Bars With a Burst

by Rajiv Leventhal
Vitamin Retailer
June 2012

Alternative energy sources, such as energy bars, provide a convenient way to meet an individual’s nutritional needs on an occasional basis, according to www.Fitness.com. A person with a busy lifestyle may decide to eat an energy bar instead of skipping a meal or eating fast food. Energy bars also make an appropriate snack for a long-distance walk, run or bicycle ride to help avoid an energy deficit. Since energy bars do not require utensils, preparation or refrigeration, people can store them in the car, gym bag or carry-on luggage for a quick snack or occasional meal replacement.

Aside from providing needed energy during a long workout, energy bars can suffice as an occasional meal-substitute. Most energy bars contain some vitamins and minerals, and they tend to be more nutritious than a candy bar, a bag of chips or nothing at all. Those that contain nuts, seeds and whole grains offer a healthy dose of protein and fiber.

And sales have been energized as well. According to Nutrition Business Journal, the value of the Sports Nutrition and Weight Loss (SNWL) market was up by nearly $2 billion in 2010, showing a sales increase of nine percent over the previous year. In the past 13 years, the SNWL market has seen a remarkable compound growth rate of 10.2 percent.

Further, a recent Packaged Facts report stated that in the energy/nutrition bar category, new flavor and ingredient introductions along with improvements in taste and mouth-feel have made the future of these products look a lot more interesting. Manufacturers are targeting broader consumer dietary needs, including new nutrient options, and leaving out problem ingredients. Among the functional ingredients that manufacturers are using to vary the nutrition bar formula are CoQ10, L-carnitine, omega-3, resveratrol and vitamin K2. Below are a few examples of energy bars that are available on the market today.

Low-Glycemic Energy Bars
Granola Gourmet (Santa Clarita, CA) 4Real Energy Bars are clinically proven to be low glycemic, and are therefore ideal for people with diabetes, athletes or anybody interested in stable, sustained blood-sugar levels, the company stated. They have been tested on people with type 2 diabetes to determine their glycemic index (GI) value by scientists at GI Labs, who developed the concept of the glycemic index. On a scale where a GI of 70 or more is considered high GI and 55 or less is low GI, Granola Gourmet’s Energy Bars had GI values of only 19 to 25. The bars come in four flavors (Ultimate Berry, Mocha Fudge, Fudge Brownie and Cran-Orange) and are free of wheat and dairy, are very low in sodium, and are kosher and vegan.

Granola Gourmet Energy Bars Review

by Derek Howes
I Was Lazy
February 11, 2012

Recently I received the Granola Gourmet Energy bar line in the mail. I’ve really been aiming to eat as clean and as healthy as possible on my cut so these fit my diet perfectly. Anything with the word “Gourmet” in it sounds appetizing, but the word “Granola” gives it that no-so-guilty feeling. I’m sure you’re wondering if these bars taste more like the “Granola” (healthy/bland) or “Gourmet” (delicious) part of the name.

I should note that each of these bars were ate before the gym – they all gave me energy. Not a caffeine-type jittery energy or anything, just a natural “thank you for eating healthy” type energy if that makes any sense?

The first bar that I ate was the Ultimate Berry

*low Glycemic Index (25), 590mg Omega-3′s per bar and 12g Whole Grains

Ingredients: Organic whole grain oats, organic agave syrup, blueberries (blueberries, apple juice concentrate, sunflower oil), almonds, organic flaxseeds, organic sunflower seeds,soy protein isolate, olive oil, natural flavors, natural strawberry extract. Contains Soy and Almonds. Manufactured in a plant that also processes milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts. This is a Kosher product produced on dairy equipment (DE) without dairy ingredients.

Now as we can see here the macros are good (on all of the bars I reviewed here). It doesn’t call itself a protein bar yet the protein is still up there for a 150 calories bar. The ingredient list is a beautiful on all of them (other companies should take note).

