After three decades, I’m starting to develop a sweet tooth.
Thankfully, it’s still in its infancy; about three times a week I have a
persistent craving for dessert – something unhealthy and satisfying like cake
or ice cream. Over the holidays, it was easy to tame the beast with a slice of
pie, scoop of ice cream, or the occasional fried pastry. However, after the
momentous New Year came and went, a healthier long-term substitute was in
order.
As luck would have it, that’s when a box of Nature’s Path
products arrived at my door. A variety of organic granola, cereals, and snack
bars found at major retailers globally. If you like to root for home grown
family-run companies, Nature’s Path fits the bill: started in British Columbia
(where the headquarter remains) in 1985, the company remains family-run despite
having over 150 products in its roster.
While this is admirable and noble, what really matters to me
is the taste - if it doesn’t leave me wanting more the company could be run by
a group of disadvantaged nuns in my house and it wouldn’t matter.
Of everything I’ve tried, two dark chocolate and peanut
products were the best substitute for desserts. Both the Love Crunch and Qi’a
Superfood bars are relatively newer products launched in 2011 and 2012,
respectively.
The Qi’a Superfood snack bar is the easiest: as soon as it’s
unwrapped, you can bite into the soft chewy bar that ever so lightly melts in
your mouth (thanks to the tapioca and brown rice syrups mixed with peanut
butter). The chia seeds and coconut flakes add a cake-like texture, the roasted
peanuts crunch, and chunks of dark chocolate a balanced sweetness.
Let’s be honest, it’s not cake. Yet, a satisfying
replacement and so good that I forget I’m consuming ingredients like chai and hemp
seeds.
The dark chocolate and peanut butter Love Crunch takes a bit
more work. Sure, you can eat the crunchy clusters straight out of the bag, but
it tastes even better when combined with something creamy.
Generally, a hefty sprinkling of the granola over thick
Greek yoghurt is how I’ve consumed it. The peanut butter and dark chocolate
chunks provided enough sweetness that dissipated the tanginess of the plain
dairy product. I’m a person who loves contrasting textures – the crunchy rolled
oat clusters, creamy chocolate, and smooth yoghurt is a great combination.
That blend already left me satiated. Then I heard the Love
Crunch is even better with ice cream, which makes sense, as it could easily
make a delicious parfait. That’s when I ventured to get a cup of soft serve, to
see if the topping would be delicious enough to replace my favourite hot fudge
syrup and crunchy peanuts.
Although I won’t be trading it in for a chocolate sundae
yet, the combination is tasty when topped sparingly. It can get a little sweet
when you get a spoon with a huge granola cluster, so save the smaller pieces
that fall to the bottom of the bag for a more suitable topping.
For so long I’ve prided myself for being able to turn down
dessert. After all, I eat out so often that some restraint is needed to keep
from ballooning up. Hence, when the nagging sugar craving developed in 2016, I
felt disappointed and almost betrayed by my desires. Thank you Nature’s Path
for coming to the rescue, my waist-line thanks you for it.
Disclaimer: The above snacks were provided on a complimentary basis. Rest assured, as noted in the mission statement, I would never promote something I didn't actually enjoy.
NEXT: Purdy's Hedgehogs
MORE: Back to Simply Snacking
How To Find Them
Website: Most Canadian retailers
Approx. Price: $1.79 for Qi'a bar and $4.99 for the Love Crunch
Approx. Price: $1.79 for Qi'a bar and $4.99 for the Love Crunch
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