by Katie Ryan

Created on: August 28, 2009

What's so great about Quaker Oats Sweet and Salty Crunch Granola Bars? For one thing, they taste both sweet and salty. Although their name sounds more fitting for a chicken dish at a cheap Chinese restaurant, the satisfyingly salty peanut flavor is balanced well by the sweet, honey undertones. While most granola bars rely on peanuts for the bulk of their nutty mixtures, Quaker Oats Sweet and Salty combine the classic peanut with almonds and cashews for a more exotic taste. This well-rounded nuttiness is complemented superbly by the traces of molasses that permeate the bar.

With a serving size of two bars coming in at only 150 calories, they rank amongst the tastiest of guilt-free snacks. As multiple studies have shown, whole grains such as oats have significant benefits when it comes to maintaining a healthy heart and body weight. With a hearty dose of rolled oats per two-bar serving, these bars are sure to help you meet your daily whole grain quota. With no trans fat, these tasty little bars are additionally heart healthy. A small dose of fiber combined with five grams of fat creates for a filling treat that can get anyone through the most sluggish of afternoons. At four grams of sugar per bar, it shouldn't wreck your day's allowance for sweetness. Make sure, however, to pair your snack with a bottle of water as opposed to that sugar-laden can of soda. Compared to Nature Valley's Sweet and Salty Peanut bars which pack in nine grams of fat and eleven grams of sugar per bar, Quaker Oats are definitely the better option.

Where are the best places to enjoy this snack? Although they are the perfect size for stuffing in a life jacket while white water rafting down the rivers of northern California, they can also be enjoyed in the standard confines of a cubicle. Enjoy these highly portable bars while sitting on a park bench, walking the dog, riding your bike, or catching your morning ride. Simply taking a short break to nibble on granola goodness may have the effects of transporting one to a more outdoorsy setting.

Peanuts and honey not your thing? Go ahead and try Quaker Oats' other two great flavors- Oats Nuts and Honey and Toffee Nut Crunch. Sure to satisfy any sweet or salty cravings, Quaker Oats has done it again when it comes to creating big taste in a small bar.

For more information visit: http://www.quakeroats.com/products/oat-snacks/sweet- salty-crunch-granola/oats-nuts-and-honey.aspx#RecArt s

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