Gnu Foods Bar, 1.6 Ounce (Pack of 16)

I tried these bars on the recommendation of a food review site. I have one word to describe them WOW! I bought a sample package of each of the five flavors (offered on the manufacturers site gnufoods.com), and while I appreciated the nutrition of the bars, I didn't really like the first four flavors. I tried the cinnamon raisin last and fell in love on the spot. It's like a soft cinnamon rasin cookie. The texture is great soft and chewy. The taste is more then I could hope for from a fiber bar, and at 130 calories these are a great addition to any diet.

If you are thinking about trying them stop wasting time and pick them up! I really recommend trying the 5 flavor sampler first, since we all have different tastes's (my mother doesn't like the cinnamon raisin but loves the banana walnut).

It tastes good AND is good for me? It doesn't get much better then this!

I have been a Fiber One bar loyalist for a few years now it's literally been my breakfast almost daily since 2008. I am not sure why, but I bought one of these Gnu Bars at Whole Foods on a whim, and despite the cost being significantly higher than Fiber One bars, I will never go back.

Why? These things taste friggin' AMAZING! The Cinnamon Raisin, though, is probably my favorite. Does it taste like a high fat cookie? No. Does it taste awesome, especially when you consider that it's a FIBER bar? Absolutely! Even my friends who normally turn their noses up at anything even remotely healthy have been won over. I have also tried the Orange Cranberry (yum, but the Orange is REALLY strong), the Banana Oatmeal (also yum tastes like banana bread) and the Chocolate (my least favorite, but still really good) and have now ordered a pantry full of them.

You can buy these bars at Whole Foods or directly from the manufacturer, but Amazon has by far the best price, especially if you live in a non-tax state and have a Prime membership.

If all natural/healthy food tasted this good, we'd be a much happier and healthier country!

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Don't let the name fool you. This isn't a food from the Great Space Coaster! Founded in 2004, Gnu Foods is a small company that believes in maintaining an all natural philosophy, making foods that are targeted at addressing specific nutritional needs and health conditions.

As you probably already know, I'm a huge fiber fanatic. I've made my case before about how important it is to a healthy diet, and to a healthy lifestyle. With the average American consuming only 5 of the recommended 25 35 grams a day, however, it is obvious that getting enough fiber in your diet is relatively challenging.

Gnu Bar Flavor and Fiber makes this challenge virtually nonexistent. Flavor & Fiber, Gnu Foods' first product, is a nutrition bar; and after having tried them recently, I'm addicted. On a scale of 5, they get a 5. Here's why:

1. Nutrition Quality: At a mere 130 140 calories a bar (depending on the flavor), these flavorful snacks pack a whopping 12 grams of fiber (including both soluble and insoluble) into your day. That is practically 50% of the recommended daily intake, within approximately 5 10% of your caloric intake. Compared to other products on the market, Gnu Foods is a much higher quality product.

2. Taste: Gnu Bars currently come in 5 tasty flavors: Banana Walnut, Cinnamon Raisin, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Brownie and Orange Cranberry satisfying almost any taste buds out there. Personally, I'm a big fan of the Orange Cranberry and Chocolate Brownie. If you are an Oatmeal Raisin cookie fan, however, you will find the Cinnamon Raisin Bar a delicious healthier version.

3. Texture: Soft. moist and chewy, these bars are far from their high fiber cardboard counterparts.

4. Quality of Ingredients: Quality does not get much better than these bars. Any and all sweetness comes from fruit juice and the flour is pure organic whole wheat flour. Further, Gnu Bars don't contain any of the following: High Fructose Corn Syrup, Refined Sugars (except chips in Chocolate Brownie), Cholesterol, Trans Fat, Soy, Hydrogenated Oils, Preservatives, Artificial Flavors or Colorings, Yeast, Dairy or Whey, Sugar Alcohols, Maltodextrin or Methylcellulose. These bars are pure, natural goodness.

