celiac awareness day & a luna protein bar giveaway

Happy Celiac Awareness Day!!

Yesterday I received an adorable package of LUNA Protein Bars.

Haven't heard of LUNA Protein? Here is an overview: 

• A whole nutrition bar for women
• Less than 200 calories
• 12 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber
• Core 4 nutrients: calcium, iron, vitamin D and folic acid
• Available in five gluten-free flavors: Mint Chocolate Chip, Chocolate, Chocolate Cherry Almond, Chocolate Peanut Butter, & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

(Photo courtesy of LUNA)

I tried 3: Mint Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, & Chocolate Peanut Butter. They're all cloaked in chocolate like a candy bar. 

Before I'd even finished the Mint Chocolate Chip, I texted my recently-diagnosed gluten-free mom to give her a heads up that she'll want to try these. The flavor is similar to my very favorite Girl Scout cookie. There are teeny chocolate chips in a chocolatey nougat with a hint of peppermint. It's it a little crunch that is satisfying. And it's not grainy!! 

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is very tasty too. I don't know how they make a gluten-free cookie dough that yummy, but I'm sold. It's not very often we get to have cookie dough flavored anything, let alone something that also has good nutritional value. 

I was going to save the Peanut Butter for later but gave in & ate it on a road trip to Toledo. Oops. It's drier than the other two - of course, it's peanut butter - but there is a hint of vanilla & almond that makes it more interesting to my tastebuds than a peanut butter cup. It's a good balance...but my favorite is the mint chocolate, hands-down. 

LUNA was the brainchild of the founders of Clif Bar and Company with a mission focused on "a dedication to quality, community, sustainability and a balanced work place".  

In my pre-gluten-free days, I really liked the convenience and nutrition of a Clif Bar. Since my diagnosis, I've been pretty skeptical of gluten-free protein bars; so often they're grainy and tasteless, and the tasty ones seem to only be available on specialty shops at a premium price. I'm a nursing student on the go. If I had time to track them down, I wouldn't have as much need for them, you know? Fortunately LUNA Protein Bars are available at a number of retailers: Kroger, Target, Walmart, etc. Check out their handy store locator here. 

So here's the really exiting part: 

LUNA has offered me the chance to run a giveaway!!   

I've chosen to do so using Rafflecopter so it's fair for everyone. What's the prize? A box of LUNA Protein bars in a flavor of your choice!  

How to enter:

1. Click this link to access the widget or scroll down a teeny bit.
2. Log in with Facebook or your email address. (The winner's info - and only theirs - will be shared with LUNA for shipping purposes.)
3. Complete the steps of your choice to earn entries!
4. A winner will be randomly selected at the end of next week & notified via email!

 Good luck, and happy eating!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



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Full disclosure: 
The goodies were sent to me free of charge in exchange for an honest review to help celebrate Celiac Awareness Day. Beyond the samples shown above, I received no compensation of any sort.  The opinions expressed in this post are mine & mine alone.