Product: Bakery on Main Gluten-Free Cranberry Orange Cashew Granola – $6.49+
I’ll be 100% honest with you here. I still think the sugar content of this granola is a bit too high for my liking. But, putting that random thought aside, gluten-free granola isn’t the easiest thing to come by. Especially a gluten-free granola that isn’t laden with fat (Udi’s Gluten-Free Original…I am looking at you!).
I’m an athlete. And that isn’t kosher.
However, setting the sugar problem aside for a moment I’ll focus on the product at hand.
While at a Gluten-Free Expo in Birmingham, Alabama, the Bakery on Main booth had out samples of a variety of their offered granola. I picked up a sample pack of each of the featured flavors and brought them home with me to try out. As I began working my way through my pantry, I decided to bring the granola with me on non-gym days for my lunch at work, to break up my usual lunch of gluten-free oatmeal.
The granola that got selected this time was Bakery on Main Gluten-Free Cranberry Orange Cashew Granola.
From a taste standard alone, this granola is fruity and sweet, with a scent of orange and a scattering of dried cranberries. To add to the salty aspect of a good granola, roasted cashews are tossed into the mix of corn flakes, sesame seeds, flax seeds and sunflower seeds. What emerges is a granola that has a light, fruity flavor to it and tastes a bit like fruit loops or those little candies that you eat off of bracelets and necklaces. I can’t decide which it is…yet.
What Bakery on Main’s Cranberry Orange Cashew Granola has going for it is that it is wheat, gluten, dairy, casein, trans-fat, and cholesterol free. It’s made from all natural and kosher ingredients. And it is low in sodium and saturated fat. What I don’t like is the 11 grams of sugar per serving (3/4 cup…which is definitely more than most granola servings). That being said, the 240 calories isn’t so bad with that big of a serving. Most granola serving sizes range between 1/4 cup and 1/2 cup. So, kudos to Bakery on Main for that.
Ignoring that sugar isn’t easy for me. As a long distance runner, I try to keep my sugar intake at a minimum. But that’s not to say I don’t indulge a bit. I mean, I do have dessert every night. But, I’d rather not ingest 11 grams of sugar in my lunch that day. There are just other, healthier options out there.
That being said, Bakery on Main does create a fantastic blend of fruity and salty, without loading the granola up with sodium. The flavors are a happy medium. Any more of one would be too much. The dried fruit mixed with the nuts is a great pairing. And I love that the base of these granola options are gluten-free corn flakes. It makes eating these that much easier.
This granola has love written all over it. I more than loved it. I devoured it.
Bakery on Main isn’t serving up an unhealthy option. When not consumed daily, this makes a fantastic snack or meal option. But watch your sugar intake the rest of the day. If you love a little fruity taste without being overpowering, this granola is for you! Very delicious. And sweet. And we know why!
The Celiathlete 