Snacks – Page 33 – The Celiathlete

March 26, 2013

A healthy, light snack from Real Foods Tasty Cheese Flavored Corn Thins

Product: Real Foods Tasty Cheese Flavored Corn Thins – $3.29+

I admit it…I am an oddball. I actually like rice cakes. I always have. I grew up eating them. My mom kept them in the pantry, and I would eat them plain, or sometimes give the top a light schmear of peanut butter. Rice cakes were one of my favorite snacks. Still are. As long as they don’t taste like cardboard.

My roommate and I have this bad habit. It is a very, very bad habit. We see a product labeled gluten-free that we haven’t seen before at any of our stores and we immediately pile it into our shopping basket and take it home…just adding to the stash. That was what happened when we brought home Real Foods Tasty Cheese Flavored Corn Thins.

We weren’t actually seeking to buy more snack foods while out at Dorothy Lane Market in Dayton, Ohio. We just ducked inside to see what the grocery store had to offer, as there were a few of them scattered throughout Dayton and we were killing some time. Lo and behold, they have one of the most amazing gluten-free sections I have seen at a local grocery store. I was blown away. Local baked goods. Products of which I have never seen before. Awesome.

One of the products we grabbed, for reasons I still don’t know, were the Tasty Cheese Flavored Corn Thins from Real Foods. I actually forgot about them. Whoops. But I was checking the pantry list and noticed them under crackers…and that was why I overlooked them. Wrong category. Definitely not crackers. But since the expiration date was approaching, it was time to use them as my afternoon snack.

Corn Thins are amazingly good for you. Yes, even the Tasty Cheese Flavored ones. These little rice-cake like thins (they are about 1/3 the thickness of a rice cake), made from corn and rice that are popped under high pressure, are honestly a guilt-free snack. I was shocked that I liked these, despite being such a fan of rice cakes. I don’t know why I was so worried.

Anyway…these little cakes have a rice cake texture, but are sweeter thanks to the addition of the popped corn. The cheese flavored topping is lightly dusted on top, not overpowering the corn cake itself. I loved how thin these are cut, because it makes them easy to handle and very light. They have this gentle crunch when you break into them or bite into them. I was very impressed with these.

And yes…guilt-free my friends. Real Foods Tasty Cheese Flavored Corn Thins are 28 calories per cake. For my snack, I took 3 of them, racking up a total of 84 calories for my snack. Not bad. And only 1 gram of fat in that serving. NICE! These are very low in sodium, have no preservatives, no artificial or nature identical flavors, made with all natural ingredients, are gluten-free and non-GMO. My three corn thins gave me 3 grams of protein and 1.5 grams of fiber.

But the true surprise was just how much I enjoyed these. Texture-wise, they are awesome. Just the right amount of crunch. And taste-wise…they are quite tasty. After all, with a name like Tasty Cheese…you better live up to your name.

I hope I can find more flavors that are offered in stores around here. I’ll be searching high and low. And if not…next time I’m in Dayton…you better believe that I’ll be stopping into Dorothy Lane Market.

Real Foods does healthy snacks right with their Corn Thins. Flavor them like cheese…and you have a winning combination!

Three of Real Foods Tasty Cheese Flavored Corn Thins

March 26, 2013

Ian’s Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Buttons a cute pop-and-go snack

Product: Ian’s Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Buttons – $5.29+

In the realm of gluten-free cookies…these are by far the most adorable.

And yes…food outside of Japan can be adorable. Trust me. When I opened up my package of Ian’s Gluten-Free/Wheat-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Buttons, I wasn’t expecting little dime-sized cookies. But…that’s what I got. Mini-mini-mini chocolate chip crunchy cookies. No wonder an entire serving was 23 cookies. Now I understand why.

Well…you know how I am about cookies. And I spotted these on a shelf at Publix while I was in Birmingham, Alabama for the Making Tracks for Celiacs event. Yes…I realize how long ago that was…but I’ve had a lot of food to cypher through since then. Trust me, it was never my intention for these to make a home in my pantry. And that’s why tonight…they became dessert.

A little bit about Ian’s, first and foremost. Ian’s, as a company, set out with a mission to provide high quality, all-natural and allergy-friendly foods to the market that consumers can trust. The company takes great pride in providing quality foods they feel customers will enjoy. And they are always experimenting and coming up with fun and delicious allergy-friendly items to bring to the table.

Fun…I think cookie buttons fall under that category.

So, what are cookie buttons? Well, they are miniature chocolate chip cookies. Honestly. That’s all they are. These crunchy little cookie buttons are the tiniest chocolate chip cookies I have ever seen. And I’ve seen a lot of chocolate chip cookies. I’ve eaten a lot of chocolate chip cookies too…but that is beside the point. These itty-bitty Chocolate Chip Cookie Buttons are one of those snacks that just call out to be fed to children. I mean, they are bite-size and perfect for snacking. They are sweet without being overly sweet. The crunchy texture is perfect, not too hard, not too soft. And they are just one of those snacks your fingers will find and pop in your mouth. The chocolate chips give each cookie a nice hint of sweetness, and the cookie part itself is sweetened just enough without it being too much.