These bars can be a great daily snack to help ensure you are getting your prescribed dosage of fiber.

Brett Blumenthal

Author of "GET REAL" and STOP Dieting!: Forget the Fads, Get the Facts and Feel Fabulous

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I don't know why other reviewers have rated this bar so poorly (on other package sizes) I loved it!

I purchased this bar before reading the reviews and I'm glad, because if I'd read them, I wouldn't have tried it. The bar was sitting in my pantry, waiting to be eaten, when I thought to check what Amazon said about it. I read the reviews, and prepared myself for a bad experience. Opening the wrapper, I smelled a delightful aroma of pure peanut butter, with a slight hint of oats and wheat. The flavor is reminiscent of a peanut butter-and-oatmeal cookie, but made a little more mellow by the addition of healthy fiber. The texture is great I feel like I'm actually eating something!

So many nutrition bars are gone too soon, eaten in mere bites and leave me feeling like "why did I bother?", but not this bar! It was really good, start to finish. It's my favorite of the Gnu bars I've tried so far, and Gnu is definitely my favorite brand. They're healthy, full of fiber, and NOT full of the mystery ingredients that so many other bars contain, not to mention all the sugar! Plus, Gnu bars are vegan, dairy-free, and contain no trans fat, no high fructose corn syrup, and no artificial ingredients. They contain only healthy, real food ingredients. You can't go wrong!

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Love the banana walnut Gnu bars! They are a healthy snack packed with fiber and none of the bad ingredients found in some other "healthy" food items.

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McCANN'S Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal, 16-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6)

This is the real thing, folks -oatmeal as it should be. If you watch "Good Eats" on the Food Network, you've seen Alton Brown praise steel-cut oats and dis rolled oats (the "Quaker Oatmeal" stuff). I personally love rolled oats, but if you don't, don't let that stop you from buying the McCann's. The texture, the taste, the "oomph" are nothing like your ordinary breakfast oats. Where rolled Quaker oats are a bit slippery and thin, these steel-cut oats are much firmer with a lot more tooth and a much heartier, nuttier flavor.

Be aware that you have to invest a little time to cook this cereal -half an hour on the stovetop. Or try boiling the water the previous night, turning off the heat, and then putting the oats in to sit overnight. Then finish cooking them in the morning for 10 minutes or so. There are other shortcuts, too -try a Google search. Whichever way you try, you may be spoiled for other hot cereals forever.

My husband and I love this oatmeal! I prepare it the night before by boiling 2 cups of water. I take the pot off the burner and pour in 1/2 a cup of oatmeal. I let it sit covered overnight. At the same time I place some raisins in a small container with water to plump them up overnight. The next morning I cook the oatmeal for 10 minutes, I throw in the plumped raisins, an applesliced, cored and cut up, add cinnamon and some agave (natural sweetner) and the rest is history.

We aren't hungry til lunch. A great way to start the day.

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Having been turned onto steel cut and Irish oatmeal by Alton Brown, I much prefer these to any other oatmeal out there.

I make Alton's overnight oatmeal recipe in my Zojirushi rice cooker Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 5-1/2-Cup Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer, Premium White. The results are outstanding all the time. It is delightful to wake up to this creamy breakfast waiting for me. True breakfast comfort food. I like these oats because there is still a bit of bite to the oatmeal after it is cooked.

OVERNIGHT OATMEAL

Equipment:

Rice cooker with timer or slow cooker

Ingredients:

1 part steel cut or Irish oats

4 parts water

cream

dried fruit

Method:

The night before add ingredients to rice cooker/slow cooker. For rice cooker set the program to porridge and set the timer for when you want it to be ready. For the slow cooker turn it on low heat.

Wake up to breakfast.

2 Servings:

1/2 cup oats, 4 cups water, 2-3 TBSP cream, dried fruit as desired

Keep the 1:4 ratio of oats to water and it should work out well.

