GLUTEN-FREE VEGETARIAN LARABARS AT FANCY FOOD 2009

When I found I have celiac disease, I was so panicked about finding quick snacks that I adopted a habit I'd avoided for 20 years as a vegetarian: the evil energy bar. I'd always felt that if I wanted energy fast I could grab a seitan or cheese sandwich so why would I want an overly-sweet, high fat faux-candy? But when sandwiches became less available to me, I succumbed, proudly showing my nutritionist I was guarding myself against gluten with the bars I kept in my bag. She smiled awkwardly, explaining I'd chosen a bar marketed to kids, mostly rice, low in protein, high in fat and sugar. She made suggestions. 

And that's how I met Larabars. They're widely available, glutenfree, vegetarian, well-made with no fillers, come in a huge range of flavors, so there is no boredom factor. Here are the newest additions to the Larabar line: Tropical Fruit Tart, Peanut Butter and Jelly, and German Chocolate Cake bars.

Tops for me was the Tropical Fruit Tart, and for not particularly exotic ingredients, but one so fresh in a bar: orange peel. Yes, dates and coconut, and other tropical stuff, but it's the orange that perks it all up. A winner!

Next, the Peanut Butter and Jelly. Though my childhood memory of that combo is of commercial, sweetened peanut butter with grape jelly, this more wholesome rendition has the added spark of unsweetened cherries, which I really enjoyed. Nice twist!

And finally, the German Chocolate Cake. I must admit I'm such a fan this (actual) cake that I once ate an entire frozen one in one evening. This bar is neither cakey nor specifically reminiscent of a GCC. But is it chocolatey? Yep, and richly so. Could be sweeter, but that might be my large sweet tooth talking. Final verdict: hate the name, really like the bar.

In closing, just want to say again how happy I am that there are Larabars in the glutenfree vegetarian world!