Maybe it's because I'm constantly talking about my love for chocolate and peanut butter, but when someone from Special K contacted me to ask if I would like to try out the new Special K granola bars, I couldn't refuse. One of the flavors was "Chocolatey Peanut Butter"--like it was made just for me! I was excited to get the package in the mail...
The boxes come with five bars each. Naturally, I tried the Chocolatey Peanut Butter flavor first. The size of the bar was nothing to write home about--small enough that the calories are easy to fit into your daily allowance, but big enough to satisfy a sweet craving.
I was impressed with the taste! I actually liked it more than I expected to. When I was losing weight, I used to eat the Fiber One bars, and this reminded me of those bars. I won't try and fool anyone into thinking this is "health food", however... ;)
But I've never pretended to be a purist when it comes to food, and I'm not above eating processed ingredients sometimes if it satisfies a craving and helps me to stay on track for the long term. The nutrition info isn't too bad, and it's easy to fit into a daily calorie allowance:
I really liked the Dark Chocolate flavor as well--probably just as much as the peanut butter one.
Special K has very generously offered a box of each flavor to one Runs for Cookies reader! You will receive the same package I did. I've set up a Rafflecopter for this giveaway, and I'm a little nervous about it because I've never tried it before. But I'm hoping that it makes things easier on me for giveaways. So you can use the Rafflecopter form below to enter to win the bars.
You can find Special K on
Facebook and on
Twitter.
Note: I'm leaving comments turned ON for this post (so that you can enter the giveaway by leaving a comment), but you will have to use the Rafflecopter form itself to be entered in the giveaway.
Disclosure: I was given the granola bars for free to review, but opinions are completely my own and I was not required to give a favorable review.
Giveaway ends at 12:01 AM EST on 6/9/2012.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I have a choc. pbutter addiction as well and I believe I have tried every bar out there. Will have to try these now!
ReplyDeleteHealthy - all natural ingredients that don't taste like saw dust.
ReplyDeleteIt has to taste good for me to eat it, obviously. And I hate those dinky little bars that kind of tease you because then I just tend to eat more and then the health benefit and low calories are lost because I binged on a whole box. I've tried other Special K stuff before and have not yet been disappointed with the taste or serving size. :)
ReplyDeletePeanut butter. One of my most favorite things in the world!
ReplyDeleteWhen I want a healthy granola bar, I look at the list of ingredients. The less the better. I want it to be full of the good stuff and not processed junk.
ReplyDeleteWhen I am craving chocolate or pb and go for a granola bar, I just pay attention to getting the most bang for my buck. lol
ie. getting the biggest, yummiest granola bar for the least amount of calories. lol
Chris Newmark
journeytohealthNewmark (facebook)
It has to say CHOCOLATE on the box before I would even considering eating it :-)
ReplyDeleteI like a granola bar that will satisfy a sweet craving without being TOO good/indulgent (so I won't be tempted to eat them a lot).
ReplyDeleteFirst I look at ingredients...I don't like a bunch of fillers. Sodium content is a big deal for me too (high blood pressure). Then flavor....anything dark chocolate or chocolate peanut butter is good for me!
ReplyDeleteChocolate and relatively low calorie bars are my favorites. I've been eating Special K bars a lot lately, love their chocolate-pretzel sweet/salty bars but I'm getting a little sick of them and I love to try new things.
ReplyDeleteI look at how big the bar is and how many calories and protein it has. I don't want to "waste" a bunch of calories on something tiny and not at all filling. :)
ReplyDeleteMmm.... I am always looking for a WW-friendly snack. Dark chocolate? Yum! Sounds like something perfect to go with a sugar-free vanilla latte!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the special K bars! They are a perfect snack when you are dying to eat chocolate!
ReplyDeleteI have tried these and they are a perfect 3:00pm snack and absolutley help with that chocolate craving. They are only about 3 WW points too!
ReplyDeleteThese look like the perfect afternoon snack!!!
ReplyDeleteI love all Special K products!
ReplyDeleteWill have to give these a try and maybe swap out my afternoon snack for one of these.