A serving of Ian’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Buttons is 23 cookies (or 30 grams). This serving will set you back only 130 calories and 4.5 grams of fat. That’s awesome for a cookie treat, yes? This serving also provides 11 grams of sugar, which isn’t bad considering…these are cookies. While these cookies do contain soy, egg, and milk, they are completely gluten-free and wheat-free.

I admit…they are nowhere near being the best gluten-free cookies I have ever tasted. They don’t even slot into my top 10. But…there is something very…intriguing about these. Would I buy them again? Eh…perhaps. I’ve had one too many amazing gluten-free cookies out there to really just settle on these…but they aren’t bad. And the size of them makes them fun and easy to travel with. So, they aren’t fantastic for kids or for a quick snack if you are on the go or just in a hurry. And…come on…they are mini chocolate chip cookies.

Cuteness counts for something, yes?

A serving of Ian's Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Buttons — A serving of Ian’s Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Buttons

March 26, 2013

Making a snack out of Trader Joe’s Queso Cheese Dip and Organic Corn Chip Dippers

Trader Joe's Gluten-Free Queso Cheese Dip with Trader Joe's Organic Corn Chip Dippers — Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Queso Cheese Dip with Trader Joe’s Organic Corn Chip Dippers

Products: Trader Joe’s Organic Corn Chip Dippers – $1.99+; Trader Joe’s Queso Cheese Dip – $2.49+

I wish I could write a love letter to Trader Joe’s. Quite honestly.

So often, the snack foods or vegan/vegetarian foods that most people can eat…I can’t. Because I can’t have gluten. And so often, some sort of gluten containing ingredient works its way into said snack foods or food items.

But…Trader Joe’s seems to hold the market…and that’s what keeps me coming back time and time again. While normally I don’t do queso dip…my roommate spotted this awhile back at Trader Joe’s…and as it was clearly marked gluten-free…she asked if we could go ahead and get it. For blog purposes, of course. Which is easy for her to say…because she’s not the one who has to type it. But…she rarely asks for a product while we are out grocery shopping, so I agreed and promised I would come up with something to use it with.

And then it sat in the pantry. And sat. And sat. And every time I contemplated using it in something, I would find something else to use. And so…it continued to sit on the pantry shelf.

A couple weeks ago, my roommate spotted yet another item while we ducked into Trader Joe’s. This time, the Organic Corn Chip Dippers. Basically, organic Fritos. They were even labeled gluten-free, so once again, who was I to say no. I was certain I could find a dish to pair them with.

And then…I didn’t.

Until tonight.

My roommate is now obsessed with sliders. Why? Because I made these little mini meatball sub sliders and now…everything she wants this week is in slider form. It’s a fun way to use some produce and get a bit creative in the kitchen. Tonight, I was making a gluten-free black bean and soy chorizo (using Trader Joe’s vegan and gluten-free chorizo) sliders, which I placed on toasted Udi’s Seeded Whole Grain Dinner Rolls with some fresh vegetables from my CSA bin. But, two little sliders, while still a decent dinner…needed something to go with it.

And after some quick thinking and a peek into the pantry…Trader Joe’s took over my dinner plates.

I’ll start with the Organic Corn Chip Dippers. As I stated before, these are basically a healthier and more natural Frito corn chip. The difference between these and Fritos is that Trader Joe’s version of these corn chips have no preservatives, no trans fats, and no chemicals baked into them. They aren’t greasy like Fritos are, leaving no oily residue behind on my fingers. And the ingredients list is super short: corn, sunflower oil, salt. Three ingredients. That’s all. So right there, they won me over. These chips are perfect for dipping, sturdy enough to hold a goopy scoop of queso cheese dip without busting apart or crumbling under the weight. And they aren’t overly salty either. Which, I do appreciate, because it lets the crisp, earthy flavor of the corn in these chips really shine. Perfectly flavored and great tasting.

As for nutritional information on the Trader Joe’s Organic Corn Chip Dippers, a serving is 28 grams (or about 10 chips). This serving will set you back only 160 calories. You will be taking in 10 grams of fat in this serving, which is a bit high, but these are chips…so keep that in mind. And much of that fat is a result of the sunflower oil, so at least it is a healthy fat. These chips also have only 160 mg of sodium. Not bad for a chip, right?

So, just because they are organic doesn’t mean they are healthy. Stick to a serving, and you’ll be enjoying a better-for-you corn chip dipper. Way better and way more flavorful than Fritos.

And, naturally, I decided to pair these chips with the Trader Joe’s Queso Cheese Dip that had just been begging for me to open it up since I bought it. And now I wonder why I had waited so long to do so.

Trader Joe’s Queso Cheese Dip is the perfect dip for nachos. It’s super cheesy flavored with a nice spicy kick that isn’t too much. Even my roommate, who is a spice wimp, raved about the queso. I think she liked it better than my black bean and soy chorizo burgers, to be honest. Bold flavors and a hint of spice make any queso amazing. But what really makes Trader Joe’s queso stand out is that a serving of 2 tablespoons has…are you ready for this?…only 15 calories. This is NOT a joke, my friends. Only 15 calories. For cheesy queso dip. I swear to the food gods! Don’t believe me? Go to your local Trader Joe’s and find this cheese dip and see for yourself. You realize, then, that the entire jar only would set you back 165 calories…which is what usually 2 tablespoons of regular queso would set you back. Um…AWESOME! That being said, a 2 tablespoon serving will only contains 0.5 grans of fat and 130 mg of sodium. This is beyond amazing. If you are tired of salsa and guacomole isn’t what you’re craving, then do pick up a jar of Trader Joe’s Queso Cheese Dip because with these nutritional facts, paired with the amazing flavor…you can’t go wrong.

