Reviewed By Vorilee

LaraBars - A Review

Disclaimer: Please note that I received product samples free from the company that manufactures LaraBars to try out and to review. The opinions contained within this review are my own.

Mid-fall, I received a box of LaraBars to try out. Just a few flavors - the new ones, with Peanut Butter and Jelly and Tropical Fruit Tart being in the mix. I was excited to crack into the box and to try them out. While I can find Lara Bars near me and enjoy them, I was having trouble finding the new flavors, and since Peanut Butter and Jelly is one of my favorite foods, that was the first bar that I opened and savored.

 

Can I just say YUM! I loved the crunchyness of the peanuts with the tart cherries, and the hint of sweet from the dates. It tasted like peanut butter and jelly, but didn't, having a flavor all its own. I thought it needed just a hint of salt, but was an amazing stand-in for my favorite sandwich, turning into a snack I could enjoy between meals. Other bars I was sent to sample were delicious as well, and I was surprised by the Tropical Fruit Tart one. It had a citrusy flavor, reminiscent of orange juice, and was flecked with dried coconut. It was a bit dryer than the other bars, and I thought it made a great addition to breakfast. I found that my favorite bar in the bunch was Cashew Cookie - it was indulgent and tasted amazing - cashewy and sweet and just delicious. I enjoyed the chewy texture and nutty undertones of each bar I sampled, and even went out and bought more flavors to try out!

 

All of the bars are made with whole foods: nuts, seeds, and dried fruits, helping me to reach my daily fruit and veggie requirements, The ones I tried all had around 200 calories in them, and they left me feeling full and energized. I found the LaraBars to be excellent before a workout for some quick energy, and great for a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack. They come in a variety of flavors, and I am eager to try each one of them, especially some of the more creative ones, like Key Lime Pie. Since receiving my samples, I've picked up other flavors and haven't been disappointed yet - they're all delicious!. The only drawback I can find with them is the price: at just over a dollar a bar, they cost a bit more than your average granola bar, but I think they are worth every penny. I often split them in half, getting two snacks out of one bar, and when I do pick some up at the grocery store, I savor every bite.

Oikos Yogurt

I recently received some coupons from Stoneyfield to try out their Oikos yogurt. A trip to the grocery store and my local Whole Foods later, I found myself with a large container of plain as well as some honey flavored Greek yogurt. 

I have been a big fan of Greek yogurt for a while, loving the thick, mild tang, and rich, creamy texture. Having not really tried Oikos before (maybe one time? I'm not sure.), I was exited to check it out, chow down, and experiment with it in ways that I might not use regular yogurt.

I chose honey flavor because when I've picked up Greek yogurt in the past, I stirred honey and granola in the cup, and this cut out that extra step. The honey was on the bottom and needed stirred in, and I ate the yogurt mixed up into a yogurt mess with granola and fruit. I loved the creamy, mild texture and the light, sweet honey flavor. I really did have a hard time believing that this is fat-free yogurt, it was so rich and delicious! 

I also tried out the plain Oikos. I don't buy sour cream, and use plain yogurt as a substitute, so it only seemed natural for me to scoop out a dollop of the yogurt for dunking empanadas into during dinnertime last week. The thick texture went perfectly with the light crust of the empanadas, complimenting my meal well, and the texture was closer to that of sour cream than my usual plain yogurt. 

I used this in tuna salad as a mayonnaise substitute, and mixed it into a delicious breakfast of overnight oats. I loved that it was versatile, with a mild flavor and loaded with protein for staying power when eaten on its own or mixed into a yogurt mess. I had little difficulty finding it, although the large 16 oz container required a trip to Whole Foods for me to find, but I didn't mind the trip. My regular grocery store carries the single-serve cups of Oikos in several different flavors. The only downside to this delicious yogurt that I could find was the price - at around two dollars a cup, it's not something that I can afford to pick up often, but probably will buy occasionally as a treat or a change from my normal nonfat plain yogurt. 

I would totally recommend this yogurt and will definitely be picking it up again in the future. I enjoyed it's versatility, texture and flavor. The protein content kept me feeling satisfied for hours, and I could see eating it as a post-workout snack mixed up with cereal or a banana to refuel and power up. I found it to be good as breakfast, with lunch, and with dinner. The verdict: YUM! Thank you Stoneyfield for letting me try out and review Oikos - it's delicious!

Rocking Peanut Butter

I love nut butters and spreads. Almond butter, macademia butter, cashew butter, peanut butter, I love them all. I'm always on the search for a nut butter that does it all, in terms of texture and flavor, both of which I feel are very important. Most recently, I've been on the hunt for a natural creamy peanut butter that is salted, inexpensive, and well, tasty, and while I love the flavor of fresh ground, sometimes I want it premade and prepackaged into a jar.

A few weeks ago, I found my peanut butter while walking the aisles of my local Whole Foods. I had just run out of peanut butter and was missing that nutty, creamy taste. I compared prices and ingredients before picking up a jar of the creamy Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value salted peanut butter. The biggest difference I noticed between it and some of the other jars on the shelf was that it was not organic, and for under two dollars, it was my lowest cost option. With just peanuts and salt on the label, I knew I had to take it home.

When I got home, I opened up the jar, knowing that a layer of oil would be on top of all of the ground up nuts. I took a knife and stirred it up to the best of my abilities. It was a messy process, and I did spill a little oil on the counter before everything was mixed together into creamy peanut butter. I tasted a bit of it before putting it into the fridge to cool off- it was a little thinner than I'm used to - thin enough to drizzle and thick enough to spread! It was tasty and nutty on it's own, with a hint of salty flavor. I liked that it had a little bit of texture to it. It wasn't crunchy, but maybe gritty - with the texture of finely ground nuts.

As with any natural nut butter, I had to consider spreadability just out of the fridge as well. I don't mind needing to mix my peanut butter, but I don't want to have to do it every time I use it, so I do keep my natural nut butters in the fridge. Some nut butters become a little firmer than others in the fridge, and I wasn't sure which camp this one would be in. I was impressed at it's creaminess just out of the fridge, putting the peanut butter on a banana, where its nutty, salty, flavor complimented the sweetness of a very ripe banana quite nicely.

I've eaten this peanut butter on bananas, crackers, oats, and straight out of the jar, but I have not yet put it into a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Today, that's exactly what I did, easily spreading whole wheat bread with peanut butter and adding sweet blueberry preserves - my favorite kind of preserves. At lunch time, I ate my sandwich and it was delicious. The saltiness of the nut butter perfectly complimented the sweet preserves, and it made for a perfect sandwich filled with layers of complimenting flavors. Amazing! Not only would I buy this peanut butter again, but I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who enjoys peanut butter. It is a little saltier than some, and if you prefer to go unsalted, there is Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value unsalted peanut butter as well. I encourage you to go and try it out!