Nature Valley Sweet & Salty Nut, Roasted Mixed Nut

Nature Valley Sweet & Salty Nut, Roasted Mixed Nut ($3.19 for 6, Publix)
1.2 oz / 35g

Ingredients: roasted peanuts, high maltose corn syrup, rolled oats, high fructose corn syrup, crisp rice, palm kernel oil, cashews roasted in safflower oil and/or canola oil, almonds, wheat flakes, fructose, canola oil, yogurt powder, cashew butter, water, maltodextrin, salt, nonfat milk, soy lecithin, honey roasted almond butter, color, natural flavor, peanut butter, baking soda, macadamia nut flour, pecan flour, sunflower meal, sesame seed, mixed tocopherols.

Calories: 160
Cals from fat: 70
Total Fat: 8g (12%)
Sat Fat: 2.5g (13%)
Sodium: 150mg (6%)
Total Carb: 21g (7%)
Fiber: 1g (6%)
Sugar: 12g
Protein: 3g

This is similar to yesterday's bar but sadly it is not quite as good. It is pretty good, and is the same basic formula (granola sits on yogurt icing) but this one has slightly more icing which I actually don't like as well. In this case, the store brand from yesterday beats out the name brand.

Publix Sweet & Salty Almond

Publix Sweet & Salty Almond ($2.69 for 6, Publix)
1.23 oz / 35g

Ingredients: almonds, toasted oats, sugar, high maltose corn syrup, crisp rice, wheat flakes, fractionated palm kernel oil, high fructose corn syrup, nonfat dry milk, canola oil, glycerin, corn syrup solids, salt, water, soy lecithin, non-fat yogurt powder, honey, natural flavors, gelatin, vanilla extract, caramel color, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, mixed tocopherols, peanut flour

Calories: 170
Cals from fat: 70
Total Fat: 8g (12%)
Sat Fat: 2.5g (13%)
Sodium: 140mg (6%)
Total Carb: 21g (7%)
Fiber: 1g (4%)
Sugar: 10g
Protein: 4g

Man, I'm already sorry I'm reviewing this bar. It is delicious, but now that I've had to write down what is in it I'm feeling a little bad about it. It's all sugar and glycerin and gelatin and hydrogenated craziness. Maybe that's why it tastes so damn good! This is a rather nutty granola bar that has rather fortuitously sat down on a bench or something that was covered in a yogurt/icing paint. So now the bottom of the bar is all icing. Not too much, either, and it is darned tasty. The nutty granola part is good too - nice nutty crunchiness with a sort of chewy granola. This is a great bar, I just wish it wasn't all scary ingredients - I didn't even write down the parenthetical ingredients for crisp rice and toasted oats, both of which have some additional sugar and such as you are probably already aware. I just can't believe this thing doesn't taste like a bunch of chemicals, but it really doesn't. It's great.

Planters Big Nut Bar Triple Nut

Planters Big Nut Bar Triple Nut ($2.50 for 5, Kroger)
1.62 oz / 46g

Ingredients: peanuts, corn syrup, crisped rice, peanut butter, sugar, evaporated cane juice invert syrup, whole grain rolled oats, almonds, cashews, whey, soy lecithin, salt, honey, vegetable oil, resistant corn dextrin, brown sugar, whole grain rolled wheat, coconut, canola oil, wheat bran, xanthan gum, mixed tocopherols.

Calories: 220
Cals from fat: 100
Total Fat: 12g (18%)
Sat Fat: 1.5g (8%)
Sodium: 230mg (10%)
Total Carb: 23g (8%)
Fiber: 3g (12%)
Sugar: 13g
Protein: 7g

This is a nut bar sitting on a little bed of peanut butter. The mixed nuts are an improvement over the all-peanut version I had the other day, though isn't it suspicious that we pay more for mixed nuts than peanuts, but they are the same price here? Something doesn't add up. This really is a good, nutty bar, though. Really delicious. Nice texture. I think I might actually prefer this one to a payday bar all things being equal.

