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Summer is hot. Here in the Northeast we just finished up a blazing heat wave with index temperatures that reached 110 degrees. Whew! It’s days like that when you crave something cold and sweet. I can instantly tell if it’s getting muggy outside because my 3 year old will run to me and say, “freezy pop time!”. Normally we enjoy frozen treats with cream or yogurt. So when Fruttare asked if we’d like to try out their new Fruit & Milk Bars I was happy to give it a go.
Fruttare offers a new take on an old favorite. There are 4 flavors of Fruit & Milk Bars (Strawberry, Peach, Coconut and Banana) and 4 flavors of Fruit Bars (Mango, Strawberry, Lime and Orange). It’s great to see different flavors for a change. I love orange frozen bars, but sometimes I want something a little different. I have to say, I was a little disappointed to find my local store didn’t carry the coconut or banana – I was really looking forward to those. Instead, we grabbed a box of the Strawberry & Milk.
[zilla_alert style=”white”]”Bite into the bright side with new, awesomely uplifting Fruttare™ Fruit & Milk Bars. Each bar is bursting with luscious real fruit, creamy milk and positive feeling. Sweetness!” – Fruttare Website[/zilla_alert]
The bars are very creamy and, even though there isn’t an abundance of fruit chunks, the strawberry flavor was still in every bite. They’re also big enough to satisfy an adult, but small enough for little hands and little tummies.
One thing I did notice right away is that the bars are not as sweet as other brands. Most fruit and cream pops I’ve tried are more like fruit flavored ice cream. The Fruttare flavor is similar to fresh strawberries in a bowl of lightly sweetened milk. And, I like that. Just because you want something cold and creamy, doesn’t mean you want something so sweet you can’t finish it (or so sweet that your children go zooming around the house on a sugar rush). Mom and Dad can also appreciate the fact that they are only 110 calories each with 3 grams of fat.
Little man seemed perfectly happy with the flavor – he ate it up and asked for a second one. Sorry, dude – you’ll have to wait until tomorrow.
These bars are definitely delicious and, on a hot day, uplifting. “A burst of pure joy”. At under $5.00 per box of 4, their price is about the same as other brands in the same market. Now, let’s talk about ingredients!
Fruttare does use some tasty, natural ingredients such as milk, real sugar, strawberries, coconut oil, beet juice etc. That already makes them a better choice over other leading frozen bar brands. But, I was a disappointed to see that corn syrup was listed as well. My family, along with many others, are trying more and more to remove corn syrup from our diets. I would love to see Fruttare release at least a few choices that are corn syrup free. There are a few other ingredients that may be unknown to shoppers. So, lets break it down. You can decide for yourself which ones are okay for your family – and which ones you like to avoid.
- MALTODEXTRIN – “…digestible carbohydrate made from rice, corn, or potato starch (celiacs, beware — it can also be derived from barley or wheat). […] often used in processed foods as a thickener or a filler”*
- MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES – Both are forms of fatty acids derived from animal fat and plant oils. They are added as an aid to mix oil and water, aka emulsification. Some glycerides have trans fat, but not all. According to the nutrition information, Fruttare has NO trans fat.
- MALIC ACID – “Malic acid is found naturally in foods and is sometimes added to candies and jellies to give off a sour then sweet taste. It occurs naturally in all fruits.” **
- ICE STRUCTURING PROTEIN – Now, this was a new one even to me. It’s also known as Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) – not to be confused with the antifreeze you put in your car! It’s a class of polypeptide (amino acid) derived from both plant and animal sources that extends the shelf life of frozen foods.
The Verdict
Fruttare is a step above many top brand frozen treats. While they do contain some preservatives, they also use real fruits, milk and natural colors – which makes them a much better choice than the artificial pops on the market.
The Prize: One (1) RJC reader will win a coupon to get one (1) free box of any variety of Fruttare Bars.
Details: Giveaway ends August 13th, 2013 @ 11:59 pm ET. Open to US Residents ONLY, 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. RJC Giveaway Terms
a Rafflecopter giveaway
*http://www.fitsugar.com/What-Maltodextrin-293287
** http://www.livestrong.com/article/82720-malic-acid-foods/
