Each of these things warrants their own post but I’m so far behind I have to consolidate!
First up…
Pure Bars!
Let me start by saying I’m NOT a big bar person. I used to stock granola bars as a quick snack on the run but since I started working from home I’ve eased off them. Most have tons of extra ingredients I’m not that into anyway. Remember the conversation this quick review of Fiber One bars started? HYSTERICAL!
Anyway, when Pure contacted me and asked if I was interested, I hesitantly said yes. An organic, vegan, raw bar full of Omega-3s, could there any more buzz words in there? Honestly, most health food labels cause involuntary eye rolls anymore. I’m tired of seeing products littered with these descriptors only to be disappointed by the ingredient list and nutritional information. But I was willing to get them a shot anyway.
When the pure bars arrived I immediately turned one over to see the ingredient list and it made me chuckle, in a good way.
Organic Dates, organic apples, organic agave nectar, organic walnuts, organic cashews, organic almonds, organic rice protein concentrate, organic cinnamon. That’s all!
That list is from their Apple Cinnamon bar, my favorite. Let’s take the word organic out just to see how simple the list really is.
Dates, apples, agave nectar, walnuts, cashews, almonds, rice protein concentrate, cinnamon.
In my opinion, for a convenience food, that’s not too shabby! But what about the taste?
Honesty, DIVINE! Sweet, moist, FULL of flavor. I really wasn’t sure if I was going to like them but I have to admit they are tasty and FILLING! Or should I say satisfying? A really great option to keep in your bag those days you aren’t sure you’ll be able to grab lunch.
Nutritionally they are a bit higher in calories then your average dieter may be into but a bargain for the fullness factor if you ask me. Not too mention I’d rather eat REAL food at slightly higher points then "light" fake foods and lower. This wasn’t always how I felt, but over time I learned to value real food more and more. At 190 calories, 8g of fat, 28g of carbs, 3g of fiber and 5g of protein they weigh in at 4 WWP and 5 new WWPP
The bars come in 6 flavors, Apple Cinnamon, Chocolate Brownie, Cranberry Orange, Wild Blueberry, Cherry Cashew, and Trail Mix. All are tasty but that’s the order I like them in as well. Seriously, Apple Cinnamon ROCKS!
Click here to learn more on the Pure Web Site
Crio Brü
Yet another product I was VERY hesitant to try. I actually turned down the opportunity until the the company convinced me otherwise. This was in their original pitch…
I thought you might be interested to learn about a new chocolate drink that brews like coffee. It’s called Crio Brü – www.criobru.com. Crio Brü is incredibly delicious and made from 100% pure cocoa
All I saw was "brews like coffee" and I was completely uninterested. See, I HATE coffee. I just do. Never liked it even though it smells divine. When I taste it, blech!
So I wrote back,
Thanks Jon, but I’m not interested. I don’t "do" coffee. But it sounds interesting!
To which he responded.
That is what makes this different, however, is that it isn’t coffee…it’s made from 100% cocoa.
Hmmm a ‘coffee like’ drink made with cocoa beans INSTEAD of coffee beans? Ok, I’m game.
When I opened the bag I was overcome by the GLORIOUS smell. Oh my word.. chocolate lovers will understand. I seriously wanted to bath in it.
The grinds looked like coffee but not as fine and uniform…
I brewed a cup not knowing what to expect and was pleasantly surprised! It was like a non-creamy, less sweet hot chocolate. That may sounds odd or bad but it was actually pleasant. A warm cup of cocoa, complex with flavor and deliciously satisfying. I added a spash of vanilla almond milk to cool it down and simply fell in love. For the first time ever I think I understand the lure of coffee.
According to the Crio Brü site a cup has about has 20 calories and 3g of carbs. They also make a lot of health claims I tend to take with a grain of salt. All I know is I like the way it tastes. And as a non-coffee drinker, I think it’s fun to have an alternative to tea when I’m in the mood for a hot beverage.
Click here to learn more on the Crio Brü web site.
A Cherry-rific Giveaway
Finally! The giveaway. Are you still with me? I feel like this is the longest post ever!
Here’s the deal…. The Cherry Marketing Institute is hosting a fabulous Recipe contest using, what else but CHERRIES! I outlined all the details here on FitBloggin’ BUT I forgot one teeny, tiny thing… they are giving away an awesome Cherry Red Gift pack to not only the winners of the contest but for one of my readers as well! Look at it up there, it’s a beautiful set! Simply leave a comment below to be entered to win the Cherry Red Cookware giveaway pictured above.
Click here to learn all about the Cherry Recipe Contest and how you can enter your cherry recipe!
Full Disclosure: Pure and Crio Brü both sent me products to review free of charge. However, they did not pay me for the review. My opinion about their products are my own. The Cherry Marketing Institute is a paying sponsor of the FitBloggin’ conference and they sent me the gift pack pictured above in exchange for publicizing the Cherry Recipe contest.
Update: Winner announced! It was Brooke! – A big thanks too all those that entered!
Winner selected using the Pick Giveaway winner plugin. Click here to learn more.