Fiber One Oats & Strawberries with Almonds

Fiber One Oats & Strawberries with Almonds ($3.59 for 5, Kroger)
1.4 oz / 40g


Ingredients: chicory root extract, rolled oats, sugar, cranberries, citric acid, natural flavor, elderberry juice concentrate, sunflower oil, crisp rice, high maltose corn syrup, barley flakes, almond pieces, honey, vegetable oil, sugar, maltodextrin, high fructose corn syrup, glycerin, tricalcium phosphate, soy lecithin, salt, nonfat milk, cocoa processed with alkali, baking soda, caramel color, sunflower meal, wheat flour, mixed tocopherols.

Calories: 140
Cals from fat: 30
Total Fat: 3g (5%)
Sat Fat: 0.5g (4%)
Sodium: 90mg (4%)
Total Carb: 29g (10%)
Fiber: 9g (35%)
Sugar: 9g
Protein: 2g

Two things I notice right away: there is more chicory in this bar than anything else, and no actual strawberries. Still, the old "fiber one" magic is present; this bar tastes great and has a nice granola bar texture, and a whole lotta fiber. The bar is extremely chewy, and I get all the flavors: a little fruit, a little almond, a little chocolate from the drizzle on top. I honestly don't know how they do that. Also note that this bar, despite having some scary ingredients, is a lot better for me than yesterday's peanut bar; fewer calories, less fat, and with lots of fiber which satisfies hunger. I call it win-win, though I still have a couple of boxes of those peanut bars. Oh well.

Planters Big Nut Bar Double Peanut

Planters Big Nut Bar Double Peanut ($2.50 for 5, Kroger)
1.62 oz / 46g

Ingredients: peanuts, corn syrup, sugar, peanut butter, crisped rice, evaporated cane juice invert syrup, whole grain rolled oats, fractionated palm kernel oil, brown sugar, whole grain rolled wheat, coconut, canola oil, wheat bran, partially defatted peanut flour, salt, fructose, sodium caseinate, soy lecithin, resistant corn dextrin, natural flavor, mixed tocopherols.

Calories: 220
Cals from fat: 110
Total Fat: 13g (20%)
Sat Fat: 3g (15%)
Sodium: 160mg (7%)
Total Carb: 22g (7%)
Fiber: 3g (12%)
Sugar: 12g
Protein: 7g (7%)

Well, it seems I'll eat anything. That ingredient list is pretty scary, no? I'm just glad the corn dextrin was the resistant kind, because that non-resistant stuff is just not good enough!

This is sort of a peanut bar sitting on a little bed of peanut butter. It is nice and chewy unlike peanut bars of old, the peanut butter gives it some body and the overall effect is very granola-bar like despite the fact that this is really about 80% peanuts. I am a peanut fan, so I admit I like this bar. Its not really far off from a payday bar, and has about the same nutritional value. Sadly, the ingredients list (note: I got this from the internet, not the package so it may not be totally accurate) on the payday bar is shorter:

Peanuts, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Nonfat Milk, Salt, Mono- and Diglycerides, Egg Whites, TBHQ, Soy Protein, Citric Acid

So there ya go. You can have your old-fashioned partially hydrogenated vegetable oil or your newfangled fractionated palm kernel oil, but it all basically turns out the same.

Clif Bar Peanut Toffee Buzz

Clif Bar Peanut Toffee Buzz ($0.99, Publix)
2.4 oz / 68g

Ingredients: organic brown rice syrup, soy rice crisps, organic roasted soybeans, organic soy flour, organic rolled oats, dry roasted peanuts, apple fiber, organic oat fiber, organic milled flaxseed, inulin, psyllium, organic evaporated cane juice, peanut toffee, organic peanut butter, cocoa butter, soy flour, soy lecithin, peanut flour, natural flavors, sea salt, green tea extract.

