Category: Sweet Stuff

Product: Pamela’s Products Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chunk Cookies – $4.39+

Dark chocolate.   It’s my weakness.  Well, one of them anyway.  But if you throw a chocolate option at me…I have never really been in love with white chocolate and milk chocolate just doesn’t really cut it.  When it comes to chocolate…I like it dark.

Confession time.  This isn’t the first time I’ve eaten these gluten-free cookies from Pamela’s Products.  In fact…these were the first gluten-free cookies I bought from the store to eat.  I just didn’t have my blog up and running like the machine it is today.  And this never was included.  Silly me.

To remedy that…I bought a box of these cookies again (darn!).  Every delicious product deserve a blog praising it up and down.  And when it comes to flavor and texture, Pamela’s Products has this in the bag.  The products this company puts out are beyond fantastic.  And when it comes to incorporating dark chocolate and organic products into a cookie, well Pamela’s does it up in decadent, delicious, dark chocolate, chunky, perfection.  Because when it comes to rich chocolate flavor…these cookies deliver.

The right amount of sweetness combined with rich chunks of organic chocolate in a dark chocolate cookie satisfy any chocolate craving and every sweet tooth.  Any more and it would be too much.  But, really, I just want to settle in with a glass of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, dunk, and savor.  But they are good eaten as a cookie should be as well.  The sweet, rich chocolate flavor tingles every taste bud and just really satisfies that chocolate hankering.  It’s the ideal treat…any time of the day.

Just blogging about it makes me want to raid my pantry for another one.

So, indulge.  A serving is 2 cookies and it only sets you back 170 calories.  It’s a treat.  And we’re all allowed a sweet treat every now and again, right?

Whether you are gluten-free or not, these cookies will satisfy that chocolate lover in you…hands down.  The best chocolate cookie on the market.

Product: Udi’s Gluten-Free Foods Au Naturel Granola – $6.49+

Eat This Not That named one of Udi’s gluten-free granola the worst granola on the market.  For real.  THIS granola from Udi’s Gluten-Free Foods…is not that granola.

I actually never would have bought Udi’s gluten-free granola…because Eat This Not That scared me.  But…given that this pack was on the Manager’s Special table at my local grocery store, and it was not the kind that was hailed as the absolute worst granola on the market, I decided to give it a go.  So, I purchased the pouch…and it sat in my pantry…and sat in my pantry…and sat.

I don’t know why I had to convince myself to give this granola a go.  But after a lot of sitting, I was determined to give it a fair shake.  So…to the grocery store I went for fresh organic strawberries and some Chobani Vanilla Greek Yogurt.  My infamous breakfast parfaits were making a comeback this week and my featured crunch…would be Udi’s granola.

The next morning, I assembled my parfait…granola on the bottom, Greek yogurt, more granola, strawberries, Greek yogurt, granola, strawberries, Greek yogurt, a drizzle of honey, granola, top off with a strawberry.  My non- gluten-free roommate would be enjoying one as well, so I was really interested in her opinion.  But…she loved it.  And, one of the biggest shockers ever…even liked the Greek yogurt.

I, naturally, had to test out the granola on its own.  The Udi’s Gluten-Free Au Naturel Granola is a clean, crisp granola.  Honestly.  It has a light caramelized flavor that brings out just enough sweetness without overpowering the gluten-free oats themselves.  Local Colorado honey (Udi’s is based in Denver) is the source of the sweetness in the oats themselves.  The granola isn’t sticky or heavy.  In fact, it has this lightness about it that only something that goes au naturel would.

That brings me to the ingredients and nutrition.  The ingredients list is uncluttered and simple – gluten-free oats, honey, canola oil.  As for the nutrition…this one isn’t bad when it comes to granola.  A serving size is 1/4 cup.  In that serving, you get 120 calories, only 4 grams of fat, and the sugars…are down at 7 grams.  That’s impressive.  Most granola is loaded with sugar.  When paired with the Greek yogurt, the 3 grams of protein gets an added boost.  And the crunch and flavor is fantastic.

