Arico Foods is a natural foods company located in Oregon. They currently have four cookie bars available on their website. Purchases are 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. They also happen to be Gluten and Casein free.

A case costs $22.68 with a flat shipping fee of $5.98 in the USA with no taxes. The method of payment at the site is paypal. 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 Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar has a mild chocolate taste with a few chips throughout the bar. As a chocolate lover I do prefer the Double Chocolate cookie bar when I have a choice. Several times that one is not available at Whole Foods, so I purchase the Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar. The price at Whole Foods is $1.89 per bar and found in the muffin section, usually on the counter near the cash register.

The bar is easy to eat while in transit, there is no need for a liquid to wash it down. It is not too chewy or hard to bite into. I devour one in a few bites. The taste is better than a regular cookie and easily portable.

The taste is very good, but could use more chips in my opinion. For those who are not super chocolate lovers, but like chips and some chocolate - they will delight in this bar. It satisfies the craving and keeps you filled for awhile. It is also made with organic chocolate and organic sugar cane. IN the March 2006 issue of Natural Health choosing organic was mentioned because they stay fresher longer, taste better and have higher levels of nutrients. This was from the author of What To Eat.

The ingredients consist of the following:

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

Fiber is 3 grams, protein is 2 grams, sugar 14 grams. Calcium is 25%, iron 8%. The flavors are Double Chocolate, Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter and Almond Cranberry. The net weight for the Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar 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 might even 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.

These bars are suitable for those with Celiac Disease and for those on the Autism Spectrum who are following a GFCF diet. I would pick them up for birthday parties, summer get togethers, Easter baskets, Halloween parties and for stocking stuffers for Christmas.

This is also perfect for Teachers, Therapists and other Professionals who work with kids on the spectrum to have in their offices as a treat. It is even appropriate to have after a workout, like an energy bar but better for you and the children.

My kids are not chocolate lovers, so the bars are basically for me to consume after workouts and to bring along to appointments. Nicholas has had a few of the Peanut Butter Bars and has wavered on whether he likes them or not. He eats peanut butter every day for lunch, so he is on PB overload at the moment. I plan on picking some up for the Easter Basket.

Lunch Time Issues for the child on the Autism Spectrum