Honest Foods: Cran Lemon Zest

Honest Foods’ Cran Lemon Zest bar is made with a base of whole oats, almond butter, and brown rice syrup, which results in a relatively dry consistency with a moderate amount of chew. It also contains nuts and dried fruit, which are ultimately what give it the cranberry and lemon zest flavors that the bar is named for. Cran Lemon Zest is pretty much spot on when it comes to expected flavor, with a mellow cranberry flavor that’s complemented nicely with the bit of lemon zest. As far as the size of the bar is concerned, this 1.9 ounce bar is certainly not the biggest bar on the market, but it’s also a more manageable size if you’re looking for something to snack on. Plus, it’s vegan, made with whole grains and contains protein, fiber, and omega-3. Packaging is simple and clean, with a clear plastic wrapper that lets you see what’s inside. We’re big fans of that approach, especially when a wholesome looking bar like this one is inside. Definitely give it a try.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pop Culture Probiotics: Yogurt Fruit & Nut Bar

 This “90 calorie yogurt fruit & nut bar” is the first probiotic bar that we’ve sampled.  Flavor is surprisingly good, with a yogurt covered bottom that gives way to a pleasantly flavored body.  The chewy bar has notes of rice, oats, almonds, and flax, with added cranberries for a touch of sweetness.  Really though, the selling point are the probiotics (GanedenBC), which the bar touts as being 10x the levels of yogurt.  The bar also has 4g of fiber and 4g of protein, as well as a respectable amount of vitamin content.  Packaging is the biggest issue for this product, with a generally unappealing design that made us worry about the quality of what was inside the wrapper.  In addition, the bar’s 1 oz size might be an issue compared to larger competitors, but being under the 90 calorie mark (as advertised on the front of the label) is certainly a good differentiator.  Overall, we really enjoy the flavor, the probiotic content, and the manageable size, but we wish the outside were a bit more appealing and appetizing.