Review - Betty Lou's Just Great Stuff Bars

Brand:  Betty Lou’s  

Flavor:  Just Great Stuff Superberry Acai Bar

Where to get it:  here @ BettyLousInc.com

                I’m already a huge fan of the Betty Lou’s family of products, and these bars are but a small exception…I can’t stand acai, so they never really had a change. That aside, if you like acai, these are just another great vegan staple from Betty Lou’s. They’re soft and chewy like a fruit bar, but they have more substance to them, similar to a Nakd or Lara Bar. Lots of good fruit and nuts ground up in these as well, so no funky weird ingredients. If you’re following a straightforward approach to your food, this is a great choice for a midday snack.

               

Tastes like:  Acai & protein powder

Taste rating:  6/10

Qualities:  Vegetarian, vegan, Gluten free, Made in the USA, USDA Organic

What’s in it:

Review - Naturalia Fruit Wich

Brand:  Naturalia

Flavor:  Pineapple Mango Fruit Wich

Where to get it: Looks to be available in HEB stores, I couldn't find anywhere online. 

                Another super creative fruit snack! It really does surprise me that a company can take literally just fruit and turn it into a unique snack. This snack contains pineapple and mango – nothing else, and it’s still super unique. It’s not a bar or leather, it’s crispy little chippies that taste like fruit, but don’t disintegrate like an actual chip. More than once, I’ve eaten so much pineapple that my mouth has taken on that weird-acid-pain-uh-oh feeling. The presence of the mango tempers that acidic pineapple situation quite a bit, which makes it really nice while still having the pineapple taste.

               

Tastes like:   Less acidic pineapple

Taste rating:  10/10

Qualities:   Gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, all-natural, raw, Non-GMO

What’s in it:

Review - Go Macro Bar

Brand:  Go Macro

Flavor:  Macrobar

Where to get it: here @ GoMacro.com

                I tried two different flavors and varieties of these bars, and I really liked both of them. Firstly, the little one (Cherries + Berries) tastes a lot like the cherry Nutrigrain bars, that I don’t think you can buy any more, that I LOVED. But, these are better. They’re absolutely studded with cherries, and you can really taste them. At 90 calories, this was an absolutely perfect mid-morning snack for me.

The second bar was the protein replenishment variety in peanut butter flavor. This is a bigger bar, with 260 calories and 12g of protein. The smell was really pleasant, almost like my mom’s peanut butter fudge. The texture is chewy, and the taste is very much a true peanut butter flavor. The bar isn’t heavily sweetened or salted (only 5g of sodium, so basically unsalted). I mean, if you HAD to have the salty peanut butter taste, you COULD sprinkle a little sea salt on top of the bar. I’m sure it would stick and taste delicious. I heard that from a friend…I mean, what?

Anyway, these bars are great. So great. The website is super cool, and the wrapper says the company is family-owned and based in a small community (in Wisconsin, I assume), so that’s pretty cool too. Nothing wrong with big commerce, but man, I get pretty jazzed when a small company makes a really delicious product, and Go Macro does exactly that.

PS - Their website is SUPER cool. 

               

Tastes like:   A cherry Nutrigrain Bar/Unsalted peanut butter

Taste rating:  9/10

Qualities:   Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, Kosher, certified organic, made in the USA

What’s in it:

Review - Nud Fud Spirulina Banana Chips

Brand:  Nud Fud

Flavor:  Spirulina Banana Crisps

Where to get it: here @ NudFud.com

                I had literally no expectations when I tried these. I didn’t know what they would look like, taste like, or smell like. My mind was completely open. I don’t really want to say that they weren’t good, but I guess I have to say that I personally didn’t like them. I LOVE bananas, but I find myself hardly liking anything banana that isn’t a raw banana in some format. They just start to taste so fake once they are cooked or dehydrated; I can’t handle it. These little weirdo crackers also have quite a lot of fat and carbs in them for the little enjoyment that they bring, so I definitely would say they aren’t for me.

               

Tastes like:  Fake banana (even though it’s not)

Taste rating:  4/10

Qualities:  Vegetarian, vegan, all natural, gluten free, USDA organic

What’s in it:

Review - Eat Real Yoghurt Coated Fruit and Nut Bar

Brand:  Eat Real

Flavor:   Yoghurt Coated Fruit & Nut Bar

Where to get it: here @ assorted locations

                Have I ever given a fruit & nut bar a 10? I don’t recall, but if I have, it hasn’t been for a long time, and it hasn’t happened very often. This bar FAR exceeded my expectations. It’s part granola bar, part fruit bar, and then there’s this delicious, soft layer of yogurt coating on the bottom that is just so spot on. This Eat Real company has some really good stuff, but I think it’s only widely available in the UK & Australia/NZ. If you’re in the States you might be out of luck, but I’m in the States and I managed to get my hands on a couple of these somehow, so they’re out there. Grab ‘em if you can.

