A Sweet and Sinless Summertime Treat

Summertime is almost upon us, and it will soon be time for refreshing treats like ice cream, gelato, frozen custard (one of my personal favorites), malts, shakes, and sundaes (fudge brownie sundaes are my weakness). In addition to being refreshing and delicious, however, these treats are also cause for guilt for far too many of us. Think: "This will go straight to my hips," etc.

It doesn't have to be this way, though. There are lots of sweet, refreshing treats we can enjoy, guilt-free. Frozen yogurt is a pretty obvious one (though I admit that I shamelessly load mine up with brownie pieces, hot fudge, and marshmallow topping; my Sweet Frog cup always costs close to $7, and it's not because I've overdone it with the frozen yogurt...). Here, however, I want to share with you a recent discovery: Edy's Outshine Fruit Bars.

These delectable frozen treats were first brought to my attention in a recent issue of Runner's World in an article featuring guiltless snacks. I wasn't totally convinced; I have tried similar fruit bars in the past and felt like I was sucking down cold, watered-down flavored ice (at best). Not even up to part with an sno cone. The texture was weak and icy--just not satisfying as a snack, much less a treat. However, at 80 calories, I figured I'd give a box I try.

Awesome decision.

I purchased the pineapple flavor and I highly recommend it. The texture is thick and almost chewy, with small pieces of real fruit embedded in the bar. The flavor is rich--not watered-down. Pictured below is the packaging, including nutrition information and ingredients.

Runner's World got it right. Not only are Outshine Bars guilt-free, but they're delicious, and that combination is not always easy to find.

Fast Fitness Tip:Because your body burns calories at an accelerated rate for up to two hours after you work out, plan meals to occur within two hours of your workout.

Edy's Outshine Bars are a delicious alternative to other (perhaps more guilty-pleasure-esque) summertime treats. The texture is thick, the flavor is rich and real, and at just 80 calories, the caloric intake is minimal and this not too guilt-inducing if you worry about that sort of thing. You might also notice that sugar doesn't appear until third in the ingredients list--behind water (and hydration is a good thing) and pineapple juice. Right after sugar in the ingredients list? Real, actual pineapple--and you will enjoy chewing on the delectable little bits of fruit as you munch this sweet treat.