How about the taste? Well, “Ultimate Berry” tasted just like I’d imagine a mixture of berries into granola would taste. Actually, a bit better than that. It didn’t have that artificial fruit taste that a ton of these bars have (you know who I’m talking about). It wasn’t dry at all, it didn’t have that bland/chalky taste that most companies tend to have when the ingredient list is this small. I enjoyed it.

Overall Ultimate Berry would get a 9/10 (awesome ingredient list + good taste = high rating!)

The second bar I tried was the Cran-Orange

*low Glycemic Index (19), 530mg Omega-3′s per bar and 10g Whole Grains

Ingredients: Organic whole grain oats, organic agave syrup, cranberries (cranberries, apple juice concentrate, sunflower oil), almonds, organic flaxseeds, organic sunflower seeds, soy protein isolate, olive oil, natural flavors, cinnamon, natural orange extract. Contains Soy and Almonds. Manufactured in a plant that also processes milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts. This is a Kosher product produced on dairy equipment (DE) without dairy ingredients.

I’m really not much of (or wasn’t) a cranberry or orange fan so I wasn’t too excited to try this. I do have to say though – it was definitely tasty in a good way. The combination of orange and cranberry really stood out and it wasn’t dry/chalky at all. It’s kind of hard to explain how this one tasted but it was good. I would say it tasted like a fruity granola gummy. I’d say I liked this one equally as much as the Ultimate Berry.

Overall Cran-Orange would get a 9/10 (Made me a fan of orange/cranberry combinations)

The third bar that I tried was the Mocha Fudge

*low Glycemic Index (23), 530mg Omega-3′s per bar and 10g Whole Grains

Ingredients: Organic whole grain oats, organic agave syrup, chocolate chips (cane sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter), almonds, organic flaxseeds, organic sunflower seeds, soy protein isolate, natural coffee extract, alkalized cocoa, olive oil, natural flavors. Contains Soy and Almonds. Manufactured in a plant that also processes milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts. This is a Kosher product produced on dairy equipment (DE) without dairy ingredients.

This was probably my least favorite of the bunch. Not because the bar tastes bad or anything but I just can’t remember the last time I’ve said that I enjoyed something that was mocha (or maybe I’m just not used to it). The bar had a nice granola-fudge like consistency so it went down rather nice. Had a nice chocolatey taste/after-taste to it too…the mocha just doesn’t do anything for me. If you enjoy mocha I’m sure you would love this bar.

Overall Mocha Fudge would get a 7.5/10 (Not really a mocha fan – bar itself was not bad)

The fourth and last bar that I tried was the Ultimate Fudge Brownie

*low Glycemic Index (23), 540mg Omega-3′s per bar and 10g Whole Grains

Ingredients: Organic whole grain oats, organic agave syrup, chocolate chips (cane sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter), almonds, organic flaxseeds, organic sunflower seeds, soy protein isolate, alkalized cocoa, olive oil, natural flavors. Contains Soy and Almonds. Manufactured in a plant that also processes milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts. This is a Kosher product produced on dairy equipment (DE) without dairy ingredients.

Two words: My Favorite.

This bar hit a home run in the natural-but-tastes-amazing category. Fudge like consistency in a granola bar that tastes like a brownie? Mouthgasm/sold! The only thing wrong with these bars is that it wasn’t long enough (I wanted more!).

Overall Fudge Brownie would get a 10/10 (Awesome ingredients while tasting like a brownie = GREAT!)

These are definitely a nice snack before the gym/in general. They are low in calories, have great macros/ingredient list, and taste good to boot!

  1. You can purchase as well as find where to purchase these at their homepage.
  2. Visit them on Twitter at http://twitter.com/granola_gourmet
  3. or Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/GranolaGourmet

Overall:

  • Cost: 8.5/10 (About $1.60 a bar and sometimes cheaper. This is a great price point especially since it’s a lot more “natural” than the alternatives)
  • Healthiness: 10/10 (Can’t debate the healthiness of these!)

