Since starting my fitness journey I’ve been experimenting with different healthy eating strategies (I refuse to say I’m dieting because this is a lifestyle change not a diet!). Within the last couple months I’ve been loosely following the IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros) program that focuses on finding a balance between the three main Macro Nutrient groups: Carbohydrates, Fats and Proteins. You can read more about it here on the IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros) website. They also have an awesome Macro Calculator and an IIFYM Official Facebook group for support. A couple weeks ago I saw this promotion in the IIFYM Official Facebook group for a new gluten, soy and dairy free whole foods snack bar that I intrigued me. So I entered the contest and was blessed to have been given the opportunity to review the new Forth bars as part of this contest!
So a little about this new company. Forth was founded by Terri Mintz who has struggled with profound food allergies. She lives an active lifestyle and became frustrated with not being able to find healthy, nutrient dense, whole food choices and thus decided to start making them herself. As others took notice of her improving health, stamina and performance she decided to create a whole line of products designed for people with similar nutritional needs. “Forth products are filled with FDA identified functional foods, superfoods, whole carbs, proteins and healthy fats. Made from minimally processed, plant based ingredients, Forth products leave you satisfied and energized. Each Forth product contains targeted ingredients – whether functional food, traditional remedy or superfood – known to positively affect our body and mood. All Forth Bars and Bites are:
- Gluten-free
- Dairy Free
- Soy Free
- Plant Based
- Minimally Processed
- Very Low in Salt
- Low Fat
- Free of fillers, preservatives and unnecessary ingredients”
Needless to say that’s an impressive list so if I could find a wholesome, nutrient dense snack food that met the above requirements for my friends with dietary restrictions then I was excited to give them a try! You can learn more about their products on the We Are Forth website and follow We Are Forth on Facebook and Instagram for special promotions.
I was lucky enough to get a variety pack to try so below you will find my reviews of each of the 7 varieties of Forth Bars that are currently available.
Calm Bar
Lavender + Vanilla + Honey + Berries
The first bar I tried out of my variety pack was the Calm Bar. In the midst of kitchen renovations I figured I could use a little more calm in my life plus the essential oiler in me was super excited to see lavender as an ingredient! I absolutely love the unique flavor profile of this bar!!! It is a little “herby,” for lack of a better description, due to the lavender buds. While I truly appreciate the unique flavor it might be an acquired taste for some. I was impressed that the bar was sweet enough without being overly sweet or filled with sugar or artificial sweeteners like most snack bars you can buy in the grocery store. It does have 14g of Sugar and a total of 29g of Carbs so for those on a low-carb or keto diet this may not be for you. But I’m trying to conquer my fear of carbs as they are necessary for sustained energy and to build strength and muscle and 29g of Carbs is about the equivalent of a slice of organic, whole wheat bread. Plus, the Forth Bars are Gluten Free so those who need a little carb fueled energy boost but can’t eat gluten containing products will love Forth Bars! I was also super impressed that all of the Forth Bars are low in Sodium. Most snack bars like this are super high in sodium which is one of the main reasons I tend to avoid processed foods. These seem like they will be a healthy, nutritional option for those who need a quick snack or energy boost throughout their day! I’m looking forward to trying out the rest of the bars in the variety pack!!!
