Testing 1, 2, 3: Low-calorie, high-fiber birthday bars leave you wishing for more

Suppose, just suppose, on or around Jan. 1, you stepped on your scale for the first time since before Christmas.  

Suppose, just suppose, the number that came up prompted an immediate resolution to lose 10 pounds by Easter. 

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And here it is, nearly four weeks later, and the scale shows a mere fraction of a pound loss. To add insult to injury, today is your birthday. What’s a bulky person to do?

Well, one could throw caution to the wind and celebrate with a decadent two-layer bakery special.

Or one could give Fiber One’s low-cal, healthy birthday cake bars a try.

Yummy and sweet like a birthday cake milkshake

Jenny Plance and Dakota Browning of Wooster along with Smithville’s James Brady agreed to weigh in on that important matter. 

“They smell great.  If you could imagine a birthday cake milkshake, this is it.” So noted Dakota on the treat’s aroma, even though his fellow testers didn’t see too much remarkable in that category. 

For the general appearance, our testers liked the frosting drizzles and tri-colored sprinkles atop each bar.

As for taste, these were a winner with a total of 14 out of 15 possible points awarded.

“Very yummy. It tastes like you would expect a non-diet cake to taste, plus it has sprinkles,” Dakota wrote.

Jenny found they reminded her of a cupcake. “Perfect taste. Not too much sweetness.”

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For someone like myself, who rates macaroni and cheese a preferable dessert over brownies, a significant sweetness reduction would be an improvement.

James focused on the low-calorie character, with a score of 5 points out of 5.  “For the soft-baked bars to be low in calorie and healthier than most snack cakes, these are really good.”

At this point, a couple of caveats are in order. For one, don’t study the ingredient list too closely if things like chicory root extract and artificial coloring are not your thing. On the positive side, the nutritional information shows these as not only low calorie but also provide 21% of the dietary fiber needed for a 2,000 calorie a day diet.

But are they birthday cake worthy?

Though all three panelists said they would buy the bars for snacking, Jenny was the only one to find them birthday appropriate. So much so, she suggests more birthday images like balloons or party hats on the box.

James and Dakota both came up with a resounding no. “Only because I love ice cream cake,” was James’ reason. 

Dakota cut right to the chase. “I would have to buy 20 boxes and I would eat them all!”

I have to agree with Dakota. Maybe not the 20 boxes part, but an 0.89-ounce birthday cake just doesn’t cut it in my book.

After online checks of several local grocers, I found Walmart to be the only one stocking the frozen bars, sold in boxes of 12 for a little over $5. Does that make them a limited edition item?

Until next time, consider these contemplative words from Beatle George Harrison. “All the world is a birthday cake, so take a piece but not too much.” 

Think about it.

Reach Cami by email at camboh49@gmail.com.