Granola bars, cereal bars, breakfast bars … whatever you
call them, they are generally: sickingly sweet, high in calories and keeps me
full for about an hour. Or there’s the other end of the spectrum: where the
bars are bland but chocked full of powders and additives that blending it with
liquid will make a protein shake. Please, find me a recipe that makes sense!
Taste of Nature’s product is different and when two mini-sized
ones arrived in the June Yummy Goody Box, it reminded me of why I like them. Firstly,
it’s called a “food bar” and their bars contain just that: whole nuts, juice sweetened
dried fruit and grains for texture/crunch without it being overwhelming. The well-balanced
sweetness to the product allows it work as breakfast or a snack.
Secondly, the texture is appealing: a soft chewiness that
has satisfied a cookie craving in a pinch. Taste of Nature says they make their
bars in smaller quantities leading to quicker inventory turnover and a fresher
product. I believe the claim, the bars do seem fresh – perhaps, it’s due to
their manufacturing facility being just up the road from Toronto (located in
Markham, Ontario).
The bars are cold pressed, rather than baked, to help
protect the ingredient’s nutrients. And the company strives to be
environmentally friendly by partnering with green suppliers and recycling food
waste for animal feed. All great practices that makes eating the food bar even more
guilt-free.
My only complaint is that they’re difficult to find in a
multi-pack box – they’re available at Whole Foods, but purchasing them as
singles starts to become expensive. Plus, I’ve yet to find the mini-sized ones
in stores - the perfect format for snacking on.
Regardless, I’m just happy to have discovered an alternative
to the candy bars hiding beneath “great breakfast option” claims. Ah Taste of
Nature … you taste good.
How To Find Them