Presented with an array of goodies to taste, one participant asks: \u201cWhy do cereal bars exist?\u201d
\nAn inauspicious start. But six brands later, the answer is not apparent.
\nWith a soft crust and a fruit paste inside, cereal bars have a Fig Newton quality. Fig Newtons, of course, are cookies.<\/p>\n
These are meant to replace morning cereal, for adults and children on the run. As such, many crusts are whole wheat or made with whole oats. There are some sprinkles of bran or wheat germ flakes on top of most, obviously an attempt to appear healthful. But once we began tasting, bars were almost indistinguishable from each other. One brand is decorated with swirly strips of icing and another has a crease down the middle (the cleavage, as one person described it).<\/p>\n
Though many brands boast their calcium and vitamin content, the tasters were throwing around words like \u201cpop tarts\u201d and \u201ccandy bars\u201d instead of cereal. One said, \u201cThis could be dessert if I wanted dessert.\u201d
\nThe eight tasters, all public health professionals, didn’t seem to fall for the healthful aspect the bar companies want to project. Nor were they fooled by the package photographs after they saw what’s inside. Thick strawberry fruit fillings on the box were not in evidence once opened. In fact, most fillings were gelatinous and sparse, and far too sweet. \u201cThis is just another path to creating future diabetics,\u201d said one jaded taster.
\nWinning by a wide margin was Sunbelt Fruit and Grain Bar, the one with the icing. One taster so disliked the bars, she refused to choose a favorite.<\/p>\n
The box of Quaker\u2019s Breakfast Bars claims 25 percent less sugar than the leading cereal bar. Later, we called the company’s help line to ask for the name of the leading cereal bar. A representative hesitated, then said, \u201cones with peanut butter or chocolate chips\u201d — was she talking about granola bars? — also made by the company. To Quaker\u2019s credit, it has the only packaging that states: \u201cNot a low calorie food \u2013 but in a very small font.<\/p>\n
Shaw\u2019s and Stop & Shop\u2019s house brands turned out to be identical — at least we thought so. Red foil wrapping around the bars is the same, ingredients list is the same, but the box and prices are different (Shaw\u2019s is $1.99 for 8; Stop & Shop 70 cents more for the same amount).
\nPeople were under-whelmed by the entire line. At the end, one taster announced that she would eat them again \u201cif they were being given out as samples for free and I was really hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kellog\u2019s Nutri\u2022Grain Cereal Bars This is the brand most closely associated with cereal. \u201cI feel like I have a film on the roof of my mouth\u2026ick! \u201cNot sure I\u2019d even know this was strawberry flavored.\u201d \u201cKinda doughy and I can\u2019t really taste the jam,\u201d said another. Then: \u201cLittle specs in the dough makes me think it\u2019s wholesome.” \u201cBizarre superfluous flakes on top.\u201d Yet another said, \u201cBetter tasting than I had expected and pleasantly surprised not to see any faux wheat germ.\u201d Finally: \u201cTastes bland, with a fake whole-wheat chewy texture.\u201d<\/p>\n Shaw\u2019s Fruit & Grain Cereal Bars Low Fat Strawberry Least favorite of the bunch, though box claims \u201cnew and improved.\u201d From what? \u201cFig Newton consistency and appearance. Distinctly chemical flavored crust.\u201d \u201cChewy, dry, not enough jam, tastes processed.\u201d \u201cSmells like a vitamin.\u201d \u201cLooks and tastes like an un-brand or store brand cheap knock-off.” “Too much bread and dry.\u201d \u201cBrowner crust, more whole-wheat-y??\u201d \u201cActually something that looks edible, but then it\u2019s a brick.” Finally: \u201cThis one tastes more like a soft fruit cookie. A little dry. Fruit taste is OK.\u201d<\/p>\n Stop and Shop Fruit & Grain Cereal Bars Strawberry We decided this is the same bar as Shaw\u2019s. Comments: \u201cNot as bad as some, wouldn\u2019t buy it. Gelatinous filling.\u201d \u201cThe dough is good, but where\u2019s the treat? I\u2019m expecting something fruity and tasty and end up with gelatinous goo that adheres to my teeth.\u201d One astute taster noticed the likeness to Shaw’s brand. \u201cDry like the previous one,” he said, “Keep chewing, waiting for the flavor to kick in.\u201d \u201cBoring filling is like chewing gum.” “No heavy tastes like they\u2019re trying to hide something.\u201d \u201cNot overly sweet.\u201d<\/p>\n Sunbelt Fruit and Grain Bars Strawberry Winner The most attractive looking bar with swirls of icing; it received the most comments about a real strawberry taste. The photo of this bar was most like the actual product. Trader Joe\u2019s \u201cthis strawberry walks into a bar\u2026\u201d Cereal Bars You can try to be funny, but in the end this crew was not buying the joke or the product. Three decided it was their least favorite. \u201cIt\u2019s like a Jolly Rancher covered in artificial potato flakes.” \u201cIf I were to imagine what rabbit food tastes like, this would be it.\u201d \u201cTexture of cookie is fine. Less red color in the fruit mixture.” \u201cLooks like a mashed jam sandwich on whole wheat. Wonder Bread. Same consistency too.\u201d \u201cInteresting trench in the middle.” \u201cI was originally horrified by the shape, but it was a great way to divide the bar in half.\u201d \u201cI like the bran flakes on top. I think it tastes less fake.\u201d<\/p>\n Quaker Breakfast Bars Strawberry You\u2019d expect this company to know breakfast food. Not according to our tasters. \u201cSo dry I desperately need to wash this down with coffee or something stronger. I thought this had strawberry in it — bland goop instead.\u201d \u201cFake smell.” “Unappealing kind of a shiny gold color.\u201d Another: “Kinda yellow. Not too much bread to jam ratio.\u201d “Little oatmeal chips on top seem a superfluous after-thought.\u201d \u201cLooks like a fried potato cake.” The final diss: \u201cLooks like a mashed Twinkie or maybe an egg roll.” Blurring the line between breakfast and dessert Presented with an array of goodies to taste, one participant asks: \u201cWhy do cereal bars exist?\u201d An inauspicious start. But six brands later, the answer is not apparent. With a soft crust and a fruit paste inside, cereal bars have a Fig Newton quality. Fig Newtons, of course, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[83],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-623","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-taste-kitchen-articles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cookingatdebras.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/623","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cookingatdebras.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cookingatdebras.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cookingatdebras.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cookingatdebras.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=623"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.cookingatdebras.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/623\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":861,"href":"https:\/\/www.cookingatdebras.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/623\/revisions\/861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cookingatdebras.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cookingatdebras.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cookingatdebras.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n$2.50 for 8 bars (1.3 ounces each)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n$1.99 for 8 bars (1.3 ounces each)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n$2.69 for 8 bars (1.3 ounces each)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n$1.99 for 8 bars (1.4 ounces each)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\u201cThicker jam and crust than others. Jam tastes more like strawberries.\u201d \u201cPretty tasty. Can really taste the jam. Can\u2019t really taste the icing but looks nice.\u201d \u201cGood pastry. Pop Tart-like.\u201d \u201cJazzed up, good looking with decorative frosting. Can\u2019t really taste the strawberry.\u201d “Better filling; more like real jam and not so gelatinous.\u201d \u201cOoh frosting, nice touch but not sure it added to the flavor.\u201d \u201cSoftest most cake-like.\u201d “Sort of like PB and J without the P.\u201d And finally, \u201cIf you want to eat a candy bar for breakfast than this is the best.”<\/p>\n
\n$1.69 for 6 bars (1.3 ounces each)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n$2.50 for 8 bars (1.3 ounces each)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"