Addictive. And a perfect snack or side dish to a meal. That’s what Trader Joe’s provides with Organic Corn Chip Dippers and Queso Cheese Dip. I was blown away. So, if I were to pen a love letter to Trader Joe’s…it would simply say:

I love the food you are able to provide for me when other stores fail to do so.

It’s the truth. And when the food is beyond my expectations and tastes amazing…even better.

Thank you, Trader Joe’s.

Trader Joe's Organic Corn Chip Dippers with a serving of Trader Joe's Gluten-Free Queso Cheese Dip — Trader Joe’s Organic Corn Chip Dippers with a serving of Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Queso Cheese Dip

March 25, 2013

Not just waffles anymore – Van’s Natural Foods dishes up delicious Cinnamon Heaven cereal

Product: Van’s Natural Foods Gluten-Free Cinnamon Heaven Cereal – $5.49+

When I heard the brand name, Van’s Natural Foods, or just Van’s…I’ve always thought of one thing. Breakfast. Van’s actually delivered the first stunning gluten-free waffle to my breakfast plate back when I just went gluten-free. I had tried another brand prior…and it was mushy and just…not what I was looking for in a waffle. The moment I had one of Van’s gluten-free waffles…I was hooked.

Even my friend, Jenn, who doesn’t have to eat gluten-free, prefers Van’s gluten-free waffles to other brands such as Eggo. That speaks very highly of quality, don’t you think?

Recently, however, it seems Van’s is delving into a little more of the breakfast food market. While at my favorite grocery store, searching for a gluten-free cereal to have for breakfast, the top shelf boasted boxes of Van’s gluten-free cereals.

HELLO! What is this?

There were two different varieties: Cinnamon Heaven and Honey Nut Crunch.

I currently was working on a cereal that had a strong honey flavor in it, so I opted for the Cinnamon Heaven cereal.

I think secretly I was longing for it to be reminiscent of the Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal my sister claimed as one of her favorite cereals growing up. We had it often. And yeah…nothing quite beats a dose of cinnamon and sugar over little cereal puffs in the morning. It’s true. My sister was really onto something there.

Well, this morning marked the big occasion. I had just used up my last gluten-free cereal (which was…just meh…so, it won’t make it into my pantry again), so the Van’s Natural Foods Gluten-Free Cinnamon Heaven was up. Spotlight on. Moment of truth.

I dished up a serving (yes…I actually do measure out serving sizes!) and grabbed a couple extra…just to taste on their own…before I poured any of my unsweetened almond milk over it. Oh. My. Cinnagoodness.

So, the fact is…they taste nothing like Cinnamon Toast Crunch. So those childhood fantasies were immediately quashed. HOWEVER…let me finish…this is not to say that I was in the least disappointed by the cereal I had just eaten. The opposite is actually true. I was impressed.

First of all, this cereal is very light. It’s not heavy like I remember the little toasties in Cinnamon Toast Crunch being. These are little puffs of whole grain cereal. In fact, this cereal boasts five whole grains. Each one is lightly, very lighty, dusted and sweetened with real cinnamon. Did you see that key word there? REAL cinnamon. And what results is a light, sweet, fantastic tasting cereal that makes you feel like a kid again, but has you eating like a responsible adult. But this isn’t to say your little kiddliewinks wouldn’t love it as well. The hint of cinnamon is what makes it. You aren’t overwhelmed by it. So, you still get to taste the cereal, without it being masked behind a lot of sugar or additives.

With that mention, let me also say this about Van’s Cinnamon Heaven cereal. Not only is this product gluten-free, but it is certfied kosher, completely dairy-free, corn-free, all natural, low in sodium, high in fiber, contains no artificial colors of flavors, contains NO high fructose corn syrup, and contains a full serving of whole grains. So, you’re eating well without pumping a lot of unknowns or chemicals into your body.

One of my favorite little things on this box was right on the ingredient panel. Right after the bold word, INGREDIENTS, there is this addendum typed in parentheses that mad me smile and believe more in this company. It simply reads: (That We Are Proud Of!). Only ingredients that this company is proud of and backs goes into this cereal. That being said, you will recognize everything on that panel. And the list is short. It includes Van’s gluten-free whole grain blend (which is oats, brown rice, millet, quinoa, and amaranth flours), cane sugar, oat fiber, inulin, invert cane sugar, non-GMO canola oil, cinnamon, and salt. Simple. Recognizable. Trustworthy.