Variations:

apples and cinnamon

dried coconut and coconut milk instead of some of the water

flax seeds for fiber and Omega 3 fatty acids

Look to pre-made packages for flavor inspirations and make your own, healthier oatmeal. You won't be disappointed.

Read Best Reviews of McCANN'S Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal, 16-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6) Here

McCann's Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal has the best flavor & texture of any oatmeal available. However, it takes a little experimenting with all the methods of cooking to find the cooking method that is right for your individual taste. I invested in a small (6 cup) microwave rice cooker and use the following recipe: Bring 1 cup of water to a rolling boil in an uncovered microwave rice cooker. Stir in 1/4 cup oatmeal, cover and lock rice cooker lid and allow to sit overnight. The next morning place rice cooker in microwave and cook for approximately 12 minutes at 40% power (Using reduced power keeps the rice cooker from overflowing). Remove from microwave and let sit for 7-10 minutes. Remove lid and add toppings of your choice (brown sugar, butter, milk, dried fruit, stir & enjoy. Makes 1 serving.

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I really prefer McCann's steel cut oats to any rolled oats I've ever had, especially the "al dente" texture, slightly nutty flavor.

I often have difficulty finding McCann's at my local grocer, and really appreciate the ease of ordering it from Amazon. With Prime, the shipping is free and the shelf life of this product is well over a year.

Steel cut oats have nearly twice the fiber of rolled oats and seem to stick with me a bit longer. Since it does take 30 minutes to cook this up, I make a batch of 8 cups every other week or so, and store it in 1 cup Ziploc or Gladware containers. Under cook the oats about 5 minutes, then in the morning you just pop the container (without the lid!) in the microwave for 2-3 minutes on 50% power. You have a fast and very nutritious breakfast.

To vary things a bit, I mix in chopped pecans and maple syrup, or chopped dried fruit (apricots, blueberries, cherries, peaches whatever you have on hand) and honey, or just brown sugar. I always have about 1 Tsp of SmartBalance in with it also. My cardiologist is pleased that I eat oatmeal 3-5 times a week, as is my heart!

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Choice Organic Teas Decaf English Breakfast Tea, 16 Count Tea Bag

I love English Breakfast tea (my favorite caff version is Mighty Leaf Breakfast Blend), but when I was trying to get pregnant, I knew I needed to find a decaffeinated alternative. Sometimes I decaffeinate my Mighty Leaf myself, but that's not always practical. I tried several different decaffeinated breakfast teas, and all of them were flavorless and boring. Until this one!

The key to getting good flavor out of this tea is to steep it for longer than you would steep a caffeinated black tea--at least 4 minutes works well for me, and then it tastes great. I always drink mine with milk or cream, too, and even with the addition of dairy, the flavor doesn't get diluted. Even steeping it for 4 or 5 minutes, it doesn't end up getting that bitterness that oversteeped regular black tea does.

As a bonus, for those for whom regular black tea causes the need for overly frequent trips to the bathroom, this is a great alternative. My mom has entirely switched to this tea and has reported that it does not cause her that particular problem, so she can drink it all she wants.

The price that it's currently going for on Amazon, about $23 a case, makes it $1 cheaper per box than I can buy it locally in the store; definitely worth it.

First time I've had such flavorless tea from this brand. Trying to figure out what to do with the rest of it.

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I love this tea and I drink it not only with milk and sugar sometimes just black and it is fabulous! Plus I like the fact that it is organic.

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Having to drink decaf, the flavor usually comes up short. Choice Organic English Breakfast decaf is amazing. It tastes like I am drinking plain tea again and the best part is it's organic as well. I have my iced tea back for summer !

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Ancient Harvest Quinoa Flakes, Organic and Gluten Free, 12-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6)

Ancient Harvest Quinoa Flakes cook up into a hearty hot cereal. They taste great on their own, sweetened or with butter. It cooks very fast, which is a definite plus. Just don't expect a texture like you'd get with whole quinoa. It's more a mush like well cooked cornmeal, but it's higher in protein.