Calories: 250
Cals from fat: 50
Total Fat: 6g (9%)
Sat Fat: 2g (10%)
Sodium: 200mg (8%)
Potassium: 250mg (7%)
Total Carb: 42g (14%)
Fiber: 5g (20%)
Sugar: 20g
Protein: 11g (22%)

When I drink green tea I get a little loopy. I don't know if I steep it too long or what; my purveyor of fine teas says I drink them too fast and my blood pressure drops, which is an interesting theory. Anyway, it makes the idea of this bar feel a little bit dangerous; contains green tea extract! And he's drinking coffee! Go ahead and dial the 9 and the 1!

This bar is remarkably bland. There's a little icing stripe which adds some sweetness but I'm honestly left with almost zero aftertaste. Sort of a dry finish, too. The texture is just 'clif bar' to me at this point, but the taste of this bar is markedly different and sort of strange; I don't really get the toffee taste. Its slightly sweet and peanutty with this crazy drop off dry mouth finish. I probably won't buy this one again, but it is an interesting experience. I guess we'll see how hyped up on caffeine I am after this and a cup o' joe. I feel like I might bounce around like daffy duck or something wooHOOwooHOOwooHOO!

clif kid organic z bar chocolate brownie

clif kid organic z bar chocolate brownie ($0.75, publix)
1.27 oz / 36g

Ingredients: organic rolled oats, organic chocolate chips, organic evaporated cane juice syrup, organic brown rice syrup, organic tapioca syrup, organic fig paste, organic oat flour, organic cocoa powder, organic soy butter, natural flavors, organic oat fiber, organic milled flaxseed, organic chocolate, salt, baking soda.

Calories: 120
Cals from fat: 25
Total Fat: 3g (5%)
Sat Fat: 1g (5%)
Sodium: 125mg (4%)
Potassium: 110mg (3%)
Total Carb: 22g (7%)
Fiber: 3g (12%)
Sugar: 12g
Protein: 3g

cocoa. man, cocoa. dude, this is almost too much cocoa. almost chalky. whoa. more cocoa than chocolate happening here. another ineffectual chocolate drizzle. its very brownie like, but its almost too much.

clif kid organic z bar peanut butter

clif kid organic z bar peanut butter ($0.75, publix)
1.27 oz / 36g

Ingredients: organic peanut butter, organic evaporated cane juice syrup, organic rolled oats, organic brown rice syrup, organic tapioca syrup, organic fig paste, organic peanuts, organic oat flour, organic milled flaxseed, organic oat fiber, natural flavors, organic chocolate, salt, baking soda.

Calories: 140
Cals from fat: 45
Total Fat: 5g (8%)
Sat Fat: 1g (5%)
Sodium: 170mg (7%)
Potassium: 160mg (5%)
Total Carb: 20g (7%)
Fiber: 3g (12%)
Sugar: 11g
Protein: 3g

This is a sort of cross between a cereal bar and a granola bar; softer than granola, crunchier than a cereal bar. It's quite agreeable, as if they were making granola bars for the elderly, or children. I could just pleasantly gum my way though this thing, nom nom nom. It's peanutty with a completely ineffectual chocolate drizzle, nom nom nom. Seems very familiar somehow, hmmm.

Oh, dang, it's really almost identical to a store-bought peanut butter cookie. The soft kind with peanuts in it you might have had at a church function or at school or something. Presumably its better for you than that, so score!

Clif Bar Blueberry Crisp

Clif Bar Blueberry Crisp ($0.99, Publix)
2.4 oz / 68g

Ingredients: organic brown rice syrup, soy rice crisps, organic roasted soybeans, organic soy flour, organic rolled oats, blueberry fruit pieces, rganic toasted oats, organic dry roasted almonds, organic oat fiber, inulin, organic milled flaxseed, organic oat bran, psyllium, organic evaporated cane juice, blueberries, organic date paste, almond butter, organic sunflower oil, natural flavors, sea salt, citric acid.

