When I was doing my elimination diet, I tried not eat too many packaged foods. I did raid the energy bar section in Whole Foods and try some new (to me) bars that were gluten free, dairy free, egg free and all natural. I tried a Sunny Uplift – Cherries + Berries Bar and a Protein Paradise – Cashew Caramel bar from GoMacro and I was hooked. I wrote to them and they sent me a whole box to try. And, great news for you, they are offering one lucky reader an assorted box to try, too!
Before I get into the details of each flavor, I will tell you a bit more about GoMacro, because they are an awesome company. GoMacro makes “healthy, delicious, environmentally responsible energy bars in rural Wisconsin. [Their] MacroBars are USDA organic, vegan, gluten free and are made with the highest quality ingredients.” Amelia Kirchoff, Owner of GoMacro, explains:
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003, [her farm in Wisconsin] became my haven, my “pause from pain.” I was in the perfect place for converting to a macrobiotic diet; a diet in which all fruits and vegetables should be homegrown and eaten in season. As my health improved so did my appetite and I craved the sweets I used to eat. I immediately started to experiment with natural sweeteners and the grains and fruits grown on the farm to create macrobiotic desserts. This was the beginning of GoMacro. Who would have ever imagined that this farm we call Posilippo would become the source of not just something beautiful, but something healthy?
The company has 5 Principles:
- Live Long – Macrobiotic – A macrobiotic diet is a key to a long, healthy life
- Veg Out – Vegan – Eat food, not too much. Mostly plants.
- Be Well – Wholesome – If nature did not make it, we do not use it.
- Community – Gives Back – Pay it forward. Give back. Change the world
- Tread Lightly – Sourced Sustainability – Let us walk softly on the earth with all other living beings great and small, remembering as we go, that one God kind and wise created all.
OK, so I am totally on board with these ideals and love their story. But how do the bars taste?
As I mentioned, GoMacro sent me an awesome assortment of bars. I shared some but ate most of them myself (sorry friends) during Social Media Week. These bars have all natural ingredients and taste so healthy. I mean that in a good way. A few of the flavors seemed subtle and then grew on me as I ate them. The bars are chewy and soft with an occasional crunch. I was initially surprised that they are not similar to Lara Bars. The nuts and seeds and nut butters have a more prominent flavor in these bars. But like Lara Bars, you can taste the real food here. The peanut butter + chocolate bar had full pieces of peanut, whole chocolate chips and pieces of dates in it. The other thing I liked about these bars was that they were filling and not too sweet. Some energy bars – even ones with higher calories like the protein ones – that are sweet leave me wanting to eat something else. These did not.
These are the flavors: Protein Paradise – Cashew Caramel, Sunny Uplift – Cherries + Berries, Protein Replenishment – Peanut Butter, Protein Pleasure – Peanut Butter + Chocolate Chip, Sweet Revival – Sesame Butter + Dates, Balanced Goodness – Granola + Coconut, Wholehearted Heaven – Almond Butter + Carob, Sunflower Butter + Chocolate, Prolonged Power – Banana + Almond Butter and Morning Harvest – Apples + Walnuts.
It is hard to pick a favorite. If I had to pick a few favorites, I would say that the Sweet Revival – Sesame Butter + Dates, Sunny Uplift – Cherries + Berries and Morning Harvest – Apples + Walnuts were my favorite. The Sesame Butter + Date blew me away. I just loved it! It was rich and delicious. The fruit flavors were also amazing and not too sweet despite the dried fruit. I also loved Balanced Goodness – Granola + Coconut (and the mini 100 calorie bar was the perfect little something). I shared a Protein Replenishment – Peanut Butter with Maureen and she loved the consistency, real peanuts and found that it was a perfect thing to tide her over while seeing her pilates clients. Stacy liked the Protein Paradise – Cashew Caramel a lot, too! Like me, she loved the fact that the flavor seemed to really grow on her, that it was not too sweet and that it was very satisfying. The only one that I do not think I would try again is the Wholehearted Heaven – Almond Butter + Carob. I love almond butter, but carob is not for me! Maybe it is because when I was younger, it was substituted for chocolate. Well, it is no substitute for me. All in all, I love these bars!
But don’t take my word for it, enter to win with the Rafflecopter below. And you can try these bars at many Whole Foods and other natural food stores. You can buy minis, individual bars and cases at GoMacro or cases at Abe’s Market. You can also follow GoMacro on Twitter and Facebook. The giveaway is open to US residents, 18 and over and is void where prohibited. The winner will be selected and notified on November 7th.
If you like all natural foods that are healthy and delicious, try GoMacro Macrobars. Trust me, you’ll be glad that you did!
Please Note: The bars for review and giveaway have been provided to me by GoMacro, Inc in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.