FOOD PHILOSOPHY AND FAQS

Do you ever turn over a package, look at the ingredients and wonder if you should get out your dictionary?

We believe that food feeds our souls, lifts our spirits, nourishes and sustains us. As women, we understand the importance of wholesome, natural foods to help energize and support you through your day and life.

At LUNA, we want you to know about the ingredients we use in our products as well as understand why we use them. We take special care in choosing our ingredients because we want to create nutritious, natural products that actually taste great too.

When we choose our ingredients, it is of the utmost importance that they are high quality, 100% natural, taste delicious, and contribute to women’s nutrition. And now that LUNA bars are made with 70% USDA certified organic ingredients, we are providing food that is even healthier for you, your family & the environment.

Our ingredients come from natural sources, meaning they do not have added colors, flavorings, or preservatives, and are processed less than other products. We also include ingredients that retain more nutrients like essential vitamins and minerals, green tea extract, organic brown rice syrup, and nuts and seeds.

LUNA is dedicated to helping women meet the specific nutritional requirements to maintain active lifestyles. We take a whole-life approach, trying to embrace healthy living and bring communities of women together. When we feel well-nourished, we are more in tune with ourselves and the world around us.

Join us in healthy, joyous living!

- The Women of LUNA.

Ever wonder exactly what inulin is?

We feel it is important that you understand what you are putting in your body, so we pulled together information on some of the most important ingredients in LUNA. And now that LUNA bars are made with 70% organic ingredients, we are providing food that is even healthier for you, your family & the environment.

Protein
As the whole nutrition bar for women, LUNA provides just the right amount of protein for a snack that will sustain you during your active, busy life. We've chosen soy protein from food sources as it is approved by the FDA for heart health and some studies show that 25 grams per day may reduce cholesterol levels. In addition, the protein in our bars comes from soy rice crisp and organic soy beans.

Soy Rice Crisp
Soy Rice Crisp is puffed rice similar to what you find in cereals and it is made from puffed milled rice and soy protein. The soy rice crisps add texture and protein to LUNA and can be found in all LUNA bars.

Organic Soy Beans
A soybean is a legume with high protein content. A legume is any plant with a seedpod that will split on both sides when it becomes ripe, such as peas. Roasted and chopped, we add organic soybeans to our proprietary protein blend in LUNA. They contribute texture and flavor while adding complete protein with all essential amino acids to LUNA.

Fiber
Many women have a difficult time finding good sources of fiber and actually including sufficient amounts of fiber in their diets - LUNA is a healthy solution. Fiber is defined as a carbohydrate that cannot be completely digested and is classified into soluble and insoluble; both are important to a healthy diet. Soluble fiber is found in fruits, nuts, vegetables, oats and more and has been proven to help reduce cholesterol while slowing digestion in the stomach keeping blood sugar levels consistent. Insoluble fiber helps keep the digestive system moving and can be found in whole wheat, wheat bran and many vegetables.

Both forms of fiber can be found in LUNA in our organic rolled oats, organic oat fiber, organic flaxseed, nuts, dried fruits and inulin. (Inulin is a type of fiber found naturally in many foods such as chicory, onions, leeks, artichokes and garlic. Our inulin comes from the leaves of the chicory plant, or endive.)

Organic Sugar
Sugar is a carbohydrate that comes in many forms. They range from simple sugars, such as sweets and candy, to complex sugars, such as whole grains. We continue to use all natural organic sweeteners that make LUNA taste so great.

Organic Brown Rice Syrup
Brown Rice Syrup is a natural sugar made from brown rice and is less refined than white sugar. We use organic brown rice syrup in LUNA as it has a mild taste and is a good natural sweetener that goes through less processing than other sugars. Along with organic evaporated cane juice, this syrup contributes to that great taste of LUNA without providing too much sugar.

Organic Evaporated Cane Juice
Organic evaporated cane juice is sugar from sugar cane that goes through less processing than table sugars. Cane juice is added to the LUNA bar frosting to add to the creamy flavor. Along with the Brown Rice Syrup, LUNA bar has less than 3 teaspoons of sweetener and these contribute to the overall carbohydrate count of 24-26 grams.