The fact of the matter is, this cereal is delicious. It was love at first bite for me. Light, yet filling. And with 17 grams of whole grains and 5 grams of protein, it’s no wonder you’ll feel full after eating this cereal. A serving size of 3/4 cup will only feed you 120 calories of your daily intake and 1 gram of fat. How about that for starting your morning right? With only 8 grams of sugar, you won’t feel bad about eating this cereal either. It is more like breakfast than dessert. I like that. A serving will also dish up 2 grams of protein as well. You can’t argue with this being a nutritious way to start your day. But keep in mind, cereals like this are so versatile. Throw it into your morning parfait, take it as a snack on-the-go, or eat it at midnight after a concert (cereal always tastes better at midnight!).

I really want to congratulate Van’s Natural Foods for this important, delicious, and healthy breakfast cereal. I’m hooked. I was hoping that I’d love it…but I ended up falling in love with it…at first taste. And that, my dear friends, is how you can not only see and taste the quality of the product, but appreciate the quality of the company too. I trust Van’s. They brought me amazing gluten-free waffles. Now, they not only fill my freezer, but my pantry too.

March 24, 2013

Liz Lovely perfects gluten-free peanut butter cookies…and coats it with dark chocolate love

Liz Lovely's Gluten-Free and Vegan Peanut Butter with Dark Chocolate Cookies — Liz Lovely’s Gluten-Free and Vegan Peanut Butter with Dark Chocolate Cookies

Product: Liz Lovely Gluten-Free and Vegan Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Cookies – $3.99+

Just when I thought I had tried every gluten-free, vegan Liz Lovely cookie out there, I find one that I missed. Or that is new. But whichever is the case, this cookie monster somehow needed to have this new variety in my life…and my belly.

I was out at our local natural food store. It’s the only place in the area where I have found Liz Lovely cookies. Which, is too bad, really, because these cookies are beyond awesome. I’ve tried every variety that I could find…and according to the Web site…I had tried them all.

That is up until a couple weeks ago, when I stopped in to see if they had an item I’ve been searching for…and lo and behold…this little cookie was staring up at me from its little basket. I wanted to buy it then and there, but I was on a budget. I had a Groupon for this food store and vowed to return the following week to shop there. And, naturally, that flavor cookie was gone.

But on Saturday afternoon, when my roommate and I stopped in for some gluten-free dinner rolls…it was back. And I grabbed it and made sure this time I didn’t leave without it.

What made this cookie so…intriguing to me? Well, it was the simple combination of two of my favorite things in life: peanut butter and dark chocolate.

Oh yeah…you read that right.

Liz Lovely’s Gluten-Free and Vegan Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Cookies turned out to be dessert that very night. I mean…come on…you know that wasn’t just going to sit around the apartment. Heck no. Peanut butter and chocolate never lasts long in this place anyway…put them together…and…yeah…gone in a blink of an eye.

First…the basics of these cookies. A serving size is…half of a cookie. Yes…you only get half. This works out great for my roommate and I because we just split one cookie in half and then eat the other one for dessert the following day. That half of a cookie will set you back 170 calories and 8 grams of fat. Yes…for a half of a cookie that seems a bit steep, but these cookies are rather large anyway in the grand scheme of things. So…just remember that this is a treat. And, like most desserts, you only need a taste. You might be tempted to eat the entire cookie…and I wouldn’t blame you or judge you. They are awesome.

Here’s why…

Liz Lovely cookies are soft, chewy, and taste like they are fresh from the oven. No joke. I mean, minus the whole piping hot part. But…they still have that doughy taste and feel to them, which I absolutely LOVE in a cookie. The base of this cookie is a soft, gooey peanut butter cookie. The bottom of the cookie is coated in a nice layer of dark chocolate. And then the top of the cookie is drizzled with more dark chocolate. It’s captivating to the eye. It makes your mouth water. You eagerly take that first bite…and chewy heaven. The chocolate on the bottom of the cookie is adding not just sweetness…but texture. And the salty-sweet combination of the dark chocolate and the peanut butter is God’s gift to gluten-free cookies. For real. This cookie is, by far, one of the best gluten-free and vegan cookies I have ever eaten in my life. Perfectly balanced, perfectly made, and perfectly delicious.

According to the Web site, the peanut butter cookies were discontinued prior to the release of this cookie because the peanut butter and the gluten-free ingredients were not playing nicely together. With some recipe tweaking, and a little luck…this cookie is what emerged. And the gluten-free cookie world celebrates this creation. I know I’m not the only cookie monster out there applauding this. Or devouring it.

I’m kind of sad that they’re gone.

Making a note to add them to the grocery list again…soon!

Liz Lovely's Gluten-Free and Vegan Peanut Butter with Dark Chocolate Cookie — Liz Lovely’s Gluten-Free and Vegan Peanut Butter with Dark Chocolate Cookie

March 20, 2013

Angie’s Uncommonly Salted Caramel Popcorn uncommonly lightens up snack time

Product: Angie’s Uncommonly Salted Caramel Popcorn – $3.99+

Two of my favorite words.

Salted. Caramel.

It doesn’t get much better than that salty-sweet richness of caramel speckled with flakes of salt. There is just something so tantalizing, mouthwatering, and sinfully delicious about anything that remotely involves something salty and caramely…especially when mixed together. That is heaven. Heaven in whatever salted caramel form said delicacy takes. Pure and simple.