               

Tastes like:   The perfect fruit & oat bar

Taste rating:  10/10

Qualities:   Gluten free, all natural

What’s in it:

Review - Belicious Nutrition On The Go Pouches

Brand:  Belicious

Flavor:  Revive

Where to get it: here @ BeliciousFood.com

                I am really loving all of these little squeezy pouches that have hit the market. It took me a little bit to realize that they weren’t all for toddlers, and it was completely socially acceptable for me to walk around the gym with one hanging out of my mouth. This review is going to be a little bit different than a standard one, in the interest of fairness to the product. I am a person who loves beets, but I am not a person who loves green juice. The combination of the beets and spinach in this squeezer give it that distinctly “green juice flavor”, and it’s not for me. However, I know tons of people who love a good green juice, and I do believe that every single one of those people would absolutely love this Revive squeezer from Belicious. So if you’re a green juice yay, get these little guys for when you’re short on prep time.

               

Tastes like:  Green juice with an applesauce consistency

Taste rating:  If you like green juice, 9/10.

Qualities: Gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, organic

What’s in it:  

Review - Toosum Bar

Brand:  Toosum

Flavor:  Yogurt & Blueberries

Where to get it: here @ Toosum.com

                 You’re made in Seattle! You’re only 100 calories per bar! Please come here and let me love you! Awwww man, I don’t love you. Sad face. The bar does have a great blueberry presence, but that’s about the only thing worth mentioning. The texture is dry and sawdust-y, and the blueberry flavor isn’t enough to overpower the rest of the flavors in this bar. This bar is definitely not what you’re expecting from a “fruit and yogurt” bar.

               

Tastes like: 

Taste rating:  3/10

Qualities:  Non-GMO, Gluten-free, Made in the USA

What’s in it:

Review - Sheffa Tasty Snack Mix

Brand:  Sheffa

Flavor:  Tasty Snack Mix

Where to get it: here @ SheffaFoods

                There are times when I think a snack is going to be yucky, and it’s great. There are also times when I think a snack is going to be so straightforward that I won’t even know what to write about it. I assumed the latter was going to be the case with this Sheffa Tasty Snack Mix, but I was mistaken. It’s literally a delightful little packet of fruit and nuts and such, but there’s something weird about it. Some spice in here just makes me unhappy. They are a product of Israel, so it’s totally possible that it’s some spice that is super common over there that I’m just not used to, but I just couldn’t do it. I will say they are healthy and very interesting, if you’re looking for a change from your typical nut and salt mix, but these just weren’t for me.

               

Tastes like:  Some kind of weird spice that I don’t like

Taste rating:  2/10

Qualities:  Vegetarian, Vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, Kosher

What’s in it:

Review - Go Healthy New York Date Bar

Brand:  Keep Healthy

Flavor:  Apple Date Bar

Where to get it: here @ KeepHealthyInc.com

                 I was really surprised to see that this bar doesn’t have any added sugar in it. I know dates and raisins can be very sweet, but this flavor blend is really outstanding. The almonds and walnuts take the sweet down a little so it’s not downright syrupy, but they don’t make this bar taste like another nut bar at all. The texture is great, moist (sorry), chewy, but not goopy or slimy. You know how sometimes these fruit bars “sweat” and get a little weird? This one didn’t do that at all. Truth telling – I actually ate this one 2 months past its “best by” date and it was still pretty much spectacular. If you’re a fan of dates and raisins, and you’re tired of eating trail mix, get some of these bars. You can even eat them one-handed.

                 

               

Tastes like:  Sweet date heaven

Taste rating:  8/10

Qualities:  Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-free

What’s in it:

Review - Exo Cricket Flour Protein Bars

Brand:  Exo

Flavor:  Apple Cinnamon Protein Bar

Where to get it: here @ ExoProtein.com

                Let's talk about bugs ba-by, let's talk about you and me-e, let's talk about all the good things and the bad thing that we eeeeeeeeeeaaaat...

