Emma and Tom's Life Bars

I am trying not to eat processed sugar for eight weeks. So, I thought I would share these beauties with you. From my browsing of the supermarket aisles, I am thinking these are the healthiest fruit and nut bars on the market. Unlike other fruit and nut bars (which I refuse to eat), these contain simple ingredients, no added sugar, no strange vegetable oils, no numbers and no grains. Oh and they actually taste good too!

Look at that model ingredient list. It sets an example for other fruit and nut bar manufacturers!

Emma and Tom is an Australian business, founded in 2004 by friends, Emma and Tom. These two have a motto of 'look after yourself' which runs throughout the business. Their website says they want to offer 'nutritious minimally processed whole fruit products that are good for you....and that taste great too'. Along with the fruit and nut bars, Emma and Tom also make juices....with none of that weird stuff in them! :)

Life Bars are available in the following flavours and I have included my thoughts below. The ingredients are listed in brackets.

• Fig and lemon - What a wonderful combination! I did not think it would work, but it does, so well! The texture is a little crunchy from all the tiny fig seeds. (Dates, raw cashews, dried figs, ground chia, cold pressed lemon oil) 
• Cacao and orange - This is just like eating a chocolate biscuit, but better, more filling and healthier:) (Dates, raw cashews, seedless raisins, cacao powder, cold pressed orange oil) 
• Banana and chia - And this one is like eating a really dense banana cake! (Dates, raw almonds, dried bananas, ground chia seed) 
• Cherry and goji - This is the only bar I did not like. I found it too plain and could not taste the cherry or goji...not that I know what goji tastes like anyway. (Dates, raw almonds, dried cherries, dried goji berries)

The nutritional panel

The 40g net bars are sold individually and cost $2.65 each. I bought mine from Woolworths but you may be able to find them in other supermarkets. 

They are just the right size to put into your bag or even your pocket. I have enjoyed them at work, whilst waiting for the train and even in the air on an aeroplane. Each bar is the equivalent of one serve of fruit.

The fig and lemon bar - you can see the fruit and nuts! It has not been padded out with oats and other grains

As you see from the ingredient lists above, all the bars contain dried dates (yum!) and either cashews or almonds, full of lots of good fats. Dried fruit also contains everybody's favourite, our good old friend, FIBRE!

If you have found any other great snack items (grain and processed sugar free), please let us know:)