Over the holidays, my friend Shana, directed me to Target in search of this amazing sounding (and it was super yum, btw) holiday popcorn – Holidrizzle Dark Chocolatier Sea Salt Popcorn by Angie’s. I searched, I hunted, I discovered, I took home and devoured. Seriously epic. My coworker bought the other Holidrizzle flavor – White Chocolatier Peppermint and it was super delish as well. It made for good eats while at the office. Trust me.

Upon discovering this epic popcorn, however, I needed more of it. I got online and looked up Angie’s Web site. And there I found a plethora of flavors just awaiting my discovery. The only problem was…finding the regular flavors. I couldn’t. Not anywhere.

Until the New Year rolled around and I was in Columbus, Ohio visiting my friend Jenn. We all piled into the car one snowy morning and took a road trip down to Cincinnati to visit Jungle Jim’s…the most epic grocery store in the world. Seriously…foodie heaven. No joke. And the gluten-free section. HA. The gluten-free section was HUGE!! No joke. And waiting for me on a few shelves…were a variety of flavors of Angie’s Popcorn.

OH. MY. POPCORN. GODDESS!

I knew my pantry was already stocked, so I settled on one flavor…and only one flavor…this time. And the winner of said luck-of-the-popcorn-draw: Angie’s Uncommonly Salted Caramel Popcorn.

I had a few (okay…a lot) of products to work through before I could get to this popcorn. And it sat in my pantry up until yesterday…mocking me. Begging me to open it up…take a taste…fall in love. I behaved. I resisted. But I polished off the protein bars that were nearing their sell by date and this was the next item up on my pantry list. I couldn’t have been more excited. I might have squeed in anticipation.

I dished up a serving of the popcorn, which is 1-3/4 cup (or if you weigh your servings like I do…28 grams). I packed it up to haul to work with me and then had to eagerly wait for my 3 p.m. snack time to roll around. I was ready for it when it did, and out of my drawer this popcorn came. I opened it up, grabbed a light, fluffy kernel, and popped it in my mouth.

Amazing. It is sweet, without being too sweet. The saltiness isn’t overwhelming at all. In fact, it’s more sweet than salty. The darker bits of popcorn is where the flavor magic happens. Those are the popped kernels that are harboring the golden caramel flavor with that burst of saltiness. It is fantastic. It’s much lighter than you would expect caramel corn to be. And I found that the sweet and salty flavors were rather balanced…more sweet than anything. The interesting part of this popcorn is that you will feel satisfied after eating a serving, but you won’t feel like you gorged on something bad. No kidding when I say how light this popcorn is…even when coated with that golden caramel.

A serving of this popcorn will set you back 140 calories and 8 grams of fat. The fat content seems a little high…but this is caramel corn, right? Let’s not dwell on that. A serving of Angie’s Uncommonly Salted Caramel Popcorn has only 70 mgs of sodium, 2 grams of fiber, and 1 gram of protein. As for the sugar content – only 8 grams. Not too bad for a sweet treat, yes?

And the ingredient list is so recognizable it’s craziness. Popcorn, sunflower oil, evaporated cane crystals, invert cane syrup, natural flavor, sea salt, caramel, and annatto (a seed used in South America for cooking and body paint), which is added for colors. LOVE that. This popcorn is also made from whole grains. It is all-natural, non-GMO, vegan, kosher, gluten-free, cholesterol free, contains no trans-fat, and no high fructose corn syrup. AWESOME!

What you get from Angie’s popcorn is a natural goodness. Bite-for-bite you will fall in love with the amazing flavor, the lightness of the popcorn, and just how delicious it is. I recommend you portion it out into serving sizes, less you risk eating the entire bag in one sitting. It really is that good. There is nothing uncommon about Angie’s Uncommonly Salted Caramel Popcorn. The only anomaly here is that you have yet to try it. Go. Find it. Eat it. Enjoy it. Devour. Start again.

Oh yeah…I’ve fallen hard for popcorn. And Angie’s fits my taste profile perfectly.

March 20, 2013

The GFB (Gluten Free Bar) a protein bar worth biting into

Product: The GFB (Gluten Free Bar) Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Bar – $1.99+

My friend Jenn loves me. No…really she does. Every now and again when I go to visit her, she drops a product that she found while out and about on the table for me. This protein bar is one of those little Jenn surprises.

I had never actually heard of The GFB (Gluten Free Bar) before she handed me one. She had spotted them at her local Meijer and thought of me (Awwww!) and decided to pick one up for me to try. After all, I often down protein bars prior to runs and I often visit her and drag her to my early morning races…so she is very well aware of this fact. But, while I had never heard of this brand before, The GFB came into existence back in 2010. The creaters were on a mission to create the world’s best gluten-free protein bar, focusing on ingredients and taste.

Jenn picked up The GFB (Gluten Free Bar) Peanut Butter Chocolate Bar for me. And why not? I love peanut butter and chocolate! And she is very, very, very aware of this fact. So, this has been in my snack drawer for a little while…but after working through the bars that came before it, this one got it’s chance to shine this past Sunday evening.