I don’t know why I let this sit for so long.  But as far as granola goes on the market, this truly is one of the best ones out there.  So eat it on its own, pair it with yogurt, or add it to a recipe.  However you like to serve it…Udi’s Gluten-Free Au Naturel Granola is one of the finest offerings on the market for the gluten-free…and beyond.

I am a believer.

Product: Picky Bars Lauren’s Mega Nuts – $3.00

Thank you, Lauren Fleshman.

No…really.  THANK YOU!!

Picky Bars are my new favorite bar of choice when it comes to my intensive training days for my runs.  I have you to thank for bringing these allergy-friendly bars into my life.  You…and the running store I purchased them at in St. Louis, Missouri.  I am completely over-the-moon with not only the texture and flavor but the overall nutrition these bars provide.  Most are laden with sugar and it sort of kills the whole ‘healthy’ aspect of the workout in the first place.

After my first sub-2 hour half marathon, I refueled with the Nutless Wonder Picky Bar.  But this time…I had the only other one I had purchased of the limited selection the running store carried (which were…the two varieties I bought).  It was the original.

Lauren’s Mega Nuts Picky Bar.

It was Saturday morning and I was preparing myself to head out for a long run.  That morning, I ate my cereal and needed to find something to give me some carbohydrates and protein.  My option…Lauren’s Mega Nuts Picky Bar.  I hate half of it with my cereal and saved the rest of it for post-run.

I absolutely loved the flavor and texture of this bar.  It is a generous mix of organic dates, organic peanut butter, raw honey, organic rice cereal, rice protein, organic apricots, cranberries, organic almonds, organic pumpkin seeds, organic walnuts, pistachios, organic cashews, chocolate chips, cinnamon, kosher salt, and canola and sunflower oil.  Recognize every ingredient?  Yep…me too.  And that makes me enjoy these bars even more.  Too often, protein and energy bars are chemicals and preservatives.  But not Picky Bars.  Picky Bars contain real food and provide real nutrition.  Don’t believe me?  It’s all in the science.

Picky Bars clock in at 198 calories, 7 grams of protein, 6 grams of fat, and 28 carbs.  What this provides is the ideal ratio of calories to protein (4:1) which helps with recovery and maximizes the absorption of nutrients.  And these are packed with a powerhouse of good stuff.  Peanut butter, fruits, nuts…all of it mashed together to create this perfect little protein bar…that I love…and will have to order because none of the running stores in my area carry it.

You can literally taste the ingredients in these.  The nuts, the fruits, the chocolate chips…they are all evident.  And they all work together.  I loved not only the taste but how this little bar could help me recover better from a long weekend run.  Even more…it seems this bar was designed for me.  Both dairy-free and gluten-free…this bar ideally fits into my often challenging diet.  Being a vegetarian doesn’t make getting the right amount of protein easy when I’m running 10 or more miles.  That’s a lot of protein to take in.  This is a step in the right direction.

So, yes, Lauren Fleshman…my hat is off to you.  My long run days are far more delicious now that these bars have entered into my life.  So…thank you for providing something that the allergic athlete can eat…when most other protein/energy bars out on the market are off limits.  Delicious.  Nutritious.  Science.

Product: Picky Bars Nutless Wonder – $3.00

You know…it is so tough to maintain good athletic health at times and properly fuel pre- and post-race or run.  Here’s why.  A lot of those protein bars that athletes swear by…have gluten and/or dairy in them.  Yep.  And that just won’t work for this girl.

Enter to the scene Lauren Fleshman, US champion runner.  She was down with an injury and set out to create a gluten-free and dairy-free energy bar for her husband to take on his long bike rides.  The one key…it had to taste good.

What emerged from this initial idea, and after lots of trial-and-error, were Picky Bars.

I don’t actually have these in my area.  I bought these when I was in St. Louis and stopped in at a running store.  They had them on the counter and I admit…I was totally intrigued.

The basic concept that Lauren came up with was that she wanted the 4:1 carbohydrate to protein ration.  In addition, she wanted slow releasing carbs for level blood sugar, minimal soy content, and healthy fats making up 25% of the calories.  Oh…and it had to taste good too.