Low Glycemic
LUNA bar is a low glycemic food due to the appropriate balance of carbohydrate, fat, protein, fiber and portion size. Anything below 55 is considered low glycemic – LUNA bars have a glycemic index of 32-50, depending on flavor.

The glycemic index (GI) can be a great tool for fine-tuning the carbohydrate choices consumers make, but it shouldn’t be an exclusive consideration for whether or not to include certain foods in a meal plan.

LUNA wrappers and caddies have a “Low Glycemic” call out.

Fat
Fats in small amounts play an important role in nutrition and LUNA is committed to whole nutrition for women, which includes small amounts of fats. However, we do not use trans fats of any kind nor partially hydrogenated oils which have been shown to contribute to increased levels of bad cholesterol thereby raising the risk of heart disease. So, LUNA fits right into healthy eating guidelines by not having more than 5 grams of fat per bar.

One of the fats in LUNA is Organic Palm Kernel Oil, a fat that is comprised of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and saturated fats that goes through very little processing and is not a source of trans fats. The oil comes from the Palm Tree and we use it in our frostings to give it that smooth taste and to keep the frosting from melting. Palm Kernel Oil is a source of linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid that the body cannot produce and is a good source of the antioxidant vitamin E.

Seeds & Nuts
LUNA bars contain multiple types of seeds and nuts, depending on the bar, ranging from roasted cashews to toasted pumpkin seeds to pecans. They add crunchy texture and flavor as well as being a good source of protein and healthier fats. In addition, all nuts are a good source of vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that contributes to good health and nutrition.

Vitamins & Minerals
Very often women are so busy that they lack the time to actually have a full meal, thereby missing the vitamins and minerals they need. LUNA is a great alternative as it provides women specific vitamins and minerals such as calcium, folate, iron and antioxidants like vitamin A, C & E.

LUNA includes about 350 mg of Calcium as it aids in building and maintaining strong bones and teeth and helps in blood clotting. This is about 35% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance.
LUNA includes 6.3 mg of Iron which is an essential mineral that carries oxygen through the blood to the muscles and is even more important to women who lose more iron every month.
LUNA also includes 100% of your vitamins C, E and folate, along with 20% of your vitamin A, and these are often labeled antioxidants which are important to maintaining overall health.

Diet & Nutrition

Is LUNA bar low-GI?
LUNA bar is a considered a ‘low glycemic’ food due to its appropriate balance of carbohydrate, fat, protein, fiber, and portion size. Glycemic index (GI) can be a great tool for fine-tuning the carbohydrate choices in your meal plan, but it shouldn’t be your exclusive consideration for whether or not to include certain foods in your daily meal plans.

What does 70% organic mean?
For a product to be labeled as ‘70% organic’ it must contain more than 70% USDA certified organic ingredients. These are ingredients that have been produced, stored, processed and handled in accordance with the National Organic Program (NOP) standards and approved by an organic-certifying agency.

What’s the other 30%?
The other 30% ingredients are organic-compliant and are also held to high standards as defined by the NOP. These ingredients must not contain prohibited substances such as genetically modified substances (GMO).

Is LUNA bar a meal replacement bar?
LUNA bar is not a meal replacement bar. We realize women are busy and active, and some days, mealtime just gets away from us. On those days when LUNA bar is your best alternative to skipping a meal, try to follow it up with something light such as yogurt and a piece of fruit.

Is LUNA bar a diet bar? How does it fit into Weight Watchers?
LUNA bar is not a diet bar. LUNA bar is an organic nutrition bar which provides the nutrition women need to maintain active, healthy lifestyles. It is a delicious, nutritious and convenient snack that satisfies and curbs hunger between meals, helping to prevent high calorie/high fat snack cravings such as potato chips or candy bars. All LUNA bars contain 3 points on the Weight Watcher meal planning system.