I was at a race in Frankfort, Kentucky. There aren’t a lot of places I can safely eat in Frankfort…so my roommate and I each packed protein bars to enjoy prior to the race. I grabbed The GFB (Gluten Free Bar) Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Bar from my drawer and tossed it into my race day bag and headed out…in the cold, rainy weather.

We arrived in Frankfort, Kentucky and after killing some time with race packet pick-up, we ducked into the local coffee shop and took a seat in the corner. It was about 30 minutes before the race and we figured that it was time to eat something. We each pulled out our respective bars (she had a Luna Bar as she is not gluten-free) and I prepared to take my first taste of this latest protein bar in my collection.

The GFB (Gluten Free Bar) Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Bar looks like a flattened Lärabar, honestly. Upon unwrapping it, I could easily make out the peanuts, brown rice, chocolate chips and flaxseed, all stuffed into the binding, which looks to be made up of dates, and sweetened with agave nectar. So, in a lot of respects, it is exactly like a Lärabar…but with a few more ingredients.

And…that’s what these tasted like too. If you like Lärabar’s, you’ll probably enjoy The GFB (Gluten Free Bar) as well. The Peanut Butter Chocolate one doesn’t exactly taste like peanut butter and chocolate…so if you are expecting something as amazing as a Reese’s…think again. My roommate tried a piece of it and said it reminded her of the treats she fed her horse when she used to ride.

I don’t know what that means…or what that says about her eating horse treats…but to me, these had a good texture. They were sturdy, but not solid. They were chewy without being too soft. And the flavors were like a mild Lärabar…perhaps with a little less date flavor. I liked being able to see some of the ingredients in the bar itself. And I love looking at ingredients on the bar and recognizing all of them.

But that was the point. The creators of The GFB (Gluten Free Bar) wanted to create a great-tasting product that people would look forward to eating and that didn’t pump you full of chemicals. You have to appreciate that sort of dedication. So, using simple ingredients, they provide a simple protein bar that you can feel good about eating and provides you with energy.

The GFB (Gluten Free Bar) Peanut Butter Chocolate Bar is 2.05 ounces of protein packed goodness. It is gluten-free, wheat-free, casein-free, dairy-free, all natural, vegan, low-sodium, and cholesterol free. These bars have no additives and no preservatives. There are no trans fats. They are a fantastic source of protein and Omega-3. The entire bar is 240 calories and has 10 grams of fat, mostly from nuts, so at least it is the healthy kind of fat. Unfortunately, this bar, probably due to the inclusion of chocolate, packs 14.5 grams of sugar. I try to keep my sugar consumption lower…so, this seems high for such a small bar. However, on the flip side, you are provided with 2.5 grams of fiber and 12 grams of protein. So, that will help you feel fuller longer.

And it did do it’s job. After eating the bar, I wasn’t hungry…even after the race. So, it succeeded in doing its job. Perfect fuel for the haul, that’s for sure. The flavor…isn’t the best I have ever tried, but it isn’t at the bottom of the list either. Would I purchase this again…yeah…I probably would at some point. But, while they set out to create the best tasting protein bar…it falls short when compared to other gluten-free options out there.

A decent protein bar though, when all is said and done. Not bad. Not bad at all. I would definitely be interested in trying the other flavors from The GFB (Gluten Free Bar).

The GFB (Gluten Free Bar) Peanut Butter Chocolate Bar (unwrapped)

March 17, 2013

Flavors all there in KIND Nuts & Spices Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt snack bar, but lacking in texture

Product: KIND Nuts & Spices Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt Snack Bar – $1.99+

You can’t even imagine how disappointed I was with this KIND Bar. It had all the making of being something epic. Something that I would rank among my favorites. It was dark chocolate. It was nuts. It was salty and sweet. Right there…epic.

Yet…it just came out wrong. Not to the point of being bad. Not at all. This bar was in no ways disgusting or offensive. It just…lacked something. Something vital. And only after munching through my half of the bar did I come up with what it was…

Something chewy to bind it all together.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of nuts and dark chocolate. HUGE. But…that’s all this bar was. There was no filler to help give it that chewy texture I prefer when it comes to snack bars. This one was just nuts drizzled in dark chocolate, making it very crunchy, very brittle…and somewhat of a disappointment. But only texturally speaking.

Flavor-wise, this bar was on point! I mean, who doesn’t love decadent dark chocolate and the combination of sea salt and a variety of nuts? It’s salty meets sweet…which is, by far, my favorite type of snack to eat. This bar is packed with a blend of almonds, peanuts and walnuts. They are drizzled in dark chocolate, as well as having the bottom layer of the bar completely dark chocolate. It is then touched off with a smattering of sea salt.

EPIC.

Epic in flavor…but I just like something to chew. I don’t want a brittle snack bar. I want something that I can sink my teeth into and put a little effort into eating. Nuts and chocolate…perfect combination. But give me something else with it. Give me a binder of some sort that makes this more of a snack bar instead of a chocolate drizzled clump of nuts.

It seems nit-picky, I know…but this is just how I felt about it. I could make this at home…and be just as satisfied. I was hoping for the world…and ended up with a continent. Or something like that.