ReplyDeleteI am looking for something that tastes good and fills me up for a little bit while not using too many calories.
ReplyDeleteThese look pretty yummy, I think I might just go get me some :)
ReplyDeleteI look at cost, flavor, and calories.
ReplyDeleteI look for taste and won't leave me hungry in two hours.
ReplyDeleteI eat fiber one and the Special K Strawberry Protein bar. Would like to try these.
ReplyDeleteLooks yummy! The calorie count seems pretty good.
ReplyDeleteI generally look for high fiber and protein content and low sugar and calorie numbers. And flavor is important too, of course!
ReplyDeleteI pretty much look for cost and for something that after I'm done eating it I'm left questioning if I really ate something or not.
ReplyDeleteIt has to taste good! Low in calories and healthy ingredients are right up there too...and the cost will ultimately decide whether or not its 'worth it' to buy them.
ReplyDeleteDid they say if or when these would be in stores? They sound yummy! Love chocolate & peanut butter together!
ReplyDeleteI'm always looking for something with lower calories that can help stop a craving. Like you, I've had the Fiber One Chocolate bars and they were so helpful! I'd love to try the Special K bars!
ReplyDeleteI like bars that do not to many calories and must have chocolate!!!
ReplyDeleteI like granola bars that ar under 150 calories, have at least a few grams of protein and fiber in them, and taste great! Chocolate peanut butter sounds delicious!
ReplyDeleteI love peanut butter, and they look like a great alternative to the fiber one bars, which don't go over well with me.
ReplyDeleteI have to have a bar that tastes good! gotta be worth the calories :) Its a bonus if it is on the more filling side with fiber!
ReplyDeleteI really liked that your review was honest, like pointing out that it's not exactly "healthy". They look very good though! :)
ReplyDeleteI like healthy bars w/ chocolate :)
ReplyDeletefamily74014 at gmail dot com
I like healthy bars w/ chocolate :)
ReplyDeletefamily74014 at gmail dot com
CHOCOLATE!!!!!
ReplyDeleteChocolate! Love your blog!
ReplyDeletechocolate- sounds like i am not alone! haha!
ReplyDeleteI like a bar that isn't too high in calories and still tastes good and not like cardboard ...
ReplyDeletei want a bar that satisfies a sweet craving but doesnt feel like i am eating cardboard!
ReplyDeleteIt has to be filling but really yummy.
ReplyDeleteIt can't be too expensive - we are on a budget!
ReplyDeleteI prefer for the first couple ingredients to not be sugar! Kinda defeats the point of eating something "healthy"... but it still needs to taste good ;)
ReplyDeleteThose actually look pretty good, especially compared to the last granola bar I had...it had HFCS, and the only reason I ate it was because it came free as a sample with something else I'd bought. Normally I go for organic, but I also take into account fiber content, and for only 110 calories these have a decent amount!
ReplyDeleteI look for price and calorie count...first...and it has to be chocolate...chocolate with peanut butter even better...
ReplyDeleteI am looking for something with balanced nutrition but still tastes good.
ReplyDeleteUmmm....I look for chocolate and peanut butter. Duh! Oh yea, and some nutritional value. =)
ReplyDeletePeanut Butter & Chocolate were made for each other!!
ReplyDeleteI like the FiberOne bars, so I bet I'd love these. Who doesn't love pb & chocolate?
ReplyDeleteI look for nutritional value and good flavor :)
ReplyDeleteI like a granola bar that tastes good, has protein and not an overabundance of sugar.
ReplyDeleteI look for a bar that is worth eating as normally they are loaded with sugars and use up your allotted calorie allowance, as one is usually never enough. The fact that these are 'snack size' and have a bit of fiber looks good :)
ReplyDeleteI would love to win!
ReplyDeleteI look for all natural ingredients most of the time, but I like a blend of sweet and salty to cure a sweet craving. I also like bars that will give me a slight boost when out and about (such as hiking)!
ReplyDeleteTypically I look for one that holds nutritional value, while still being tasty. Peanut butter usually helps!
