LARA bars

[lambe]

are these really raw? they seem heaven-sent.

i know there has been dispute before over raw-chocolate (being labled raw & not ACTUALLY raw), so im wondering if anyone knew the full story about these little candies courtesy of mama nature.

we sell them where i work & i have easy access. i want it every day.

[RawHeaven]

I believe they are at least 99.9% raw? ;) They use dried fruits and dates to keep things smooshed together, no preservatives added. I don't usually eat dried fruit, but these bars are great for on the go trips. I read the package of one of the cashew bars...can't remember the name specifically. The ingredients simply listed: cashews, dates, pecans, almonds for example and nothing else. I think they're raw but maybe someone else knows for certain.

[plucked]

lambe, don't know about the rawness, but keep in mind that they are not organic. Conventionally grown cherries and apples have some of the highest concentrations of pesticide residue. Not to deter you, it's hard to have options and I still hit p the larabars when in need, but just want to pass on the scoop. Besides, the cherry and apple bars are undoubtedly the best in my opinion!

-Plucked

[spicyfull]

Not on MY Watch......

[annielauri]

NUMMMMMMMMMMMM, the cherry pie and lemons ones are my faves!!

[rawstrength]

They had them at my Costco today! So I picked up two boxes. I would not make them a staple of my diet, because the rawness is a bit questionable, but they're good in a pinch. Having a LARA bar stashed in my purse has saved me from caving in to cooked food on many an occassion.
I'm so grateful that products like LARA bars exist, because they help make raw food more convenient and they help SAD eaters get more raw in, without even knowing it ;) .

[Aleesha Sattva]

i get mine from costco as well. ;)

i don't eat them daily, but i do keep them available for a pinch in the car. also... my hubby who is not raw is now taking them to work with him which pleases me greatly! much better than the SAD bars he was taking before!

[rawfoodistdavid]

A lot of the raw seed bars look like they could be easily made in a food processor and/or dehydrator. It'd certainly save money to make your own snack bars.

Anyone got recipes?

[Coconutcutie]

My husband made his own today with just medjool dates, raw carob, pecans, and some fresh mint leaves from our garden...he enjoyed them and so did our kids, which is a huge victory!

[ManyLittles]

Not sure about all of them. I know for sure the chocolate ones aren't. I think they're 90% raw. The Jocolat Larabars are worse...75%, if I remember correctly. And like someone said, they're not organic. The lemon bars are, indeed, very tasty. However, the strong lemon flavor makes me suspicious. The ingredients include "natural lemon flavors". Now if THAT doesn't sound suspicious, I don't know what does! Any company that markets a product as "raw" deliberately, knowing it's not all raw, makes me question their trustworthiness.

That being said, I have eaten them. But when I'm dedicated to being 100% raw, I don't eat them, except in cases of raw emergency.

Also, there are larabar knock off recipes on here and also on the net. If you look at the ingredients, you'll realize most larabars would be easy to replicate. It's mostly dates and nuts (usually cashews or almonds), with another ingredient mixed in for a different flavor (cherries, apples, etc.) and sometimes spices (ginger, cinnamon).

Someone here should just make similar bars that are REALLY raw and organic, and sell them. All the other raw bars out there aren't very good, in my opinion. Too bad larabars aren't better quality. There's really no reason for their use of such poor ingredients.

[raw_danceruk]

I would NOT eat them

considering its cheaper and easier to just make your own, then YOU are in control of what goes into your body.

Just my two cents :cool:

[rawfoodistdavid]

Just made my first 'larabars'.

1 1/2 cups pitted dates

1 1/2 cups mixed nuts and seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, linseed, walnut, seasame)

1/2 inch chunk of ginger root, 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil, few goji berries, cinnamon, a little sea salt.

Processed the dates first until they formed a ball, added the other ingredients and processed until most of the seeds were fairly broken down but still visible.

Placed on film and manipulated them into shape using wooden spatula.

Tastes BETTER than ginger larabars. They are now in the fridge setting.

[SuzyQ]

Amen to what Rawstrength said. Kudos to RawFoodistDavid for making your own. Can't wait to try it myself.

[Theogirl]

I make my own version of these from instructions different members have provided. (i.e. dates ground with nuts and fruit bits) There are other types of bars available. I think SmartMonkey is one... my local Planet Organic has about five different brands to choose from, each with many flavors available. I liked the cashew cherry one.

[jacsam]

Just made my first 'larabars'.

1 1/2 cups pitted dates

1 1/2 cups mixed nuts and seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, linseed, walnut, seasame)

1/2 inch chunk of ginger root, 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil, few goji berries, cinnamon, a little sea salt.

Processed the dates first until they formed a ball, added the other ingredients and processed until most of the seeds were fairly broken down but still visible.

Placed on film and manipulated them into shape using wooden spatula.

Tastes BETTER than ginger larabars. They are now in the fridge setting.
Thanks for the recipe....now this is the type of bar I like.

[plucked]

Wow, the lemon ones have "natural flavoring"? bummer. In truth I'll still eat them in a pinch, but natural flavoring is any one of a laboratory concocted ingredient. "Raw", huh? :rolleyes:

Here's a link you'll find interesting on what natural flavoring is:

..."any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from..."

http://www.supermarketguru.com/page.cfm/6046

[RawSinger]

Some are 100% raw and some are only partially raw. Not organic?? I'm in agreement with everyone else's attitude on this...it's entirely better to eat a nonorganic, mostly raw Larabar than to give in to a SAD burger, any day. I've never actually had one myself but will choose to make my own one day.