Are you eating granola bars, thinking that it's healthy snack, becuase it contains whole grains? Think again!

Some contain more sugar than a candy bar. Let's take Quaker Chewy Granola Bars, Apple Fruit Crumble, as an example.

Check out what is on their website...

"If you love apples like we do, then you know that it's hard to eat them on the go."

Seriously???  Last time I checked, an apple was the easiest snack to take anywhere!

"Lucky for you, the Quaker brand offers Apple Fruit Crumble Granola Bars. All the delicious taste of apples in convenient bar form that can be enjoyed anywhere your day takes you."

Hint, you'll get a taste of apples, but how much apple is actually in a bar? Not much!

Here is the list of ingredients:

GRANOLA (QUAKER ROLLED OATS, ROLLED WHOLE WHEAT, BROWN SUGAR, BARLEY FLAKES, SUNFLOWER OIL, INULIN, HONEY, NATURAL FLAVOUR, MODIFIED MILK INGREDIENTS), GLUCOSE, DEXTROSE, SUGAR, GLYCERIN, WHOLE GRAIN BROWN RICE CRISPS (WHOLE GRAIN BROWN RICE FLOUR, SUGAR, BARLEY MALT, SALT, MIXED TOCOPHEROLS), APPLE PURÉE (WATER, SUGAR, DRIED APPLES [CALCIUM STEARATE], APPLE JUICE CONCENTRATE, MALIC ACID, SODIUM BENZOATE), SHORTENING (CANOLA OIL, MODIFIED PALM AND PALM KERNEL OILS), BROWN SUGAR, SORBITOL, DEHYDRATED APPLE NUGGETS (SULPHITES, CALCIUM STEARATE), INULIN, SALT, WATER, CINNAMON, NATURAL FLAVOUR, PECTIN, MALIC ACID, SOY LECITHIN, BHT (PRESERVATIVE).

Sugar

Sugar is the third main ingredient and it is mentioned 5 times in the list of ingredients. There is also honey, glucose, dextrose, barley malt, apple juice concentrate and sorbitol, 6 more different types of sweeteners, for a total of 11!

Oils

Next, let's look at the oils. Sunflower oil is refined oil. Packaged foods never use the more expensive, healthy,  first cold pressed oils. There is also shortening (canola oil, modified palm oil and palm kernel oil)

When trans fats were banned the food industry replaced them with palm oil and palm kernel oil, which are just as bad. They are a solid substance, not liquid, so they clog the arteries as much as trans fats do. You'll find them in most packaged foods.

I go into more detail about refined oils on my website http://www.health-and-natural-healing.com/good-fats.html 

Fiber?

Inulin is mentioned twice in the list. This synthetic fiber increases the amount of fiber on the label, but doesn't have any of the benfits of eating fiber rich foods, lowering cholesterol, reducing heart disease, keeping the bowels moving, etc.

Find the Apple

We are saving ourselves from the arduous task of carrying around an apple, so how much apple is really in here?

The apple purée's main ingredient is water, then sugar and finally dried apples! Apple juice concentrate is also listed with the chemical preservative sodium benzoate and way down on the list we find dehydrated apples which have been treated with sulfites.

BHT or butylated hydroxytoluene is added as preservative, if you can`t pronounce it don`t eat it!

Healthy Alternatives

Find great heatlhy snacks ideas on my website http://www.health-and-natural-healing.com/healthy-snack-recipes.html or scroll for my delicious healthy power bar recipe.

I'm so excited to announce
that I'll be hosting my first webinars!

There will be 6 Power point presentationsin all, two per month.

Check out these Topics....

6 Secrets to Boost Energy and Improve Health
Easy Weight Loss With Your Personalized Body Type Plan
Stop the Clock! Natural Ways to Stay Young
Sail Through PMS and Menopause Naturally
Beat Stress and Anxiety with 3 Easy Techniques
Mastering Motivation - How to Stay on Track With Healthy Eating and Healthy Lifestyle

They will be held on Monday nights from 7 to 7:30 PM with a short Q and A.

The first one will be on  Monday February 24th 7PM EST

6 Secrets to Boost Energy and Improve Health

 Invite your friends and be sure to reserve your place in my next newsletter about 2 weeks from now!

I have a new Loyalty Program for my clients!

When you refer a client to me, they get $25 off of their first consutlation and You get a Free half an hour session with me!

Give the gift of health and take advantage of a free consult for yourself! Consutations can be done in person, by Skype or phone. Call me for more info 514-577-1963

This is a recipe that I modified , originally from Fast and Fun Food by Karen Claffey. These delicious bars will fill you up and keep you satisfied a long time. So many people have requested this recipe.

Carrot Raisin Oatmeal Power Bars


1 ½  cups spelt or kamut flour (you can use whole wheat flour in a pinch)
1 ½ cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 tbsp cinnamon
½ tsp allspice
½ tsp sea salt
½ cup maple syrup
12 drops liquid Stevia
½ cup organic first pressed cold canola oil
½ cup tahini (sesame butter)
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
1 cup carrots grated fine
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 350. Combine the first five dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix the next seven wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Add the wet to the dry ingredients and mix well so no lumps of flour remain. Fold in the carrots, raisins and walnuts evenly.

2. Oil a 8x8 baking dish (or a little bigger). Scrape all the batter from the bowl into the dish and smooth the top. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or longer until golden brown.

3. Cool to room temperature for one hour before slicing into bars.
Wrap individually, they freeze well.

"It has been a year since I met with Sue-Anne to discuss my health.  When I first saw Sue-Anne I was struggling with many health issues which could not be medically diagnosed but nonetheless really affected my quality of life.  I was tired and bloated and had a lot of problems with digestion.  I had been to many doctors and had numerous tests which showed nothing.  I was very frustrated."

 "Sue-Anne suggested I go on a  candida diet and take specific supplements to help me.  At the beginning I thought it would be impossible to stay with the diet as it was so restricting. Once the cravings subsided I started to feel better and the diet was easier to follow.  I never realized that I was eating so much sugar or that it was causing a lot of my symptoms." 

"There were a few set backs along the way but Sue-Anne was always there for me when I encountered a problem to give support and to adjust supplements to my needs.  I stayed on the diet for over 6 months and my health has improved immensely during that time.  I have more energy, my digestion is greatly improved and I feel healthy!"

" I am so grateful that I met Sue-Anne because she is the reason I am healthy today!"

Deborah Brown