FOR TODDLERS 2+*, MOMS & MOMS-TO-BE
When your hungry, how often do pick up the food you are about to eat and think, “Hmmm, there must be a story behind this product?” Probably not often. And frankly, I didn’t either until I’ve recently started thinking about creating my own. (But that’s for another time…)
Most products do actually have a story behind them, and a passion from the person who created them – whether it be a product, a food, a beverage, or pretty much anything else.
Well that is exactly how Kuli Kuli Bars came about. Created after realizing that moringa could help fight malnutrition in West Africa, these bars are far more than your typical health food.
THE PRODUCT: Kuli Kuli Bars were developed after Lisa Curtis, a Peace Corps Volunteer in Niger, started experiencing early signs of malnutrition — a condition that affects over 18 million children across West Africa – due to the limited amounts of fruits and vegetables she was able to get her hands on. When a friend told Lisa about moringa, a local tree with highly nutritious leaves and handed her a bag of kuli-kuli (a Hausa food made from peanuts), she got to thinking.
After incorporating moringa into her diet, Lisa began to regain her strength, and realized that this could be a solution to the malnutrition and poverty in her village. Upon returning to the U.S., Lisa worked with her childhood best friend, Valerie Popelka to create the first prototypes of what is now known as Kuli Kuli Bars.
Going beyond your typical product-based company, Kuli Kuli carefully manages their supply chain to source only a portion of each harvest for Western consumption. They also make it a point to pay fair wages, so they can ensure that superfoods like moringa benefit those who need them the most.
Available in three delicious flavors, including Crunchy Almond, Black Cherry, and Dark Chocolate, Kuli Kuli bars are not only great for you, they taste pretty darn good too!
NUTRITION-WISE: Known as “the miracle tree”, the leaves of the Morina oleifera have been used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries in a vast amount of cultures. Said to cure or prevent around 300 diseases, the modern scientific community has begun to validate many of these claims with over 1300 studies, articles and publications on moringa.
Native to South Asia, this rapidly growing tree is now widely used throughout the tropics. Moringa’s high levels of protein, calcium, iron, Vitamin C and Vitamin A has led many organizations to advocate the plant as a “natural nutrition for the tropics.”
And now, thanks to Kuli Kuli, this amazing plant’s nutritional benefits are available to the masses. Gluten-free, vegan, and filled with lots of calcium and antioxidants, Kuli Kuli Bars have around 190 calories, 80 of which are from healthy fats. You will also find around 5 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber, per bar. However, there is quite a lot of sugar per serving (at around 19 grams), due to the fact that dates are the first ingredient, and they also add agave, but overall, these bars are extremely healthy and provide a good amount of nutrition to those who may not otherwise get it.
WHERE TO BUY: KuliKuli bars are available directly through their website (just look for the Buy Now button).
FINAL THOUGHTS: Having never heard of moringa until this past year, I was very curious to see what Kuli Kuli Bars were all about. Well let me say I was pleasantly surprised. With a somewhat earthy taste, but beautifully balanced against the sweet, the slightly smooth and crunchy texture of these bars really makes for a well-composed snack.
Filled with nutrients including: Calcium, Vitamin A, Fiber, and even Iron, these bars are especially perfect for the nursing mom or Mom-to-be, or for anyone looking for a good way to add more nutrients into their diet. Plus, the fact that this company is going out of their way to make sure that those sourcing the moringa are well taken care of, makes me feel even better about eating these bars.
*Personally, I really try to avoid feeding my toddler high amounts of sugar, especially in one sitting. For this reason, I would avoid giving him these bars. However, all of the ingredients are very healthy and a little bit here or there, wouldn’t do any harm.
To learn more about KuliKuli Bars and to try them out for yourself, please visit their website and check them out on Facebook.
And remember, CONTACT Healthy.Fit.Fab…Moms & Beyond today to create a personalized plan so you and your family can live a healthy, fit, and fabulous life!