Run Oregon sometimes receives products to review. In this post, Run Oregon provides some initial impressions on some portable snacks that may be perfect to add to your running bag.
Company: Barnana (read more about the company at the bottom of this post)
Impressions (Matt):
Simple and Easy – those are words that I like to try to incorporate into my snacks. That can sometimes be easier said than done with preservatives that are sometimes tossed into many handy treats. But Barnana seems to be one snack that keeps things as simple as they come. I mean, with the ingredients in the Coconut Chewy Banana Bites being solely “Organic Bananas, Organic Coconuts” and in the Original Chewy Banana Bites being “Organic Bananas, Organic Banana Powder,” I am more than impressed.
While the visual of the individual bites may look a bit unappealing (i.e. brown – typically something to be avoided in bananas), the texture is chewy and tastes exactly as you would imagine – like a delicious banana. As far as taste goes, if you like bananas then you won’t be disappointed. I personally liked the coconut version, as it adds just a subtle bite of the tropical fruit while still staying true to the banana taste. These would be a great snack to toss into gym bag or car to cure that sweet tooth while avoiding all the extra gunk.
Products:
Other flavors include:
- Coffee
- Chocolate
- Peanut Butter
- Apple Cinnamon
Price:
- $23.99 for 12-pack (1.4 ounce packages)
- $14.99 for 3-pack (3.5 ounce packages)
- Subscribe and save 10% per order
- Amazon currently has 20% off
Company: Munk Pack
Good for runners AND kids!
Impressions (Kelly): While most other bloggers were not sure about eating oatmeal from a pouch, I probably finish my kid’s fruit pouch snacks once a week when they forget about it and I find it a half-hour later when they’ve already gone to bed. I feel that everyone can get good nutrition from these pouch-delivery snacks because they offer a shelf-stable delicious way to deliver whole servings of “good for you.” When I got my Munk Pack Oatmeal Fruit Squeezes in the mail I immediately gave one to my 18-month old, who is extremely picky. He eagerly tried the Munk Pack and ate about half of it before he decided it was “Train Time” and abandoned me to go play. So I finished it – and put the other three flavors in my purse to take to work before my husband or kids found them.
The consistency of the Munk Pack Oatmeal Fruit Squeeze is about that of homemade oatmeal when it’s cooled down, mixed with fruit. You might also think of it like a bread pudding consistency. The fruit is pureed, for the most part, but it’s still easy to pick out the fresh flavors. The first one I tried (without my kids getting it first) is probably my favorite; Blueberry Acai Flax – but this one also requires you to floss when you’re done with it. It’s got 4 grams of fiber but only 100 calories so it worked well for me as a mid-morning snack. Much better than a donut.
Bottom line: The Munk Pack Oatmeal Fruit Squeezes are packaged like your kids’ snacks, and your kids might love them, but there’s nothing juvenile about the nutrition and flavor. You can heat them up if you’d like – not in the microwave, though; place them in warm water – or eat them right out of the pantry. They are certified non-GMO and are also gluten free.
Flavors & Prices:
- Apple Quinoa Cinnamon
- Peach Chia Vanilla
- Blueberry Acai Flax
- Raspberry Coconut
- Maple Pear Quinoa
- Sampler Pack with all 5 flavors
The individual flavors come in 6-Packs for $14.99 and the Sampler of all 5 flavors is $11.99 with free shipping.
You can purchase Munk Pack Oatmeal Fruit Sqeezes online here or at area Whole Foods stores, Market of Choice locations, in Bend at Newport Ave Market, and in Vancouver at Arnada Naturals. Check out the store finder here and just type in your zip code to find a nearby store.
More about Barnana:
On a hot summer day in 1981, architect Joao Suplicy took home a large broken skylight from a construction project in the hills of Curitiba, Brazil. Suplicy woke the next morning and discovered that all the grass beneath the skylight had died. This simple, unintentional experiment sparked an idea that started as a personal hobby and continued on as a family tradition.
From this simple revelation, Joao constructed a natural dehydrator and tested it with fresh, peeled bananas. After just five days he had raw, organic, dehydrated bananas that tasted sweet and lasted for months. To their delight, Joao shared the organic bananas with his family and friends, but perhaps the biggest fan of all was his eldest son, Caue. In 2001, Caue relocated to southern California to commence his career as a professional triathlete. The Suplicy family tradition of creating organic chewy bananas carried on, as he shared the banana superfood with his friends and fellow athletes across the country.
In 2010, Caue, Nik, and Matt decided to share the super potassium snack with the world and embark on a journey that would soon become Barnana.
More about Munk Pack:
We got started in the kitchen, funneling homemade oatmeals and smoothies into bottles. Then we discovered the convenience of pouches, which allow you to keep foods non-perishable without the use of artificial preservatives. Turns out, the spouted pouch is not just for kids’ snacks or apple sauces – adults love it too!
Inspired by nature, we sourced all kinds of superfoods from farms and mills, and set up a tent at our local farmers’ markets. As we’ve expanded, we maintain our hands-on approach to sourcing ingredients. Taste and quality are always our priority. We are excited to share our products with you and look forward to hearing from you!
*”More About” information taken from the company’s website. We like to let their own stories speak for themselves, because we review companies that have real personality and passion about what they do.
