Product Reviews

Save The Forest Organic Trail Mix
www.newenglandnaturalbakers.com
Review by Caroline Yoder

Save The Forest Trail Mix

In the past few years as I have begun to shop for groceries for myself, I have realized that certain qualities in food products continue to be elusive. Sure, there are plenty of healthful snacks, a plethora of shelf-stable products, and a few tasty vegan treats on the market, but goodies that combine all of these characteristics remain rare. As a result, I often find myself frustrated in the aisles of the supermarket, distraught and hungry for some nutritious munchies.

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Fortunately, the good people at New England Natural Bakers are attempting to end this phenomenon of snack food dearth. Not only are their products tasty and organic but they are also convenient and relatively healthful. New England Natural Bakers produce a line of snack bars, granolas, and trail mixes under the name of Save the Forest; ten percent of all profits are donated to the fight against deforestation. As the website proudly proclaims, "When your purchase Save the Forest products, you help create a cleaner, more sustainable Earth for us all!"

I personally have sampled the trail mixes, which come in two equally enjoyable flavors: Banana-Raisin-Walnut and Chocolate-Peanut-Raisin. Save the Forest has created some winning flavor combinations in these two varieties; both were welcome treats when I needed a little fuel to get through the afternoon. The trail mixes are conveniently packaged into individual snack packs. While this form of packaging makes it easy to stash them in a purse or book bag, it is not exactly helpful in the fight against waste reduction. This seems an odd choice for a company so devoted to protecting the environment. Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed both flavors and have purchased them several times in the past few months.

Nutritionally, the trail mixes are a much better choice than your average candy bar or cookie. The ingredients are all organic; the peanuts, pumpkin seeds and walnuts in these snacks make them a good source of unsaturated fat. However, it is also important to note that they also contain 15 to 20 grams of sugar per pouch. With that in mind, I would consider these a nutritious treat rather than a dietary staple.

In sum, I would recommend Save the Forest trail mixes; they boast quite a few qualities that are hard to find in today's supermarket. Plus, as a bonus, in purchasing their products you know that your dollars are going toward a good cause. I look forward to tasting Save the Forest's other products.

Caroline Yoder is currently a student at Duke University, studying English and Psychology. She hopes one day to become a writer in the health field.

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