Also I feel I should state this in my reviews: I have no issue giving a company a bad review even if they do send me a product to try for free – they are NOT paying me for a positive review, these reviews all come from me with my complete honesty.

MetroNow: Granola Gourmet

Metro Source
July 7, 2012

Healthy, kosher and vegan, Granola Gourmet energy bars have become our new favorite snack.  Using tasty organic ingredients, Jeff Cohen created a special recipe that does not cause a blood sugar spike. The treats are ideal for athletes and healthy consumers, alike. Flavors include brownie and berry. However, the Metro Source staff loves the orange-cran best!

Granola Gourmet – low glycemic energy bars

by Mariano Grinbank
examiner.com
October 14, 2011

Granola Gourmet sent along a sample of their various products for the purpose of review. Today we will consider their energy bars.

Granola Gourmet does not merely provide healthy products but are actively involved in treating health problems. Their products are endorsed by physicians as being low glycemic, diabetic friendly snacks with a portion of each sale going towards fighting diabetes. They contain no wheat, no dairy, very low sodium contain whole grains, are packed with healthy omega oils and are vegan, vegetarian and kosher—mazel tov!

In short, these snacks are perfect for diabetics and non-diabetic fitness enthusiasts in general as they provide circa 2-3 hours worth of energy sans a sugar spike.

Now, something which diabetics and non-diabetic fitness enthusiasts have in common is that occasionally they both need a sugar spike: diabetics when their blood sugar gets too low and fitness enthusiasts during post-workout. Of course, finding sugar spike educing foods is easier than shooting fish with a bazooka in a fish tank. The reason that Granola Gourmet’s snacks are so important is that is it much more difficult to find non-sugar spiking snacks. The energy bars come in these flavors:

Ultimate Berry
Ultimate Fudge Brownie
Ultimate Mocha Fudge
Ultimate Cran-Orange

Additionally, you can try their whole grain energy multi-packs. These are more akin to granola bars and come in Very Berry, Brownie, Spiced Orange Cranberry and Chocolate Espresso.

Due to their ease of use—easily packed into a gym bag, hiking backpack, etc. Granola Gourmet make for a great addition to a fitness / sports nutrition lifestyle.

New Products

Vitamin Retailer
January 2011

Ultimate Energy Bars

SANTA CLARITA, CA—Granola Gourmet Ultimate Energy Bars are 100 percent natural and contain 10-12g of whole grains and 530-590mg of omega-3. For those with other dietary requirements, these energy bars (MSRP $1.69) are natural, free of wheat and dairy, contain no refined sugar, and are kosher, vegan and very low in sodium (15-35mg).

Healthy Energy Bars don’t need to taste Nasty

by Stan
Girl, Get Strong!
December 11, 2010

The next bars was from Granola Gourmet. This company was founded by Jeff Cohen (a diabetic) and his family. These bars are made with 100% natural and wholesome ingredients. He was frustrated by a lack of snacks that did not cause a blood sugar spike, but that also tasted good so that is how Granola Gourmet was born. I tried all 4 flavors but my favorite bar was the Ultimate Fudge Brownie.  This bar was sweet and chewy and really good. It helps me stay satisfied mid-afternoon all the way until dinner time.  Nutritional value alone makes this the best Granola bar on the market today. All flavors are:  100% Natural, No Wheat, No Dairy, Kosher, Vegan, Non GMO, Very Low Sodium, Whole Grains,  Omega-3’s in every bar. The Available 4 Flavors are:

Ultimate Berry
Ultimate Mocha Fudge
Ultimate Fudge Brownie
Ultimate Cran-Orange

Both these bars are really good and I recommend to give them a try the next time you see them in the grocery store.  Keep a bar in your purse, office desk, car, gym locker to help keep your energy up and your blood sugar regular. This will benefit you from not making a wrong snack decision and to keep you from getting too hungry until your next meal. Happy Snacking!

