Sensato Nut & Flax Granola

When I hear the word Granola, I think of my fat free days chock full of yogurt, rice cakes and other high-carb foods that for years I believed were healthy.  I now understand that most granolas are loaded with sugar and other insulin raising ingredients that are far from nutritious.  I also never honestly expected to eat granola again, which was a bit disappointing considering it was one of the few foods in my previous low-fat life that I actually enjoyed.  In the past I have tried a couple of low-carb granola products, and one was even very good, but they both included sugar alcohols, in practically miniscule serving sizes, so you had to be extremely careful with your portions. The last thing you want is a handful of granola, chased by the Jeff Daniels toilet scene in Dumb and Dumber.  To make a long story short, neither of these brands turned out to be good options.

When I heard about Sensato Sugar-Free Nut & Flax Granola, I was a bit wary. Would this be any different? Looking at the label on the Cinnamon flavor, I wasn’t sure. Upon opening the bag and peeking in, I noticed it didn’t really resemble your typical high-carb granola, but it certainly smelled good. I poured a little in my hand and gave it a try. It tasted good. The texture wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but not bad either – just different. I ate more, because like I said, it tasted good. Then a little more. Before I knew it, I had walked around the house (while doing various odd jobs with said snack in hand) and had consumed almost half a bag. I immediately realized that I’d eaten roughly 3 servings and feared the inevitable stampede that normally accompanies such a thoughtless indulgence. I was more than surprised when it never happened. Why it didn’t bother me, I’m not sure, but I can say I’ve since eaten additional servings to really put it to the test, and again no negative reaction. This coming from someone who is pretty sensitive to sugar alcohols.

I can’t really find anything negative to say about Sensato Nut & Flax Granola, short of it including maltitol. As many of you know, it’s my least favorite sugar alcohol. So for that I have to deduct a star from it’s rating. But I am pleased that despite having this less-than-favorable sweetener, I had no urgent, socially offensive issues. (Goodness! The things I put myself through for a review!) It also conatins soy, so this is another drawback for those who need to avoid it.

I do want you to keep in mind this is not acceptable for induction phases of Atkins, or possibly other low-carb plans.  This is one of those occasional snacks that can help you feel indulgent without blowing your healthy habits. Occasional is the key word here though.

Nutritional info for the cinnamon flavor:

• Serving Size 1/2 cup (42g)
• Servings Per Container 6
• Total Calories 169
• Calories From Fat 111
• Total Fat 12g
• Saturated Fat 1g
• Trans Fat 0g
• Cholesterol 0mg
• Sodium 126mg
• Total Carbohydrates 12g*
• Dietary Fiber 5g*
• Sugars 0g
• Sugar Alcohols (Polyols) 6g*
• Protein 6g

Ingredients: Pecans, maltitol, flax seed meal, wheat bran, soy protein isolate, almonds, oats, canola oil, flavorings, baking soda, soy lecithin, sea salt, low glycemic monosaccarides, sucralose.

Allergy alert: Manufactured in a plant that processes milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts, and soybeans.

As with any product that contains maltitol, the package does include the following warning:

Excess consumption may cause a laxative effect.

As I mentioned before, it did not for me. Do keep in mind that your milage may vary with this item and you may have a different reaction. You can also purchase two additional flavors: Cherry and Cranberry.

To sum up my thoughts: Sensato Nut & Flax Granola is a tasty product that will certainly kill any granola cravings, but I would love it more if it did not contain maltitol. I give it 4 stars.

Disclosure: I was provided this product free of charge in order to review it. It in no way affected my opinion of the product.