When I opened the package a fantastic home-made banana bread smell crept out and a smile came to my face. I knew this would taste even better than it smelled. It took all of my will power not to devour it before snapping a picture! Every single bite reminded me of banana bread. It was soft with a bit of a crispy texture. I can not even explain to you how impressed I was by this product. It was the perfect afternoon pick-me-up. I loved the full flavor, the “home-baked” consistency, and the jam-packed nutrition! Kardea proves that healthy eating is delicious!

"Texture perfection" I tried the Banana Nut flavor and absolutely LOVED IT! Short ingredient list and the consistency of a Larabar but with an added bit of crunch. To me, this might be texture perfection. I ate about 2/3 of the bar, downed some water and set out for 4 miles. I felt fast and strong and properly fueled.

I also really liked that these bars provided a good amount of both fiber and protein. Hooray!

Cranberry Almond- what a yummy cranberry flavor! I liked that the cranberry flavor was not too tart, which sometimes makes me not like cranberry flavored products. It had a good amount of sweetness as well. I also liked the little crunchy pieces, which I would imagine were the almonds and the oats, that added a little bit of texture. 4 stars

Banana Nut...reminded me of like a sticky banana bread, actually. It had a sweet banana flavor, with just a hint of nutmeg. I also really liked the walnut taste- went perfect with the banana flavor. It overall was quite a sweet bar, but tasty!! 4 1/2 stars

We can’t be picky about the brand because our options are often limited. However, we always look for vegan bars with a good source of protein and interesting flavours...Back in April, when I visited Toronto, there was a sample pack of Kardea Nutrition Bars waiting for me. I burned through them quickly, loving the flavour pairings and smooth texture. When I saw the bars at a Whole Foods in New York, I was quick to buy the chai spice and lemon ginger bars, my favourite two of the four flavours.

I tried one and was completely amazed. (Click on the image above to see the details of the bar.) Then I tried the other flavors and was totally blown away. Really….You may be thinking, "But I don't need to reduce my cholesterol. Why would I want these bars?" I had the same thought. I even brought up this question to the founder. After all, these bars are so delicious, but ANYONE can enjoy them, not just folks who need to closely monitor their cholesterol.

[Banana nut] -as soon as I opened the packaging it smelled like my kitchen does after baking a loaf of banana bread. Awesomeness right there. Much to my delight, it tasted just like banana bread, too! {Lemon ginger] smelled just like a lemon tart/square and had strong overtones of ginger. I found it to be very refreshing and light tasting.

What is neat is that Kardea Nutrition adds 1 gram of plant sterol ester to their bars. Most of us consume an average “300-400 mg of plant sterols per day, primarily from vegetables oils, nuts, and seeds.” Recent studies have shown that “consumption of plant sterols at the recommended intake of 2 grams per day reduces plasma cholesterol concentrations by 10%.” To break it down…plant sterols are good for our heart health and most of us don’t get enough through diet alone. I liked the taste of the bar a lot. Tasted very much like banana nut bread. It had a similar consistency of a cliff bar. It was soft but had crunch from the oats. I thought it was also a good size for the amount of calories.

The bars have a smooth finish and don’t have flakes, oats or other jaggies sticking out at all angles. This logically made me expect them to taste artificial, however, upon the first bite I was pleasantly surprised. The texture is rich with a good grain and the tastes are all bold and satisfying. While I’ve no evidence that I am now healthier for having eaten these (my cholesterol certainly doesn’t feel any lower) I did not feel like I had a brick in my stomach or conversely, like I was still hungry afterwards. Unlike some other bars I have eaten in this category, eating one gave me the feeling that Kardea bars are made with love. ...overall, I was very happy with the flavor and texture and would recommend to my father for cholesterol control.

Hands-down, this has got to be one of the tastiest bars available! ... Kardea Nutrition Bars, and oh my – they are just divine. ... Kardea Nutrition Bars are Vegan and Certified Kosher, and contain absolutely no trans-fats. Plus, each bar is low in carbohydrates, sugar, and fat but high in fiber and protein. Need a healthy, quick pick-me-up? These are the bars to reach for in a pinch!

{Lemon ginger} the oats in it gave it the PERFECT crunch and chewiness. And the flavor was quite good. ... I don’t have cholesterol problems, but I think this bar is good just for anyone seeking a bar with natural ingredients and good nutrition stats. The ingredient list is pretty good, nothing I didn’t recognize! And with most of the sugar coming from agave, it has a low glycemic index and is good for diabetics (which I’m not, either). All in all, a tasty bar that kept me satisfied for an afternoon of shopping! I’d recommend this flavor for sure.