What to Buy at Auchan? A Selection of the Best Snacks
The most popular snacks for children at Auchan were:
bars
purees
dried fruits
salty sticks, cookies, gummies
Bars - What Should We Look for When Buying Them?
1. Ingredients - the shorter, the better. Key ingredients should include dates, flakes, and nuts.
✅ high protein content
✅ high fiber content
❌ high saturated fat content
❌ sugar as the first ingredient
2. Bar Caloric Content - check how many calories are in one serving.
Packaging usually shows nutritional information per 100g and sometimes per serving. Remember to check the weight of the bar and how many calories it provides based on its weight.
While calorie intake is personal, bars should not be a main meal. A reasonable choice would be those under 250 kcal per serving.
3. Sugar - (often labeled as glucose-fructose syrup)
Choose those with little or no sugar.
4. Saturated Fats - (high content often due to palm oil). Look for bars with low saturated fat content.
What Did We Find at Auchan?
Be Raw! Energy Raspberry
One bar provides:
154 kcal
1.8g protein
22g carbohydrates
3.3g fiber
6g fat (including 2g saturated)
This is the best option among the various bars chosen by a mom from Auchan.
It's worth noting that there are many other bars (even from this brand) with shorter ingredient lists and more protein, which could rank higher than Be Raw Energy :)
A worse choice is GoOn Energy.
Despite its healthy name, its ingredient list raises concerns.
It includes sugar several times (sugar, cane sugar, glucose syrup, caramelized sugar), with saturated fat content at nearly 9.6g per bar!
These bars are often shelved among "fit, healthy" options, misleading unaware consumers.
Purees - What Should We Look for When Buying Them?
Ensure they contain vegetables besides fruits and ideally include flakes, nuts, yogurt, etc. They're naturally high in simple sugars, so avoid those with added sugars.
As a Food Technologist and Nutritionist, I wrote an entire article on fruit purees for kids. Check it out here! Below are the healthiest options:
Dawtona's "Second Breakfast" includes flakes and linseed along with fruits. The producer claims it contains whole flakes and grains, increasing fiber content and keeping you fuller longer.
Dried Fruits - What Should We Look for When Buying Them?
The rule is simple: the ingredient list should only include them. Choose products without unnecessary additions like salt or sugar.
Remember, dried fruits are calorie-dense in small portions, so it's best to use them as an addition to salads or oatmeal.
Auchan offers many options. For example:
Salty Sticks, Cookies, Gummies
Unfortunately, most of these products are highly processed and should be limited in both children's and adults' diets. Occasional consumption won't harm, but regular intake can impact health.
The gummies were my favorite in this group!
These gummies have a composition similar to fruit purees. They're not additionally sweetened, which is common with other brands.
* One pack contains 119 kcal.
Also Read:
