Tags: fiber

3 Dec 2011, Comments (0)

Corazonas Banana Walnut Oatmeal Square

Author: Healthnuttxo

I have a confession.

I’m obsessed with banana flavored things. Banana bread, banana ice cream, banana yogurt (yes! they make it!). I DONT like fake banana (aka laffy taffy) but real banana flavored things I absolutely adore. Which, go figure, I find weird because I’m not all that crazy about bananas themselves. Hmm.

So, I got this free Corazonas Banana Walnut Oatmeal Square from the company to review, and I was pumped. BANANA walnut. Even if it was Banana spinach flavored oatmeal square I probably would have been excited. Ok, maybe I’m overexaggerating, but let’s just get it out there that I love banana.

Who nibbled my bar!?!?! oh wait…

So, pregym, I had this bar with a scoopful of peanut butter. It was one of those mornings where I DID NOT want to wake up early and have a proper breakfast before the gym, so a granola bar would suffice. Although, always prepare for the munchies later on if you don’t have a big breakfast! Or at least that’s the case for me!

ANYWAY- this square was really quite good. It was soft, chewy and dense, and you could really taste the banana. It tasted like genuine and real banana for the most part, but did have a tinge of that “artificial flavor” feel to it. But not too bad. And not like laffy taffy (sorry to those who love laffy taffy- can’t do that fake banana flavor!!).

There was a slight cinnamon flavor, and it was certainly sweet! The oats gave it a hearty texture and it was a rather satisfying bar. I felt energized during my workout (trust me, I hardly sleep anymore so I definitely didn’t get the energy from a solid 8 hours of sleep!   ) and I couldn’t get over how banana-y it was. The whole “walnut” aspect of this bar was lackluster for me. I don’t even know if I remember tasting them?? Magical walnuts perhaps…?

Anyway- 4 stars. A good bar. I would buy it in the future.

I'm such a fail at taking pictures of nutritional facts. Boo.

20 Aug 2011, Comments (7)

Corazonas Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Square

Author: Healthnuttxo

Remember my oatmeal debate?  How I’d love to eat oatmeal all the time since it’s healthy, filling and deliciously versatile. But, I’m, well lazy. I don’t like cleaning pots, or waiting for the oatmeal to cook. Especially if a cold bowl of cereal is ready in five minutes after slciing up some fruit and pouring some almond milk. It’s just too easy!

However, I discovered I could still eat those healthy oats, but in an oatmeal square. I enjoyed the Chocolate Brownie with Almonds Oatmeal Square by Corazona, so I was sure I would also like the Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Square they sent me to try for free as well.

Some quick facts from the wrapper, this oatmeal square has 16 grams of whole grain, is all  natural, and “is made with ingredients proven in more than 140 clinical studies to help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol”.

I opened this square up before a workout for a quick boost. I didn’t have time for a complete breakfast, so I figured this would be good to give me some energy alongside a scoop of peanut butter (you probably saw that one coming ; ) ). This also explains why there isn’t a picture. I’m a bad blogger and was in a rush to eat this. Sorry! : (

This bar was actually really tasty. It was decently sized, about the size of my palm. It was sweet and almost fruity in flavor, it was chewy and a bit dense, but really good.  It was light and slightly sticky as well. It had a mild oatmeal cookie flavor, but wasn’t as sweet as an oatmeal cookie would be. The chocolate chips added a nice touch, and tasted like a smooth milk chocolate. Also, the texture and taste almost reminded me of a sticky banana bread. It was really quite good!

Overall 4 1/2 stars. I would certainly buy it if I saw it in stores, and it provided me with a good amount of energy for the gym! Plus, who doesn’t like eating chocolate chips with some whole grains? :P

Favorite oatmeal add in? Mine is good ol cinnamon, butter, and milk. Like this yummy recipe here! : )

Here’s the nutrition facts from the website

24 Oct 2010, Comments (2)

Naturally More Peanut Butter

Author: Healthnuttxo


Peanut Butter. Not a day goes by that I don’t consume either A. some type/variety of peanut butter or B. apples. (what a coincidence that they go perfectly together!) I’m always up for new varieties to try, like the Naturally More Peanut Butter. I had tried the Organic Naturally More Peanut Butter, and really enjoyed it. I was hoping I’d like the original as well!