Macro Breakdown: 29 g Carbs (64%), 5 g Fat (25%), 5 g Protein (11%)
Ingredients Bar: Gluten Free Oats, Puffed Quinoa, Peanut Butter, Sesame Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Date Paste, Aronia Berries (apple juice sweetened), Freeze Dried Cherries, Hemp Protein Powder, Freeze Dried Mango, Honey, Spray Dried Lemon Juice, Acai Resveratrol (The only ingredient I didn’t recognize so I had to look it up. Turns out this is an all natural and powerful antioxidant to help your body fight free radicals and support your immune system!), Lavender, Vanilla Powder, Lemon Balm, Spices
Ingredients Topping: Date Paste, Cherry Powder, Vanilla, Lavender, Spray Dried Lemon Juice, Honey
You can check out the full Nutritional Information on their website: Calm Bar Nutrition and Information
Body Bar
Chocolate + Molasses + Spices
The second bar I tried was the Body Bar. Our routine has been super messed up by the kitchen renovations and the tiny human did not sleep well the last couple hours of the night making it nearly impossible to get up and work out. So I chose to sleep in which meant that I wanted to get in a good run on my lunch break to get in at least some exercise that day. With back to back clients all morning I don’t have a lot of time to snack and knew my energy would be low by noon when I would finally get a chance to go for a run. So around 10:50 am I decided to open up the Body Bar for a quick little pick me up and to provide some energy to help get me through my run. My first impression was that it smelled amazing!!! The combination of molasses and spices was a beautiful balance of savory and just sweet enough. I was pleasantly surprised on my lunch run how much energy I had. The week prior I had allowed stress to get the better of me and hadn’t run much at all so I was really working on getting my stamina back up and I ran nearly a mile further than I had a couple days earlier without feeling as tired and run down. So the Body Bar definitely gets a winning review from me!!! Might have to order a 12 pack of this one! 😉
Macro Breakdown: 32 g Carbs (66%), 5 g Fat (23%), 5 g Protein (10%)
Ingredients Bar: Gluten Free Oats, Puffed Quinoa, Peanut Butter, Sesame Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Date Paste, Dried Cranberries, Undutched Cocoa Powder, Dark Chocolate (undutched cocoa powder and evaporated cane juice), Dried Aronia Berries (apple juice sweetened), Molasses, Pumpkin Puree, Pea Protein Powder, Maca, Drum Dried Bananas, Acai Resveratrol, Spices
Ingredients Topping: Date Paste, Undutched Cocoa Powder, Maca, Pea Protein, Molasses, Coconut Electrolytes, Probiotics, Spices
You can check out the full Nutritional Information on their website: Body Bar Nutrition and Information
Belly Bar
Cranberry + Ginger + Lemon
The third bar I tried from the Forth variety pack was the Belly Bar. My stomach was a little upset so I figured it would be a good time to try out their bar that was designed to help soothe the stomach. After all, keeping the gut and urinary tract healthy are important in maintaining overall health and wellness so we can use all the help we can get! Let me just tell you guys, this bar is awesome!!! I love the ginger zing! Ginger is one of my favorite flavors and this bar has just enough of the ginger spice and it balances beautifully with the citrusy flavor of the lemon and the sweetness of the dried cranberries! A little higher on the carbs and lower on the protein than the first two bars I tried but overall a win and a really good mid-morning snack to help keep me energized until lunch.
Macro Breakdown: 33 g Carbs (68%), 5 g Fat (23%), 4 g Protein (8%)
Ingredients Bar: Gluten Free Oats, Quinoa Puffs, Date Paste, Peanut Butter, Sesame Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Dried Apricots, Dried Aronia Berries (apple juice sweetened), Dried Cranberries, Honey, Spray Dried Lemon, Acai Resveratrol, Spices
Ingredients Topping: Date Paste, Drum Dried Cranberry Powder, Maca, Honey, Spray Dried Lemon Juice, Probiotics, Spices
You can check out the full Nutritional Information on their website: Belly Bar Nutrition and Information
Heart Bar
Mango + Papaya + Coconut
Saturday, March 25 was the suggested race date for my 10K & S.P.E.W. race, sponsored by Hogwarts Running Club (yes, it’s a real thing!) so I wanted a snack that morning to help give me enough energy to help me run the entire race without weighing me down (because I wanted to help free house elves not lose my lunch! lol). Naturally, I turned to my Forth bar variety pack and decided to give the Heart Bar a try. Figured a little support for my cardiovascular system while running a 10K would be just what the doctor ordered! Thankfully, it didn’t let me down! This bar was a little sweeter than the others I had tried so far and had a nice tropical flavor profile with the mango, papaya and coconut. There were also a few larger chunks of fruit in the bar which made for a nice little surprise when I would get one in my bite! 30 minutes later I went for my run and was pleased to know I shaved 2 minutes off my run time and finished the 10K in 1 hour flat! While I can’t promise the Heart Bar will make you run faster I can say it did help provide the energy I needed to run the entire race without stopping to walk! This and the Body Bar would be excellent choices for any of my runner friends looking for a healthy snack option before races!