Have you heard of these Exo protein bars? If not, the thing that makes them noteworthy (and somewhat newsworthy), is that the protein source is crickets. *Gasp* BUGS?!?!? Amigawd, how like, totally disgusting, right?? Well...perhaps a little perspective will help with this one:

I'm guessing that a lot of the treats you eat semi-regularly, or have at least tried a time or two without repulsion of any sort, contain bugs. Not bugs like accidental bugs-fell-into-the-vat-at-the-warehouse bugs, but bugs, as an ingredient, on purpose. Don't believe me? Junior Mints, Birthday Cake Oreos, Jelly Belly Jelly Beans, Mike & Ike's, Hot Tamales and many other products contain Confectioner's Glaze. Confectioner's Glaze is almost always made from beetles. (There is a plant-based alternative, but it's much more expensive, and is rarely used in the US.) These little ground up (female) Lac Beetles are what make those movie-time treats shiny.

So, now that we've hopefully established a path of logic that won't make you disregard a sustainable protein bar because it's made out of bugs, and you don't eat bugs (except when you do), let's talk about the actual product at hand, sans the bug issue.

Crickets have kind of a nutty flavor, so it's smart that the first ingredient in this bar is almonds, which helps to harmonize any weird trigger your brain might start to attach to being "bug-flavored". The bar itself tasted kind of like a nut bread...maybe if you made banana nut bread and left out the bananas. It's soft and has a good texture, but is high in fat 14g (almonds, flax, coconut), and you can actually see it leave your fingers shiny. There are also 26g carbs - 16 of which are sugar (honey and fruits). At 290 calories, 16g sugar & 14g fat...that's a lot of macro-fudging for just 10g protein.

Don't get me wrong, I love this idea. There's no nasty, chalky protein cloud swirling around ruining your mouth for 10 minutes after you've finished the bar. Sustainable cricket flour is a great idea, and this bar is full of all natural ingredients. I can live with the fat, because it adds up in a hurry when you're dealing with nuts, but I feel like there is something that could be done about the sugar content here. Swap the honey for some Stevia? Ditch the plum paste for applesauce (the apple flavor wasn't very strong)? I don't know what works and what doesn't, but there's gotta be a way here without affecting the taste too much.

At any rate, I think this is a great idea, and I hope Exo keeps growing and expanding. You're eating bugs anyway, at least Exo has the balls to tell you about it up front.

               

Tastes like:  Nutty bread

Taste rating:  7/10

Qualities:  Gluten free, Made in the USA

What's in it:

Review - Zing Bar

Brand:  Zing Bar

Flavor:  Almond Blueberry

Where to get it: here @ ZingBars.com

                 A bar is a bar is a bar…how to choose? If this Zing bar is available in your pile of choices, I highly recommend that you give it a go. This bar has real blueberry taste, like when you mix fresh blueberries into pancake batter. The almonds mellow out the grains and create a really great mix in this bar. It’s also uncrushable, so it’s great on the go to throw in a purse or backpack – especially if you’re like me, and bars roll around in your purse for a couple weeks before you remember that they’re there, usually smashed into oblivion.

               

Tastes like:  Real blueberries and grains

Taste rating:  7/10

Qualities: Kosher, gluten-free, vegetarian

What’s in it:

Review - To You Bar

Brand:  To You

Flavor:  Apricot Coconut

Where to get it: here @ ToYouSnacks.com

                This bar looks SUPER appetizing. If you like apricots, I think you would probably find the flavor right in line with the appearance. Unfortunately, I hate apricots, so I tried to eat this with a reasonably open mind. The texture is soft but not gooey, the coconut is major player, and the ingredients aren’t all Scary Larry. Good, simple, tasty bar. Now, if I can just find one with cherries in it…

                 

               

Tastes like:  Slightly astringent coconut

Taste rating:  6/10

Qualities:  All natural, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten free

What’s in it:

Review - Skout Apple Cinnamon Trail Bar

Brand:  Skout Bar

Flavor:  Apple Cinnamon

Where to get it: here @ SkoutOrganic.com

                I’ve tried Skout products before, and I’m always impressed with how simple, easy, and good-tasting they are. This bar was absolutely no exception - it’s one of the best fruit bars that I’ve tried. The texture is thick and chewy, and the apple flavor shines through in a very genuine way. I think it’s safe to say that any Skout snack is a great choice if you want something simple, good for you, and true to flavor.