Are LUNA bars beneficial for diabetics?
LUNA bars have always been a great between-meal snack for people with diabetes because of the balance of total carbohydrate, fat, and protein - 1.5-2 carbohydrates, 1 lean protein, 1 fat. A moderate amount of all 3 nutrients in small snacks helps people with diabetes control blood sugars between meals. For more information on diabetic meals, please visit www.diabetes.org.

How does LUNA compare with other bars?
LUNA was the first bar specifically formulated with a woman’s needs in mind. In just 180 calories, LUNA is entirely natural and 70% organic and meets many of the specific nutritional requirements women need to maintain active healthy lifestyles. LUNA bars also have no artificial sweeteners, no high fructose corn syrup and no trans fats.

Nutrition Fact/Ingredient

Why do LUNA bars contain soy protein?
Soy protein is an excellent source of protein. We choose to use soy because it is non-animal, complete source of protein. It contributes to the balance of nutrients in LUNA bars - the balance of carbohydrate, protein, fat, and fiber that lead to a low glycemic response. LUNA bars contain 9-10 grams of soy protein. In the 9-10 grams of soy protein coming from LUNA bar there are 9-16 milligrams of naturally occurring soy isoflavones, the phyto nutrient of soy beans.

Do LUNA bars contain genetically modified or bioengineered ingredients?
LUNA does not contain genetically modified or bioengineered ingredients. LUNA is committed to keeping bioengineered ingredients out of our products. We source the best available natural ingredients, including careful selection of our soy suppliers and written certification stating that the soy provided has been tested and has not been bioengineered.

What is the source of fiber in LUNA bars?
The main source of fiber in LUNA bars is inulin, a fiber which comes from the root of chicory plants (leaves of the chicory plant are also known as endive, commonly used in salads). Inulin is the most nutritious form of fiber because it is a soluble fiber which can help reduce cholesterol and it is a prebiotic aiding in good intestinal health. Additional fiber sources in LUNA bars include rolled oats, flaxseed, nuts, and dried fruit.

Are there any animal products in LUNA bars?
LUNA bars do not contain animal products or ingredients sourced from animal products.

Is LUNA bar kosher?
Yes. All LUNA products are certified kosher by Kof-K.

Do LUNA bars contain Trans Fats?
LUNA bars do not contain trans fats. Because trans fats are not considered part of a healthy diet, we do not include any hydrogenated oils or animal fats (the sources of trans fats) in any LUNA products.

Do LUNA bars contain gluten?
LUNA does contain gluten, the protein that gives bread dough its elasticity. Gluten is found in the rolled oats of the bar.

Being a nutrition bar, why is there fat in LUNA?
Fat is a necessary nutrient to the body that is to be eaten in moderation. Including small amounts of fat in between-meal-snacks has been shown to curb hunger and prevent people from overeating at mealtime. LUNA bars fit perfectly into healthy eating guidelines and provides no more than 5 grams of the 45-60 grams of total fat people should consume each day and only 1-3 grams of the 18-20 grams of saturated fat recommended in healthy eating guidelines.*

*NOTE: Above grams based on Dietary guidelines of 20-35% of total calories from fat and 10% or less total calories from saturated fat.

Do LUNA bars contain dairy?
Clif Bar Inc. specifies to our suppliers and bakers that ingredients going into our LUNA bars do not contain dairy. The food manufacturing process however, is such that we cannot guarantee that trace amounts of dairy will never turn up in our products even for products as natural and wholesome as ours.

If you believe that you are allergic to dairy you may want to consider not consuming our products and take the same precautions you do with all other pre-packaged and processed foods.

What is the Organic Palm Kernel Oil in LUNA bars?
Organic Palm Kernel Oil is an ingredient in the creamy, soy coating of LUNA bars that keeps the coating from melting at room temperature. Palm kernel oil is a natural saturated fat, which is not a source of trans fat.

If I am allergic to peanuts, can I eat a LUNA bar?
If you’re allergic to any nut or seed you should not eat LUNA bars. The bars are made on the same machinery as flavors containing nuts and seeds, and even with very strict washing procedures, we’re unable to remove all nut/seed residue. All LUNA bars may contain nuts, seeds or nut/seed residue.