Summertime often brings cravings for refreshing treats to beat the heat. Outshine bars, produced by Dreyer’s (or Edy’s), have emerged as a popular option, promising both flavor and nutritional value. This article delves into a comprehensive review of Outshine bars, examining their ingredients, nutritional content, taste, and overall health benefits.
A Brief History and Rebranding
Dreyer’s has been in the frozen fruit bar business for 18 years, emphasizing simple and all-natural ingredients. Recently, they rebranded their product line as Outshine, expanding the flavor options and introducing combination fruit/vegetable bars.
Diverse Flavors
Outshine bars boast a wide array of flavors, including classic fruit options like strawberry, grape, and raspberry, as well as unique choices such as creamy coconut, lime, and pineapple. Seasonal varieties like blood orange and grapefruit add to the appeal. The fruit and veggie combos, featuring tangerine carrot, strawberry rhubarb, and apple & greens, stand out as particularly intriguing.
Nutritional Value
One of the key selling points of Outshine bars is their nutritional profile. They contain real fruit, fruit juice, and vegetables. Most bars range between 25-60 calories per serving and are fat-free (except for the creamy coconut flavor). While they do contain sugar and carbohydrates, the amounts are generally reasonable.
Ingredients Breakdown
A closer look at the ingredients reveals both positives and potential drawbacks:
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- Real Fruit: Outshine emphasizes the use of real fruit juice concentrate and fruit pulp in some flavors. However, the exact fruit content is not always clear.
- Cane Sugar: Cane sugar is used as a sweetener in many flavors. While it's a natural sweetener, it still contributes to added sugar content.
- Fruit Juice Concentrate: Fruit juice concentrate is processed fruit with the water, pulp, and skin removed. This process may remove fiber but retains some nutritional value.
- Ascorbic Acid: A lab-produced synthetic form of Vitamin C.
Additives
Some Outshine bars contain additives like guar gum and xanthan gum. While generally considered safe, guar gum can cause digestive issues in some people. The No Sugar Added Strawberry variant contains sorbitol, sucralose, and acesulfame potassium as sweeteners. Excessive consumption of sorbitol can lead to gastrointestinal issues. Sucralose and acesulfame potassium are controversial artificial sweeteners with potential health risks if consumed regularly.
Taste and Texture
Taste is a crucial factor in any food product, and Outshine bars generally receive positive reviews. The fruit/veggie combinations, like tangerine carrot and strawberry rhubarb, are particularly well-received. The tangerine carrot offers a smooth, citrusy flavor with balanced sweetness, while the strawberry rhubarb has a slightly tart taste. The lime flavor is also a favorite, offering a tart and refreshing experience. The mango popsicle is a creamy, refreshing treat that strikes a nice balance of sweetness, while the pineapple popsicle has sweet, candy-like chunks of real pineapple.
However, some flavors receive less favorable reviews. The raspberry fruit bar is described as having a muted and excessively tangy flavor with an icy texture. The pomegranate pop is criticized for being too tart and tannic. The mango bar had a very light mango taste, and some reviewers would have appreciated a stronger flavor presence. The strawberry bar also had a light fruit taste, but some appreciated the strawberry bits, because of the texture contrast and small flavor bursts. The chocolate bar reminded some reviewers of chocolate milk, where there’s a satisfying chocolate presence, but you aren’t eating a chunk of fudge. The coffee one had a coffee taste that was definitely present, but still light like the others.
Health Benefits and Drawbacks
Outshine bars can be a healthier alternative to traditional ice cream bars due to their lower calorie count and real fruit content. They are also gluten-free and free from high fructose corn syrup.
However, it's important to consider the drawbacks:
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- Added Sugar: Most Outshine bars contain added sugar, which can contribute to overall sugar intake.
- Processed Fruit: The use of fruit juice concentrate means that the fruit is processed, potentially reducing its nutritional value compared to whole fruit.
- Artificial Sweeteners: The No Sugar Added varieties contain artificial sweeteners, which may not be suitable for everyone.
- Low Fiber: The bars are low in fiber, meaning they may not be as filling or beneficial as eating whole fruit.
Are Outshine Fruit Bars Healthy?
Outshine Fruit Bars may be slightly healthier than some regular ice cream bars, but the bars contain added sugar, non-nutritive sweeteners, and other ingredients like gums. While Outshine Bars can be enjoyed as an occasional treat, you can also make your own frozen treats at home.
Outshine as a Weight Loss Treat
If you are still sticking to your New Year’s health-kick but want a hint of an ice cream treat, these will suffice. The bars are just 35 to 60 calories each. They’re also Gluten-free.
Outshine vs. DIY
While Outshine bars offer convenience, making your own frozen treats at home allows for greater control over ingredients. Homemade popsicles can be made with whole fruits, natural sweeteners (like honey or maple syrup), and other healthy additions like yogurt or vegetables. This can be a healthier and less expensive option.
Read also: Looking for a healthy dessert? Check out this keto Tagalong bars recipe.