Macro Breakdown: 32 g Carbs (61%), 7 g Fat (30%), 5 g Protein (9%)
Ingredients Bar: Gluten Free Oats, Quinoa Puffs, Peanut Butter, Sesame Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Jungle Peanuts, Date Paste, Dried Blueberries, Freeze Dried Mango, Raisins, Freeze Dried Strawberries, Dried Aronia Berries (apple juice sweetened), Coconut Flakes, Honey, Acai Resveratrol, Spices
Ingredients Topping: Date Paste, Honey, Drum Dried Mango, Drum Dried Banana, Coconut Electrolytes, Maca, Vitamin D Oil
You can check out the full Nutritional Information on their website: Heart Bar Nutrition and Information
O’Mama Bar
Berry + Figs + Ginger
After my race the day before, Sunday was my rest day and time to spend with my daughter. So naturally the O’Mama Bar seemed like a good choice for my afternoon snack while she was napping! Like the Belly Bar, the O’Mama Bar does have a bit of a ginger zing but it was more subtle and had a sweeter, richer flavor overall. This bar is lower on the carbs so for days when you are less active or don’t need quite as much of an energy boost this would make for a great snack!
Macro Breakdown: 27 g Carbs (58%), 7 g Fat (34%), 4 g Protein (9%)
Ingredients Bar: Gluten Free Oats, Puffed Quinoa, Peanut Butter, Sesame Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Date Paste, Aronia Berries (apple juice sweetened), Drum Dried Bananas, Freeze Dried Strawberries, Dried Cranberries, Dried Blueberries, Dried Figs, Honey, Acai Resveratrol
Ingredients Topping: Date Paste, Drum Dried Banana Powder, Freeze Dried Strawberries, Freeze Dried Cranberries, Honey, Probiotics, Vitamin D Oil
You can check out the full Nutritional Information on their website: O’Mama Bar Nutrition and Information
Sexy Bar
Spicy Chipotle + Chocolate + Jungle Peanuts
If you have been reading closely or follow me on Instagram then you know that I am in the middle of kitchen repairs and renovations. I don’t know about you but I find new appliances super sexy (guess that’s a sign I’m officially an “adult,” whatever that means…) so it seemed apropos that I should choose the Sexy Bar to try out the day they were delivered! It smelled super rich when I first pulled it out of the wrapping so I was excited to give it a try. OMG! It was like a flavor explosion in my mouth! I loved the spicy chipotle and chocolate combo!!! It was so good I took extra small bites so I could enjoy it longer! Definitely had a little kick but oh so good! Hands down, this is my FAVORITE Forth Bar! I will be ordering more! ❤ 🙂 Plus, it has Goji berries in it and you all know how much I love my NingXia Red so any other healthy snack that includes the immune supporting Goji berry is a win in my book!
Macro Breakdown: 27 g Carbs (64%), 4.5 g Fat (24%), 5 g Protein (12%)
Ingredients Bar: Gluten Free Oats, Puffed Quinoa, Peanut butter, Sesame Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Date Paste, Undutched Cocoa, Chocolate (undutched cocoa and evaporated cane juice), Jungle Peanuts, Freeze Dried Raspberries, Aronia Berries (sweetened with apple juice), Dried Cranberries, Goji, Berries, Maca, Honey, Acai Resveratrol, Chili Powder, Spices
Ingredients Topping: Date Paste, Undutched Cocoa, Freeze Dried Raspberries, Chili Powder, Spices
You can check out the full Nutritional Information on their website: Sexy Bar Nutrition and Information
Brain Bar
Espresso + Chocolate + Coconut
I was feeling a little sluggish when I returned to work after my 3 day weekend so I figured a little extra brainpower couldn’t hurt! Thankfully, the Brain Bar was the last bar left in my variety pack for me to try. It has a subtle espresso flavor with chunks of dark chocolate without being overly sweet. A similar flavor profile to the Sexy Bar which I loved so much but without the chipotle kick. So if spicy isn’t your thing or you just love coffee, then this bar is definitely for you!