ReplyDeleteOh, I like the sound of the dark chocolate. Afterall, it is good for you (i know in small quantities)
ReplyDeleteI love granola! YAY. I look for a decent size with good nutritional value.
ReplyDeleteI look for something to satisfy my sweet tooth :)
ReplyDeleteI'd love to try them!
ReplyDeleteThe dark chocolate sounds great!
ReplyDeleteI look for not too many calories, enough fiber and something that tastes great!
ReplyDeleteI bet the chocolate peanut butter combo would be AMAZING!!
ReplyDeleteI look at the flavors/calories the most.
ReplyDeleteI look at the amount of protein in a granola bar. And I also look at the ingredients, I want to get something healthy but something I'll get full off of!
ReplyDeleteI look at flavor, nuts, chocolate, oh yes, and sugar content.
ReplyDeleteI look for granola bars that taste good but are low in calories
ReplyDeleteI'm generally just happy as long as they don't taste or feel like cardboard in my mouth!
ReplyDeleteDefinatly taste..if it tastes like i just bit into a vitamin its no good! Other than that i like low calorie count and its a plus for organic ingredients.
ReplyDeleteMy wife, Jessica, loves these bars. Since we have 3 kids who also love these she has to get creative about hiding them in the pantry, otherwise a box only lasts about a day in our house!
ReplyDeletehttp://jessicasjourneytoanewlife.blogspot.com/
I typically only buy granola bars for the kids - although I haven't in awhile because they've started practically inhaling things like this the first day I buy them (unless I get a super-sized box from Costco).
ReplyDeleteWhen I buy processed snacks like granola bars I usually try to stick with something with as few ingredients as possible (the longer the list the more turned off I get). I also aim for a higher protein/fiber content while keeping the fat and sugar at a reasonable minimum.
I love Special K bars and these look delicious! :)
ReplyDeleteI could live on Chocolate and Peanut Butter! My favorite as well :) The calories and sugar content on these are pretty good compared to some.
ReplyDeleteI JUST picked up a box of the chocolate peanut butter variety today! I usually look for a sale or a coupon, and I p/u a box because with the coupon and sale they were only $1.10! I also like something with not a lot of calories and some fiber to help satisfy me.
ReplyDeleteTaste!! And then calories!! And then cost!!
ReplyDelete~~ Aundrea
Taste and filling not something that will leave me craving more.
ReplyDeleteCalorie amount is what I first look at, then price! Taste is a top one too.
ReplyDeleteI love junk food, so when I'm restricting calories to lose weight I look for things that will replace my higher calorie favorites (like ice cream, candy, and pastries). If the calorie count is low, I'll try it. If it tastes good, is a reasonable substitute for dessert an leaves me satisfied, I'll keep buying (and price is secondary).
ReplyDeleteI really want it to taste good first of all. Plus, it needs to be low enough in calories that it's better than just eating a candy bar :-)
ReplyDeleteChocolate! Yum!
ReplyDeleteTaste!!
ReplyDeleteThey look good! Chocolate and PB...can't beat it!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE granola bars! I will try just about anything, but definitely look for chocolate. :)
ReplyDeleteI love raisins in my granola bars
ReplyDeleteDark chocolate - yum!
ReplyDeleteLove peanut butter and chocolate! Having a decent calorie count and flavor are important!!
ReplyDeletelooks good, i will have to pick some up (if i dont win!) lol
ReplyDeleteI look for lower sugar. TBH, I probably look for chocolate first, then I look at the sugar content.
ReplyDeleteWould love to try! Chocolate chip is my fav
ReplyDeleteI would love to try these! I'm always looking for a granola bar that is small enough not to make me feel guilty, but will satisfy the sweet tooth I get every so often!
ReplyDeleteI bet I'd like these too because I used to love FiberOne bars :)
ReplyDeleteSince I have diabetes, I count carbs and these are ok...just 1 carb serving. Do you know if they are available in Canada? I haven't heard of them so haven't looked, but I will have to check it out next time I am in the grocery store or WalMart.
ReplyDeleteAny bar that doesn't taste like cardboard is usually a winner for me!
ReplyDelete