Jemma O'Hanlon

Dietitian, Consultant, Keynote Speaker

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Product Snapshot: Naturally Nood bars

Written by Catherine Saxelby on Wednesday, 03 June 2015.
Tagged: healthy snacks, Product snapshot, review, snacks

Product Snapshot: Naturally Nood bars
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At first, we thought these small bars were for kids and almost walked past them. With their retro graphics, small size and funny child-like claims, they didn’t seem serious like the usual offerings in the health food aisle. However they really challenged our nutrition and taste expectations so we had to give you the low-down. With their pleasant, hardly-sweet, taste, they’re not like the popular bliss balls, nor a baked bar, nor a fruit leather strap. 

Taste

We liked the pressed texture and taste of these bars but they do NOT taste like your usual muesli bar or even a bliss bomb. Being mixtures of nuts and dried fruit, they tasted nothing processed nor ‘raw’ but quite a dry and not-very-sweet texture.

We taste-tested three and found the Cocoa Lamington flavour the nicest with 8 out of 10. On opening, it has a nice aroma and you could definitely taste the cocoa (not cacao) and coconut.

Next we enjoyed the Banana Bread and rated it 7 out of 10. Our least fave was the Cashew Crush which was a tad bland, not sweet at all despite being 50 per cent dates. You could see chunks of cashew but the cashew flavour came later after eating. We each rated it differently at 3 and 5 out of 10.

Nood triplet

Pros

  • Clever name and on-pack claims such as ‘Naturally NOOD’, ‘Nothing Naughty’ and ‘Smooshed wholefood bar’. As well as the predictable ‘No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives’ and ‘No added sugar’. Every tiny area of the package is used!
  • Few ingredients e.g. the Banana Bread bar has only five (dates, nuts, banana, raisins and vanilla flavour) while the Cashew crush has only two (dates, cashews).
  • Small 35 g size (most bars are 40 g or 50 g).
  • Clear percentage of key ingredients listed in a separate graphic rather than being buried in the Ingredient List.
  • The bar takes up the WHOLE outer pack, unlike other bars.
  • They are ‘pressed, not baked’, so you get a different heavier texture than regular muesli bars.
  • The pack shows the new Health Star Ratings of 4 (Banana Bread, Cocoa and Orange Tango, Cashew Crush), 3.5 (Cheeky Cocoa, BerryLicious) and 3 (Cocoa Lamington) out of 5.
  • These bars aim to be funny and not take themselves too seriously. With statements like ‘Warning – May also contain traces of personality’ and ‘Don’t be shy – stay in touch with us and fellow noodists’ we were reminded of the fun pithy sayings on bottles of Nudie juices.
  • High in fibre thanks to the nuts and dried fruit.
  • One bar has just over 15 g carb, which is one Carb portion if you have diabetes.

Cons

  • No see-through panel so hard to know what you’re buying.
  • Pricey – we bought them at Woolworths for $2.35 each.
  • Made in Thailand so not local even though they’re manufactured by Sanitarium, makers of the iconic Aussie Weet-Bix.
  • Long shelf life of at least 8 months – but we wondered how they would stand up to 8 months of sitting unrefrigerated especially with their high content of crushed nuts. Would they taste stale and dry?
  • 679 kJ (162 Cals) per bar so won’t fit the official snack criteria of under 600 kJ but still not bad. We had to laugh when we read: “Keep smiling – it’s only 160 Cals per bar”.
  • All have nuts, so not suitable for nut-free schools.
  • Not sure who these are aimed at. The graphics would appeal to kids, but the health claims and taste was definitely adult, maybe the Mum.
  • With 53 per cent carbs and 23 per cent fat, these are rich and concentrated. You don’t want to eat a heap so it was good to see the small weight.

