Kind Nuts & Spices Bar

The combination of ingredients (pecans, almonds, cashews, peanuts, dark chocolate, and cinnamon) and the fact it contains chocolate both hint at this being a bar for cooler weather. Aside from the fact that, when weather gets warm, chocolate tends to melt this bar. Have one by itself to keep the appetite at bay, or have two at a time. I highly suggest pairing a "Nuts & Spice" bar with a "Fruit & Nut" bar - the contrast between the two make another that much better tasting and enjoyable.

One of KIND's "Fruit & Nut" bars was sent to me as part of a prize package from Trailspace.

Well, they got me hooked on these, and I went out of my way (literally, 45 minutes to REI) to make sure I had some of these packed for my last trip.

I'd tried a F&N, but hadn't yet had one from their "Nuts & Spice" line.

Cinnamon and Pecan are both favorites of mine, and who doesn't like chocolate?

Heck, it was dark chocolate, so you could daresay this was the healthy kind.

I was sold on this from the minute I saw it in the store.

And so it came out with me on the trail.

PACKAGING

I like the fact the wrapper is transparent and see-through, so if I was in a store, trying to decide between items, I could easily judge for myself what is in this bar and how appetizing it looks. I think this is something more manufacturers could (or could not) benefit from. Their honest, straightforward approach is much appreciated. 

MOUTHFEEL AND FLAVOR

At home, I like salads more than any other dish. You can put an entire food pyramid in a bowl, and there's so, so much texture to make every bite interesting. This bar is much the same, containing: pecans, almonds, cashews, peanuts, dark chocolate, and cinnamon.

SAVORY VS. SWEET

It's definitely the "savory" line of KIND bars, and was a nice contrast from the "Fruit & Nut" bars. I kind of like packing two together, and eating both in one sitting, because of the strong contrast. They make the other bar that much more enjoyable, and it keeps your taste buds interested.

Loved the texture, and the first bite was as good as the last. 

PREP

Zero. Great as an "On The Go" meal alternative, or to sure the between-meal munchies. I've even had these before bedtime just to keep myself warm through the night. 

ENERGY

This was one of two KIND bars I ate to hold my appetite back until dinner. I hiked from my primitive campsite to the other side of a State Park, and the hike back in was equal to the hike out, so it was going to be a few hours until dinner. These held me over just fine, and never once did I feel like I was starving or unsatisfied.

MEAL ALTERNATIVE

I'm not a breakfast eater, and CLIF bars sit too heavy on my stomach, so I needed something lighter. Mind you, at 200 calories each, one isn't a meal by itself. I packed a couple to take with me. I didn't want to have to bust-out a cook set to make myself lunch, nor did I want to wait for water to boil or food to rehydrate. More importantly, I wanted something that would taste fresh. 

SODIUM CONTENT

To offer this many nuts and keep the sodium at 1.0% DV?

It's an admirable feat. The addition of cinnamon as a seasoning is a smart idea, adding flavor to the bar and a nice little kick, but without adding the mound of salt most bars do to flavor the nuts.

My other meals were freeze-dried, which meant I was going to be taking in a LOT of sodium. Sure, I'd have the chance to hike a lot of it off, but I do have high blood pressure and do have to be mindful of my intake. These bars are great because I can eat one, or even several, and not worry about the sodium content. Most times, too, eating nuts means jacking-up your sodium levels, but that's not the case with these bars, either.

TRANSPORT & STORAGE

I put this in one of my mesh hip belt pockets. Well, it was sunny and 80 degrees outside, which meant I was pretty warm and sweating quite a bit.

Should have known better than to purchase one with "chocolate" in its name, because by time I'd opened it, it had already started melting. When you're counting on every calorie, and making a meal from these, you don't want those calories stuck to the wrapper.

Stick to this one for the cooler times or months.

BEST FOR

Well, it's right on the wrapper! This bar is, in no particular order:

All Natural.

• Gluten and Wheat-Free (perfect for my gluten-intolerant girlfriend).
• Has a Low Glycemic Index (48).
• Contains 5g of Fiber.
• Non-GMO and No Trans Fats.
• Dairy-Free.
• Very Low Sodium (15mg - or 1% DV)

I shared this bar with a couple friends because I was that impressed by the flavor.

How many other bar-makers out there are confident enough in their products to put them in a clear wrapper?

That fact alone speaks for this product.

Also, chocolate. Because, well, why not.