Planters Harvest Natural Nuts & Trail Mixes

Bonnie: I like everything about Planters Harvest line of 100% Natural Nuts and Trail Mixes with no preservatives or artificial ingredients. I also like that these have minimum sodium with the varieties ranging from a modest 40- to 100-milligrams of sodium per quarter cup of nuts.

As I’m sure you know, our government allows the following health claim on packages of many types of nuts: “Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.”

You won’t, though, find it on these new Planters Harvest products, as a spokesperson at Kraft explained, ”…Kraft chose to keep the consumer packaging clean and simple to focus on the 100% Natural branding and reinforce the natural and simple ingredients. Most consumers are aware that almonds are heart healthy and we decided not to leverage this particular claim.”

I — on the other hand — like to remind you why nuts are a good snack. In addition to them being heart healthy, nuts are also good sources of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin E, selenium, magnesium, manganese and copper; they contain “good” fats (polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats), which have been shown to lower blood-cholesterol levels, and they taste delicious.

Planters Dark Chocolate Forest Blend also contains dark chocolate covered almonds, with slightly less fat than the just-nut ones. That’s because nuts are mostly fat, while chocolate also contains sugars. (Fat has 9 calories per gram, sugar only 4.) This variety is quite delicious. Try to control your portions — meaning have only one handful of any of these nutritious blends. Be exceptionally careful with that decadent Dark Chocolate Forest Blend.

Bryan: When testing new food products here at Bite of the Best, we often receive the entire line…all varieties, all flavors, all options. We have generally found that we all inevitably gravitate towards one (or maybe two) types of a new product, selecting the truly best to write about here on the site. Today is different, though. Today we are letting you know about an entire new line of products: Planters Harvest 100% Natural. When a product is this good, you don’t split hairs about which flavor is best — you shout it’s merits from the top of a mountain!

Bonnie has already sung the praises of nuts in regards to their exceptional nutritional value, so let’s talk flavors. There are five new mixtures that we’ve been sent to try, each more interesting than the next. Planters still starts with the basics, though the simplest of offerings are often the most profound. California Almonds and Jumbo Cashews are the two most basic packages, each roasted in sea salt with NO added oils. Kicking it up just a notch on the complexity scale are the Pistachio Grove Blend (pistachios, peanuts, almonds and cashews) and Almond Orchard Blend (almonds, pistachios, raisins and cranberries). When you’re really ready for something different, make sure to try the Dark Chocolate Forest Blend (chocolate-covered almonds, sea salt, roasted almonds and cranberries).

Nuts, though high in fat, are amazingly healthy snacks, relatively modest in calories while being high in vitamins, minerals and fiber. Grabbing a handful during the day as a snack is certainly a better option than many of the most common alternatives — sodas, energy drinks or other sugar-loaded foods. Nuts are a power-packed food that will likely get you over that midday hunger hump without affecting your health-conscious plans. Next time you’re feeling a bit peckish, do your heart a favor. Skip the Red Bull and try something more substantive: Planters 100% Natural Harvest.

A brief safety aside: Planters peanuts are NOT part of the current recall and are deemed safe for consumption.

Eric: You’ve by now read about the nutritional value of the new line of Planters Harvest nuts, and are probably already drooling over the five varieties that the new line offers — but what about the value? Usually such “natural” products are overpriced and under portioned, leaving you with a empty feeling in both your stomach and your wallet. But the new line of Planters Harvest nuts contain a plentiful 9- to 11-ounces, with a price ($5.99) that competes favorably with the smaller portions of competitors such as Emerald and True North.