For the first time, I am going to have to give a Quaker product a pass. The taste, well, just ok. And they were very expensive compared to others that often go on sale. They state quinoa in the name to make you think good nutritional value, but with the extra sweet and salty, well, they do not meet my standards.

I didn’t like these. They taste good, and the quinoa addition could deceive one into thinking they are healthy, but they contain too much sugar, and not enough protein or fibre.

I found these bars very dry, and bland

I found this product way to sweet. Because of the quinoa people assume it will be healthy, but it was really just like eating a chocolate bar.

Wasn't really my cup of tea. The texture wasnt that great to me

These were horrible! Bought them for the kids, who complained about how disgusting they were so I tried them, and I have to agree. Not something i expect from Quaker, but will not buy these again.

Disappointed that they have peanuts in them so I can't eat them

I think I must've got a bad one. My husband had one and it was okay but the one I had was nasty; I couldn't even swallow my first bite because it was horribly, horribly salty. I sent a notification to the company with the manufacturers number and let them know about it but all they said was that they'd send me a voucher for a free box. Frankly, the thoughts of biting into another one make me gag a bit. I would have thought they'd have asked me to send them the remainder of the bar so they could investigate. It's not like it's got glass pieces or a dead mouse in it or anything that horrendous, but I would have thought they'd have been a bit more concerned about the quality of their product. Oh well, I guess they're making enough money; don't need my business.

This product was provided to me at no cost through the Chick Advisor Review Club.

Quaker Harvest Crunch Quinoa Bars - Chocolate Nut Medley, come in a retail box containing 5 granola bars, with each granola bar weighing in at 35 g (the retail box contains 175 g of product in total). The dimensions of each bar are roughly 9.5 cm by 2.25 cm by 2 cm (with wrapping, the length of each bar is 15 cm).

I myself purchase granola bars regularly. I often favour store brands over name brands, given the similar taste and product quality, all at a lower price than the name brands. However, it would seem that Quaker is offering a product that is unique in its own regard: a granola bar that makes use of the Quinoa grain. Perhaps those who believe ancient grains to contain health benefits long forgotten by a society that seem to prefer synthetic foods 'on the cheap' will be sold by the presence of quinoa, however I myself base my purchasing decision on three main factors: 1) value for my money, 2) taste, and 3) nutritional information. That being said, let's begin with nutritional information. Seeing as Quaker Harvest Crunch Quinoa Bars - Chocolate Nut Medley is a unique product in its own right, let's compare it to 4 other types of varying granola bar and one type of muffin bar, listed in order from similarity to the host's product (I told you I consume a lot of granola bars : )

Quaker Harvest Crunch Quinoa Bars - Chocolate Nut Medley, for 1 bar (35g) contains 160 calories, 6 g of fat (2g of which is saturated), 95mg of sodium, 24g of carbs, 1g of fibre, 9g of sugars, and 2g of protein.

Fibre 1 Oats and Chocolate Chewy Bars, for 1 bar (35g - same) contains 140 calories (20 less), 3.5g of fat (2.5 less), of which 1.5g is saturated fats (0.5g less), 80mg of sodium (15mg less), 26 g of carbs (2g more), 5g of fibre (4g more), 13g of sugars (4g more) and 2g of protein (same)

President's Choice Blue Menu Low Fat Chewy Cranberry Apple Granola Bars, for 1 bar (26g - down 9 g) contains 100 calories (60 less), 1.5 g of fat (4.5 less), 0 saturated fats (down 2g), 55mg of sodium (40g less), 21g of carbs (3g less), 1g of fibre (same), 9g of sugars (same), and 1g of protein (a loss of 1g)

Leclerc Choco Max Caramel Coated Chewy Bars, for 1 bar (32g - down 3g) contains 140 calories (20 less), 4.5g of fat (1.5g less), of which 2g is saturated fats (same), 55mg of sodium (40g lower), 23g of carbs (down 1g), 1g of fibre (same), 14g of sugars (5g higher), and 2g of protein (same)

Selection Milk Chocolate Coated Caramel & Nut Granola Chewy Bars, for 1 bar (34g - down 1g) contains 140 calories (20 less), 4.5g of fat (1.5g less), of which 2g is saturated fat (same), 50mg of sodium (45mg lower), 24g of carbs (same), 1g of fibre (same), 13g of sugars (4g higher), and 2g of protein (same)

Leclerc Essensia Carrot Muffin Bars, for 1 bar (38g - up 3g) contains 160 calories (same), 7g of fat (1g higher), of which 0.5g is saturated fat (down 1.5g), 5mg of cholesterol (not seen in any other product listed), 140mg of sodium (45mg higher), 22g of carbs (down 2g), 3g of fibre (up 2g), 8g of sugars (down 1g) and 2g of protein (same)

Given this rundown, it is clear that selling Quaker Harvest Crunch Quinoa Bars - Chocolate Nut Medley as a 'healthy alternative' is 'reaching' at best. Of the 5 other products compared (only ONE of which claimed to be a 'healthy alternative') all four granola bars had less calories (the muffin bar had the same amount). All four granola bars had less fat (the muffin bar had more). All four granola bars had less sodium (the muffin bar had more). Two granola bars and the muffin bar had less carbs, with one remaining granola bar having the same amount and the other remaining granola bar having slightly more. Three out of the five products had the same amount of fibre, with the muffin bar and the Fibre 1 granola bar having more fibre. Three of the granola bars DID have more sugar however, with one remaining granola bar having the same amount of sugar, and the muffin bar having less sugar. All bars, save for the President's Choice Blue Menu bar, all had the same amount of protein, with the President's Choice bar having less.

TASTE: Despite its 'health factor' shortcomings (despite being branded as a healthy alternative), the Quaker Harvest Crunch Quinoa Bars - Chocolate Nut Medley do not taste as you would expect a 'healthy alternative' would. The granola reminds me of puffed rice cereal in its texture and taste, and the juxtaposition of the sweet 30mm thick layer of milk chocolate at the bottom of the bar combined with the salty peanuts, sunflower kernels and almonds really make for a pleasant taste. However, the main selling point: the quinoa grains (which do not look like what you would find on a 'conventional' granola bar to say the least), have a taste that is similar to other grain cereal one would buy at a grocery store (in that it tastes a little bitter and the taste remains in your mouth long after the other tastes from the granola bar have dissipated).

The final criteria I use to evaluate what makes a good product is price, or value for money. Given the manufacturer's suggested retail price of $3.49 for 5 bars and 175g of product, this is sadly not a competitive price in my opinion. For example, 630 g of President's Choice Blue Menu Low Fat Chewy Cranberry Apple Granola Bars costs me under $6, and that is for 24 bars. Generally, Choco Max Caramel Coated Chewy Bars sell for 2 boxes for $5, and each box contains 256g of product (8 bars). It's understandable that Quaker Harvest Crunch Quinoa Bars - Chocolate Nut Medley represents a product that is unique to the market, but when the 'healthy alternative' sales pitch isn't significant, and the taste is at best 'pleasant' (I would not choose Quaker Harvest Crunch Quinoa Bars - Chocolate Nut Medley over any of the other 5 products I had mentioned prior based on taste alone), sadly you do not have much of a sales pitch to go on. Worth mentioning before I end this review: the Quaker Harvest Crunch Quinoa Bars DO stay together in one piece when bit into (there is no crumbs or other sort of 'falling to pieces' that takes place), however, the bar wrapper tears FAR too easy once opened (once a rip is created, the wrapping has the structural integrity of aluminum foil - ripping with even the slightest gesture.)