Nature Valley - Granola Cups - Peanut Butter Chocolate - Feb. 3, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Nature Valley
Granola Cups - Peanut Butter Chocolate
Good +
Weight: 1.35 oz. (38 g.) / 6.75 oz. (191 g.) in total box of 5 pouches
Calories: 190 calories in 1 pouch of two cups
Cost: $3.00 for 1 box of 5 pouches (of two cups or pieces each)
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Peanuts Theme Week, and Day #4 of Chocolate and Oats Theme Week.

Today's Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola Cups were from Nature Valley—a brand owned by General Mills, based in Minneapolis, MN.

The first Nature Valley granola bars came out way back in 1975, making them a pioneer in this market. And the product lineup expanded into a wider array of products over time that fall under the broad granola bar category, including today's offering that tasted like a sweet cross between a cookie and a bar.

If you're in a mood for an oatmeal cookie, with rich peanut butter and chocolate flavor, you're in for a treat.

General Mills - Chocolate Cheerios + Blueberry Cheerios - Oct. 25, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

General Mills
Chocolate Cheerios
Good
Weight: 3/4 cup (27 g.) in 1 serving / 11.25 oz. (318 g.) in total box
Calories: 100 calories in 1 serving + other cereals, nuts, blueberries
Cost: $3.00 for 1 box of Chocolate Cheerios
Purchased from: Safeway, Menlo Park, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Blueberry Theme Week.

Today's Chocolate Cheerios were from General Mills (Minneapolis, MN).

Cheerios, the classic whole grain oat "o"-shaped cereal is available in other flavors, including Honey Nut, Apple Cinnamon, Chocolate and Blueberry. Today we're featuring the latter two.

Today's bowl of Chocolate Cheerios was sampled with a small handful of Blueberry Cheerios, and some frozen blueberries. The cereal was crunchy and sweet and fairly substantial/satisfying.

While it's fun to try new flavors, I think I might prefer plain Cheerios better, for their (or at least what I remember was their) lower sugar content and flavor.

I grew up on cereals; however, I could not tolerate gluten. And when I stopped eating all gluten-containing foods, my health and quality of life improved a great deal.

Looking back, I marvel at childhood breakfasts* containing sugar-dosed breakfast cereals, toast and pastries. At least most of the cereals were (and continue to be) fortified with vitamins and minerals; and milk helped provide some protein.

That said, I am still grateful that I might occasionally enjoy some gluten-free cereals on the market.

*Today, I generally drink a glass or two of water, eat a daily dose of (usually dark) chocolate, vegetables, fresh fruit, and a piece of cheese (or other protein) in the morning. And I make my own nut and trail mixes with unsweetened cacao nibs and/or no added sugar. Times change, and will continue to do so.

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General Mills - Nature Valley Sweet and Salty Nut bars - Dark Chocolate Peanut and Almond

Chocolate of the Day: 

Distributed by General Mills Sales, Inc.
Nature Valley (Sweet and Salty Nut granola bars)
Dark Chocolate, Peanut and Almond bar
Good +
Weight: 1.24 oz. (35 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $N/A - from an event (part of a larger variety box)
Purchased from: N/A - from an event

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate Snacks Theme Week.

Today's Nature Valley Dark Chocolate, Peanut and Almond bar from General Mills Sales, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN) was surprisingly satisfying, with just the right sweet dark chocolate and nut blend.

It felt lighter and less sweet than a standard chocolate candy bar.

Note: for those who are allergy-prone, this bar (made with partially genetically engineered ingredients) also contained wheat (and barley malt extract) as well as soy, milk and peanut and nut ingredients. At the time of this post, the company also offered at least two bars in their line-up that were gluten-free.

Laraber Bites - Mint Chocolate Truffle - July 6, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Larabar Bites
Mint Chocolate Truffle
Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 5.3 oz. (150 g.) in total package
Calories: 130 calories in 1 serving (4 pieces)
Cost: $2.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Mint Theme Week.

Today's Mint Chocolate Truffle Larabar Bites were created by Larabar (Minneapolis, MN) and distributed by Small Planet Foods, Inc. (a division of General Mills).

These Bites came in bite-sized round ball shapes; and the most powerful flavors came from the mint, coconut and dried fruit/dates. Chocolate was more of a background flavor and texture.

The straight-forward ingredients list included just six items: dates, almonds, fair trade chocolate chips, cocoa powder, peppermint oil and coconut flour.

Small Planet Foods - Cascadian Farm Chocolate Lover's Granola - Oct. 11, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Small Planet Foods Inc.
Cascadian Farm Organic
Chocolate Lover's - "Premium Organic Chocolate Granola"
Good
Weight: 1/8 cup serving (22.25 g.) / 11.2 oz. (317 g.) in total package
Calories: 55 calories in 1/8 cup serving
Cost: $3.50 (sale) for 1 package
Purchased from: Safeway, Menlo Park, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate, Grains and Grasses Theme Week.

With a theme week like this, chocolate cereal seemed like a good fit. And, so, the featured cereal today was: Cascadian Farm Organic Chocolate Lover's Chocolate Granola.

This oat and rice containing blend from Small Planet Foods Inc. (a division of General Mills, Minneapolis, MN) technically was not gluten free*. (It contained malted barley extract, and the label also advised that it might contain traces of wheat.)

This Chocolate Lover's granola tasted fresh and crunchy with a uniform chocolate flavor; and it was sweet, without being too sweet.

*Those that follow this blog may know that I don't eat wheat or gluten. Therefore I appreciate labeling with advisories like this. Depending on what's listed as included (or what might be included) on the label, I can decide whether I want to try a small taste or not.

The content and images on this post belong to ChocolateBanquet.com.

ChocolateBet: May 19, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bowl
General Mills (Cereals, LLC)
Chocolate Lucky Charms ("chocolatey whole grain cereal with marshmallows")
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 3/4 cup (28 g.) in one serving/12 oz. (340 g.) in total box
Calories: 110 calories (plus an additional 40 cals for milk)
Cost: $4.99 in one box
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

What luck! One of the few popular breakfast cereals that I can eat (i.e. it doesn't contain wheat) turns out to be Chocolate Lucky Charms. (This cereal is made from whole grain corn.)

I have a soft spot for clever marketing and packaging, and so what really drew me in to buying this was the claim on the front of the box that reads: "Control Time! with the Hourglass Marshmallow Charm"... which is great, because I've always wanted to control time. And, good thing that the Lucky Charms leprochaun has discovered this hourglass, as it appears he is being pursued by a dinosaur.

Chocolate countdown: 19 more days until I reach 1,000 days of eating different chocolates.