For MOMS, MOMS-TO-BE and TODDLERS 2 YEAR+
While many people believe that the whole idea of going “gluten-free” is just a fad, I believe that there really is science behind the idea. I mean, the fact that the wheat itself has drastically changed in purely a genetic sense (over the past 50 years or so), making it grow faster, taller, thicker, etc. should be telling you something. Don’t you think that must have some affect on how it is broken down and processed in your body??
Not to mention the fact that allergies and disease have risen an unbelievable amount since these changes have been taking place… And while I do believe this is partly because medicine and technology have advanced in such a way that we can detect such abnormalities at an earlier stage, this still should make you think that something is not right.
With all that said, there are a lot of companies that have tried to capitalize on the whole “gluten-free” idea by making products that are gluten-free, but yet have so many other fillers and artificial ingredients that they can hardly be considered good for you.
Thankfully there are companies like The Gluten Free Bar, that have made it their business to create healthy, great tasting gluten free snacks that are not only convenient, but that your whole family can enjoy.
THE PRODUCT: The founders of The Gluten Free Bar (GFB) both have celiac and thus, know how detrimental eating foods with gluten can be. They also realized, through their “gluten free quests” that typical gluten-free snacks are either healthy and natural, or tasty but made from questionable ingredients – but never both. That’s why they made it their mission to create a delicious snack made with straightforward, recognizable ingredients. And The GFB was born.
Creating all of their bars in small batches, in order to ensure the taste and quality are just right, the makers of The GFB not only pay special attention to the ingredients that are used, making sure they are of the utmost quality, but also to the tastes and textures that these foods form when brought together.
Certified Gluten-free, Vegan, and Kosher, The GFB is available in 6 delicious flavors, including: Peanut Butter, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Cranberry Toasted Almond, Oatmeal Raisin, Dark Chocolate Coconut, and Coconut Cashew Crunch.
NUTRITION-WISE: Obviously The GFB is free of gluten and wheat, but it is also free of soy, dairy, casein, GMOs, trans-fats, and cholesterol. Plus, it is high in protein, vegan, all-natural, low in sodium, has Omega-3 fats, and is a good source of fiber.
Coming in at around 220-240 calories per bar, you will also find around 7-10 grams of healthy fats, 4 grams of fiber, and 10-12 grams of protein. However, there is around 17-18 grams of sugar per bar which for me, is much more than I would typically prefer. I will say that they do use a lot of organic agave to sweeten their products though, which is low on the glycemic index, and then use some organic cane sugar as well. (At least it’s organic ?).
*For the [sugar] reason stated above, I would not feel comfortable giving a full one of these bars to my toddler – it’s just way too much sugar for such a little body. In fact, I probably wouldn’t eat a full one myself. At least not in one sitting. However, The GFB is filled with tons of other good-for-you ingredients, and they do contain quite a bit of protein, fiber, and healthy fats, all of which are good for us, so giving my little one a couple bites of this bar as a snack is definitely something I do. And then hey, I can eat the rest… 😉
WHERE TO BUY: The GFB is available on their Online Store, or if you prefer to buy them in person, check out their Store Locator for the location nearest you.
FINAL THOUGHTS: When I first tried The GFB (at Expo West ’14), I had no idea it was gluten-free. Besides the fact that there were 6 great flavors to choose from, the texture was also spot on – not to chewy, not too crunchy – which is often hard to find in gluten-free snacks. Plus, there weren’t any unnecessary additives or fillers, which are also commonly found in wheat-less foods.
Needless to say, I was impressed. Even my “gluten loving” husband thinks they taste great, which is saying a lot ;). However, my only “negative” comment about The GFB is that they do contain quite a bit of sugar grams per serving. Fortunately, much of this is due to agave, which is low-glycemic and therefore won’t affect one’s blood sugar levels too much.
And personally, since I generally don’t eat a full bar in one sitting any way, but rather snack on it throughout the day, or share a couple bites with my toddler, I’m not terribly worried about the sugar content, especially because they do contain quite a bit of protein, fiber, and healthy fats, all of which help to “balance out” sugar grams anyway.
With that said, I’d definitely recommend anyone with a gluten sensitivity to try out these bars, and even for those who don’t, I’d be really surprised if you didn’t find them as tasty as I do!
Try any or all of The Gluten Free Bars today and see how delicious a gluten-free snack can be!
To learn more about The GFB, please visit their website and check them out on Facebook.
And remember, Contact Healthy.Fit.Fab…Moms today to create a personalized plan so you and your family can live a healthy, fit, and fabulous life!
