Granola

[mizarchivist]

For those who dig on granola bars: what constitutes a perfect granola bar and is there a commercially made counterpart that meets your qualificiations? Is this commercially available product available only at certain stores like Trader Joe's or Whole Foods?

What prompted this query? I just finished a Puffins cereal bar, the latest in a long line of experimental work-condusive lower sugar AM snacky treats. Eh? The texture is right on: a little chewy but with some crispness to it. But there's this odd aftertaste I really don't love. Maybe it's a soy flavor or a dried milk, malt? but bleh. No love.
My qualifications are mostly a whole lot of negatives: Not- cardboardlike, candy bar incongnito, or rasin-y... um, and I dunno what else. In the chewy/crunchy spectrum, I try to avoid the extremes with Nature's Trail (crunch like woah) on one side and Owalla (dislocate one's jaw on the chew)  on the other. However, if I had to choose between the two, NT I could go with. Just need more coffee. So- talk to me. Tell me there's hope!

Comments

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

I love the fruit-and-nut trail mix bars. I forget what brand they are. But I tend to treat them like a cookie in terms of nutritional value; they're not a meal substitute like some Odwalla bars.

I do like the Puffins bars - they're like Rice Krispy treats.

[mizarchivist]

They are like Rice Krispy treats- I'd not really fully formed that thought, but now that you mention it...
My ideal is to find something that's not so jacked on sugar that I can extend the time before I hit the "must eat now" thing. And I also have a growing averson to corn syrup, which really is everywhere, dammit.

[sweetmmeblue.livejournal.com]

I'm really digging Luna bars.

[tamidon.livejournal.com]

I like Luna bars too, but they are a little high in sugar. Kashi makes good ones, no artificial flavors or ingredients and ,dear gods, they are loaded with fiber, but that can make them seem really dense and you gotta chew it alot, but they're not hard/crunchy.

[mizarchivist]

Kashi was the one before Puffin, specifically the almond. I gave up rather quickly as it left sort of a saw dust texture in my mouth.

[milknut.livejournal.com]

They have a sweeter bar that I like... it says on the package that it's "balanced for optimum glycemic blah blah blah" or some such. I've tried the caramel chocolate (really really sweet) and the chocolate/peanut ones.

I like Luna bars too, though if I eat them every day I start to get heartburn. I rely on them alot when I'm dieting though for a snack or meal replacement if I'm on the go or don't want to risk stuffing myself.

[cutieperson]

i absolutely adore Lara Bars. they're not granola, but they are super tasty and have no artificial anything. also, there are a max of 6 ingredients in each bar. you can get them anywhere, though they are slightly cheaper at TJ's. the Cherry Pie is the only one i would not recommend.

[supercheesegirl.livejournal.com]

One magical day a long time ago I found a Nature Valley oats & honey CHEWY granola bar, at like a gas station or something. It was the awesomest granola bar I've ever had, and I've never been able to find it again, because Nature Valley's oat & honey granola bars are typically crunchy, of the breaking my teeth variety, and I'm so not down with that. I think that one chewy one was some sort of awesome fluke that I'll never find again.

I go back and forth with granola bars. I usually buy the Quaker ones, and usually get a variety box (because Jorn liked the peanut butter ones but I didn't want to get a whole box of peanut butter ones). Right now I'm trying some kashi granola bars that are pretty okay, but they still taste too nature-y (that "I found some seeds beside this hiking trail and now I'm eating them!" taste). We'll see if I buy them again.

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

Was this it? (http://www.amazon.com/Nature-Valley-Healthy-Granola-5-Count/dp/B000EMK4D2/ref=pd_sim_gro_4/103-7012909-0856658) Because Nature Valley is the company that makes the trail mix bars I like so much.

[supercheesegirl.livejournal.com]

No, it was like this (http://www.amazon.com/Valley-Crunchy-Granola-Cinnamon-12-Count/dp/B000FIMW08/sr=1-1/qid=1164047922/ref=sr_1_1/104-6771526-3390339?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=grocery), only just the Oats & Honey kind, and chewy. Otherwise identical to the crunchy kind. Sigh.

[dani-namaste.livejournal.com]

I tend to really enjoy Larabars. They have a good number of flavors, they don't depend too heavily on things that taste like chocolate (a big peeve of mine), they're all raw food which is nice, and they're mighty tasty. They have a ginger chew that's divine. I do believe they exist mostly in the Whole Foods/Trader Joe's universe; however, I believe you can also find them in the natural food section of Stop and Shop (although they're usually more expensive).

I also tend to like Clif Bars—the carrot cake rocks my world. Lemon Zest Luna bars are also good, but they have the malty/soy crispy aftertaste you're denouncing.