Calories: 240
Cals from fat: 50
Total Fat: 5g (8%)
Sat Fat: 0.5g (4%)
Sodium: 150mg (9%)
Potassium: 250mg (7%)
Total Carb: 43g (14%)
Fiber: 5g (20%)
Sugar: 21g
Protein: 9g (18%)

I wonder if there's something difficult about using dried fruit? I like clif bars, but something about this one tastes a little phony. The fruit in this bar gives it a different kind of sweetness than some of the other clif bars, which is really nice - its a little less 'cliffy' than some of the other ones even though the texture is identical. On the other hand, there's a slightly 'preserved' taste to the fruit which doesn't totally appeal to me. It's not quite so strong as to be a 'chemical' taste, and is largely dispelled with a cup of coffee. This deserves to be in the rotation, but I think I'd tire of having them very regularly.

Cascadian Farm fiber right dark chocolate almond

Cascadian Farm fiber right dark chocolate almond ($4 for 6, Publix)
1.2 oz / 35g

Ingredients: tapioca syrup, rolled oats, inulin, crisp rice, semisweet chocolate chunks, sugar, almonds, sunflower oil, glycerin, brown rice syrup, rice maltodextrin, soy lecithin, palm kernel oil, cocoa powder, sea salt, natural flavor, baking soda, nonfat milk.

Calories: 130
Cals from fat: 35
Total Fat: 3.5 (5%)
Sat Fat: 1g (6%)
Sodium: 100mg (4%)
Total Carb: 25g (8%)
Fiber: 5g (20%)
Sugar: 8g
Protein: 2g

This bar is quite good, though the wrapper is sticky and therefore makes a bit of a mess. The bar has a nice chewy texture and a taste very similar to a blondie brownie, which I don't have to tell you, faithful reader, was a 70's sensation the likes of which we've never seen again.

Nature Valley Pecan Crunch

Nature Valley Pecan Crunch ($0.75, office snack area)
1.5 oz / 42g

Ingredients: whole grain rolled oats, sugar, canola oil, crisp rice with soy protein, brown sugar syrup, pecan pieces, salt, soy lecithin, baking soda, natural flavor, almond flour, peanut flour.

Calories: 190
Cals from fat: 60
Total Fat: 7g (11%)
Sat Fat: 1g (4%)
Sodium: 170mg (7%)
Total Carb: 29g (10%)
Fiber: 2g (8%)
Sugar: 12g
Protein: 4g

It's almost unfair to include the nature valley crunchy bars on this site, as I've eaten them for so many years they basically define what I'm looking for in a bar (other than of course our old friend 'variety'). I've not had this pecan version before so I thought I'd try my best to compare it to the other bars you've been patient enough to sit through waiting for the king to arrive.

Oh, goodness. This is good even by nature valley standards. Lots of people find the nature valley bars to be slightly too dense and crunchy, but this particular variety seems lighter than the old "oats and honey" - i have to admit this has a better overall texture than almost any bar previously encountered. The lighter texture among other things means that it doesn't crumble all over the place when you eat it, which admittedly is about the only shortcoming I can find in the original bar. I'm tempted to call it a fluke; I'm so used to the nature valley crunchy texture that I'm frightened to even imagine they've been able to improve on it. Say it isn't so! Sweet agony!

I know what you're thinking. You're all "how can he like this thing so much?" Well, I'm here to tell you, this is a different animal entirely from the stale, 3 year old bar you found in some hunger-induced panic in the bottom of that backpack you'd been carrying around all year and barely decided would be better than gnawing on your own foot. This is toasted, nutty, crunchy, granola perfection, my dear friends, and you owe it to yourself to experience it.

gnu foods flavor and fiber chocolate brownie bar

gnu foods flavor and fiber chocolate brownie bar ($1.69, trader joe's)
1.6 oz / 45g

Ingredients: whole rolled oats, organic whole wheat flour, wheat bran, organic kamut, psyllium, flax, millet, chicory root inulin, fruit juices, rice dextrins, dark chocolate chips, cocoa powder, canola oil, plums, rice, wheat protein isolate, natural flavors, baking powder

