Gluten-Free Fun and LÄRABAR

I have been a fan of LÄRABAR for many years. I cannot even remember when I first started stashing LÄRABAR in my bags! At this point, LÄRABAR feels like a familiar gluten-free friend!

In 2012, I had the extreme honor of "flying" with the one and only Lara at the Trapeze School of New York. It was such a fun day and a cool way to learn about the 2012 launch of UBER bars. Putting a face to the brand made my connection to LÄRABAR even more personal.

Me and Lara, the founder of LÄRABAR

This summer, I was beyond flattered when LÄRABAR approached me to write for The Nutshell section of their website. Living with celiac disease for more than 30 years, LÄRABAR felt I had a very unique story to share with their fans. I happily agreed to share my celiac history with LÄRABAR enthusiasts and it was published yesterday!

Read my the entire Gluten-Free Fun: My Celiac Story here.

Then, when LÄRABAR asked me to write about gluten-free travel tips, I jumped at the chance. In case you don't know, I also write a website called Gluten-Free Globetrotter. On this website, I share my experience of living with Celiac DIsease for thirty-three years with my passion for travel. I have been to three continents, almost twenty countries, and countless states. I love sharing my gluten-free travel stories especially since every single vacation I have ever taken has been gluten-free!

Read about My Life as a Gluten-Free Globetrotter here.

Learn more about LÄRABAR on their website: http://www.larabar.com/

Über Trapeze with Larabar

As a gluten-free blogger living in New York City, I am very lucky to get invitations to some amazing events. Over the past five and a half years of blogging, I have attended book launch parties, private dinners, and event black-tie galas all promoting Celiac awareness and supporting the gluten-free lifestyle. I am beyond flattered every time I get one of these invitations and feel like my hard work both on this blog and with leading the NYC Celiac Meetup group are not going unnoticed. I really do appreciate attending these events and only wish I could blog as fast as I attend sometimes.

It is hard to pick a favorite, but I honestly think this past Friday was my favorite gluten-free event EVER! I was invited to attend a class at the Trapeze School of New York at the South Street Seaport courtesy of LÄRABAR. I felt like my passions were coming together and my gluten-free stars were aligning when this invitation popped into my inbox. I first fell in love with trapeze at Club Med Turkoise in 2010. My coworkers then bought me a gift certificate for one free class at the Trapeze School of NY. Once again I was hooked and loving life, this time high above the streets of NYC. I took a few more classes and then busy life just took over and I hadn't gone in almost a year. Fast forward to this September, when I get this invitation from Larabar. Not only was I invited to take this trapeze class, but I was invited to meet THE Lara! Lara Merriken is the founder of LÄRABAR and she would be at the class as well. I nearly jumped out of my office chair with giddiness when I responded to this email to say YES YES YES I would be there.

My favorite!

Larabar was holding this trapeze event to celebrate their new Über bars. These bars are gluten-free, come in four flavors, and are just around 200 calories each. I've always been a big fan of LÄRABAR and I am excited to now at the Über bars to the mix. I seriously have a bar in my bag at all times and it has definitely gotten me out of some hunger jams over the years.

I was thrilled to meet Lara and talk to her about her company and philosophy behind making her bars. It is obvious that she is really passionate about making healthy snacks for people on the go. As we were munching on the Über bars between flying sessions, the event just made sense to me. There were 12 busy New York women from all different backgrounds: nutritionists, Fitness magazine editors, bloggers, and journalists, who are all constantly on the go. Über bars were a perfect match for our on-the-go personalities.

Overall it was an awesome, adrenaline-filled afternoon. The only way to really share this event with you is through pictures and video. Although I didn't catch my straddle whip, I accomplished three knee hangs with a somersault dismount and the straddle whip while meeting some really amazing women. I am definitely going back to TSNY in the spring when the outdoor rigs reopen. Here are some awesome pictures from the day:

TSNY trapeze rig at the South Street Seaport

Me with Lara Merriken, the founder of LARABAR

That's me!!

Lots of LARABAR swag including stickers, t-shirts, and the new Uber bars

Getting ready for my next trick

The amazing sunset at the Seaport after our class

As their new t-shirts say, Über is defined as "super duper, wicked awesome, seriously epic." I think trapeze classes at the Seaport fits that bill. With lots of free samples of Über bars, lots of LÄRABAR swag, and oh yeah... did I mention trapeze???, it certainly was an Über day.

Thank you so much to LÄRABAR and the amazing Lara Merriken for holding such a wonderful event and inviting me!

LÄRABAR® Introduces Four New Flavors

I am really excited about the new flavors of LÄRABAR and cannot wait to try them! The new flavors include Carrot Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Chocolate Chip Brownie, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip. As with the other flavors of LÄRABAR, these new flavors are all gluten-free. The new flavors were unveiled at the Natural Products Expo West in March and they are now available to the public at www.larabar.com! For the next month, LÄRABAR is offering 15% off any purchase of the new flavors by entering promo code LARNEW10.

Here is the press release:

Denver, CO, March, 2010 – LÄRABAR® (LARABAR.COM) maker of the original fruit and nut food bar, is pleased to announce the launch of their newest flavors – Carrot Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, and Chocolate Chip Brownie. These four additions bring the total number of delicious LÄRABAR flavors to nineteen, once again expanding the variety of dessert inspired alternatives for health conscious consumers. LÄRABAR will be unveiling their much-anticipated new flavors at the Natural Products Expo West, taking place March 12th through the 14th at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA.

The Carrot Cake flavor is so delicious, you may think you’re biting into a slice of the real thing. Subtle hints of pineapple and coconut blend with nuts and raisins to create a sweet, nutty and spicy experience. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Chocolate Chip Brownie, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip are the first flavors ever made with chocolate chips. They taste indulgent, delicious and are the perfect sweet. They are made with the simplest of chocolate chips (cocoa powder, cocoa mass, sugar, and vanilla).

Of the new chocolate chip flavors, LÄRABAR founder, Lara Merriken said, “At LÄRABAR we emulate the decadent flavors of time honored desserts and snacks with the use of wholesome, simple ingredients. It seemed only natural that we would find a way to incorporate chocolate chips into our bars, which are a favorite among desert lovers alike. We are thrilled to finally be able to unveil our new chocolate chip flavors: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, and Chocolate Chip Brownie. ”

Delicious Taste in Its Simplest Form
LÄRABAR is the embodiment of food in its simplest, most satisfying and natural state. “Our products contain 100% whole food, with no more than 2 to 9 ingredients. LÄRABAR is a wholesome snack made of fruit, nuts and spices” adds Merriken.

About LÄRABAR®
Founded in 2003 by Lara Merriken, LÄRABAR now produces nineteen LÄRABAR brand flavors and seven JŎCALAT brand flavors. The company is committed to producing simple, whole food products. LÄRABAR products are available worldwide at a variety of natural, specialty, and conventional grocers and outdoor lifestyle retailers. For more information, visit LARABAR.COM or call 877-LÄRABAR (527-2227).