I feel like I eat most of my meals “on the go.” Whether it’s scarfing down lunch at my desk or slurping a smoothie on the commute in the work, I always end up multitasking my meals, which I know is not really a good thing. And because of that, I don’t always make the healthiest choices.
I recently had the opportunity to try three CORE Foods Defender Meal Products. Sounds kind of scary, right?
But actually, they are raw bars; each one is the equivalent of one full bowl of raw oatmeal-on-the-go. Yup, I said “on-the-go.” They have two different types, Warriors (high protein) and Defender (high fiber), and each CORE meal contain 5-7 raw, organic and vegan ingredients (think oats, almonds, flaxseed, raisins, etc). You eat the bar and wash it down with some water. Why water? It helps the oats expand, helping you stay fuller longer (and it also helps moving things along, if you get my drift).
Because the ingredients are fresh, the meals are perishable. The good thing is that they can be stored in the freezer for months or in the refrigerator for up to a month.
I tried these flavors: Raw Cashew Cacao, Raw Walnut Banana and Raw Almond Raisin. My clear favorite so far was the banana walnut. It kind of reminded me of banana bread … though much healthier. Keep in mind that these are not sweet bars (e.g. cereal bars). I usually have a sweet tooth, but I enjoyed the fact that these weren’t very sugary; it allowed me to focus more on the flavors, if that makes sense.
I ate them three mornings in a row, around 7:15am after dropping Mimi off at daycare, and I was easily full into lunch; I didn’t need my usual 10am snack.
Here are the nutrition facts (this is for the Raw Almond Raisin):
So I don’t know if I consider 7 g of fiber to be “high fiber,” but it’s better than most commercial cereal or meal replacement bars. Plus, there’s something to be said for eating something that’s all natural and not pumped full of chemicals, preservatives and artificial ingredients.
Another huge plus (in my opinion) is the fact that they are not-for-profit, so all of their profits get reinvested in food, community and the planet. Basically, manufacturing a high quality product and protecting the environment are more important than the bottom line.
Curious, right? Well, I have good news.
If you’re interested in trying these meals, CORE Foods is currently offering $5 off any order and hosting a giveaway to win a free case of meals (a $40 value). All you have to do is “Like” them on Facebook!
Also, you can purchase their products here, or in person, including some Whole Food locations.
Which flavor are you most interested in trying?
Disclosure: I received samples of these products to facilitate a review but, as always, the text and opinions are my own.
Leah DeCesare says
I’ve never heard of this before – sounds like a great option for eating on the go! Do they have any nut-free options?
Jessica says
That’s a really good question! I think they all contain nuts, unfortunately.
Joanna {Baby Gators Den} says
I think the raw walnut banana sounds good, thank you for sharing!
Chelley @ AIsForAdelaide says
Walnut cashew! I will have to use my WFM hookups to sample these!!!
Vee says
Warrior raw cashew cacao sounds great!