Calories: 140
Cals from fat: 35
Total Fat: 4g (6%)
Sat Fat: 1g (4%)
Sodium: 30mg (1%)
Total Carb: 30g (10%)
Fiber: 12g (48%)
Sugar: 9g
Protein: 4g

Yet another super fiber bar. This one is pretty good - nice granola-y texture (a bit more firm than the last bar) and a nice cocoa flavor. I'm not sure its healthy to eat so much fiber all at once but hey, that's between me and my lower GI. Knowing is half the battle!

kind plus antioxidants cranberry & almond

kind plus antioxidants cranberry & almond ($1.69, trader joe's)
1.4 oz / 40g

Ingredients: almonds, macadamias, dried cranberries, honey, glucose, puffed rice, soluble dietary fiber (maize)

Calories: 190
Cals from fat: 110
Total Fat: 12g (18%)
Sat Fat: 1.5g (8%)
Sodium: 10mg (1%)
Potassium: 120mg (3%)
Total Carb: 19g (6%)
Fiber: 2.5g (10%)
Sugar: 13g
Protein: 4g

Ah, finally the last of the kind bars. Will this one be a Dr. Jekyll or a Mr. Hyde?

This is another "peanut bar" type, though there's so much "glue" that there's a small layer of it on the bottom. Luckily, this is the soft glue, so the overall bar is more chewy than crunchy. This puts it firmly in "Jekyll" territory. The taste of the bar is overwhelmed by the cranberries - the puffed rice seemed like a good idea but it's not really helping the case at all. Pretty much all I taste is cranberries and honey. This isn't bad; and I must stress there's no chemical taste to speak of, but again I'm not sure why having these in a bar is so much better than just having a handful of dried fruits and nuts lying around. I note these are made in Australia, perhaps they don't have dried fruits and nuts in bulk over there.

In any event the existing rules stand: kind bars with fruit are ok, kind bars without fruit are not ok. Recess!

kind nut delight

kind nut delight ($1.69, trader joe's)
1.4 oz / 40g

Ingredients: peanuts, almonds, brazil nuts, walnuts, honey, glucose, puffed rice, linseed, chicory fiber, soy lecithin

Calories: 200
Cals from fat: 140
Total Fat: 15g (24%)
Sat Fat: 2g (10%)
Sodium: 15mg (1%)
Total Carb: 12g (4%)
Fiber: 3g (12%)
Sugar: 8g
Protein: 7g

Oh, man. It's peanut bar time again. I was afraid of this. After making such progress with these bars we're right back to the hard, crumbly, annoying nut bar i panned before. I actually had to shove this one to the back of my mouth to bite off pieces. Let's just put this one behind us, shall we? Its such a shame because the one with the fruit was so much better. I just noticed that this is my 50th (!) granola bar review, I only wish we could have celebrated with a really good one instead of this messy, tired thing.

clif kid organic Z bar chocolate chip

clif kid organic Z bar chocolate chip ($0.69, trader joe's)
1.27 oz / 36g

Ingredients: organic chocolate chips, organic rolled oats, organic oat flour, organic fig paste, organic tapioca syrup, organic evaporated cane juice syrup, organic maple syrup, organic soy butter, organic chocolate, natural flavors, organic milled flaxseed, organic oat fiber, baking soda, salt.

Calories: 130
Cals from fat: 35
Total Fat: 4g (6%)
Sat Fat: 1.5g (8%)
Sodium: 100mg (4%)
Potassium: 140mg (4%)
Total Carb: 24g (9%)
Fiber: 3g (12%)
Sugar: 11g
Protein: 3g

I expected to like this since I like the regular clif chocolate chip bars and I must admit I wasn't disappointed. The texture of this is unique; its like an especially-dense cereal bar. I normally don't really go in for cereal bars but this one is heavier than most and has a little more "granola" than a regular cereal bar which I think makes it better. No chemical taste, though the aftertaste is a little overly sweet - consume with a beverage. Overall this bar is really good; enough so to buy a box of 12 which is about as high as praise gets from this website.