Tips for healthy snacking

by Cary Castagna
Edmonton Sun
February 21, 2010

With 2011 New Year’s resolutions looming on the horizon, Granola Gourmet offers the following tips for healthy snacking (along with a shameless plug for its energy bars):

  • Look for snacks to satisfy your children’s sweet tooth while avoiding the high fat, sugar and sodium content of the snack foods your kids are tempted to eat.
  • Athletes who want to refuel and eat snacks that satisfy hunger and make them feel satiated longer, should look for snacks that contain low glycemic impact carbs and are low in sugar.
  • Instead of sugary cereals, look for foods made with 100% natural ingredients, some of the healthiest options are made with at least 25% of ingredients such as whole grains in addition to Omega-3′s.
  • If you don’t have time to stop for a meal, look for healthy snacks that are portion-controlled and individually packaged.
  • Those with special dietary requirements looking for snacks that are free of wheat, dairy, very low sodium, kosher and vegan can pick up a tasty and healthy Granola Gourmet energy bar that fits all of those dietary needs and is ready to grab for on the go.

About Granola Gourmet

Founded by a diabetic and his family, Granola Gourmet™ Energy bars are made with 100% natural and wholesome ingredients. They have no wheat, no dairy and are very low in sodium. A portion of each purchase goes to help fight diabetes.

Products For Diabetics Finally Taste Good

by Sheldon Baker
NutraInk
November 19, 2010

 

Products for Diabetics Finally Taste Good

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are over 23 million diabetics in the U.S., and another 40 million people with pre-diabetes and other blood sugar issues. The CDC projects that 1 in 3 people could have diabetes by the year 2050.

Jeff Cohen has been a diabetic since 1993. He was frustrated while trying to find a snack that didn’t cause a blood sugar spike and also tasted good. He finally decided to create his own, and his company Granola Gourmet was born to solve the problem.

From humble beginnings in his family kitchen, the meal replacement bars were made in small batches using organic ingredients and became a weekly family tradition. His teenage boys began getting requests for new flavors from their friends. The cast and crew of Hollywood television shows from The Ellen Show, The Mentalist, Entourage and others on the Warner Bros. lot and CBS-TV began buying the bars. Soon they became the healthiest product on the Craft Services table catering to the motion picture industry. And Granola Gourmet became a local family-owned business success.

“…you’ll find our energy bar products priced the same or less than many of the bars that are not healthy…”

Jeff Cohen, Founder
Granola Gourmet

Cohen’s company has just introduced what it calls its Ultimate line of individually wrapped energy bars replying to consumer and grocer requests for natural portable snack items. The individually wrapped bars also respond to consumer demand for 100% natural grab-and-go snacks that don’t spike blood sugar. Made entirely in the U.S., the bars come in four flavors.

According to Cohen, as demand for diabetic food items becomes mainstream, many national retail and grocery store chains are expanding their healthy and natural product lines.

“While Granola Gourmet Ultimate Energy Bars are designed to satisfy your sweet tooth, the bars do not have refined sugar or the fat and sodium content of other popular protein and energy bars in its formulation,” explains Cohen.

“As a Type 2 diabetic, I wanted to create a product that is healthy, tasty and filling that could meet the needs of diabetics, as well as athletes and health conscious consumers.”

But is healthy food too expensive?

“Not anymore,” says Cohen. “Organic ingredients have come way down in price. We are seeing small differences in the cost of many of the organic ingredients we acquire today. In our case, you’ll find our energy bar products priced the same or less than many of the bars that are not healthy,” Cohen notes.

This is the first time consumers will have the opportunity to purchase Granola Gourmet’s individually wrapped bars or in a caddy of 10. Ultimate Berry with blueberries, Ultimate Fudge Brownie with a nutty texture, Ultimate Mocha Fudge with a chocolaty base and touch of coffee flavor and aroma and Ultimate Cran-Orange make up the Ultimate selection.

