocoa Powder, Coconut Sugar, Vanilla Extract, Sea Salt. The serving size is 1 cup and contains 5g sugar (only 1 of the 5 is added) and 5g protein per serving.
What health benefits do these ingredients offer?
Cassava is particularly high in Vitamin C and copper. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant that supports the immune system, collagen production and plays a number of other roles. Copper is an essential mineral that plays a role in neurotransmitter synthesis, energy production and several other processes. Cassava also contains prebiotic fiber that helps feed the healthy bacteria living in your gut.
Sunflower Protein contains essential amino acids and chlorogenic acid along with other vitamins and minerals. This combination of nutrition can play a role in improving inflammation, decreasing bone loss, helping muscle cramps, protecting against heart disease and more.
Dates are high in fiber and contain significant amounts of some trace minerals and vitamins. Dates can be helpful in improving your gut health and brain health.
Coconut Oil is filled with medium chain fatty acids. These fatty acids play a role in the many health benefits of coconut oil that range from antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral, to improving energy, helping with brain health, heart health and more.
Cocoa Powder is filled with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. These provide several health benefits including anti-inflammatory effects, potentially improving blood flow and blood pressure among others.
Coconut Sugar contains trace amounts of vitamins and minerals and is less process than regular sugar.
Vanilla Extract is rich in Vanillin. It has been shown to contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Sea Salt is rich in trace minerals. Trace minerals play a role in many of the body’s daily processes including brain, muscle and nervous system function.
Moving on to the cereal itself, the individual cereal pieces are flower shaped and large for individual cereal pieces. They have an excellent crunch and are very well infused with cocoa providing a rich flavor. The cereal pieces stay crunchy in plant-based milk for a long time. The long crunch life is due to the size of the pieces and the density of the ingredients. The small amount of sugar used provides enough sweetness that the cocoa does not have a bite or any bitter notes. It creates a wonderful, rich, chocolatey crunch that is not overly sweet or bitter.
Seven Sundays Real Cocoa is a healthy cereal with a number of ways you can eat it. This cereal offers you crunchy texture, rich flavor and healthy ingredients from an eco-conscious company. The cereal size makes them easy to hold giving you a great option to toss in a “to-go” container for a snack. Their density and crunchy texture would make an excellent topping crushed and sprinkled over fruit or yogurt. This cereal is worth checking out.