If I always had the time and resources to make something from scratch I would, but let’s be real…sometimes you just need a quick snack to grab and go! If my youngest daughter wasn’t so severely allergic to gluten (Celiac disease) I may keep some “gluten” snacks hanging around for the other kids, but no can do. What I buy for one I buy for all.
I’ve been impressed with how many more gluten free products are finding their way onto grocery store shelves. It’s irritating that the motivation for producing all these products has been to appease a gluten free fad diet instead of the actual medical condition that requires eliminating gluten. Whatever the reasoning though, I’m grateful that it’s easier now to find relatively affordable gluten free snacks when you need it.
One of the stores that I haven’t been able to shop much at since our family went gluten free is Walmart. However, I’ve been impressed to find that they’ve jumped on the gluten free bandwagon and now have things like GF granola bars. So I picked some up to try them out.
Here’s how it breaks down on cost, ingredients and the taste-factor…
Cost– For one box of Great Value Gluten Free Granola Bars you’ll pay around $2.48 for five bars less than 1 oz. each. That’s about $.50 a bar. Compared to Udi’s Gluten Free Granola Bars which cost nearly 75% more per bar. Making homemade gluten free granola bars is still more economical. Even though homemade costs a little less than a dollar per bar they are nearly double the weight and density of the store bought ones. Even so, as far as quick and convenient, buying the Great Value bars is a great price. The down side is you can’t purchase them online yet. They’re only available in-store. If your Walmart doesn’t carry them yet, you can request them.
Ingredients-The base for these bars is made from multigrain flakes of rice, corn and millet. Since many people with celiacs have a hard time digesting oats even if they’re gluten free this is really nice. If you’re trying to cut out refined sugar then again, homemade is best, since the first ingredient in most store-bought bars is some form of sugar sweetener. Some of the flavors contain nuts and milk products and all of them may have trace amounts of nuts. If you have dairy or nut allergies be sure to read the allergy warning. If you’re trying to watch your calories they are 100 calories per bar.
Taste-They taste good! Very comparable to many of the 100 calorie “gluten” granola bars. There are several flavors like Dark Chocolate and Trail Mix depending on what the Walmart in your area carries. My kid’s favorite are the Dark Chocolate. They’re not very filling though because they’re so small, which means everyone’s still hungry after eating one, but it’s something to hold them over. I don’t buy the Great Value Granola Bars often, but when I need them they’re an affordable, convenient gluten free snack for the kiddos.
What gluten free products would you like me to review? Leave a comment with a gluten free product you’d like me to do a taste test and an ingredient/cost breakdown on.
About Melissa
Speak Your Mind