Damn the Freshman 15

Life is a thing of balance. Way back when, people considered muffins and bagels a perfectly healthy way to start the day. Then, a few years ago, carbs were the greasy outlaws that slunk into the saloon, fired off shotguns, and only Sheriff Sirloin could drive them out. Carbs have since redeemed themselves through their heart-healthy attributes and staying power. This time around, though, people have wizened up and realized the healthiness of whole grains versus the empty garbage of Wonder Bread. Slowly, grocery store shelves carry more and more products proudly sporting whole grain on the label.

Yet, whole grain does not always equal cornucopia of health. Trix, after all, is a whole grain cereal. So in this world of corporate finagling and marketing manipulation, is it possible to have a decently healthy whole grain cookie? As World of Grains proves, yes you can. Just don’t expect it to be a messianic Oreo.

World of Grains is a small company specializing in whole grain snacks, namely cookies, clusters, and crackers. Their cookie line features flavors from apple cinnamon to cranberry. I snagged the blueberry flavor.

Typically, I don’t shop for cookies. The 15 grams of whole grain per serving made me curious enough to pick up the box. The rest of the nutritionals made me buy it for $4.99. The cookies come in prepackaged little bags, 4 per box, 130 calories each. Secretly I love portion control, so this made me happy. 4 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 22 grams of carbs, 3 grams of fiber, 8 grams of sugar, 3 grams of protein, and 90 mg of omega 3’s round out the nutrition label. Exception for the saturated fat, these really are among the closest morsels you will find to a “health cookie.” But really, who cares about the health if the food tastes bad? Luckily, these cookies do not.

But neither do they taste entirely cookieish. I tried my first (leaf-shaped!) cookie dry. It was rather hard and crunchy. The taste nips the tongue more than one would expect, probably from the amaranth grains and buckwheat. The blueberries are tart little things as well. Yet, this sharpness accompanies a definite sweetness; just do not be expecting a sugar rush. I tried a couple more cookies dunked in milk and they tasted even better. The milk softens them a bit too, which softens the texture and allows for more chew. Microwaved for 15 seconds and dunked in milk, these little cookies broke the barrier and became officially delicious.

These cookies make a nice, relatively guilt-free snack. I definitely want to try more flavors. $4.99 is high for a box of cookies though, so I do not know how soon I’ll be sampling more World of Grains products. Nevertheless, if you have no cares about your wallet, snag these puppies.