Arico Foods is a Natural foods company that is located in Oregon. Their website has online shopping where you can purchase any of the four flavors or a case that has three of each flavor, of the cookie bars. They are sold by the case, which is twelve bars that are over three inches long. Each cookie bar is 100% natural, high in calcium and a good source of fiber.

A case costs $22.68 with a flat shipping fee of $5.98 in the USA with no taxes. You can also download a request form to take to your health store to have them stock the cookie bars. The toll-free number for those wanting to carry these products is 1-866-98-ARICO. Here in California they are located at Whole Food Stores, Lassen's, Lazy Acres, New Frontiers, Mother's Markets and many independent natural food stores.

The double chocolate is my favorite flavor, filled with Organic dark chocolate chunks that are visible and tasty. The cookie bar is not soft, so you will not have pieces falling apart. It is firm and solid, but not too dry that you need anything to wash it down with.

The taste is fresh and filling, you will be satisfied with no further need for more cookies. One double chocolate cookie bar consists of 150 calories, 40 from fat. No trans fat, no dairy, no wheat, no casein, no artificial flavors or dyes.

Please do note that although the products are formulated to be gluten-free and casein-free, they are produced in a factory which also makes products containing peanuts, soy, dairy and tree nuts. They are made in the U.S.A. with a company motto on the package that states - Share your cookies. Happiness grows with sharing."

Fiber is 2 grams, protein is 3 grams, sugar 13 grams. Calcium is 25%, iron 8%. The ingredients consist of the following:

Organic Evaporated Cane Sugar, Organic Dark Chocolate Chunks (Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Chocolate Liquor, Organic Cocoa Butter, Non-GMO Soy Lecithin, Organic Vanilla), Organic Whole Eggs, Organic Brown Rice Flour, Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Teff Flour, Cocoa Powder, Organic Palm Oil, Corn Starch, Cottonseed Fiber, Calcium Carbonate, Natural Vanilla Flavor, Natural Chocolate Flavor, Aluminum Free Baking Powder (Baking Soda, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Potato Starch), Baking Soda, Natural Vitamin E added to preserve freshness. Contains eggs and soy ingredients.

The Double Chocolate Cookie Bar is very chewy and leaves you feeling satisfied. The chocolate is rich and not too sweet. I like the added benefit of having dark chocolate in this bar and the liquor makes it delectable. Nicholas is not a big chocolate lover, which is fine with me since this makes it easier to consume chocolate without having to share it all the time.

His first reaction was that the Arico Foods Double Chocolate Cookie Bar tastes good. He then went on to say that it reminded him of the banana bread he had at summer camp. The only chocolate Nicholas usually consumes is within a poptart or a marshmallow pie.

For several months now I have been regularly consuming the Nabisco 100 calorie packs Chips Ahoy! thin crisps. These are baked chocolate chip snacks that come six packages inside a box. I can easily eat two bags, which means 200 calories. They contain artificial flavor, wheat flour, semisweet chocolate chips and milk.

I would much rather snack on the Arico Foods Double Chocolate Cookie Bar where one bar is more nutritious and appealing. I have yet to even try the Arico Foods Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar which might be a tie with the Double Chocolate Cookie Bar.

These are suitable for those who workout and for afternoon snacks at work for those adults who care about eating natural foods with a satisfying taste. I highly recommend teachers and therapists to purchase these cookie bars as a holiday treat to place in stockings for their patients and students, especially those children who are on the Autism Spectrum and may also have Celiac Disease or are following a gluten-casein free diet. For holiday parties at clinics and therapy offices these would be perfefct for the children to enjoy a snack that they can safely eat. Grandparents and other relatives can purchase these cookie bars to have on hand for the visiting families and to bring over for a dessert item.

I feel this is an appropriate snack for health club chains to stock at their counters. I have also purchased several times the Carb Slim Chocolate Chip Bites that do not leave me satisfied or full like these Double chocolate cookie bars.

The flavors are Double Chocolate, Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter and Almond Cranberry. Reviews for the other flavors will be forthcoming. The net weight for the Double Chocolate is 1.4 ounces with an expiration date of August 2006. They have a long shelf life and are certified Organic by Quality Assurance International. The website is www.aricofoods.com

You will be delighted to know that you might come across Arico Foods at your cities Cure Autism Now Walk Now events. Look for a table at the resource fair after walking and check with your Whole Food stores to see if they are conducting a demonstration of free Arico bar samplings.

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