Did You Know 5 - Food Allergy Friendly Snacks

This week I bring you another ‘Did You Know’ to help you find treats, snacks and/or healthy food-allergy friendly options when you’re roaming the streets of Dublin. It seems we went all green this week but the flavours are diverse, I assure you! As always I would like to stress the importance of reading the labels before you buy anything and the importance of studying them extra hard if your product has recently changed packaging because it’s usually a sign of ‘improved’ taste which means altered ingredient lists – the dread of food allergy diets everywhere!

Siesta Carob Luxury Confectionery Mint Flavour
Carob is not chocolate. I think that the majority of people who hate carob are the people who eat it expecting chocolate. Although carob is often used as a chocolate substitute it really is a very different flavour which can be something of an acquired taste. Personally I love it and I especially love Siesta’s mint flavoured bar - yum yum yum! The biggest problem for me is that it contains soya and has a crazy fat content. Other than that the ingredients are so simple, there is no sugar and the taste is one to be craved once you get the hang of it ;) … Down to Earth, Nourish and the Hopsack are all stockists and a Carob Mint bar can be yours for about €1.50. There is also an ‘Original’ flavour and ‘Orange’ flavoured bar which always seems to be in stock but Mint has my heart.

- Dairy free
- Wheat free
- Gluten free
- Egg free
- Corn free
- Sugar free
- Yeast free
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Nut free

Lyme Regis’ Fruit Break Plum & Apricot Bar
I have been a fan of this little bar for a number of years. It’s really affordable and tasty as could be. It resembles the consistency of nakd bars and fits in great for a quick snack. I have to limit myself when purchasing them though because I find them quite addictive and will eat as many as I buy all in one day! They are almost always available in Holland & Barrett.

- Dairy free
- Wheat free
- Gluten free
- Egg free
- Soya free
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- No added sugar


Lyme Regis’ Fruitus Moist Organic Apple & Oat Bar
Yet another option on the snack bar circuit. Fruitus has a very simple ingredient list and doesn’t try to be too much other than an organic snack bar which doubles as one portion of your five-a-day. It reminds me of health food bars from my youth. Available in Holland & Barrett.

- Dairy free
- Wheat free (although does contain oats)
- Corn free
- Egg free
- Soya free
- Yeast free
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- No added sugar
- Organic

Farmbake Apple Turnovers
There are four turnovers our in a package and if you are like me you will want all four to yourself! That’s not to say that they are small, it’s more of a representation of my own gluttonous behaviour. Anyway, these apple turnovers are a treat whether you have just one or all four. F says that they taste a bit artificial … and yes, I can taste what he’s talking about but then he has the option of picking up almost any fresh baked pastry with very few restrictions and Farmbake are not claiming to be pure and healthy. The real trouble is that they are made in a factory that processes milk protein/lactose, soya, egg and nuts so bear that in mind according to your own gambling nature. My rule is to generally stay away from ‘produced on a line’ products and proceed with caution when ‘made in a factory that processes’. If you do decide to give them a go they are available at many corner stores/newsagents for in or about €2.00 and I think that they are best eaten by first biting off the corners and then squishing the filling so it’s evenly disbursed! ;) -do check the best before date though and try to get the freshest batch.

- Dairy free
- Egg free
- Soya free
- Yeast free

Veggie Juice in a Bar
If you’re looking for an opposite to Farmbake’s Apple Turnovers then you might find it in Juice Master’s Veggie Juice in a Bar. This pure health bar is packed with vegetables, plants, algaes and friendly bacteria. I had seen it on the market a few times and had been a bit apprehensive… Frankly it sounded gross to me. The ingredients made me think that this bar couldn’t possibly be an enjoyable experience then when I opened the wrapper and saw the black/dark green coloured bar (just like powedered spirulina in water) my fears were intensified. When I took a bite my instant reaction was: yuck… but then I chewed… took another bite... chewed some more and before you know it I was thinking that Veggie Juice in a Bar is actually a decent tasting and very healthy sounding possibility for a breakfast on the run or a snack while hiking and it’s really not half bad considering all the goodness that is packed in! I say go for it. I haven’t tried the Fruit Juice in a Bar, which I’m sure sounds more appealing but don’t let appearances deceive you, some things just take a little getting used to.

- Dairy free
- Egg free
- Gluten free
- Soya free
- Yeast free
- Corn free
- Vegetarian
- Raw
- No added sugar
- No artificial flavours, colours or fats


PRODUCT INFORMATION:

Siesta’s Carob Luxury Confectionery Mint Flavoured Bar
Ingredients: Carob powder, non-hydrogenated vegetable fat, soya powder, emulsifier (lecithin), peppermint oil flavouring (0.3%)
Nutritional Information per 100g:
Energy 2458kJ/559.6kcal
Protein 13.3g
Carbohydrates 17.97g
Fat 44.3g


Lyme Regis’ Fruit Break Plum & Apricot Bar
Ingredients: Fruit 67% [prunes 19% (contains vegetable oil, preservative: potassium sorbate), dates, sultanas, apricot 10%, apple juice concentrate], cashew, sunflower seeds
Nutritional Information per 100g:
Energy 1568kJ/ 374kcal
Protein 8.8g
Carbohydrate 45.9g
of which sugars 36.6g
Fat 17.7g
of which saturates 3.5g
Fibre 4.6g
Sodium trace

Lyme Regis’ Fruitus Moist Organic Apple & Oat Bar
Ingredients: Fruit 51% (sultanas, apple 8%, apple juice concentrate 6%), oasts, sunflower oil
Nutritional Information per 100g:
Energy 1629g/387kcal
Protein 6.0g
Carbohydrates 60.2g
of which sugars 37.1g
Fat 13.6g
of which saturates 3.1g
Fibre 3.8g
Sodium trace

Farmbake Apple Turnovers
Ingredients: Wheat flour, sugar, water, vegetable oil and fat partly hydrogenated, glucose-fructose syrup, apple (10%), gelling agent (pectin), acidity regulator (citric acid, potassium citrate, calcium citrate), flavor, salt, modified potato starch, emulsifier (mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids), preservative (potassium sorbate), colour (carotene)
Nutritional Information per 100g:
Not available

Juice Master’s Veggie Juice in a Bar
Ingredients: Raw dates, raw almond butter, barley grass, wheatgrass, nettle leaf, shavegrass, alfalfa juice, dandelion juice, kamut grass juice, barley grass juice, oat grass juice, burdock root, broccoli juice, kale juice, spinach juice, parsley juice, carob pod, ginger root, nopal cactus, amia berry,Algaes: spirulina, broken cell wall chlorella, Icelandic kelp, nova scotia dulse, Digestive Enzymes: amylase, lipase, protease, cellulose, bromelain, papain
Nutritional Information per 100g:
Energy 1497kJ/356kcal
Protein 9.0g
Carbohydrate 47.3g
Fats 15.6g