When the cool weather sets in, so do the recipes using condensed “cream of” soups. There aren’t many dairy-free options n the market, but Vivian’s Live Again Soup & Sauce Mixes seek to fill the void.
Their convenient packets (available in single-meal or bulk packages) house instant, powdered blends with simple “just add water” instructions. With a household full of kids, the ease of Vivian’s Live Again is hard to resist.
Vivian’s Live Again Creamy Soup & Sauce Mixes are Instant Alternatives
I really like that these mixes are easy to pack along, and I think they’re a great option to share with family members when the holidays roll around. I’ve included some of our tasting notes with each variety, but please do leave your own rating and review below!
Creamy Mushroom Soup
I like the herb-iness of it, and our family thought it was pretty good, but the kids said they liked my homemade cream of soup mix better. (So nice for their mother’s ego!). We all thought it could use a little more salt. Especially if you are using it to replace canned cream of mushroom soup (which is quite salty) in a recipe. When I used it to make the green bean casserole (pictured), the soy sauce in the recipe helped up the salt to just barely enough
Ingredients: maltodextrin, cornstarch, soy milk, modified starch (tapioca, waxy maize), mushroom powder, contains less than 2% of the following: carrots, celery, chives, citric acid, garlic, guar gum, natural flavors, parsley, pepper, salt, sugar, spices, sunflower oil, xanthan gum, yeast extract. contains: soy, mustard.
Nutrition (per 3 tablespoons mix): 90 calories, 2g fat, 27g carbs, 1g fiber, 1g sugars, 2g protein.*
Creamy Chicken Soup
Like the Creamy Mushroom, this one needs more salt and a little oomph. But we enjoyed it in creamed Swiss chard with a touch of vinegar, red pepper, and salt to amp up the flavor.
Nutrition (per 3 tablespoons mix): 90 calories, 2.5g fat, 28g carbs, 1g fiber, 1g sugars, 2g protein.*
Tomato & Herb Soup
We had the tomato soup for lunch and the kids liked it. I threw in some leftover noodles.
Ingredients: dried tomatoes, modified tapioca, maltodextrin, mushrooms, sugar, less than 2% carrot, caramel color, celery, garlic, natural flavor, onion, parsley, salt, spices, spinach, yeast extract.
Nutrition (per 1/4 cup mix): 90 calories, .5g fat, 20g carbs, 2g fiber, 8g sugars, 3g protein.*
Though Sarah will probably stick with her recipes at home, she said, “Vivian’s Live Again mixes are a quick, shelf stable, portable convenience with nice herb flavors that are easy to recommend to family members to use in their holiday recipes so we can all enjoy.”
Alfredo Sauce
It was easy, and fared okay, but the kids didn’t like it as much as the dairy-free Alfredo I make at home. And those in my family who are used to dairy Alfredo could tell a difference. It reminded me of the taste of prepackaged four cheese sauce that might come with macaroni and cheese. This is not a criticism! It has the saltiness of cheese sauces that so many dairy-free mixes miss. I bet I could serve it as macaroni and cheese to dairy eaters and fool them. It’s also very easy to make and would be handy to have for a quick meal or easy to pack for a trip.
Nutrition (1/4 cup prepared): 50 calories, 1.5g fat, 15g carbs, 0g fiber, 1g sugars, 2g protein.*
More Facts on Vivian’s Live Again Creamy Soup and Sauce Mixes
Price: $3.99 per 2-ounce packet (replaces a 1 can)
Availability: Vivian’s Live Again Creamy Soup and Sauce Mixes are primarily sold online. You can order them via the company’s website below and on Amazon.
Certifications: We didn’t notice any certifications on the Vivian’s Live Again Soup and Sauce Mixes.
Dietary Notes: By ingredients, Vivian’s Live Again Soup and Sauce Mixes are dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and peanut-free. Select varieties appear to be vegan and vegetarian. *
For More Product Information: Visit the Vivian’s Live Again website at www.viviansliveagain.com.
*Always read the ingredient and nutrition statement prior to consumption. Ingredients, processes, and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company or product. Contact the company to discuss their manufacturing processes if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. No food product can be guaranteed “safe” for every individual’s needs. You should never rely on ingredient and allergen statements alone if dealing with a severe food allergy.
Good to build on
I love the just-add-water directions and versatility. They make a good quick base for meal prep. We really liked the Tomato soup, and I think the Alfredo could be a good base for dairy-free mac and cheese. But my family still prefers my homemade dairy-free alfredo, and the soup mixes need more salt.