Nutrition stats

For Cocoa Lamington flavour

Component                              
Per serve Per 100 g
Energy  kJ
              Cal
679
162
1940
465
Protein, g 2.7 7.8
Fat        Total, g 7.9  22.6 
              Saturated, g 4.1 11.6
Carbohydrate, g 18.7  53.4 
Sugars, g  12.8  36.6 
Dietary Fibre, g  3.0  8.6 
Sodium, mg  15 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients

(from Ingredient List on back):

Dates 40%, cashews 24%, coconut 17%, raisins, 14%, cocoa 5%.

My verdict?

We’d definitely buy these Nood Bars again. They’d be good to throw into a school lunchbox as a small treat (if nuts are allowed) and would make a handy handbag snack if you’re watching your weight. They’re small and a treat so it’s not going to blow your whole day.

Websites

www.facebook.com/naturallynood

Thanks to my fellow taster dietitian Megan Cameron-Lee, APD. Read more of Megan’s thoughts at  http://thedieteticdegustation.blogspot.com.au

 

Reviews

  • Product snapshot: Tomato pasta sauces

    Product snapshot: Tomato pasta sauces

    18 September 2023 by, Catherine Saxelby

    What’s in your favourite tomato pasta sauce, and how much of it? Here are the most popular sauces reviewed for your reading pleasure.

    I’ve rated nine of the most popular tomato pasta sauces in terms of their nutrition, ingredient lists and jar size. You’ll find many of these in your local supermarket. The sauces are ranked:

    • from Italian (Italy grows the reddest full-flavoured tomatoes) to Australian
    • per 100 grams, which is equivalent to 3½ ounces (the standard for comparing food products)
    • by serving size (varies between brands but is generally 100–175 g in size)
    • by ingredient list, jar size and where made (with each product’s website as the source)

    The bottom line

    When you’re next out shopping, run your eyes down the per 100 g column and look for products containing less than 400 mg sodium AND less than 5 g fat (which equals 5% fat). Most of the brands are below these levels. I like Barilla, Sacla, Leggo’s, La Gina and Mutti – but that’s just me!

    Read more
  • Product Review: Low-sugar alcoholic ginger beer

    Product review: Low-sugar alcoholic ginger beer

    1 March 2023 by, Catherine Saxelby

    Want something to drink before dinner? Something that’s LOWER in alcohol than wine? To match his beer? Then look no further than Bundaberg’s low-sugar alcoholic ginger beer.

    You can drink Bundaberg low-sugar ginger beer straight from the can, or pour it into a long glass over ice with a slice of lime.

     

  • Product snapshot: Khorasan Macaroni

    Product snapshot: Berkelo’s Khorasan Macaroni

    14 September 2022 by, Catherine Saxelby

    I’m loving this macaroni from Berkelo. I was sent a sample for Whole Grain Week 2022 by the Grains Legume Nutrition Council. I cooked it up and found that it was just divine! Read on for more …

  • Product Review: super-high-oleic-safflower-oil

    Product review: Super high-oleic safflower oil

    11 May 2022 by, Catherine Saxelby

    “What does super high-oleic mean?” I hear you ask.  Also, “I haven’t heard of safflower for ages. What’s the deal?” Read on and all will be explained.

  • Product Review: Healthy Life Food Tracker

    Product review: Healthy Life Food Tracker

    6 April 2022 by, Catherine Saxelby

    When I was first asked to write this review, I thought, Not another tracker.

    After all, there have been several in recent years, such as My Fitness Pal and Everyday Diet Diary. But this one is different. It works by using your Everyday Rewards card AND your shop at Woolworths.

  • Product review: Lite n' Easy

    Product review: Lite n' Easy

    20 October 2021 by, Catherine Saxelby

    With home delivery on the rise, this post is reviewing none other than that stalwart Lite n’ Easy. We all know their meals are good for weight loss (which we all need after COVID-19!), but did you know they’re also good for general health and wellbeing ? Eating well to nourish yourself – putting your mental health and wellbeing at the forefront – is gaining momentum. Lite n’ Easy meals also ensures you satisfy your need for vitamins, minerals, fibre and phyto-compounds, such as sterols and carotenoids.

    clipboardThis post has been sponsored by Lite n' Easy.  