For those who can't eat gluten or are allergic to wheat as I am, this makes a great substitute for Cream of Wheat. Actually I prefer the taste of the quinoa flakes.

BTW, I was happy to find it here at this price since the few times I was able to buy it at the store it was $5.99 per box.

Breakfast time in our household is very busy, so often I've been setting up our rice cooker with a timer the night before to cook hot cereal that's ready when we are. This works great, but we wanted to expand the cereal choices.

Not ready to order a multi-pack of Quinoa (pronounced keen-WAH), I got a single box of these Ancient Harvest Quinoa Flakes at the local health food store. It wasn't til I got home that I read on the box that a single serving (1/3 cup dry and 1 cup water) cooked in the microwave in only 2 and 1/2 mins. Cool. I was also pleased with the protein content 4.3 grams per serving, not as good as oatmeal but better than all the other common hot cereal grains.

Not an issue for us, but if it is for you, you should know this cereal is gluten free, and per the manufacturer's website, processed in a gluten free facility, as well as Kosher and organic.

My husband found the taste a bit odd. I loved this cereal myself. To me the taste was ok, but the best part was the texture it is extremely smooth and creamy, and a bit of Splenda and half and half made it perfect. It's far finer than Cream of Wheat or grits. The flakes really don't have a lot of taste which should make folks who like to creatively dress up their cereal happy, and if you like a chunkier breakfast there's always fruit and nuts to add if you want. If you have ever had bitter quinoa, you should know these are pre-washed and the bitter coating taken off, resulting in a very mild taste.

With this cereal, because of its quick cooking time, I don't use the rice cooker, just the microwave. It's no fuss, meaning a single stir when it's done is sufficient, you don't need to check and stir as you go.

The flakes can also be used to make pancakes or waffles, coating for cooking fish or chicken, baked muffins or cookies. There's recipes on the box.

If you're looking for a way to enliven your breakfast easily, a box of Quinoa Flakes is very worth a try. I can tell this will be a staple for me.

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In East Africa, where I'm from, we have a porridge called Uji, which is essentially made from ground maize and millet. Very nutritious, even one of the first foods you give your baby when you're weaning him/her from milk. At our house, we're big fans of oatmeal, which we've cooked up with bananas (no honey, no sugar) and serve with blueberries, or with some adad lentils with a base sautee of onions, garlic, cloves, cinamon, and chilies. It's absolutely fab. My 20-month-old loves it that way. Until I bought quinoa flakes and made it for him that way--he loved it even more. Today, I made him some garlic peas and carrot hot cereal. Basically, boil the water, add in some peas and carrots (I'm sure corn and potatoes would be divine, too!), salt and pepper (or chili powder), and a chunk of minced garlic. Bring to a boil and then stir in the quinoa. I'm having mine with a dollop of homemade yogurt. Delicious!!!!!!

Read Best Reviews of Ancient Harvest Quinoa Flakes, Organic and Gluten Free, 12-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6) Here

I love these quinoa flakes...they are relatively easy to make (I just cook them in the microwave. They have a very unique, kind of nutty taste (I guess like quinoa) and can be made thick or thin. It has the texture of grits or cream of wheat and, like quinoa, is a great source of protein...and it's gluten free. I have served this for friends at a brunch and they loved it. I sometimes put warmed fruit (microwaved frozen berries) in it...and it is a great treat. Highly recommended and a great deal. Also, the boxes came with a very long shelf life, but I am sure that they will be gobbled up fairly soon.

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I'm sorry to admit this, but these quinoa flakes are disgusting! I tried eating them savory, I tried eating them sweet. How are you supposed to eat them? I was finally able to make them edible, but after a while I felt that if I took one more bite, I would throw up. These taste fine in baked goods, so I might only buy it for that purpose. Sorry that I had to give this such a bad review.

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