Eat healthier.
No, it’s not January. And, this isn’t a New Year’s resolution. Eating healthier is a goal of mine. A long-standing goal of mine, but a goal, nonetheless. Healthier =
And so, it was with great anticipation that I was acquainted with GoMacro. GoMacro is a new company on my radar. Thanks to my sign-up through Raynforest, a company connecting brands with influencers in sports, I now know about this health-conscious company. In GoMacro’s own words:
“The tastiest and cleanest bar on the market. GoMacro believes in feeling good about what we eat. How it tastes, how it’s made, and how it sustains the environment. Family owned and based in a small rural community, our wholesome food maintains goodness on all levels. Small in size but big on impact, we are a big picture company. Our USDA certified organic MacroBars are available in 11 delicious flavors. All of our MacroBars are USDA certified organic, vegan certified , gluten-free certified, NON-GMO Project Verified, kosher certified and soy-free.”
A perfect fit for the path ahead.
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I received a Notification on my Raynforest dashboard from GoMacro. This being my first one, I was beyond excited. A simple providing of my address and the connection was complete. Once connected with GoMacro, it took less than a week for the product to arrive. My expectation going in was just a few bars. BOY WAS I WRONG! Here is what I received:
A box of 15 bars, GoMacro bio-degradable coasters, information/nutrition sheet, “10 Macro Principles To Eat By” magnet, stickers and…well…did I mention 15 BARS!?!?!?! (You rock, GoMacro)
That was quite a surprise, needless to say. Before even sampling one of the bars, I wanted to have a plan. A strategy, if you will. Eating healthier isn’t just about choosing the right foods. It’s about knowing when you’re hungry and when you’re not. Choosing the right foods. And just being cognizant of what you actually putting in your body. Coupling that with exercise and drinking more water — to me, that’s a healthier lifestyle.
On to my strategy. My strategy involved:
- Eating as a post-workout snack
- Mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack
- Busy breakfast “meal” (sometimes when you’re busy, that’s all you can do, right?)
- Pre-workout snack
One that wasn’t on my pre-list was “just because”. I didn’t plan it that way…it just sort of happened. I ate just because (more on that in a minute). But, I digress…
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My supply of GoMacro bars came fully stocked. I was provided with 11 different types of their product. 11 choices ranging from “Protein Paradise” (cashew caramel) to “Prolonged Power” (almond butter & carob) to, if name only was a motivator, “Sunny Uplift” (aka Cherries + Berries — see above picture). I can’t pass up a name with Sunny in it, can I? No, no I can’t.
Sticking with my strategy, I opted for one after a quick walk. Quick being the operative word on a cold, cold, cold (did I mention it was cold?) day in the Pacific Northwest. In other words, I turned into a speed-walker. I did break a bit of a sweat. Not much, but some. For my first selection, I chose the Protein Replenishment. The Protein Replenishment is GoMacro’s Peanut Butter bar. Let me just say, if you’re not allergic, you can’t go wrong with peanut butter. I could taste the peanut butter flavor and it was quite tasty.
Funny thing about having a strategy though. I had told family they could sample one if they wanted to. Being that these bars were vegan (not the family’s favorite), macrobiotic (they don’t get it) and non-GMO (see macrobiotic), I didn’t expect anyone to have one. Well, one of the Protein Pleasure bars disappeared in the midst of my strategy. Why? Protein Pleasure = Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip! Chocolate, in this house, does not last long. The assessment from the male family member who shall remain nameless? Not bad. I’d say that’s as positive as you’re going to get from this family group.
The bar size is manageable. It’s the standard granola bar size — fits in your hand. In today’s world, that’s smaller than the iPhone 5s. With the Protein Pleasure, you can see the chocolate chips (below).
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The other three strategies I had all centered around snacks or meals. I was busy at work one morning and by 9:30, breakfast was an afterthought. I grabbed a Balanced Goodness (granola + coconut). In terms of a quick snack or meal, they hit the spot. Some people might need more, if it’s a meal – it’s fine for me.
As for the coconut, not everyone likes coconut. I am someone who happens to like it. I figured it would taste like coconut. And, I suppose it did. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it wasn’t one of my favorites. It didn’t taste carboard-y (is that a word?) or chalky. There was just something about it that didn’t taste quite right to me. Needs more coconut, maybe?
Coconut and chocolate chips aside — for me, one of the things I’ve been paying attention to more and more is the number of carbohydrates a food has. And, the sugar. I’m not an expert at counting carbs or anything like that. I’m still a newbie to this “eating healthier” thing. For reference purposes, however, here is the nutritional breakdown for that Balanced Goodness.
Again, I’m a newbie, but it does feel like quite a bit of carbs and sugars. I tend not to eat sweets as a rule. No cakes, candies, pies, ice cream. None of that. So, I pay attention to sugar count. Only 4 grams of protein in the Balanced Goodness. 36 grams of carbohydrates. That’s about the standard range for all of the bars:
- Protein Range: 3-12 grams
- Carbohydrate Range: 34-39 grams
- Sugars Range: 9-15 grams
But, in context, as the 10 Macro Principles To Eat By says, Eat Mainly Plants and Whole Grains.
What the GoMacro company is doing, isn’t going to make you gain weight. Unless, you’re eating a box of Balanced Goodness in one sitting (not recommended), they are providing a healthy alternative to the standard, big-brand or generic fare offered in grocery stores. Natural sweeteners. Grains and fruits are part of the equation too. Much of the ingredients you see are organic. And again, vegan, non-GMO, macrobiotic. To me, that all adds up to a healthy bar.
On an overall scale, I’d give the GoMacro Macro bars a 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. Nearly all of the bars were supremely delicious. Filling enough for an on-the-go meal or a quick snack. With the wide variety to choose from, there’s a bar for everyone.
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Find GoMacro MACROBARS: GoMacro website and Amazon