Nuts and dark chocolate…killer combo. Add that sea salt (unless, like my roommate you get a large chunk of it in a bite)…and it’s magical. But put them together without some sort of soft binder…and it just doesn’t work for me. Flavor and taste are awesome. Texture is lacking. For me.

This bar, nutritionally speaking, offers 200 calories to your diet. It will set you back 13 grams of fat for the day, but that’s mostly the healthy fat from the nuts. So, don’t panic. You get 7 grams of filling fiber and 5 grams of protein in each bar. This bar is gluten-free and cholesterol free as well. Not bad for a snack/protein bar. Not bad at all. My roommate and I split this and each had a bowl of cereal. And we headed out to the park so I could run for about 45 minutes while she walked. We were still full even after that workout. So…it does its job, that’s for sure. Even if you split it with someone.

So, while I did not, in fact, dislike this bar…it just wasn’t one of my favorite ones like I assumed it would be. A bit of a let down…yes. But…loved the flavor of each bite. Just wish it had a little bit more to it. That’s all.

KIND Nuts & Spices Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt Snack Bar (unwrapped)

March 12, 2013

The KIND-ness of a healthy and sweet take on granola with Maple Walnut Clusters with Chia and Quinoa

Product: KIND Healthy Grains Maple Walnut Clusters with Chia and Quinoa – $4.99+

Here is a tale of my typical Saturday. After I run, either in a race or for training, my roommate and I usually get some food (breakfast/brunch) and then start our usual routine of grocery shopping. And, in case you were wondering, yes…this is pretty much an all-day adventure. With my dietary needs, there are certain stores in the area that carry certain staples or items that I need or use or just want. And I can’t get them at the usual suspects when it comes to grocery stores. So, it means a drive to Louisville to hit up the wide array of natural food stores and organic grocery stores that they have. Thank goodness for that.

Where am I going with this?

Well, I was lax this past week in my duties of creating a grocery list of items I needed as we ran low or out of them. I was just…busy…stressed…or whatever. That being the case, after I raced on Saturday morning and we grabbed brunch at a local restaurant, we headed out to accomplish our grocery shopping from the list I randomly threw together while we noshed…hoping that I didn’t leave anything out.

As we came back over to our side of the river, to finish up on products available everywhere but cheaper at certain grocery stores…there were still a number of things on the list. And as we stood in the refrigerated section with all the yogurt, and I piled our cart full of Chobani Greek Yogurt…it didn’t even dawn on me that…we used up the last of the granola last week. Well, that was until we ducked into the cereal aisle and that knowledge hit me like a ton of bricks. DUH!

Normally, I adorn the breakfast parfait I whip up (which consists of granola, vanilla Greek yogurt, and fresh fruit) with Love Grown Foods granola. But this particular grocery store didn’t have that brand and after being at a dozen other stores that day…I just wanted to finish up and go home. So, I scanned…just to see what they might have that is gluten-free. And what did I spy with my weary grocery shopping eyes?

KIND Healthy Grains.

GLUTEN-FREE! Yep. I am in love with most of the KIND bars I have been eating, so I figured…why not use this for my granola this time around. Branch out. Try something new. They had about five different flavors to choose from, so I called my roommate over to select one. I would have been happy with any of them. She, however, can be a bit pickier…so it’s best to let her choose at times. She scanned the flavor varieties for a moment and reached out to grab…the KIND Healthy Grains Maple Walnut Clusters with Chia and Quinoa.

Not the one I expected her to grab. So, that was a surprise.

Today was the big day. Instead of regular cereal, on non-gym days I have a bit more time in the kitchen, so I usually whip up a nice warm breakfast along with a breakfast fruit, yogurt and granola parfait. Today’s combination…caramelized apples with vanilla Greek yogurt and topped off with KIND Healthy Grains Maple Walnut Clusters. I’m a pro at the apples part, so I got those working in a pan on the stove. Then, I opened up the bag of Maple Walnut Clusters.

First appearances…awesome. Big clusters, little clusters, and individual oats are literally throughout this bag. It makes for great texture and great combination. With the variety of cluster sizes, it definitely makes scattering them throughout the parfait a little more exciting. I reached into the bag and snagged one of the bigger clusters…because if I was going to blog on these, I needed to taste them on their own. I popped it in my mouth and slowly began to chew.

Really, really good. I mean…wow. The maple flavor lends the right amount of sweetness an the walnuts gives it that balance that you look for in a granola. I thought the texture was awesome and it had a great crunch to it. And, this would definitely pair well with caramelized apples, for sure. So, I was pretty stoked about the new granola. I placed some in the bottom of the two bowls, topped it with some of the vanilla Greek yogurt, then hit it up with some apples…repeated the layers…then gave the top a light sprinkling of the Maple Walnut Clusters and called it a breakfast masterpiece.

And it was. I thought the texture and flavors meshed so well with the fruit and yogurt combination this morning. In fact, if anything, it added a hint of sweetness to the finished product. I kept going back for more. The clusters didn’t get soggy in the yogurt, even when I had to let mine sit for a moment while I finished preparing the quinoa breakfast porridge with blueberries and toasted walnuts. I had a lot working in the kitchen today…so my attention was divided between different dishes I was making…and making sure I was getting myself fed before heading out the door. So, KIND totally hit the nail on the head with its KIND Healthy Grains Maple Walnut Clusters with Chia and Quinoa. Seriously good eats.