     

  • Product review:  Birds Eye Plant Based range

    Product review: Birds Eye Plant Based range

    15 September 2021 by, Catherine Saxelby

    When you think of Birds Eye, their frozen peas and fish fingers probably come to mind. But I bet you’d never think of plant-based products!

    clipboardThis post has been sponsored by Birds Eye. 

Healthy Weight Loss

  • Intermittent fasting vs daily calorie restriction

    Intermittent fasting vs daily calorie restriction

    3 May 2023 by, Catherine Saxelby

    As you probably know already, intermittent fasting (IF) has gained favour as an alternative regimen to daily caloric restriction (DCR). Fasting is shown to extend the lifespan of rats, and has been associated with metabolic benefits in humans, yet the results so far have been inconsistent. So, which regimen is best for healthy weight loss?

    Read more
  • The lifestyle diet craze

    The lifestyle diet craze

    15 March 2023 by, Catherine Saxelby

    What sort of a diet should you follow to lose that excess weight? These days, it’s pretty confusing with high-protein Keto advocates clashing with plant-protein followers … as well as intermittent fasters, juice-only dieters, no-carb dieters and no-animal (aka plant-based) dieters. Plus all the ads for anti-hunger supplements, meal-replacement shakes and home-delivered meals, more of which somehow appear every day. So, what sort of diet should YOU follow to lose that excess?

  • Protein shakes for weight loss

    Protein shakes for weight loss

    9 November 2022 by, Catherine Saxelby

    These days, protein shakes aren’t bought by just body builders – they’re so popular that you can readily buy a 400 g tub at your local supermarket or service station. And with tempting claims such as ‘Facilitates muscle toning’, ‘Contains transformation-making protein’ and ‘Tastes incredible, mixes easily’, why wouldn’t you grab one? But protein shakes aren’t the magic answer to all your weight-loss woes. Let’s take a look at what you get for your money.

    Guest post by dietitian Zoe Wilson APD

  • What is your relationship with food and eating?

    How to beat those cravings

    20 January 2021 by, Catherine Saxelby

    Many of us have cravings from time to time and for different reasons. One thing is certain, they can sabotage all your best efforts at a healthy diet and/or weight loss. The good news? You CAN beat them. I’ll tell you how.

  • What is your relationship with food and eating?

    How to lose weight WITHOUT going on a diet

    14 October 2020 by, Catherine Saxelby

    The word 'diet' is a turn-off for most people. It sounds hard, unpleasant and unpalatable. Losing weight doesn’t have to be hard AND it doesn’t have mean sticking to a 'diet'. You can forget Paleo, Keto, Vegan and Raw, Gluten-free and Intermittent Fasting. To lose weight, you don’t have to follow any specific diet. What you need is simple, healthy, nutritious food and a few tips and tricks.

  • What IS a healthy balanced diet for weight loss?

    What IS a healthy balanced diet for weight loss?

    16 September 2020 by, Catherine Saxelby

    Healthy weight loss happens when you lose weight slowly and steadily (around 1 kg or 2 pounds weight loss a week). Your goal is to lose weight while still getting your essential nutrients but from smaller portions. You certainly don’t want to be tired with no energy! That’s why you need regular healthy meals and snacks on hand to ensure your vitamins, minerals, omega-3s and fibre needs can be easily met. There is a new range of healthy weight loss meals available and it’s one that I’d like to recommend. With these ready meals, you’ll say goodbye to meal planning, shopping, meal preparation and cooking.

    This post is sponsored by Chefgood 

  • Kitchen make-over for the New Year

    Kitchen make-over for the New Year

    8 January 2020 by, Catherine Saxelby

     “This year, I'm going to lose weight!”, or “This year I’m opting for a healthier lifestyle!” Is your 2020 New Year's resolution something like one of these? If so, how is it going to happen?