Some interesting things about this peanut butter, it has 4 grams of fiber and 10 grams of protein for a 2 Tbsp serving, with only 11 grams of fat. According to the jar, this peanut butter is “fortified with flax seed, flax oil and other nutrients” as well as containing “omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids. It’s What Peanut Butter Should Be!” Sounds good to me!

So I opened up the jar and noticed a thick layer of oil and floating flax seeds on top. Not the prettiest, but nothing a little stirring couldn’t fix. I stirred it up and placed it in the fridge to set for a little while. Then I opened it up later on and noticed a nice creamy peanut butter, with the oil seperation very minimal if any since refrigeration. I took some off a spoon and tasted it.

I would say this peanut butter has some pros and cons. I liked that it wasn’t too salty or too sweet, and had a pretty good peanut butter flavor. I liked that it was higher in fiber and protein than traditional peanut butter, and had omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. I also kind of liked the little bit of crunch that the flaxseeds provided, almost like a crunchy peanut butter.

But…

I didn’t really like the flaxseed flavor that was quite noticeable. I’m the type of person who likes to eat peanut butter straight from the jar, and while this peanut butter is good, I don’t think I’ll be eating it off of a spoon.  However, I did spread it on a chocolate muffin, and it was TASTY! I couldn’t really detect the flax seed flavor at all.

Overall, 3 stars by itself, 4 stars spread on something, brings this to a 3 1/2 overall. I think I’ll stick to the Organic Naturally More Peanut Butter for spoon and jar peanut butter consumption :P

2 tbsp. is 169 calories, 11 grams of fat, 8 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugar and 10 grams of protein.

*I was provided this to try for free from Naturally More *

14 Sep 2010, Comments (2)

Nature’s Path Organic Optimum Blueberry Cinnamon Cereal

Author: Healthnuttxo

Nature’s Path is one of my favorite brands when it comes to organic food. I have yet to this day had a product from this brand that I haven’t liked. To add to my list of favorites, is the Optimum Blueberry Cinnamon Cereal that I was sent to try from Nature’s Path.

So what’s so special about this cereal? Well there’s a few things I like.

One- a serving size is ONE CUP! WOO HOO!
Two- There’s only 9 grams of sugar in 1 cup of cereal!
Three- there’s 7 grams of fiber and 9 grams of protein
Four- it’s ORGANIC!

Okay, so all that’s great, right? But, how does it taste?

Yummmmayyy!

One of the things I love is cinnamon, and this cereal has a great cinnamon flavor. Fresh, lightly sweetened, real cinnamon. There wasn’t much of a blueberry flavor, but there was tiny blueberries scattered throughout the cereal that tasted good. There were crunchy and HARD noodle/twig shaped pieces, and flakes. What I really liked was that the crunch held up in my almond milk and sliced banana, and it had a good amount of sweetness. 4 1/2 stars

1 cup is 200 calories, 3 grams of fat, 38 grams of carbohydrates, 7 grams of fiber, 9 grams of sugar and 9 grams of protein.

11 Sep 2010, Comments (0)

Musselman’s Healthy Picks Granny Smith Apple Sauce

Author: Healthnuttxo

Being the applesauce lover that I am ( I insist it’s not just for babies! =) ), how on earth could I turn down Musselman’s when they asked if I wanted to sample their new Healthy Picks apple sauce in GRANNY SMITH flavor? Obviously I didn’t! : )

What I like about Healthy Picks Granny Smith Applesauce  is that they are a bit different than other applesauces that I have tried. Aside from being all natural, this applesauce also has THREE grams of fiber and 10% of daily calcium needs per 4oz. cup! Fiber, calcium, and good taste? I’m loving that!

So, last night I opened up one of these cups to enjoy with my dinner. It was a normal colored applesauce, perhaps just a tad more green/yellow than what I’m used to. I was a bit scared or hesistant at first- even though apples are my favorite fruit, I’m really not a fan of Granny Smith apples. In fact, I really only eat them in two conditions. One- with peanut butter or Two- with a bland/unsweetened cereal and milk for breakfast. I usually find them too tart and even too crunchy for my preferences.

However, I tried this applesauce and really enjoyed it! I could certainly taste the granny smith aspect of it, but it really wasn’t tart at all! There was a good amount of sweetness as well, which I certainly enjoyed. The texture was smooth, yet still had a little bit of consistency which I liked. It had the consistency of a fruit sauce, not a super smooth puree.

