Reviews Filed Under 'Three Points'

Luna Bar: Peanut Butter Cookie

Price: $2.00 (on sale)
Serving: 1 bar, 48g
Calories: 180 per bar
  Calories from fat: 50
Fat: 9%, 6g
  Saturated Fat: 15%, 3g
  Trans Fat: 0%, 0g
Cholesterol: 0%, 0mg
Sodium: 6%, 150mg
Protein: 10g
Total Carbohydrates: 9%, 23g
  Fiber: 12%, 3g
  Sugar: 12g
Weight Watchers Points: 3 Points

*

Luna Bar says: A delicious cookie crunch with rich flavors of sweet, creamy peanut butter

Abi says: I need to stop buying energy bars that have ‘cookie’ in their names. They do not look like cookies or taste like cookies or even smell like cookies.

I can forgive the first issue. Luna energy bars are bars, thus the bar shape. They’re also coated in what appears to be a peanut buttery icing. Instead, it is an evil trap of sugar (er, evaporated cane juice) oil, soy flour and vanilla. Because peanut butter cookies come with icing? What? This bar contains more of that coating than actual peanut butter!

I buy peanut butter energy bars because the flavor of peanut butter is so rich and overwhelming that it can kill people:

Peanut Allergy SignPeanut Allergy Sign by Dan4th

But the peanut note is in not way strong in this bar. I’d say it is merely subtly peanutty. And instead of that marvelous legume we have a whole different taste/smell issue. LunaPro, the grain-based, protein-rich foundation for this bar. LunaPro is the ingredient that assaults the senses and says ‘This is fake! This is not a cookie! This is not a granola bar! This is not going to taste good!’. And I have to go with my taste buds on this one: the peanut butter cookie bar is an item to be avoided.

Ingredients: LunaPro (Soy Rice Crisp [Soy Protein isolate, Organic Rice Flour], Organic Toasted oats, Organic Roasted Soybeans, Organic Soy Flour, Organic Flaxmeal), Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Coating (Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Palm Kernel Oil, Organic Soy Flour, Organic Soy Lecithin, Organic Vanilla), Organic Peanut Butter, Inulin (Chicory Extracat), Vegetable Glycerin, Natural Flavors, Organic Roasted Peanuts, Peanut Flour, Sea Salt.

Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Ginger Snaps

Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Ginger SnapsPrice: $2.99
Serving: 1oz., 5 cookies
Servings Per Container: About 8
Calories: 140 per serving
Fat: 9%, 6g
Cholesterol: 0%, 0mg
Sodium: 5%, 110mg
Protein: 1g
Carbohydrates: 7%, 21g
Fiber: 4%, 1g
Sugar: 12g
Weight Watchers Points: 3 Points Per Serving

****

Trader Joe’s says: Our Trader Joe’s Ginger Snaps are made with all natural ingredients and have that crispy, crunchy texture one would expect from these spicy little cookies. They’ve been sweetened with just the right blend of sugar and molasses, and ofcourse we’ve made sure to mix in generous amounts of ground ginger to achieve that nice ginger-y bite that ginger fans know and love.

Abi says: It is always a shame when gluten-free friends come out for dinner and forego buns and cake because of dietary restrictions. And while it is easy enough to produce gluten-free meals at home, desserts are sometimes a challenge. That’s why I like to make pumpkin spice cheesecake and use these gluten free ginger snaps for the crust.

These aren’t the gingersnaps you’re used to seeing on supermarket shelves. Those ones are overpowered by molasses and lack the tang of non-powdered ginger. These ginger snaps from Trader Joe’s are a bit crumblier than other gluten-containing varieties, but they pack a lot more flavor into each little cookie.

Perfect for a late night snack with a glass of milk or making a flavorful crust for your next Millionaire Pie.

Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut Sweet & Salty Granola Bars: Chocolatey Almond

Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut Sweet & Salty Granola Bars: Chocolatey AlmondPrice: $2.99 for 6
Serving: 1 bar, 1.13 ounces
Calories: 160 per serving
Fat: 12%, 8g
Sodium: 6%, 150mg
Protein: 5g
Carbohydrates: 5%, 16g
Fiber: 7%, 2g
Sugar: 10g
Weight Watchers Points: 3 Points

*

Kellogg’s says: Crunchy almonds and hearty oats meet a rich chocolatey coating. Each bite of Sweet & Salty granola bars introduces you to a perfect mix of flavors.

Abi says: In the past I may have mentioned love for a certain Nature Valley granola bar. They redefined my relationship with granola and made for just about the perfect item to keep tucked in a tote bag. After finding those beauties, Snack Lounge set out on a mission to find all of the best almond-focused granola bars. As a part of this search we found the healthy Kashi Honey Almond Flax bar and this offering from Kellogg’s. And then we gave up because the results were so depressing we thought “Why do we keep subjecting the palate to these awful snacks?”

Well, we do it for you. The trouble with this bar starts with the word ‘chocolatey.’ As an occasional CandyBlog reader, one should know that the c-word doesn’t mean that it is made with chocolate. No, it means that we’re looking at something that merely resembles chocolate. It means a chocolate impostor. It means lies.

Pair that with a really weird smell that was definitely not just almonds. Maybe it was the NIACINAMIDE and PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE. Oh, just kidding. Those are sciency words for vitamins and minerals. But I’m not joking about the weird smell or taste. As an almond-lover I found the bar distinctly off-putting. Give me a Nature Valley granola bar any day.

Quaker Sweet and Salty Crunch Granola Bar

Quaker Sweet and Salty Crunch Granola BarPrice: 3 for $1.00 (sale price!)
Serving: 2 bars, 1.19oz.
Calories: 150 per package (2 bars)
Fat: 8%, 5g
Cholesterol: 0%, 0mg
Sodium: 9%, 210mg
Protein: 3g
Carbs: 8%, 24g
Fiber: 7%, 2g
Sugar: 8g
Weight Watchers Points: 3

**

Quaker Oats says: Quaker® Sweet & Salty Crunch Granola Bars are the wholesome sweet & salty bar that will satisfy your cravings. Enjoy flavor combinations like the sweetness of honey combined with the crunch of salty nuts and toasted oats!

Abi says: I bought a set of three Quaker Crunch Granola bars because they were on sale. I prefer my granola bars chewy and when a granola bar has “Crunch” in its name, I do not expect my teeth to have a fine time. These bars are not well-balanced in their sweet and salty duality. The ’sweet’ definitely takes over the entire bar experience, overpowering any potential nutty savoriness with a quick kick of sugar and corn syrup.

First Five Ingredients:

  • Whole grain rolled oats
  • Sugar
  • Crisp Rice (rice flour, sugar, salt, dextrose, corn syrup solids, malted barley flour)
  • Corn Syrup
  • Cashew Splits

The Verdict: Honey comes after sugar, corn syrup, and artificial flavors on the ingredients list. Yikes! We’ll be looking to satisfy our sweet and salty cravings elsewhere.