kind fruit and nut delight

kind fruit and nut delight ($1.69, trader joe's)
1.4 oz / 40g

Ingredients: peanuts, almonds, brazil nuts, walnuts, raisins, apricots, apricot paste, glycerol, pectin, apple fiber, citric acid, dates, honey, glucose, puffed rice, linseed, chicory fiber, soy lecithin

Calories: 170
Cals from fat: 100
Total Fat: 11g (17%)
Sat Fat: 1.5g (8%)
Sodium: 25mg (1%)
Total Carb: 16g (5%)
Fiber: 3g (12%)
Sugar: 12g
Protein: 5g

I'm feeling more patient today with the peanut bar. That's what this is, categorically, and in my last review I was a bit short with it. It is an overpriced handful of fruits and nuts, but this one with the fruit seems to have a softer overall texture; like they had to change the "glue" because of the fruit or something. As a result it is less crumbly than the previous bar, which is a welcome improvement. This one actually makes me think "granola bar" more than "peanut bar" which is enough to sell it. Another upside to the sparse ingredient list is that there is no chemical taste to speak of. So in that respect it is a success. Still may not beat homemade trail mix for being so similar, but this bar is a lot better than the last one.

gnu foods flavor and fiber peanut butter bar

gnu foods flavor and fiber peanut butter bar ($1.69, trader joe's)
1.4 oz / 40g

Ingredients: organic whole wheat flour, oats, wheat bran, psyllium, flax, millet, soy flour, chicory root fiber, fruit juices, rice dextrins, peanuts, canola oil, plums, rice, apples, natural flavors, aluminum-free baking powder.

Calories: 150
Cals from fat: 30
Total Fat: 3g (5%)
Sat Fat: 1g (4%)
Sodium: 64mg (3%)
Total Carb: 32g (11%)
Fiber: 12g (48%)
Sugar: 9g
Protein: 5g

I'm sort of afraid to eat this. I've never seen a bar with so many high-fiber ingredients before. Its almost like someone said "ok, lets just take this fiber thing to its logical conclusion." Hold on a sec, I'm going to go drink a glass of water before I get started here.

This bar looks remarkably normal, but the smell is a strange, slightly unfamiliar sweet smell that might have originated in a health food store. I could feel my lower GI tightening up in expectation as I ate this bar. The texture is surprisingly loose, oh I mean light - I expected it to be more dense. Sadly the weird smell carried over to the taste - I think it might be one of the less common granola bar ingredients like the flax or plums coming through? Not a bad bar overall, though the flavor isn't really my favorite. Its not peanut butter at all; in fact, did you see that among the ingredient list? Yeah, me neither. You know, it sort of tastes fruity overall, which is strange.

I don't know if I'd buy this one again - its not bad and feels pretty healthy but I did sort of expect it to taste more like peanut butter and less like a fruit bar.

Pure Chocolate Brownie

Pure Chocolate Brownie($1.49, trader joe's)
1.7 oz / 48g

Ingredients: organic dates, organic walnuts, organic agave nectar, organic almonds, organic cashews, organic brown rice protein, organic cocoa.

Calories: 200
Cals from fat: 80
Total Fat: 9g (13%)
Sat Fat: 1g (6%)
Sodium: 10mg (0%)
Potassium: 250mg (7%)
Total Carb: 25g (8%)
Fiber: 5g (18%)
Sugar: 18g
Protein: 6g

Yet another compressed date bar. This one is quite good; no chemical taste or overwhelming aftertaste; really this tastes more like actual dates and nuts than most of the other bars. This might be good or bad depending on your point of view, but I'll admit I'm sort of fond of it - many of the other bars feel heavy-handed by comparison. The texture is good as well; I'm a much bigger fan of the compressed date bars with a good amount of nuts or granola mixed in. Good bar.