190 Responses to 2 Awesome Reviews with a Cherry-rific Giveaway on Top!
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About Roni
Roni started this blog in '05 to journal her weight loss. 70lbs later, she's committed to living a conscious, healthy life and hopes to inspire others along the way. Read more on the about page.
ohhh, i fell in love with cherries on a trip to WA state last summer. I’d love the set!
I would love this set!!!! Thanks for all of your great recipes & advice!
The name of this set made my mouth start watering for cherries. What a fun way to add a punch of color to your day.
I love red kitchen utensils! And the Pure bars are awesome, esp the trail mix one.
I love the kitchen set and would love to be entered into the giveaway contest. Thanks!
I read your blog every day!! I love it! and I love that cherry set too! :)
This would look oh-so-pretty in my red kitchen!!!
I hate coffee, too…but I love a warm drink. I just might have to try this chocolate drink.
Ooooohhhhh! I love red! Please add me to the entry list! I’ll def have to check out the pure bars.
That kitchen set is so pretty! I love reading your blog, Roni.
I’m not a bar person well because I don’t think it ever replaces a meal, so I never buy them but when I want to, I never know which ones to get so I skip it anyway. I’ll remember to give Pure Bars a try from your review!
I love the Cherry Red gift pack, I need to jazz up my all white kitchen :)
OMG! Perfect for my kitchen. My colors are Yellow and Red. I want to win.
I live in Canada, I hope I am alowed to be entered…….Please.
Cute stuff! Thanks for the giveaway!!
The Pure bars remind me of a Lara Bar. They sound delish!
I could really use a new set of bowls and kitchen utensils. Thanks for the opportunity!
Red is my favorite color and one that I like to have in my kitchen. All of those red items would look great!
Those bars sound pretty good. I’m going to need to check them out .
the red bowls are so cool!
I enjoyed your review of both of the products. Im not sure I would submit to a 5 point bar but the cocoa sounds yummy! Wonder how many points that is…
I love the Cherry Red Cookware Set! How cute! And I am totally interested in trying those Pure Bars.
that set looks awesome! I woud love to win something like that!
Thanks for the review on the bars! My DH eats ‘nutrition’ bars for breakfast on mornings he swims and I like that there’s a healthier version out there than what he’s currently eating. I would also like to be entered for the cherry set. So pretty!
Thanks for your reviews, Roni. I really depend on them. They definitely sway me one way or another and usually don’t try new things unless I know of someone who loves it, and I find our tastes are very similar. Must be why I LOVE your site so much! Actually though, I didn’t think the caloric content was that high for the Pure bar. Many other nutrition bars top 210-240, so I’m happy with a new alternative.
Thanks for your comments on the bars~They have to be better than the FiberOne bars~Chocolate drink that brews like coffee… interesting… may just have to try it. Like you, not into coffee but it does smell heavenly~Please enter me for the give away~redoing my kitchen and it’s a toss up between red or orange~Thanks for all your inspiration~
Oh man, that cherry set sure would look awesome in my kitchen!!
Ooo, I’m a sucker for red kitchen gadgets!
Pick me, Pick me!!
Oh, man! Love cherries – love red!
I’d love to win that set, especially the bowls. The cherry shade of red is one of my favorite colors.
Thanks too for the reviews, I recently bought a pure bar but haven’t tried it yet, and now I’m interesting in trying Crio Bru (I admit, I do TONS of coffee!)
Ohhh I need new mixing bowls!! So cute!
I love the red bowls.
I was secretly hoping for a giveaway of the bars :(
My favorite color is red – would love to add these to my collection!
I would love to win these! Please-o-please :)
I love the red cooking stuff.
Love the red set. Yea for cherries!
What a fun set! I’m not going to lie though I’m not the biggest fan of cherries, I’m working on it though since the have such great anti-inflammatory properties.
I’m truly intrigued by the brewed chocolate…and LOVE the cherry red set!
Brewed chocolate?!?! It’s like a Christmas miracle!
Awesome set, great giveaway! I’m a fairly new reader and love both roni’s weigh and Green lite bites!! Thanks for all you do, you are an inspiration and I always look forward to your new posts!
Haha! I loved those comments about Fibre1 bars!!
I love those bars, and somehow never made the connection between eating them and my *ahem* musicality…? Definitely going to be paying more attention!
What a beautiful cooking utensil set! I would love to add that to my kitchen! And I am so intrigued with the brewed hot chocolate… Might just have to try that!
That cherry red would fit right into my kitchen! Red has been a fave of mine for the kitchen for many, many years!
I love the gift set! It would look great in my kitchen!
This is an awesome giveaway! I love the color. :)
Oo would love to win. Such cute stuff :)
That whole set is so pretty, and would match my bright red coffeemaker! Thanks for having the giveaway! I’m loving reading your blog too.
I am very intrigued by the chocolate drink. LOVE Coffee but LOVE chocolate even more!!! Could use some sassy red spatulas too =)
love the mixing bowls! mine burnt up in the microwave…… looking forward to trying those bars also…. :) ~ a fellow WW lifetime member
That set is gorgeous! Would love to win!
Such a pretty kitchen set!
Great give away! Thanks for a chance to win!
Thanks for the review on the bars, I like to
keep bars in my purse/diaper bag just in case.