Bobo’s Oat Bars started with humble beginnings in 2003 with a mother and a daughter who baked up a bunch of oat bars and then started to distribute them to local coffee shops. The oat bars became so popular within the community that Bobo’s became a full-time business for mom, Beryl, and before she knew it, Bobo’s grew to the immense following it has today!
With simple but wholesome and healthy ingredients, Bobo’s continues to offer homemade baked taste in an easily accessible package for those on-the-go moments/days/seasons. The vegan products are straightforward without extra ingredients plus the oats and bars are gluten free, organic, and non-GMO. Beyond the traditional Bobo’s Oat Bars, the company has also launched Bobo’s Stuff’d (stuffed bars with peanut or almond butter) and Bobo’s Bites.
Today, we’ll be reviewing one of the many fifteen flavors of the original Bobo’s Oat Bars. Bobo’s Oat Bars are available in Original, Coconut, Cranberry Orange, Banana Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip, Cinnamon Raisin, Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, Peach, Maple Pecan, Coconut Almond Chocolate Chip, Lemon Poppyseed, Apple Pie, PB + J, and Gingerbread. Cranberry Orange sounded unique so we (myself, a vegan dietitian and my husband, a non-vegan omnivore) decided to give it a try! Keep reading to see how it stacks up in terms of taste and nutrition or head over to Amazon to see other Bobo’s Oat Bars reviews.
Taste Experience
Do you like those cranberry orange muffins, cookies, and scones in bakeries??! If the answer is yes, you will love the Cranberry Orange Bobo’s Oat Bar. It smells intoxicatingly refreshing and sweet with citrus notes and warm toasted grains. It looks like the perfect kind of baked golden brown that you’d find in those homemade treats with huge chunks of whole dried cranberries.
I’m swooning as soon as I take a bite; I cannot believe how delicious this Cranberry Orange Bobo’s Oat Bar is! I love a good hearty bowl of oatmeal but it can make me feel heavy and weighed down but the oats in this bar are not only perfect but they are perfectly complimented with the refreshing orange zing. The cranberries help tame down the zing with a pop of sweetness. The texture and flavor combination in this vegan oat bar is like nothing I’ve ever tasted in an nutrition bar…again, it tastes like a cranberry orange scone but less dry more moist and hearty. It tastes like a cookie but less sugary. It’s legit the perfect combination and Cranberry Orange Bobo’s Oat Bar might be my new favorite flavor. Find the vegan oat bar on Amazon and experience the fruity but hearty nutrition bar for yourself! I can totally see myself eating this as my new breakfast for days on end…
Nutrition
As with the other Bobo’s Oat Bars, the serving size for the Cranberry Orange Bobo’s Oat Bar is half a bar. Now, if you look at the packaging, it looks very much like a single serving size. So, it’s important to be mindful of the serving size if you are being more mindful of calories, sugar, protein, and overall satisfaction. Let’s just say I have yet to eat only half of a Bobo’s Oat Bar at one time because they are so freaking tasty but I just wanted you to be aware of the serving size as we move through the nutrition.
In half of a Cranberry Orange Bobo’s Oat Bar there are 180 calories (so 360 calories in the whole oat bar) with only 60 of those calories coming from fat. This means that the oats provide the bulk of the calories (which is a good, healthy thing). There are six grams of fat with four grams of saturated fat from the coconut oil (which is the third ingredient).
There are 29 grams of total carbohydrate in half the bar and 58 grams of carbohydrate in the entire bar. I find that for most people, 58 grams of carbohydrate can be a great option as part of a meal (with fruit or additional protein) or a mini meal post workout. The Oat Bars are more of a homemade baked treat nutrition bar and thus this amount of carbohydrate is reasonable and expected. Plus, those carbs will give you energy to tackle your to-do list! Each Cranberry Orange Bobo’s Oat Bar has 4 grams of fiber in the whole bar to help regulate the blood sugar level. Plus, oats are a great source of soluble fiber which not only have a positive effect on blood sugar levels but soluble fiber also helps reduce the risk of heart disease and some types of cancer.
The Cranberry Orange Bobo’s Oat Bar has six grams plant-based protein in the entire bar. The protein comes from the organic rolled oats which we don’t always think of oats as a protein source but whole grains including oats can be a great source of plant-based protein!
Along with providing fiber and protein, oats contain a considerable amount of vitamins and minerals. In each Cranberry Orange Bobo’s Oat Bar you can expect 4% of your calcium needs for the day and 12% of your iron needs for the day. If you are consuming the oat bar as your breakfast or as part of your breakfast, I would recommend pairing it with a navel orange, kiwi, or strawberries which all contain a large amount of vitamin C to help increase the non-heme iron absorption. Just in case you haven’t caught on, not only do these bars taste like a heavenly refreshing and wholesome treat, they are equally nourishing and I definitely think you should check them out.
The Non-Vegan Review
Bob’s oat bars are just the best folks. Hearty, wholesome, and just delicious. Bobo’s Cranberry Orange bars have whole cranberries in it and real orange flavor that makes for a great combination. Bobo’s bars are my go to bar for breakfast. Eat a Bobo’s bar for breakfast and you’ll be set with all the energy you need until lunch. Large and in charge with an awesome dense oat texture, Bobo’s bars are the best breakfast meal replacement! And, of course, the best place to get Bobo’s bars is on Amazon. Thanks for stopping by. Non-vegan husband out!
Parting Thoughts
The Cranberry Orange Bobo’s Oat Bar is my new favorite Bobo’s Oat Bar! It strikes the perfect balance of hearty goodness (without being heavy) with a refreshing zing (thanks to the orange). The plump dried cranberries swirled into the whole grain oats really seal the deal. Bobo’s says that “No one brings you home like Bobo’s” but they really hit the nail on the head with this one; the Cranberry Orange Bobo’s Oat Bar tastes like a heartier version of a cranberry orange cookie and a moist soft version of a cranberry orange scone. Total dream vegan nutrition bar! Speaking of nutrition, because Bobo’s uses real plant-based ingredients, the nutrition truly nourishes your body and provides sustained energy for whatever life throws your way. Literally, when life throws you lemons, throw them back and buy some Cranberry Orange Bobo’s Oat Bars on Amazon!