Pure EnergyRaw On The Road What:Born out of a mother’s desire to support a child’s wish, this energy bar is guilt-free and suitable for everyone.

The Dirt:
A six-year-old that decides to go strictly veggie is nearly unimaginable, but it’s exactly what led Michigan-based Veronica Bosgraaf to start Pure Bar. Upon digesting her daughter’s wish to become a vegetarian, she began testing recipes at home. The rest is history, with proof via a number of national retailers and distribution via big names including UFNI. The result is a bar that is safe for all consumers, no matter their restriction, thanks to certification from boards assuring it means raw, vegan, organic and kosher standards.

These days, a snack bar without artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, cholesterol, refined sugar, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is not unique. However, to find one without all those additives that also excludes gluten, dairy and soy, but adds omega 3s and a decent source of fiber is rare. Furthermore, this bar is not like the earlier inventions with a horrible consistency and the taste of cardboard.

The Pure Bar is in the date and nut variety of bars that boast a moist, soft consistency and the perfect snack calorie count: about 190. The icing on the cake: the low glycemic sweetener selected is agave nectar. The bars come in six flavors, including Chocolate Brownie, ChocChip Trailmix and Cranberry Orange. The Wild Blueberry flavor smells more like blueberry than it tastes. The Cherry Cashew has a nice sweet and tart flavor, though the nut overpowers a bit. However, the Apple Cinnamon is a real winner, just sweet enough, with a balance of flavors and no aftertaste. Each bar is equal to about one and a half pieces of fruit. The apple cinnamon has five grams of protein, four grams of fiber, 250 milligrams of potassium and 400 milligrams of omega 3. Opt for these bars as a pre- and post-Thanksgiving breakfast for a lower calorie, vitamin-packed alternative to most empty, high-calorie muffins and bagels.

Where:
A box of 12 bars sells for about $28.99. For more information on retailers carrying Pure Bar, such as Whole Foods, or to buy products directly, visit The Pure Bar website.