MNN - Mother Nature Network

Raw foodies will swear that their uncooked diet is more nutrient-dense — and makes them feel great while keeping them healthy. On a green note, a raw vegan diet is about as eco-friendly as you can get — since we’re talking about eating mostly fresh fruits, veggies and nuts with minimal processing.

 

I’m not ready to give up cooked foods, but I did try going raw for a weekend — to discover that eating raw is now a lot easier since the raw food craze has gotten so popular — at least in Los Angeles. Raw vegans don’t even have to give up granola bars!

 

Two Moms in the Raw is just one of a growing number of companies that make raw, organic granola bars. I decided to pick up a bag of Blueberry Granola bars to see how different these raw concoctions were compared to regular granola bars.

 

The main difference: These raw bars are a lot chewier. Actually, that’s an understatement. Two Moms in the Raw’s granola bars are extremely hardy; eat them regularly and you’ll develop jaws of steel. Made with soaked oats, millet, and buckwheat as well as seeds, nuts, and dried fruits, the Blueberry Granola Bars gave my mandibles a serious workout.

 

I liked the not-too-sweet taste of the fruit and agave-sweetened bars, but the tough-to-chew bars were rather tough to enjoy due to the incredible chewing work required. On the upside, if you tend to eat too fast, Two Moms in the Raw will force you to slow down and enjoy the flavors — in the moments you’re not too taxed with the serious task of mastication.

 

Want something raw you can really chew on? Find Two Moms in the Raw granola bars, loose granola, and crackers at Whole Foods, Vitamin Cottage and some independent health food stores. An 8-ounce bag of four bars cost $9.99 at the Whole Foods near me. Less intrepid chewers, of course, can opt for less jaw-breaking raw bars.