Picky Bars were the result of that brainstorm and the downtime she had from injury.  And they come in a variety of flavors.  I decided to use mine as a post-run fuel after running in the Minneapolis Half Marathon on June 3.  After crossing the finish line in my first ever sub-2 hour half marathon, I downed a gluten-free/vegan protein shake and then tore into my first of two Picky Bars I bought in St. Louis.

I chose the Nutless Wonder because I was going to be in a house with children in it with nut allergies.  And in case they had stumbled upon my stash, I wanted to make sure that they would be safe.  Thankfully, it was just a precaution and the kids were good about staying upstairs.  Now, after my half marathon…I was starving.  And I brought along an energy bar last half marathon and ended up throwing it away.

Not the case with my Nutless Wonder Picky Bar.  I actually downed this bar faster than anticipated.  I happily tore into the package and began to chow down.  It tasted great.  And it should.  There is nothing in these bars that I don’t recognize.  The Nutless Wonder is a simple blend of organic dates, organic sunflower butter, raw honey, organic rice cereal, rice protein, organic apricots, cranberries, organic pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, semisweet chocolate chips, cinnamon, kosher salt and a mix of canola and sunflower oil.  Yes…that’s it.  Recognize everything?  I do.  And that really puts my mind to ease.

Even better…I enjoyed it bite-for-bite.  These are really good.  So, I think I might be making an online order just so I can have some here for my long run mornings and the like.  And each bar clocks in at under 200 calories so I don’t feel like I’m going stupid on the calories either, despite having just done a long run.  I appreciate that.

If you can find these in your area and you are an athlete who needs to fuel properly pre- and post- activity…I recommend Picky Bars.  They are the perfect way to properly fuel your body with a perfect ratio of carbs to protein.  Oh…and they taste fantastic.  Find them.  Order them.  Enjoy them.

Product: NuGo Free Dark Chocolate Trail Mix Bar – $3.29+

You know what’s hard?

Being gluten-free and traveling.  Especially when the tummy rumbles hit while sitting at an airport.  There are few, if any, gluten-free options as far as restaurants go…except, perhaps, a salad.  Maybe.  If it’s not pre-made with bits of pita or croutons in it.  A fruit cup, perhaps.  But that’s not going to fill you up.

Well, the hungry belly hit me at the airport in Minneapolis, Minnesota when I was killing some time before my flight back home left.  I was already thirsty, so my roommate and I trolled the terminal until she spotted a Quiznos to grab some fountain drinks from.  I stood and watched the luggage and when she returned with some cold caffeine, she handed me a NuGo Free Dark Chocolate Trail Mix bar that she purchased at the register.  She was going to find a nibble at one of the shops, but wanted me to have something of some nutritious value without having to down a Snickers bar.

Dark chocolate and nuts…I was okay with that.

But there was more to this bar than just that.  Oh yes.  After obtaining a snack for her, we returned to our gate and settled in to have our bite before heading to Chicago O’Hare to meet our connection.  I tore into the wrapper and revealed a standard looking granola bar.  However, what this bar contained was nothing like those granola bars, which are normally packed with preservatives and high fructose corn syrup.  None of that here.  The NuGo Free Dark Chocolate Trail Mix Bar was a delicious combination of rice protein crisp, organic brown rice crisp, real dark chocolate, almonds, tapioca syrup, brown rice syrup, agave, chicory root fiber, dried cranberries, rice protein, pumpkin seeds, flaxseed, water, acacia gum, flaxseed oil, water, salt, walnuts, and baking soda.  That’s it.  Every ingredient something I recognize.  No chemical names.  Nothing that screams cancer-causing badness either.  Just wholesome good food…wrapped up in a vegan and gluten-free treat.

Now, I’ve had my fair share of these bars.  Some have been completely amazing.  And some have really failed to impress me at all.  So, where does the NuGo Free Dark Chocolate Trail Mix Bar stand?

I devoured it if that is any indication.  Honestly…amazing flavor.  Every bite had a little bit of salty-sweet to it.  It kept the palate interested.  And I kept going back for another bite…savoring…yet devouring.  It was the perfect snack.

