Fitness Romance Saga
Tasting! Nature Valley Dark Chocolate Granola Thins
August 24th, 2010 • 22 Comments | Leave a Comment »
“Mr. Monkey is hella hungry…”
It’s teeth-gnawing, voracious and preposterously innovative. It caresses my snacky urge and speaks bliss to the innermost bowels of my taste buds. Nature Valley Granola Thins have the power to do that. It provides so much joy without causing the stomach to enlarge in 18 different directions.
The Granola Thin phenomenon is an uber thin, 2×2-inch square of crunchy granola delight with its bottom part dipped in dark chocolate love. The crispy crunch is nice and light. It won’t crack your jaw or leave you picking granola out of your teeth with someone’s dirty fingernail. The chocolate layer (which also comes in peanut butter variety) is much thinner than pictured, but I don’t give a damn. It’s perfect for us healthy types with its combination-kiss of rolled oats and divine sweetness at only 80 calories per square.
Unlike other granola’y foods, Granola Thins are NOT coated in a sugary glaze that’s shiny like the sun and sticky on the hands. And it only has 6 grams of sugar, which is the same amount you normally get from chewing on 2 slices of bread (uh huh, check your bread label).
Too bad the chocolate part does not play nice. It will melt on your fingers and get brown stains on important papers. If you like to eat chocolate and then scratch your butt while wearing light colored pants, Granola Thins are especially not for you. That situation will indeed cause many onlookers to believe you did a sh!tty accident.
“it melts too much for Greedy Baby to manage….”
This chocolate problem I refer to is NOT an isolated incident. I ate my Granola Thin at work and Greedy Kid #1 ate her’s at school, yet we both experienced the same chocolate-melting backlash. So long as you don’t scratch your azz, you will be okay to enjoy these in nice clothes.
GRANOLA THIN NOTES
- Price Paid: $3.89 for box of 10
- Calories: 80 per square
- Fat Calories: 35
- Total Fat: 4g
- Sat. Fat: 1.5g
- Sodium: 75mg
- Carbs: 11g
- Fiber: Less than 1g
- Sugars: 6g
- Protein: 1g
REACTIONS FROM THE TASTE TEST CREW
Health-hater Husband: Love the crispness and small amount of chocolate. Nice and light, yet hearty. I want some with my coffee.
Greedy Kid #1: The chocolate melts way too easy. But I still love it.
Greedy Kid #2: The softness of the chocolate is cool. Everything by Nature Valley is good.
Greedy Baby loves them, but it’s too much chocolatey mess for her to handle.
Yum UP! to: Using your fingernail as a toothpick.
Yuck Down to: Brown stains on work papers.
View the complete Taste Test Directory and Fast Food Cheat Sheets.
22 Comments
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Pubsgal August 24th, 2010 at 20:15
Those look good, and wow, pretty good stats! (They’d probably work well for a s’more, but then, I suppose that would remove any semblance of “healthy eating” from it, wouldn’t it? Wouldn’t help much with the mess factor, either.)
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Jenn @ Watch My Butt Shrink August 24th, 2010 at 20:46
Chocolate butt stains make me laugh!
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skippymom August 24th, 2010 at 21:04
These I will have to try. And then instruct the kids not to pick a wedgie. HA! They look good tho’ thanks Yum.
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skippymom Reply:
August 24th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
PS – digging the monkey – where can I get one to wig out Wallene – she hates monkeys – I am nothing if not a good momma
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Leashieloo August 24th, 2010 at 21:28
I’ve been wanting to try these, good heads up on the melty factor. I’d probably just stash these in the freezer.
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Angelia Sims August 24th, 2010 at 21:52
I would have that from head to toe. I doubt you could get them out of the package without a melting mass of code brown in 100 degree Texas heat. Ahh!
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lisa August 24th, 2010 at 21:54
ooooh- just bought the peanut butter ones at target. reallly delicious- but way too small. I gave one to my brother, and he was like, I need like 10 of these. hahah they are really good tho! The pb ones didnt melt as much, but I did notice it was soft so I would imagine they wont hold up well in my pocketbook. or in my pocket. haha
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Blake August 24th, 2010 at 22:21
Those look pretty good. Might have to try some….
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Reinaldo August 25th, 2010 at 0:49
I guess these are just not for me. I scratch my azz too many times a day… and I’m a known lactose intolerant. The combo would be just… too much for co-workers to see.
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Josie Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Man-comment. 100% Man-comment. All the ways.
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Miz August 25th, 2010 at 5:42
oooh good.
given that it was 110 here yesterday Im totally able to resist these…ONLY because of the meltage
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Erin August 25th, 2010 at 8:41
My mom always said the best things were the messiest!
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Rita @ The Giggly Bits August 25th, 2010 at 11:28
I thought they were little sandwiches! Those are not back seat of the car food for sure but I’ll have to go do some label reading at the store on these ones.
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Josie Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
these in the back seat of a car would be utter tragedy. give them to your enemy’s children, maybe?
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Rita @ The Giggly Bits Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
@Josie,I think I know the perfect person
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Amanda@SenseiTalks August 25th, 2010 at 16:22
Oooooo been dying to try these bad boys out. I’ll have to remember not touch my bum after…thanks for the warning
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Tiffany August 25th, 2010 at 17:32
You are so right! These are amazing. I keep them in the fridge at home and work to combat the meltiness! These will tame even the greediest sweet tooth!
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Kelly, The Glass Dragonfly August 25th, 2010 at 21:05
My peanut butter ones were totally melty…but tasty. I held it upside-down by the edges. Keeping them in the fridge as Tiffany suggests sounds like a good idea.
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Melissa @ Journey to Marvelous August 26th, 2010 at 1:37
I tried the chocolate ones today. My fingers looked pretty much like Greedy Babies. They were tasty though! (the granola thins. actually, my fingers were tasty too.)
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Betty A Marshall September 13th, 2010 at 13:48
My local Kroger and my Local walmart does not care these and I would like to know where you can get them at so I can. They look real good. Please let me know who cares them.
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Lisa October 18th, 2010 at 21:02
I love these. Eat them upside down and the chocolate is not a problem!
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bitter better February 1st, 2012 at 17:20
The chocolate is NOT DARK chocolate. It’s as sweet as milk chocolate. Yacky, yacky
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