Kind Plus Protein Almond, Walnut and Macadamia

Kind Plus Protein Almond, Walnut and Macadamia ($1.69, Trader Joe's)
1.4 oz / 40g

Ingredients: peanuts, almonds, walnuts, macadamias, cashews, brazil nuts, honey, soy crisps, glucose, soluble dietary fiber (maize), natural flavor.

Calories: 210
Cals from fat: 130
Total Fat: 15g (23%)
Sat Fat: 2g (10%)
Sodium: 65mg (3%)
Potassium: 180mg (5%)
Total Carb: 11g (4%)
Fiber: 2.5g (10%)
Sugar: 7g
Protein: 10g

Remember the peanut bar? This is the same thing, only it has mixed nuts and costs 4 times as much. I try not to look at prices when buying bars, but I have to admit I'm taken aback that this is basically an ounce of mixed nuts and some corn syrup for over a buck and a half. Its not quite as sweet as a peanut bar, which is a plus but leaves you with the feeling that if you just had a can of mixed nuts on your desk you could eat a handful of them and be just as satisfied. Perhaps moreso; the bar is a bit crumbly and therefore might be a bit messier than a handful of nuts.

Trader Joe's Chocolate Chip Fruit and Nut bar

Trader Joe's Chocolate Chip Fruit and Nut bar ($0.49, Trader Joe's)
1.6 oz / 45g

Ingredients: dates, semi-sweet chocolate chips, almonds, pineapple juice syrup, cocoa powder, rolled oats, rolled barley, rolled wheat, apple juice concentrate, sunflower oil, wheat bran, natural flavors, tocopherols, chocolate liquor.

Calories: 170
Cals from fat: 40
Total Fat: 4.5g (7%)
Sat Fat: 1g (5%)
Sodium: 0mg (0%)
Total Carb: 31g (10%)
Fiber: 5g (20%)
Sugar: 21g
Protein: 3g

I have to admit I'm a bit distressed that this bar has "March 12 09" stamped on the front; I hate it when the fancy grocery stores sell me out of date stuff (I of course being incapable of checking the date myself). So I'm not sure this will be a fair review, nor am I entirely sure it won't be my last, but know fair reader I do it all for you; I risk everything for you. How is it that granola bars have expiration dates anyway? That seems counter to the very mission of the granola bar.

Anyway, let's get on to more practical matters, double-oh seven. This is another compressed date "brownie" bar, which surprised me. It is quite rich and has some nuts and stuff that lend it a pretty good texture overall - not too heavy. The aftertaste is definitely the chocolate liquor which isn't bad but does taste a little artificial. It reminds me of some of those fancy candies your grandparents might have really cherished but really just didn't taste that good. Overall I think this is a really good bar for the price, though I do think one might tire of the heavy aftertaste.

clif kid organic Z bar honey graham

clif kid organic Z bar honey graham ($0.69, trader joe's)
1.27 oz / 36g

Ingredients: organic rolled oats, organic oat flour, organic fig paste, organic brown rice syrup, organic tapioca syrup, organic honey, organic evaporated cane juice syrup, organic soy butter, organic oat fiber, organic rice extract, organic vanilla extract, natural flavors, organic milled flaxseed, baking soda, salt.

Calories: 130
Cals from fat: 25
Total Fat: 2g (3%)
Sat Fat: 0.5g (3%)
Sodium: 95mg (4%)
Total Carb: 26g (9%)
Fiber: 3g (12%)
Sugar: 10g
Protein: 3g

The only way this could possibly be for kids is if you have kids that don't read ingredients. Organic tapioca! Soy butter! No kid would knowingly go in for that. This looks like more of a cereal bar than a granola bar. It smells really sweet when you open the package. It tastes good; though our old friend "chemical taste" can't resist peeking through the aftertaste a little. Texture is a bit softer than a granola bar - really its just a cereal bar. Its a good cereal bar - I like the taste ok, but I really prefer the texture of granola bars to this sort of thing.