And that’s not far from the truth.  This particular bar only packed 190 calories into it, but provided 9 grams of protein and only 5 grams of fat.  Low fat and protein packed?  It’s this runner’s dream come true.  This bar was also low in sodium…even with the nuts and seeds included.  I loved that too.  It was a treat and didn’t spoil the athlete’s diet either.

I have one more of these bars, a different flavor, tucked away in my running snacks drawer at home.  And now…I can’t wait to rip into it and see how it compares.  I was completely won over by the delicious, natural flavors that were packed into this bar.  NuGo Free…you have definitely won me over with this bar.  Thank you for getting rid of my airport hunger, for getting me to O’Hare where I had a couple more options (although I ended up eating Garrett Popcorn…I admit it!), and for showing me how delicious your brand is.  Nutritious, delicious, and allergen friendly.  I’m sold.

Product: WOW Baking Company Peanut Butter Cookie – $1.50+

It was bound to happen at some time.

I thought I was well prepared for the inevitable, but then…the longer delays began to happen and my gluten-free snacks I packed disappeared sooner than I anticipated.

Airports are difficult enough to navigate when it comes to food choices.  Add being a gluten-free vegetarian on top of it and it can be nigh on impossible to find something to eat at times.

Thankfully, that wasn’t the case (completely) at Chicago O’Hare.  I was stuck there for five hours.  Prior to that, I was delayed getting out of Louisville.  And as I had intended to eat lunch at O’Hare, the delay meant I was hungry.  I had packed a breakfast bar and some raisins in case, and they were consumed along with an expensive fruit cup prior to boarding the delayed flight.  Hey…you can’t change the weather.

After delays, a cancelled flight, and then a new flight, five hours later, I knew lunch at O’Hare was now going to become dinner at O’Hare.  And so…it had to be.  Originally, my roommate and I thought to splurge a little and sit down to eat at either Wolfgang Puck or Macaroni Grill.  But upon inquiring about gluten-free vegetarian options and being told I could have a salad (overpriced, of course), we decided instead to just grab something else and sit in the food court to eat.  Save some money.

Thankfully, O’Hare has these little shops called CIBO Gourmet Market, which carry foods that are appropriate for vegans, vegetarians, the gluten-free, and meat options as well in the form of deli sandwiches and salads.  I stopped in to take a look around and opted to grab one of their Strawberry Fields Salads (a mix of greens, strawberries, walnuts, and feta cheese).  My roommate was convinced that wouldn’t be enough to hold me, so I ended up reaching for a WOW Baking Company Peanut Butter Cookie to enjoy post-salad.  I admit, I still paid an arm and a leg for my meal, but it wound up being cheaper than the sit-down places in the end.

So…with the salad eaten, my roommate and I split the cookie for dessert.  Let me tell you…WOW Baking Company makes one terrific and delicious gluten-free peanut butter cookie.  It was like biting into a fresh peanut butter cookie.  Honestly.  It had that crisp outside for the initial bite, but each chew was soft and delicious.

Even better…the ingredient list had nothing funky or strange listed on it.  The WOW Baking Company Web site even indicates that their cookies are made from all natural ingredients without the use of any preservatives.  This means you can’t just hang onto the cookies or they will lose their freshness.  I bought this at the airport and it was really, really fresh tasting.  Their peanut butter cookie is made with natural, crunchy peanut butter, lending it a bit of crunch throughout.  Epically delicious.  I was WOW-ed.  No really.  I remember finishing a bite, looking at my roommate and saying, “Damn…these are good.”  Peanut butter cookies bring a bit of salty-sweet to the taste buds and mine totally appreciated the taste and texture of these!

These cookies are available in some retail locations including Fresh Market and Whole Foods.  You can check their Web site for stores in your area that may carry these delicious cookies.  Remember…one cookie is two servings, so eat half and save the rest for later…or share with a friend.  It’s tempting not to, but it’s all about portions, friends.

Want a delicious cookie that is free of gluten and wheat?  I highly recommend trying the cookie options that WOW Baking Company bakes up.  It’s magic in cookie form.  And now…I’m hooked.