For New Year’s resolutions, I never go for the punitive. I try to be kind and treat myself like a brand new kitten. Optimism over negativity, with the caveat that I could be a better version of myself.
So, my resolutions tend to go like this: “When watering plants, I’m going to use it as an excuse to sing.” “Only use the word ‘party’ as a verb when attending a party.” “If you’re going to drink caffeine, take the time to use the French press.”
And finally, “Let’s get healthy-er.” That was the resolution this year.
The idea being that maybe there’s something in my diet that I can improve for overall health. For instance, why don’t I drink more smoothies? Why am I so reluctant to drop some frozen fruit and greens in a blender in the morning? And then the answer came to me in a flash: the blender in the morning is like an airhorn to my brain.
But, maybe I could wander off the beaten path of health a bit and experiment with other foods in the morning, afternoon, and night.
Best Flaxseed Meal Brands At a Glance
| Ingredients | Texture | Certifications | Taste | Best For | |
| Barlean’s Organic Forti-Flax Flaxseed | Organic Flaxseeds | Coarse | USDA Organic/Non GMO Verified | Bold and yeasty | Smoothies and seeded breads |
| Spectrum Organic Ground Flaxseed | Organic Cold Milled Ground Flaxseed | Fine | USDA Organic, NON GMO Project (Verified), Certified Gluten Free by GFCO.org | Yeasty and nutty | On yogurt, in baked goods, in smoothies |
| Bob’s Red Mill Golden Flaxseed Meal | Organic Whole Golden Flaxseed | Very fine | USDA Organic, Pareve, Gluten Free, NON GMO Project (Verified) | Nutty, subtle, buttery | Salads, on yogurt, in smoothies, in baked goods |
A Little Nutrient Boost
I have friends who swear by dropping some flaxseed meal onto their yogurt for extra nutrition, so that seemed like a good place to start.
But just how healthy is flaxseed meal? After doing a little research, I was pretty shocked to discover how good it is for you. It has a plethora of goodness locked inside those little milled seeds!
Flaxseed meal contains more potassium, calcium, iron, dietary fiber, and more Omega-3 than you can shake a stick at. (If one was inclined to shake a stick at something). So, yes. That definitely seemed like something I should top my morning yogurt with.
But, why was my imagination so limited?
After even more research, I discovered you can put flaxseed meal into or on top of pretty much anything. Cookies, cakes, pancakes, soups, stews, sauces, on top of oatmeal, yogurt, and salads. Rumor has it, you can even stir it into (French pressed) coffee!
With all of that in mind, why was I focusing on conquering my fear of a blender in the morning, when I could make myself a nice and quiet salad for lunch. Healthy, easy, and delicious.
So, Which Brand to Buy?
Since I was putting all this research into the health of flaxseed meal and the ways to incorporate it into my diet, it only seemed reasonable to check out what was on offer regarding brands.
Barlean’s Organic Forti-Flax Flaxseed
This company was started by a fisherman and his wife, so it goes without saying that they’re a very Omega-3 focused family. The company prides itself on sourcing its flaxseed from North and South American seeds. They cold press their seeds both to keep all the nutrients and for freshness. And all that sounds pretty good to this curious consumer.
After taste testing it on a salad and as a yogurt topper, the differences between this and the other brands were evident. The taste was bold, nutty, and yeasty. Also, it was coarse enough to make me yearn to roll up my sleeves and make a big batch of seeded bread for myself, and to give away for holiday presents. The coarseness played well against the smooth texture of the plain Greek yogurt, and it gave the salad greens, dressed only in a light vinaigrette, an extra dimension of nutty flavor.
Pros
The texture was coarser than the other two, and the container sealed like a champ.
Cons
Because of the texture, it might not work as well as the other two in delicate baked goods like peanut butter cookies, because it would announce itself as an “add in.”
Spectrum Organic Ground Flaxseed
This company is proud of their SDG lignans, and, according to their website, they do a three-part process to remove less than optimal seeds. They also have a proprietary milling process that slices the seed instead of crushing it, which helps to keep nutrients from oxidizing. Sounds good to me.
It was evenly ground, nutty and delicious. Also, it had an extra yeasty smell which (again) made me want to pull out my container of bread flour, grease a bread pan, and preheat the oven.
Pros
It folded evenly into the yogurt, and gave a slight aroma of yeast to the salad which made it smell like there were invisible croutons hidden among the gem lettuce. Talk about a little Willy Wonka-ish bit of whimsicality!
Cons
The texture was a little dusty. And the bag didn’t have a great seal, so it tipped over making a mess all over the counter. But, that could be easily alleviated by storing it in an airtight container.
Bob’s Red Mill Golden Flaxseed Meal
Employee-owned since 2010, this company is the one that I was the most familiar with. The bags are well represented in the aisles of my local natural foods store. And checking the website they tout that two tablespoons of Bob’s Red Mill Flaxseed Meal contains 1,800 mg of Omega-3 and four grams of fiber. And that’s something I can get on board with.
The taste was both nutty and buttery, which was a hit on both the yogurt and the green salad. Also, the seal was one of those Velcro-like seals, which meant that it was easy to close and to keep closed.
Pros
Because the flavor is more subtle than the other two, it would work with a variety of baked goods like cookies, muffins, sandwich bread, and sweet or savory tarts. And, it’s great in smoothies or on yogurt. Also, a sprinkling of the flaxseed meal made the dressed greens really pop in the salad bowl.
Cons
If you’re looking for really yeasty or nutty forward flavors, this probably isn’t for you. Although, there are aspects of those notes of flavor, Bob’s Red Mill Golden Flaxseed Meal is a more nuanced and subtle product.
What Kind of Ground Flaxseed is the Best?
Well, there’s no right or wrong answer. They’re all delicious with a big kick of nutrients.
So, it comes down to what you’d like to do with them. Are you looking for something texture forward? Then Barlean’s Organic Forti-Flax Flaxseed should be sitting on your shelf for your seeded bread and smoothies. If you’d like something that brings some nutty, yeasty flavor to baked goods, I’d go for Spectrum Organic Ground Flaxseed. And finally, if you’re looking for something that’s subtle, complex and versatile while still having a little kiss of nuts and yeast with a bit of a buttery finish, I’d recommend Bob’s Red Mill Golden Flaxseed Meal.
