Grape-nuts Trail Mix Crunch Bars

Grape-nuts Trail Mix Crunch cereal bars, fruit and nut, are a great snack and a very healthy choice. They have a nutty, crunchy texture mixed with a bit of sweetness from the dried fruits and a small amount of added sugar. These tasty snack bars would be a healthy treat to put in lunch boxes, as a small breakfast on the go, or as an energy snack at work.

The bars are fairly small, but their chewy crisp texture and substantial nature make them satisfying. They have only 110 calories, 3 grams of fat, no trans fat, 9 grams of sugar, 2 grams of protein, 8 grams of whole grain, and 1 gram of dietary fiber. They are made out of Grape-nuts trail mix crunch cereal, and while they do contain sugar it's not nearly as much as many of the other granola and cereal bars on the market. Some of the sugar does come from the fruit as well. The fruit in the bars consists of dried cranberries and raisins, and there are also some almonds and sunflower seeds as well.

The price of the bars is similar to others, although I bought them on sale two for $4. There are six bars in a package and they weigh just shy of six ounces, which is a good portion for snacks or as a special treat for after lunch. In fact I tried a few bites with a square of bittersweet chocolate and it made a great sweet and salty dessert for little effort or calories. Just watch the portion size!

The grape-nuts bars can be great on their own, or else crumbled over lowfat frozen yogurt, layered in trifle or parfaits, or dipped in chocolate ganache for a more substantial dessert. If you eat them for breakfast you might want to pair them with a piece of fruit or lowfat cheddar for some extra energy.

No matter how you eat them though, they're definitely a winner in the granola and cereal bar niche. Post has managed to create a great tasting bar with good texture that isn't too sweet or calorie laden and has a lot of healthy qualities. They also make an apple cinnamon trail mix crunch bar, and Honey Bunches of Oats bars in strawberry, banana nut, and cranberry almond flavors. Stay tuned for reviews of these bars in the future, and in the meantime pick up a box of their fruit and nut bars for back to school lunches.