Perusing the well-stocked snack bar section at Trader Joe's the other day, I was hoping to find something a little lighter than the typical energy bar. Gnu Flavor & Fiber Bars ($1.69 at TJ's, $1.99 online) seemed just right: with fewer calories than most bars, 50 percent of my daily value of fiber, and sweetened with 100 percent fruit juice, the colorfully wrapped bars seemed too good to be true.
I scooped up three of the five flavors, each of which was deliciously moist and chewy. Because Gnu is entirely natural, I didn't miss the strange aftertaste other bars often have. I tried the Orange Cranberry, Peanut Butter (don't worry, they weren't recalled), and Chocolate Brownie and plan on picking up the Banana Walnut and Cinnamon Raisin on my next grocery run. To see what the Orange Cranberry bar looks like and the nutritional information, read more.
Each bar has 130 to 140 calories and 3 to 5 grams of fat depending on flavor, plus 12 grams of fiber and 3 to 4 grams of protein. The ingredient list on these bars is reassuringly short and recognizable — love that. Are you a Gnu fan?
Crave Maternity
Psssy
Cheer
These things are great! They used to not be available at Trader Joe's and I had to order them directly from GNU to get them for a decent price point. The chocolate and banana walnut are my favs. They can be good snacks to keep around.
1I'm a Larabar addict, but I've heard the Gnu bars are good. Might be a nice departure from the Larabar from time to time.
2I am a HUGE Gnu fan!! I love that a snack that is so healthy can be so tasty and NEVER leaves you with a weird aftertaste. I think the banana walnut is my favorite with the cinnamon raisin a close second. I love how filling they are- and full of fiber. Great for your heart!
3I might have to make a TJ's trip this week, I didn't know they were $1.69 there, thanks you for the tip Fit!!
I tried the peanut butter flavor and I thought it was DISGUSTING! I haven't tried other flavors but seriously I was so turned off by the one that I don't want to try more
4I used to eat the banana ones all the time, and still do occasionally. They are pretty good!
I avoid chocolate and Peanut Butter in bars like this because it just cant taste that great at 130 calories. If I want chocolate I will have REAL chocolate as a treat.
5They sell these at school, but they're like 4 bucks each. I LOVE the banana ones! Perfect energy food.
6Sound pretty yum!
7The Orange Cranberry are a great on the run breakfast with a hot drink! Love Gnu bars!
8I love Gnu. My favorites are the Cinnamon Raisin and Banana Walnut. Yum.
9Never tried them, but I think that they seem worth a try!
10I've seen them at TJ's but never picked one up. I've been trying to find something different from my Luna and Clif Zone bars. I'll give these a shot
11After this post yesterday, I went out and bought a chocolate one to have for "dessert" last night. Huge mistake. This thing tore my stomach to pieces. I couldn't sleep last night, and I haven't felt well all day. This is the equivalent to 4 bowls of Cheerios in terms of fiber, and I think that's just a bit much to digest all at one time - especially while trying to sleep.
12I love these! They are WAAAY better than Larabars.
13ick. Should be called fiber with flavor bars. I was so excited to try these after finding them at my local Trader Joe's. I tried the orange/cranberry and it tasted too acidic to me. Then I gave the chocolate brownie a chance. Not a fan of that either. I'm a big Luna Bar fan and part of what I enjoy is the crunch. Gnu is big on mush, not big on crunch. Even after expecting the mush I still wasn't a fan of the flavor. I get enough fiber from other sources, so when I want a bar snack I'll stick with the Luna. Much more satisfying, about 70 cents less per bar and it satisfies the crunch I enjoy.
14Sorry gnu fans.
RE: Gnu
I have not tried it but will on my next grocery run.
Comment: I think some people have to be warned of the real high fiber content because some
people have problems digesting large amount of fibers.
FDA states:
A food's fiber content also may be of interest to consumers seeking "heart-healthy" foods. Some studies suggest that dietary fiber--that is, fiber from foods such as fruits, vegetables and grains--may help lower the risk of heart disease.
The Daily Value for fiber is 25 g. This is based roughly on FDA and USDA reference amounts of 11.5 g of fiber per 1,000 calories.
Fiber information is important for weight reduction, too. Overweight is a risk factor for heart disease, and reducing fat while increasing fiber can benefit those who want to lose or maintain their weight.
The reason for fiber's importance, according to FDA's Brewer, is that high-fiber foods tend to be lower in calories because they are mostly carbohydrate and tend to have little, if any, fat. (One gram of carbohydrate and protein each provides 4 calories, while one gram of fat gives 9 calories.)
And, Brewer said, "High-fiber foods take longer to chew and increase the feeling of fullness, which may reduce meal size. Therefore, unless their high-fiber food, like broccoli, is swimming in butter, people are likely to eat fewer calories."
15Thanks
Linda
I just had a peanut butter Flavor and Fiber bar and it was absolutely vile.
16I LOVE these bars! The first bar tasted a bit fiber-y, but i soon got used to it after like my 3rd one. They're fantastic! I eat one everyday! And as for the people who say it hurt their stomach: it's because you're not eating enough fiber, so your stomach isn't used to it!
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