Well, well, well. I have searched high and low and lower to find a granola bar that I like sans peanuts. About a year ago I
realized I had a reaction to peanuts and tested positive for a peanut allergy. Several other tree nuts were positive, as well. I used to love eating a granola bar for a quick on-the-go snack or even as a low calorie breakfast. Well, guess what?
Many Most granola bars are processed in facilities or on equipment with tree nuts and peanuts. My 3-year-old loves
Glutino breakfast bars and
Enjoy Life Snack Bars, which are free of many allergens including wheat. Well, I just like wheat and haven't been satisfied with the flavor for myself (plus the cost is pretty high -- almost a dollar a bar and that is with my
savings tricks).
I've talked about going to
Trader Joe's for almost two years, but just haven't found my way there. It's only about a half hour away, but I always like to go in that direction when I have something else to do. I finally found myself there a couple weeks ago. Now, just like every other store there are allergy-free products and products made in facilities with allergies or shared equipment with allergies. I was disappointed as I picked up animal crackers and other items that weren't safe for my multi-food allergic child. I finally arrived at the granola bar isle with a pretty empty cart. I found not one, but two different types of granola bars that would be safe for me to eat (only one is safe for my daughter who has a milk allergy). Okay, I thought -- I better like these. I kinda felt like this is my last shot (I swear I've read every granola bar label out there).
The first granola bar I came across was these. The disclaimer on the back says : "Our vendors follow good manufacturing practices to segregate ingredients to avoid cross contact with allergens. Made on equipment shared with milk, peanuts and tree nuts." I read this several times in the store and wondered if I should trust that or not. I decided to give them a try.
The verdict: Our daughter ate it, loved it, and no reactions. Hooray! These bars were about $2 for 12 bars (note: they come in two bars in a pack). I didn't mind the taste of these at all. Not my preferred taste, but I could eat and enjoy them. No reaction for me, either.
I walked down the isle and saw these. Oh, my god. No way. Chocolate granola bars -- my absolute favorite idea for a granola bar. I have big love of chocolate, which is hard to fulfill with a peanut allergy. I read the label. Same disclaimer: "Our vendors follow good manufacturing practices to segregate ingredients to avoid cross contact with allergens. Made on equipment shared with milk, peanuts and tree nuts." A little skeptical still, I bought the bars. The price was around $2 for 6.
The verdict: I ate one the next day and absolutely loved every bite. Yum. Then I waited and waited for a reaction. Nothing. Could it be, my search is over? A granola bar that met three criteria: I like it, It's allergy-free for me, and cost effective. I'm making another trip this weekend to Trader Joe's.
