Smart Balance Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Spread - Nov. 18, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Smart Balance
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Spread
Good
Weight: 1.13 oz. (32 g.) / 16 oz. (1 lb.) (453 g.) in 1 jar
Calories: 180 calories in 2 Tablespoon serving
Cost: $1.99 for 1 jar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #14 of Chocolate and Peanuts Theme Week(s).

Ingredients that are included, or excluded, often have special appeal to consumers. I look for gluten free chocolate items; and I prefer fewer additives and ingredients on labels in general.

This Smart Balance Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Spread was lactose-free, vegan and non-GMO—and certified gluten free. On the "fat" front, this spread was made with palm fruit, flaxseed and peanut oils—without trans fats (hydrogenated oils), and contained 320 mg. of ALA Omega-3 per (2 TB) serving.

How did it taste? This smooth and creamy spread was sweet without being overly so, and had a light, almost whipped, texture. (Pure nut butters are generally heavier.)

I used this spread as a dip for fresh fruit (apple sections). It might also work as a spread on crepes or baked goods (between cake layers or cookies perhaps); or it could be stirred into vanilla or chocolate ice cream.

Oatmega - Chocolate Peanut Crisp bar - Nov. 16, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Boundless Nutrition LLC
Oatmega - Chocolate Peanut Crisp bar
Good
Weight: 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.19 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #12 of Chocolate and Peanuts Theme Week(s).

This Oatmega Chocolate Peanut Crisp bar from Boundless Nutrition LLC (Austin, TX) was pleasantly chewy and had less of the uniform, extruded look of many protein bars.*

This bar was made with gluten-free oats (thank you), and was also made with non-GMO ingredients. It contained only 5 grams of sugar and 14 grams of protein (grass-fed whey protein). The Oatmega bar also contained EPA and DHA Omega-3 fatty acids ("derived from sustainable marine resources").

*Note: I don't expect a protein bar to look like an art bar. Both types of bars are usually carefully crafted by their makers, but with different audiences in mind. One bar may need to look "healthy" and not melt on a hike or during a work-out; and another bar may need to look "pretty" and have volatile flavor elements and texture that need preserving in a cool, dark place. 

The wonderful thing is that chocolate is so versatile there is room for it to exist in many forms. More on this tomorrow, when I talk about how I evaluate chocolates across many different categories.