Macro Breakdown: 35 g Carbs (70%), 5 g Fat (22%), 4 g Protein (8%)
Ingredients Bar: Gluten Free Oats, Quinoa Puffs, Peanut Butter, Sesame Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Date Paste, Freeze Dried Strawberries, Dried Blueberries, Dried Aronia Berries (apple juice sweetened), Undutched Cocoa Powder, Dark Chocolate (cocoa powder and evaporated cane juice), Coconut Flakes, Molasses, Acai Resveratrol, Maca, Dehydrated Coffee, Spices
Ingredients Topping: Date Paste, Drum Dried Blueberry Powder, Undutched Cocoa Powder, Coconut Electrolytes, Coffee Powder, Spices
You can check out the full Nutritional Information on their website: Brain Bar Nutrition and Information
Final Review
Overall I’m really impressed by all of the Forth Bars! They taste great and provide sustained energy for workouts, chasing toddlers or to get through a grueling work day! I love the unique flavor combinations and that they give me just enough of a hint of sweetness without being overly sweet. But perhaps the biggest selling point to me is that they are all natural, with no artificial ingredients, are low sodium and are all gluten, soy and dairy free making them the perfect snack for those with dietary restrictions or who are just mindful of what they put into their bodies!
Pros
- Taste great!
- Unique flavor combinations
- No artificial ingredients
- Naturally sweetened with fruit juices or honey – just sweet enough without being overly sweet or triggering my sugar addiction!
- Gluten, Soy and Dairy Free – perfect for those with dietary restrictions. They are not nut free, however. Most of the bars I tried have peanut butter in them so be mindful if you or a family member have a nut allergy.
- Low Fat – ranging from 4.5-7 g per bar
- Low Sodium
- Reasonable Calories – ranging from 180 – 210 calories each, the Forth Bars are an excellent choice for a quick, nutrient dense snack to provide sustainable energy for an active lifestyle without adding unnecessary calories. Plus, if you wanted slightly fewer calories to help you stick with your goals, you can also check out their “Bite” options, available in the same great flavor combinations but coming in at less than 100 calories each!
- Available in packs of 12 in variety packs or single flavors if you find your favorite!
Cons
- Cost – coming in at $47.40 per 12 pack these bars will run you $3.95 per bar. However, this is comparable to buying other snack bar singles at your grocery store but without any of the nasty artificial ingredients, high sugar or insane sodium content of what you’re used to finding in the energy bar aisles!
- Low(ish) Protein – these are not a high protein bar like you might want for post-workout recovery (grab the protein powder instead) but they do seem to provide the sustained energy that the company boasts making them ideal for snacks on the go for afternoon hikes or a pre-workout energy boost!
So overall, I highly recommend supporting this new company so that they can continue to bring healthy, nutrient dense, whole food snack options to the market! So head on over to the We Are Forth website and order your Bars or Bites today! And make sure to tell your friends!
Note: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. I am an aromatherapy student but I am not a medical doctor. Products and techniques mentioned here are to help support your specific areas of concern and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Information here is in no way intended to replace proper medical help. Consult with the health authorities of your choice for treatment.
Looking for a Gluten, Soy and Dairy Free Whole Foods Snack? Look no further! Forth Bars Do NOT Disappoint!!! was originally published on Naturally Oily Adventures
Unfortunately, my go-to reference guide for all things oily, the 
Young Living teamed up with the Oola Guys, creators of Oola to develop 7 essential oil blends inspired by the 7 F’s of Oola (fitness, finance, family, field, faith, friends, and fun). I could do a whole class on Oola and essential oils but today I want to share with you the Fitness essential oil blend. Fitness, Inspired by Oola is a blend of Cypress, Copaiba, Basil, Cistus, Marjoram, Peppermint, Clary Sage, Idaho Blue Spruce, Balsam Canada, Nutmeg and Black Pepper in a Coconut oil carrier designed to help uplift, energize and give you the inspiration to take your workout to the next level! I like to apply a couple drops to my Solar Plexus and repeat the Oola Fitness Affirmation “I am fit, healthy, disciplined and strong” before my workout. It’s also lovely to diffuse in your home gym or living room while you work up a sweat!
