Snack Review: Barbara’s Bakery Whole Wheat Fig Bars

The more nutrition research that comes out, the more I lose hope that we’re ever going to see that longed-for future in Woody Allen’s movie Sleeper – you know, the one where they’ve figured out that steak and fried foods (and no doubt hot fudge sundaes with real whipped cream) are good for you. But if that’s never going to happen, how about a future where something like a whole wheat fig bar actually tastes good?

Well, I’m pretty dubious about that possibility too, so I did not personally purchase these. The blame or credit goes to another member of my household who shall remain nameless. But they sat there on the counter, staring at me. Ha, they said. All that stuff you buy at Whole Foods, but you’re afraid to tackle a real whole food. All that big talk about trying to eat healthier, as soon as you finish the ice-cream cone you’re in the middle of. We know your type.

Well. I am not going to let a package of fig bars talk like that to me.

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New Snack Review: Newtons Fruit Crisps

I’ve always been a Fig Newton fan. If I’m on a road trip or lazing around on the beach, my backpack will inevitably contain several sleeves of gooey Newtons. They’re such a solid snack, you know? Depending on your hunger level, they can either act as a quick bite (serving size: 2 Newtons) or as a meal replacement (serving size: 8 Newtons).

However, after manufacturing the same product of over a century, I can understand why Nabisco wanted to diversify. These cookies are great, but with the advent of Gogurt and Cheeseburger in a Can, the Newton Big Wigs (or should I say Big Figs? Oh, snap!) needed to shake things up. Staying relevant in the snack industry is a blood and guts business, and if you’re not ready to step it up a notch, you can expect to go the sad, forgotten way of Hostess’ Pudding Pies.

So how do these snacks shake down? Well, although it seems odd to attach the Newton name to a food that doesn’t stick to your teeth, these Crisps aren’t half bad. Imagine someone ironed a normal Fig Newton until it was flattened and crunchy, and you’ve pretty much got a Fruit Crisp. There’s a hard outer shell - which fractures like Tectonic Plates when you bite down on it – followed by a thin layer of succulent apple filling.

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Snack Review: Sahale Snacks Nut Blends

Growing up, travel and exploration were some of my greatest pleasures. As an adult, it frustrates me that the trappings of a halfway-conventional life (work, bills, family, etc.) along with exorbitant gas prices, make getaways of any distance darned near impossible. In lieu of letting the vagabond within go mad, I sate my wanderlust as a jet-setting armchair traveler, continent-hopping via the Travel Channel and the local Borders. When possible, I also like to send my taste-buds around the globe.

Ready to send my palate on a new journey, I was thrilled to find Sahale Snacks Nut Blends at my local Ralph’s. Colorful photos on the front of each $3.99, 5-ounce bag resembled upscale trail mix. As a fan of trail mixes - upscale or not - I was intrigued. I was further convinced by equally colorful descriptions of the snacks on the packages’ backsides, which promised to transport snackers to all corners of the culinary world. Only four out of six blends were in stock, but I reasoned that was a varied-enough itinerary. You’re probably all curious about how my trip went, so here goes!

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