New Favorite Gluten Free Dairy Free Food Bar - Raw Revolution

Dangerously gooey and satisfying. I am on a kick to try new food bars, not because I think food bars the answer to anything, but because I know that we all need convenience foods that can travel with us without taking up space, without much thought...those quick snacks for times we weren't planning for. For myself, though, I'm afraid that this bar would never fall under that category. I would plan for it...I would work my meals around it. To me, it's that delicious!
I tried the Raspberry Chocolate Raw Revolution bar and my first thought was that I could really smell the chocolate and raspberry, even before I tasted it...yum.

The chocolate is a definite dark chocolate punch. It's not for those looking to replace the sugary sweet milk chocolate candy bars. It's sweet, but not THAT sweet. And the texture...oh my goodness. It reminds me (just a little bit) of those brownies I used to eat as a kid. Those mysteriously textured pre-packaged brownies that were dense, moist, soft and gooey. Yeah, only a little like that, but not so mysterious.

The simple and natural ingredients are what drew me to the Raw Revolution bar in the first place. Well, that and the fact that this a gluten free, dairy free all natural raw food bar! The raspberry chocolate bar was made of cashews, dates, agave, cocoa, almonds, raspberry powder, and sprouted flaxseed (sprouted flaxseed...how cool is that?! My GI tract says thank you!). This blends together to create a happy combination of 5g of fiber, 8g of protein and 15g of sugar. The sugar is still higher than ideal, with that agave added (and no, I am not a big fan of agave), but if you want the same delightful textures and ingredients, try the cashew spirulina flavor, which has less sugar!

So, while I know I am still better off eating a my green salad topped with brown rice, beans, and salsa, breaking this bar in half for a dessert is delightful. I have plans for it to replace my larabars for those trips we take when it's oh so useful to have a bar or two on hand...just in case. I have yet to test this on the kids to see if it carries kid appeal. Funny enough, the kids and I rarely like the same flavors of bars.

So, if you like VERY sweet chocolate, or if you don't appreciate dark chocolate or a soft gooey texture...then move along. For the rest of us...enjoy in moderation ;)

In the area? Stop by Advance Health and pick up a raspberry chocolate Raw Revolution bar, and say hello while you're there!

LaraBar - Gluten Free Dairy Free Sweet Treat

Lara Bars are my favorite bring along bar. You know what I mean by that, as all of us with a dietary restriction will often carry an emergency food item ... just in case! For me, that is the LaraBar. I would not really look to this as a granola bar replacement. To me, this is more of a dessert/sweet treat. Still there are times when I am glad we have a bar on hand due to our allergies to dairy and gluten.

One thing I have discovered about these date sweetened delights is that everyone seems to have a different review! Some love them, some hate them, some adore one flavor, while the next person cannot tolerate the same flavor.

Well, here are my favorites:
The Cocoa Mole is my new favorite. It is a great replacement for a chocolate craving, and with the cocoa powder, a nice antioxidant boost. The bar has 4g of protein, 5g of fiber and a whopping 21g of sugar from dates! Wow that is a lot of sugar (even if it is fruit sugar). As I said, this is what I eat instead of grabbing a cookie, or candy bar when I am out and about. It's also my go to when I'm really feeling the need for chocolate!

The Peanut Butter bar tastes just like a peanut butter cookie, to me.

I Adore the Lemon, as it is the fizzy lemon meringue pie taste I have not had in years.

Cherry Almond is another top choice that I never tire of, for what's not to like about cherries and almonds?

I even like the Apple Pie with it's strong cinnamon and pie spice flavor, and the coconut which is very...coconut!

I am not, however, a fan of the chocolate coconut or the jocolat mint chocolate. This is where the individual preference comes in because those are my daughter's favorites! She could eat the mint chocolate daily, and she avoids all the ones I listed above, like the plague. So, I guess you'll just have to try some for yourself and see what you like. Let us know!

The texture of these bars are firm, yet soft (due to the ground up dates). The nuts are not broken down, entirely, so there are chunks to chew through here and there. So, if you are looking for a travelling treat that delivers to your sweet tooth, yet still carries it's weight in nutrients, I can recommend Lara Bar.

I look forward to trying the newer Crisp bars, which are signifigantly lower in sugars!

If you are looking for more of a health food bar, take a glance at Raw Revolution bars. They have an impressing ingredient listing such as spirulina seaweed powder and sprouted flax in additon to a nice balance of fiber, protein, and sugars.

Reminder: When you're eating compressed food bars, don't forget to stay hydrated! Drink your water.