Overall, 4 1/2 stars! I would most likely buy this if I saw it in stores. I really love the extra fiber and calcium, and it’s great taste. It’s mild enough to eat with a meal, but sweet enough to also eat on it’s own. Delicious!

1 4oz. cup is 70 calories, 0 grams of fat, 17 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 10 grams of sugar and 0 grams of protein.

*** ZEVIA GIVEAWAY ENDS TOMOROW!!! ****

14 May 2010, Comments (7)

Figamajigs Dark Chocolate Covered Fig Candy

Author: Healthnuttxo

What’s a Figamajig!?

Figamajigs are a different way to enjoy candy, according to them, it’s “A Healthy and Delicious Way to Enjoy Chocolate”. What could be so healthy about chocolate? Well, these candies are all natural, provide fiber & antioxidants, and are relatively low in fat. They make both bite sized candies and fig bars covered with delicious chocolate. The company sent me some of their goodies to try, and I picked the Dark Chocolate Covered Fig Candy to do a review on.

Now, I’m TOTALLY a Raisinette girl. When we go to the movies, my friends get the popcorn and the nachos, and I get the Raisinette’s candy. It’s my way of eating a “healthy treat” while still indulging. Hey, raisins are FRUIT! So I was super excited to see these. First of all, each bag (40grams) provides a hefty amount of tasty chocolate covered fig pieces. Do NOT be turned off by the word “fig”. I know you’re probably thinking fig= prunes= grandma candy. Uh, NO. These are actually quite good!

Each piece is actually pretty big, if you ever ate the Peanut Butter flavor of the M&M’s, they are about that size. If not, they have the same size of I’d say a dime, but VERY thick! There is a decent amount of smooth and rich dark chocolate coating every fig piece. You can’t even really taste the fig- it tastes just like raisins to me!  The fig piece was a bit chewier and grittier than raisins, but still quite good. They were sweet, but not overpowering, and I actually really enjoyed these. Each bag that provides about 20 or so pieces is only 150 calories and  4 grams of fat. How’s THAT for kicking a chocolate craving!

Overall, as far as candy goes, 4 1/2 stars for sure. Antioxidants- check. Fruit- check. Fiber- check. CHOCOLATE-check! Can we say, perfect snack? :) Yes, there is added refined sugar, but I mean it is candy, and FAR better than some other candies you can buy! I can only imagine the possibilities with these- I’m thinking mixed in with Chobani or greek yogurt, or with a trail mix, or even slightly warmed with buttery popcorn (all natural, of course!) . Yum!!

1 bag (40 grams) is 150 calories, 4 grams of fat (2 saturated), 29 carbohydrates, 3 grams of fat, and 2 grams of protein. They even provide 6% of your daily needs of calcium and 15% of your daily needs of Iron.

Figs, Dark Chocolate (sugar, chocolate liquor processed with potassium carbonate, cocoa butter, butter oil), Soy Lecithin, Pure Vanilla, Cocoa, Sugar, Rice Flour, Invert Sugar, Natural Flavor, Cream of Tartar, Canola Oil, Salt.

22 Jan 2010, Comments (2)

Susta Natural Sweetener

Author: healthnuttxo

Whooooooo likes sugar? ( I do ! I do!)

But, whooooo likes all the calories sugar contains and how ADDICTIVE it is, making us crave MORE?

That’s what I thought. :)

So where to turn? Should I forget sugar all together? As in no more brownies? or cupcakes? No. Moderation is key. Everyone needs a lil suggah :)

Or, Should  I try artificial sweeteners? I would try to limit those too…

Luckily for you, I found a pretty good answer. Aside from Stevia all natural sweetener, I found a product that is sweet, low in calories, and actually has some health benefits. NXT Nutritionals manufactures a sweetener called Susta, and claims it is “A Healthy Alternative to Table Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners”.

This particular sweetener combines soluble fiber (prebiotics) and probiotics(like the ones found in yogurt), has added essential nutrients and vitamins, is all natural, and has a low Glycemic Index (so no harsh blood sugar spikes!). Each packet is also only 5 calories per serving.