Tastes like:  Sweet apple happiness

Taste rating:  10/10

Qualities:  Gluten free, Non-GMO, vegetarian, vegan, Certified organic

What’s in it:

Review - Don't Go Nuts Bar

Brand:  Don’t Go Nuts

Flavor:  Blueberry Blast Bar

Where to get it: here @ Amazon.com

                Something bad happened to this bar. I’m convinced. Bad batch? Bad life choices? Bad hair day? It has to be something. These can’t ALL taste like this. Unfortunately, I had but one bar to try. The initial taste was really good – soft, nice white chocolate flavor…I even made a little “ooooh” noise. Several seconds later, I was ditching the rest of the bar in the garbage can. The blueberry presence has such a weird aftertaste, I really feel like something might have been wrong. There was just this overwhelming blueberry taste, but also like it was chemical- or perfume-related. If I see these bars again, or am sent some, I will certainly get you guys an update.

                 

               

Tastes like:  Like a tasty blueberry cake…that’s been doused in grandma’s perfume

Taste rating:  2/10

Qualities:  Non-GMO, Kosher, Certified Organic

What’s in it:

Review - One Bar

Brand:  One Bar

Flavor:  Cherry

Where to get it: here @ theonebar.com

                You really can’t argue with this bar. It’s little, it’s simple. It’s good for you. Pick a fruit that you like, and you’ll enjoy this bar as a quick snacky. It’s more than a fruit leather, it’s thicker and takes more time to chew. I also really like the simplicity of the packaging to go along with the simplicity of the product. Thanks for not putting dancing cherries or apples on rollercoasters on the front of your wonderful little product, One Bar.

                 

               

Tastes like:  Meaty fruit

Taste rating:  8/10

Qualities:  Gluten free, Vegetarian, Vegan

What’s in it:

Review - Bakery On Main Granola

Brand:  Bakery on Main

Flavor:  Apple Raisin Walnut Gluten-Free Granola

Where to get it: here @ BakeryOnMain.com

                A long time ago, I went on one of those popular prepackaged food diets (one of the most popular ones here in the US). I didn’t work, but they had a cereal packet that I was OBSESSED with. It had little balls of whatsit (as does this granola) and things that looked like Cheerios. It was ridiculously expensive, and of course even more so if you tried to order it outside of one of their weekly meal plans. I said goodbye to that cereal, and have yet to find anything like it…until now.

                This is marketed as granola, but it’s not really like any other granola that I’ve had. I typically like to mix my granolas into a yogurt, which I would not recommend with this, as there are no oats to get deliciously al dente, and the circles (that you can see in the picture) are corn-based. I dumped this stuff into a mug with some unsweetened vanilla almond milk, and BAM! I was right back in fancy cereal town! Sweet, cinnamon-y, apple-y deliciousness. As a granola, I say nay. As a cereal, I say yay!

                 

               

Tastes like:  Apple-y cereal

Taste rating:  8/10

Qualities:  Non-GMO, Kosher, vegetarian, Gluten-free, vegan

What’s in it:

Review - Skout Cherry Vanilla Organic Trailbar

Brand:  Skout

Flavor:  Cherry Vanilla

Where to get it: here @ SkoutOrganic.com

                Everything Skout makes is just the epitome of healthy outdoorsy-ness to me. Their products are simple, tasty, and super straightforward. They make pumpkin seeds in all kinds of tasty flavors, and these fruit bars taste great. I love, love me some cherries, but they don’t always translate well to fruit bars. This bar has just enough apples and dates to mellow out the tartness of the cherry, but not so much as to overpower it and become just another smashed date bar.

                 

               

Tastes like:  Sweet cherries

Taste rating:  7/10

Qualities:  Gluten free, Vegetarian, Vegan, Organic, Non-GMO

What’s in it:

Review - Fuel For Fire

Brand:  Fuel For Fire

Flavor:  Triple Berry

Where to get it:  here @ FuelForFire.com 

                This is the best pre-workout squeezer on the market, at least as far as the ones I have tried. Low calories, great taste, and loads of protein (10g!) make this product a staple for me on workout days. The texture is nice and smooth, so you can really pound one of these if you were so inclined…and I have been so inclined during a sugar dip in the middle of a workout. I recommend putting them in the fridge, they are really yummy cold. I have the other 3 flavors (Tropical, Sweet Potato Apple, and Banana Cocoa) on order right now. If you work out AT ALL in any manner, these will give you that initial burst of energy when you’re struggling to get into the zone, right before the endorphins kick in. I highly recommend them.         

Tastes like:  A thick, fruity pudding

Taste rating:  10/10

Qualities:  Gluten free, vegetarian

What’s in it: