Kimberly Bouldin, a gluten-free blogger and runner, published a fantastic review of NuGO Slim on the popular website, Celiac-Disease.com. Kimberly was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2006 and reviews many gluten-free products.

We loved this review because Kimberly did a great job of highlighting the features that make NuGO Slim so unique from other low-sugar protein bars.

1. No Maltitol or Artificial Sweeteners

“Artificial sweeteners and I do not get along. Never have. I do what I can to avoid them at all costs. A lot of diet bars that are high in protein have artificial sweeteners which makes them a no-no in my book.”
“My stomach was not bothered in the least by these bars, another amazing fact!”

2. Flavor, Texture, and Size

“I tried both the brownie crunch and the roasted peanut. Both bars had a nice flavor & texture and were not overly sweet. The size of the bar was decent. There is nothing I hate worse than eating something in this same calorie range that is tiny and feeling unsatisfied when I am done.”

3. High Protein and Fiber

“I felt satisfied when I was finished with these bars and they held me over until my next meal, which is not an easy task. With all of the running & training that I currently do, I am always eating. Snacks that don’t have protein and fiber in them don’t hold me over and I find myself hungry again in the next hour.”

Kimberly also mentioned that NuGO Slim is made with REAL dark chocolate and chicory root fiber. Read the entire review here.

To celebrate our recent launch of NuGO Slim almost sugar-free bars, we are holding an exciting giveaway. NuGO Slim bars are certified gluten-free, OU Kosher, and contain only 2 grams of sugar from REAL Dark Chocolate and chicory root. Plus, they have 15 grams of protein and 9 grams of soluble fiber to keep you feeling full longer!

We will be giving away one free box of NuGO Slim each Friday for the next three weeks! The winner gets one mixed box containing six Roasted Peanut bars and six Brownie Crunch bars. If you can’t eat NuGO Slim due to a dietary restriction, we will gladly substitute a mixed box of NuGO FREE, which is gluten-free, vegan, soy-free, and Kosher Pareve.

Here’s how to enter:
1. Like NuGO Gluten Free or NuGO Nutrition on Facebook.
2. Leave a comment on this blog post telling us which page you liked and why you are excited to try NuGO Slim.

For extra entries:
3. Like both of our Facebook pages and leave a comment saying you liked both.
4. Follow us on Twitter if you aren’t already and tweet:
@NuGoNutrition is giving away new NuGO Slim bars: 15g protein, 9g fiber, only 2g sugar! #gf #healthy http://tinyurl.com/3rr29fo.
Be sure to leave a comment telling us that you tweeted it.

The winners will be randomly chosen and announced on both of our Facebook pages on September 23, September 30, and October 7. Use code SLIM19 to receive 10% off NuGO Slim until October 7, 2011.

Your comments qualify you to be entered for all three weeks. We know NuGo has many international fans, but you must live in the continental United States for this giveaway. Good luck!

While we’re much loved for our nutrition bars here at NuGo Nutrition, many don’t realize we also have a line of delicious candy bars. Yes, candy bars! They’re called Crispy Cat Candy Bars and, not only are they made with REAL dark chocolate, but they’re also packed with all kinds of good stuff and are certified gluten free, dairy free, vegan, and non GMO. The Mint Coconut and Chocolate Sundae bars are also 100% USDA certified organic, while the Toasted Almond bar is 95% USDA certified organic. Talk about a candy bar you can feel good about!

The Candy Fan recently tried our Mint Coconut Crispy Cat bar and loved it so much she wrote a blog post about it. She admits she was a bit skeptical of the coconut/mint combination at first, but once she took  a bite, she says, “My first bite was overwhelmingly fresh and minty with a bit of dark chocolate thrown in. As I finished chewing, the coconut arrived on the scene. I was surprised enough to stare at the bar and actually say, ‘Ooh.’ The Crispy Cat is a clever girl.” We like to think so, too.

She also claims the Crispy Cat bar gave her exactly what she wants from a good candy break: “Just floating on my snack cloud, not thinking about anything in particular except how good it was.” Yup, eating REAL dark chocolate always makes us feel like we’re floating on clouds.

Read The Candy Fan’s full review to see exactly how she initially compares chocolate, coconut, and mint to TLC’s Sister Wives. Yes, you have to read it.

And, in the meantime, check out our full line of Crispy Cat Candy Bars as a delicious supplement to your daily NuGo Nutrition fix!

If you are attending a Green Bay Packers game at Lambeau Field, you can now purchase gluten-free items, including NuGO FREE Dark Chocolate Crunch! The new gluten-free cart is located on the main concourse by section 133. Earlier this year, expanded gluten-free offerings with NuGO FREE bars debuted at the following stadiums and ballparks.

• Chase Field in Phoenix
• Nationals Park in Washington, DC
• PNC Park in Pittsburgh
• US Cellular Field in Chicago
• Qwest Field in Seattle
• Rio Tinto Stadium in Salt Lake City
• Toyota Park in Chicago

The expanded gluten-free offerings feature hot dogs on gluten-free buns, nachos, Red Bridge beer, and much more. All of these locations partner with Levy Restaurants, which provides dining services at numerous sports and entertainment venues throughout the United States.

The Green Bay Packers organization added the new gluten-free items based on the results of a fan survey. Hopefully, soon more sports venues will add gluten-free items and NuGo bars!

With all the research coming out about the health benefits of REAL dark chocolate, we’re big proponents of eating some every day. Not only will you be helping your health (heart, cholesterol, eyesight, etc.) and beauty (skin), but you’ll also be satisfying that sweet craving you likely get at some point during your day.  Not a bad deal, right?

Trying to fit more dark chocolate into your diet is a pretty fabulous problem to have.  Just make sure you’re eating dark chocolate, as the processing in milk chocolate destroys the flavonols. And make certain you’re eating REAL dark chocolate, as opposed to palm kernel oil or other vegetable fats. We coat our NuGo bars in REAL dark chocolate, but you’ll find most other nutriton bars coated in some type of vegetable fat (it doesn’t melt as easily and it’s cheaper to make). Not only does this mean you’re not getting the health benefits of dark chocolate, but it also means you’ll get that icky waxy taste.

Here are a few of our favorite ways to fit more REAL dark chocolate into your diet:

-Make hot chocolate with real dark chocolate, using skim milk.

-Mix a little melted dark chocolate into a container of Greek yogurt (or crumble a NuGo bar into the yogurt).

-Mix a little dark chocolate into your morning bowl of oatmeal (or mix a NuGo bar into oatmeal!)

-Cover fruit in melted dark chocolate… We like strawberries, cherries, and orange slices best.

-Cover nuts in dark chocolate.

-Eat a REAL dark chocolate NuGo bar!

We recommend keeping a NuGo bar in your desk drawer, so you can easily and nutritiously satisfy your craving when it hits. Many of our bars contain REAL dark chocolate, including our brand new Slim bars. Slim bars only have 2 grams of sugar (they’re sweetened by the dark chocolate and chicory root) and are packed with protein (15 grams!) and fiber (9 grams!). We also have an entire line of NuGo Dark bars, including flavors like Peanut Butter Cup and Pretzel with Sea Salt. Our Organic and FREE bars also contain REAL dark chocolate. Trying to stay healthy has never been so fun or delicious!

(Dark chocolate photo courtesy of flickr.com/johnloo)