Each packet provides an ample amount of a fine, white powder, not really granulated per se, but more refined. It has a nice, sweet flavor, very similar to sucrose or table sugar. It also doesn’t have a nasty aftertaste like Splenda, Aspartame or even Stevia can have some times (sorry, Stevia- I still love you!). I found it works best in foods as a sweetener, and not liquids. I added a packet to oatmeal, and it really pumped up the flavor. I also sprinkled it on banana slices (which wasn’t “ripe” enough, or sweet enough, for my liking), and it added a nice, mellow sweetness. Nothing too overpowering- but just right. Which is why the flavor was a bit lost when I added it to my tea- it was too mellow and dissolved quickly- so I will stick to sweetning foods with these packets.

Overall, I like these packets. I give them 4 stars, because it really is a healthier alternative to table sugar, and has the added benefit of probiotics, fiber, and added nutrients. Good job, NXT Nutritionals!

Want to try this for yourself? Go to the website & order a box, and I got a special code for ya to get $1.00 off  a box until April 30th 2010!
Just enter the code SUSTAXO  and get &1.00 off! sweet 8) !

1 packet is 5 calories, 0 grams of fat, 2 grams of carbs, 1 gram of fiber, and 0 grams of protein. You also get 10% Vitamin C, 5% of Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 and Biotin, and 3% of your daily value of Niacin, Selenium and Chromium. How’s that for sweeeet! ;)

Inulin, Fructose, Natural Flavors, Probiotic (Bacillus Coagulans), Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), Cinnamon Extract, Goji Berry Extract, Bitter Melon Extract, Grape Seed Extract, Vitamin B6, Niacinamide, Biotic, Folic Acid, Chromium, Selenium, Vitamin B12.

 

2 Nov 2009, Comments (3)

Gnu Bars

Author: healthnuttxo

gnu

These seem to be popular in every health food store I visit. Promising both flavor and fiber, being entirely natural, and still being chewy, delicious and nutritious, it leaves me curious to try!
So, i was excited when GNU foods sent me some bars to try. They come in several flavors, Banana Walnut, Espresso Chip, Lemon Ginger, Peanut Butter,  Cinnamon Raisin, Orange Cranberry, and Chocolate Brownie. All of them contain 50% of your daily fiber needs (12 grams) and are sweetened with fruit juice, not high fructose corn syrup or refined sugars. They are also dairy free, yeast free and preservative free.
I got to try the Banana Walnut, Espresso Chip, Cinnamon Raisin and Chocolate Brownie varieties. Each bar is a decent size, 45 grams, which is a little bit wider but the same length as say, a nutrigrain bar. I liked how the packages were cute. They have a little cartoon bird on it and what i think is a ram? Who knows- both cute!!
Banana Walnut- This one was pretty good. It has a banana flavor but it wasn’t that sweet. I did taste a prominent taste of walnuts though, so if you like walnuts- your gonna like this one!
Chocolate Brownie- Notm my favorite, but not too bad

Espresso Chip- mmm. coffee and chocolate flavors- whats not to like?
Cinnamon Raisin- ok now this one was GOOD. It was soo much softer and moist than the other varieties. It had a nice cinnamon flavor and plump little raisins in it.

(*added)Peanut Butter- not bad, but in my opinion, not peanut butter-y. It more had an off taste with like, a sweet raisin flavor and a hint of peanut. Not my favorite.

Overall, these are pretty good. If you need the fiber but aren’t too fond of bran cereals or muffins (uh..who is?), give these a shot. Definetly get the cinnamon raisin one, it rocks! I give these 4 stars overall, for high fiber content, no refined sugars, and a really good oatmeal cookie alternative.

Each bar ranges from 130-140 calories, 3-4 grams of fat, about 30 carbohydrates, 12 grams of fiber, and 3-4 grams of protein.

Each bar is also made with pretty much the same ingredients. The banana one is as followed,
Gnu High Fiber Blend™ (whole rolled oats, organic whole wheat flour, wheat bran, organic kamut, psyllium, flax, millet), chicory root inulin, fruit juices, rice dextrins, apples, canola oil, walnuts, rice, plums, banana, wheat protein isolate, natural flavors, baking powder.

Make sure you drink your water! ;)

4 Sep 2009, Comments (2)

Yogi Granola Crisps

Author: healthnuttxo

yyogi

Ah, granola. I love it!. Give me some granola and milk, or some yogurt and fruit and I am SUPER happy.

Yogi’s Granola Crisps  made without preservatives, artificial colors/flavors, high fructose corn syrup and GMOs. They also provide 20g of whole grains per serving (1/2 a cup). They come in 3 flavors, Baked Cinnamon Raisin, Fresh Strawberry Crunch, and Mountain Blueberry Flax.

THESE ROCK!! They are bite-sized, about the size of a quarter, and resemble corn flakes a bit, but you can actually see oats and grains baked into each crisp. They have a nice crunch to them, and they are sweet! They have a sort of glaze on them which I think aids in the sweetness. This particular flavor you can taste the cinnamony goodness very easily, and you can also taste a nice light molasses flavor in the Baked Cinnamon Raisin flavor .(*added) The Fresh Strawberry Crunch was equally as delightful! Good strawberry flavor, and quite sweet! Just so tasty!

28 Aug 2009, Comments (1)

Odwalla Bars

Author: healthnuttxo

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On my never ending hunt to find the perfect pre-workout bar, i discovered Odwalla Bars at my local Stop & Shop. They had a variety of flavors, ranging from fruity to nutty, and even ones with extra protein. Odwalla claims that their products are “where nutritious and delicious finally meet”, and only use ingredients found from Mother Nature. They also never contain any preservatives, artificial flavors or colors, trans fats, or GMOs, and their bars are made with whole grains. They sounded pretty good for a pre-workout bar with some fruit to me.
I picked up two of the flavors, Choco-walla Bar and SuperFood variety.
Next time i go to the store, iw ould liek to try the Mocha-walla and the Chocolate Chip Peanut. They were, sadly, sold out when i went to the store though :(

Moving on, the taste…
Choco-walla- uh, can you say, DELICIOUS? Who knew chocolate for breakfast could be healthy and delicious?! It wasn’t overpoweringly sweet, which is a good thing for me, but rather just the right amount of sweetness. It was certainly chocolately too. Semi-sweet chocolate chips were used, and i even tasted hints of  almond and vanilla flavors as well. Odwalla claims that this bar will satisfy my sweeth tooth, and it sure did! I also really liked how this bar had 5 grams of filling fiber. Woo!  This bar is also a good source of Vitamin E & C, and beta-Carotene.

Each bar is 210 calories, 5 grams of fat,39 carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, and 4 grams of protein.

Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Rolled Oats, SemiSweet Chocolate Chips (Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Ground Vanilla Beans), Oat Bran, Organic Oat Flour, , Organic Evaporated cane Juice Syrup, Date Puree, Raisin Puree, Vegetable Gycerin, Oat Fiber, Plum Puree, Dutch Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Diced Dry Roasted Almonds, Less than 2% of Organic Soy Nuts, Calcium Carbonate, Natural Flavor, Natural Flavor, Natural Chocolate Liquor, Organic Sunflower Oil, Soy Lecithin, Baking Soda, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Salt, Vitamin E (D-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate), Beta Carotene and Folic Acid

SuperFood- Okay, don’t freak out, but this bar is GREEN. Green like spinach. I opened up the package, and i was like wait, is my bar green? or is it just too early in the morning for me? Nope. It indeed, is GREEN. But in this case, GREEN = GOOD. There are 500mg of Spirulina which gives it the color. Spirulina is a blue-green algae that is the most nutrient rich whole food in existence. Nice! It tasted fruity, however, with banana flavors, soft oats and plump raisins throughout the bar. I also tasted a little bit of coconut too. This one’s definitely a keeper for me!

One bar is 200 calories, 3.5 grams of fat, 39 carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, and 4 grams of protein.

Grape Juice Concentrate, Dates, Raisins, Dried Bananas, Rolled Oats (Organic), Diced Dried Bananas (Organic) (Bananas, Rice Flour), Oat Bran, Rice Syrup, Dried Unsulfured Unsweetened Coconut, Brown Crisp Rice (Rice Flour, Rice Bran, Rosemary Extract), Soy Butter (Soybeans, Soybean Oil, Salt), Vegetable Glycerine, Barley Flour, Oat Flour, Mango, Apple Juice (Apple Juice Concentrate, Water, Ascorbic Acid), Vanilla Flavor, Spirulina, Calcium Carbonate, Soy Lecithin, Baking Soda (Aluminum Free), Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Folic Acid

Overall, the 2 bars i tried, i enjoyed. They are soft-baked bars with wholesome, natural ingredients. I can’t wait to try more. Which ones are your favorites?

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