Mariani Honey Bar Trail Mix

Mariani Honey Bar Trail Mix
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

One of the primary ingredients in bars that are labeled as an energy bar or a snack bar is oats and a lot of people who are sensitive or allergic to gluten will also have problems with oats as well. And most of those bars also have a high chance to possess gluten or some sort of wheat-related ingredients anyway, so finding a simple snack bar that doesn't have such components can be a challenge.

But the snack food industry and companies that have long been making snack bars have definitely realized that there is a huge market for gluten-free bars and there are many companies that have not only started to provide such bars with zero gluten included, but which have also created several different gluten-free options instead of just a single token gluten-free bar.

Mariani Honey Bar Trail Mix
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Generally, snack bars and protein bars are going to come in one of two different kinds. They'll either be a solid sort of bar, kind of like the "Think Thin" bars (of which the white chocolate covered kind is delicious), or they'll be breakable and nutty, sort of like the KIND Protein Bars that have recently started to become so popular that major cafes and restaurants have started including them as an option.

The Mariani Honey Bar Trail Mix is definitely one that mimics the KIND style of bars where it's a bunch of nuts that's held together by some sort of adhesive (made of honey in this case, although some competing bars use a sugar glaze). And the combination is one that seems easy to duplicate as many companies have started to make nutty bars that offer a good boost of protein. And while such bars will usually be a little high with their fat content, nutritionists would likely be quick to point out that it's "good" fat and not the bad trans-fat kind that might be in a bag of potato chips.

For anyone who is particularly interested in eating natural ingredients that might also be vegetarian or free of preservatives, this particular bar seems to fit the bill there as the manufacturer has printed a whole host of labels on the bar's wrapper that declare things like "gluten free" and vegetarian. It's fairly interesting, but many gluten-free food makers these day seem to believe that anyone who might want (or need) to eat a gluten-free lifestyle would also be on the lookout for natural foods.

Overall, this bar tastes fine and is exactly what one would expect from a nut-style protein or energy bar, but there's no wow-factor as far as the general recipe is concerned. It's just a very basic bar that will probably give someone an afternoon boost when they're fading in the late afternoon and need some protein.

Mariani Honey Bar Trail Mix
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Mariani Honey Bar Trail Mix Report Card

The Good Stuff:

This bar does what it needs to do. It's natural, nutty and gluten-free. But it's probably not something that you'll search for should the grocery store fail to stock them one week. It's a trail mix bar that won't stand out from the competition, but since it's gluten-free, it does have a purpose.

What Could Improve:

The bar seems to have an overwhelming amount of peanuts and the manufacturer might benefit from the inclusion of a few different types of nuts in their recipe. It's just a very basic bar that might be forgotten if it wasn't otherwise a handy option for people who need a shot of protein and who also need to eat a gluten-free li

Tasty Bite Madras Lentils

Tasty Bite Madras Lentils
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

The world of soup is a varied one and anyone who is interested in finding a simple soup that doesn't have some wheat in it is going to be sorely disappointed when they search through shelf upon shelf at their local grocery store only to realize that soup simply isn't made without wheat on a regular basis. And it doesn't seem to matter what sort of consistency a soup might be, either, as everything from runny chicken noodle soup to a heartier sort of concoction is going to have wheat somewhere in it.

Food makers and manufacturers still haven't grasped the idea that soup doesn't necessarily need wheat as a thickener to create a specific sort of consistency with the meal. But until more soups start to be offered in gluten-free forms, there will be very few soups from which to choose for the average individual who has an allergy.

Tasty Bite Madras Lentils
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

One such available soup is that of Tasty Bite Madras Lentils, which is described on the bag (yes, it's a bagged soup) as "lentils, red beans and spices in a creamy tomato sauce." And this is pretty accurate as the soup is fairly simple in its composition, but still has a pleasing soup-like consistency. It's worth pointing out though that the soup is actually a fine candidate for a type of dip as it can be fairly thick.

One of the nice elements of this particular soup is its presentation in a bag. All that is required for the cooking of the soup is that a portion be snipped off the top of the bag and that it's placed in the microwave for about ninety seconds. Then all that's needed is a bowl and a spoon. And with the fact that the bag can be tossed in the trash, the cleanup for this meal is next to nothing.

As for the taste of "Tasty Bite," the soup will probably not be something that you dream about every night, wondering when you'll be able to get another bag of Tasty Bite, but it does offer a nice, visceral experience as far as eating soup is concerned. The beans and lentils and other ingredients also offer a nice dose of healthy vitamins and minerals as well (beans are just cool like that), so it can be part of a healthy diet.

Tasty Bite Madras Lentils
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Tasty Bite Madras Lentils Report Card:


What is Good:

This soup is really easy to make and only needs a few minutes in the microwave and doesn't even have to be taken out of the bag. For anyone who wants a hot lunch and doesn't have a lot of time, this soup fits the bill. And given the rarity of soups in gluten-free form, it can be a treat as well.


What Could Improve:

It is highly recommended that this soup be accompanied by another element such as some cheese, perhaps a few tortilla chips or something that can turn the soup into a type of dip. It's pretty thick and would serve nicely as an interesting dip option at a party in addition to its general suitability as a quickly made soup.