Granola Gourmet bars contains 10-12g whole grains and 530-590mg of omega-3. For those with other dietary requirements, the bars are free of wheat and dairy, low in sodium, and are kosher and vegan.

Santa Clarita, CA-based Granola Gourmet also uses Low Glycemic Index ingredients. Low Glycemic foods provide longer periods of sustained energy, hunger relief and reduces the risk of experiencing blood sugar spikes. As a result, Granola Gourmet bars convert to sugar more slowly.

In Northern California, Safeway and Vons are carrying the products. The nationwide grocery chain launch is supported by a giveaway rebate offer that enables customers to receive free Granola Gourmet Energy Bars in exchange for proof of purchase. For more information about Granola Gourmet visit www.granolagourmet.com.

In a sea of energy bars, customers have found Granola Gourmet products are 100% natural and formulated with several organic ingredients.

“When I think about our brand two words come to mind, healthy and delicious,” says Cohen. “When Whole Foods in Southern California began carrying our product line I knew we had something and decided to put extra effort into the business. Today, we are expanding and excited about the future,” Cohen says, with a big smile.

Products for diabetics finally taste good

by Sheldon Baker
examiner.com
November 19, 2010

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are over 23 million diabetics in the U.S., and another 40 million people with pre-diabetes and other blood sugar issues. The CDC projects that 1 in 3 people could have diabetes by the year 2050.

Jeff Cohen has been a diabetic since 1993. He was frustrated while trying to find a snack that didn’t cause a blood sugar spike and also tasted good. He finally decided to create his own, and his company Granola Gourmet was born to solve the problem.

From humble beginnings in his family kitchen, the meal replacement bars were made in small batches using many organic ingredients and became a weekly family tradition. His teenage boys began getting requests for new flavors from their friends. The cast and crew of Hollywood television shows from The Ellen ShowThe MentalistEntourage and others on the Warner Bros. lot and CBS-TV began buying the bars. Soon they became the healthiest product on the Craft Services table catering to the motion picture industry. And Granola Gourmet became a local family-owned business success.

Cohen’s company has just introduced what it calls its Ultimate line of individually wrapped energy bars replying to consumer and grocer requests for natural portable snack items. The individually wrapped bars are also responding to consumer demand for 100% natural grab-and-go snacks that don’t spike blood sugar. Made entirely in the U.S., the bars come in four flavors.

According to Cohen, as demand for diabetic food items becomes mainstream, many national retail and grocery store chains are expanding their healthy and natural product lines.

“While Granola Gourmet Ultimate Energy Bars are designed to satisfy your sweet tooth, the bars do not have refined sugar or the fat and sodium content of other popular protein and energy bars in its formulation,” explains Cohen.

“As a Type 2 diabetic, I wanted to create a product that is healthy, tasty and filling that could meet the needs of diabetics, as well as athletes and health conscious consumers,” Cohen added.

This is the first time consumers will have the opportunity to purchase Granola Gourmet’s individually wrapped bars that also come in a caddy of 10. Ultimate Berry with blueberries, Ultimate Fudge Brownie with a nutty texture, Ultimate Mocha Fudge with a chocolaty base and touch of coffee flavor and aroma and Ultimate Cran-Orange make up the Ultimate selection.

Granola Gourmet bars contains 10-12g whole grains and 530-590mg of omega-3. For those with other dietary requirements, the bars are free of wheat and dairy, low in sodium, and are kosher and vegan.

Santa Clarita, CA-based Granola Gourmet also uses Low Glycemic Index ingredients. Low Glycemic foods provide longer periods of sustained energy, hunger relief and reduces the risk of experiencing blood sugar spikes. As a result, Granola Gourmet bars convert to sugar more slowly.

In California, SafewayVonsPavilions and Whole Foods are some of the stores carrying the products. The nationwide grocery chain launch is supported by a giveaway rebate offer that enables customers to receive free Granola Gourmet Energy Bars in exchange for proof of purchase. For more information about Granola Gourmet visit www.granolagourmet.com.