As for any nutritional information, the KIND Healthy Grains Maple Walnut Clusters with Chia and Quinoa contains a heart-healthy blend of walnuts, chia, and whole grains amaranth, quinoa, oats, millet, and buckwheat. They are sweetened with a hint of maple syrup. And, as a bonus, these clusters contain 300 mg of Omega-3 fatty acids and provide 17 grams of whole grains per serving. And how much is a serving? 1/3 cup. Yep. That’s really good for a granola. Trust me!

This 1/3 cup of KIND Healthy Grains will also provide your body with 130 calories and 3.5 grams of fat . Not too shabby. Not at all. Even better, these clusters are not littered with excess sugars. In fact, the sugar content is quite low, standing at 6 grams per serving. LOVE that. A LOT! And, thanks to the addition of chia and quinoa, each serving provides 3 grams of protein. It’s nice to have a healthier granola option out on the market. Also, KIND Healthy Grains are all gluten-free, cholesterol free, low in sodium, and all natural.

What’s not to love about that?

I hope to try some more varieties of the KIND Healthy Grains line in the very near future. My breakfast parfaits depend on it!

Breakfast Parfait with caramelized apples, vanilla Greek yogurt, and KIND Healthy Grains Maple Walnut Clusters with Chia and Quinoa

March 10, 2013

A love letter to Lärabar Über Bananas Foster snack bar

Product: Lärabar Über Bananas Foster – $1.99

Dear Lärabar Über:

While I have enjoyed all the previous three flavors in the Über line-up of sweet and salty fruit and nut bars, nothing has come close to matching the fantastic taste and flavor of your Bananas Foster version. I took one bite and died and went to heaven. This bar is so reminiscent of a delicious piece of banana bread that I hoovered the rest of it…savoring it as much as I could manage, but just wanting to eat more and more and more. It’s a good thing I left the box at home because I’d be tempted to eat all five bars. Calories be damned.

Seriously…where have you been all my life? And please…don’t ever leave me.

Love always,

OH. MY. GOD. IT. IS. SO. GOOD.

Okay…now that I have that out of my system, let me get down to the basics of this blog. A couple months ago, my local grocery store had every flavor of Lärabar Über on Manager’s Special. I could have grabbed so many more boxes than I did…and wish now that I had. But, being that, at the time, I was overladen with snacks and protein bars, I chose just to get one of each. After all, I had yet to try the Über line from Lärabar and wasn’t sure if I would like them or not. I actually had enjoyed, immensely, the previous three flavors: Cherry Cobbler, Apple Turnover, and the Roasted Nut Roll. The last in the line-up to near the expiration date was the box of Banana Foster bars.

Now…I love bananas because, well, I love them and I’m a runner…so therefore…I love them. Packing that flavor into an über delicious protein bar…SMART!! No…really. Because none of the other bars, for me, come close to rivaling this one in flavor. Immediately I know…banana. And, even better, the inclusion of the nuts and seasoning make it taste like an amazing slice of the best banana bread you have ever eaten. It was food porn in the best possible way. Snack time this coming week is going to be amazing.

So…here’s the basics…

The Lärabar Über Bananas Foster bar is completley gluten-free, non-GMO, and kosher. Awesome. But let’s not stop there. It is made up of a variety of fruit and nuts. So, if you have nut allergies, this bar may not be the best choice. If you, however, do not have an allergy to nuts…this bar is awesome. The Bananas Foster bar contains simple ingredients that you will immediatley recognize. These are walnuts, almonds, brown rice syrup, dates, dried bananas, pecans, honey sea salt, and cinnamon. That’s it. No funky chemicals and no added preservatives. Nothing that you have to google to know what it is…and no ingredients you can’t pronounce. 100% naturally good and good for you.

As for the nutrition facts, a serving size is 1 bar. This bar packs the most calories of all 4 varieties, clocking in at 230 calories per bar. Also, on a sad realization…this bar also packs 17 grams worth of fat. YIKES!! While I do love my desserts, I try to keep things lower on the fat scale when it comes to snacks. This bar is low in sodium (140 mg), lower(er) on the sugar scale (8 grams), and packs 4 grams of protein per bar, thanks to the inclusion of all those nut varieties.

So, while high in calories and high in fat (but, as most of this fat comes from nuts, it is at least the healthy fat), it actually is rather nutritious. And I can see this being something I could eat prior to a shorter race (I usually split them with my roommate anyway).

What I loved so much about this bar is that it actually tastes like a treat. It’s like eating a dessert. And, I do suppose some could argue that at that calorie count, it pretty much is a dessert. But imagine the amount of sugar you are taking out, as well as all the butter and cream. Like I said…healthy fats here. It’s decadent without being unhealthy or rich. It’s just one amazing bite after the next. It’s a struggle to NOT devour it without savoring the flavor. It really is that good. The Web site describes them as ‘bananamzaing.’ No kidding. This bar is bananas! And bananas…is good.

Lärabar Über Bananas Foster Snack Bar (unwrapped)