| Acacia Gum |
Acacia gum is a natural product from the acacia tree. It is very high in soluble fibre and has proven prebiotic properties, ie. it promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut to make a positive impact on health. Soluble fibre has been recognised as being able to lower total and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in the blood as well as assisting in stabilising blood sugar levels by slowing the release of glucose from food.
We all need fibre in our diet for digestive health and to get that sense of fullness after eating that helps to balance energy intake with energy needs. The advantages of including acacia gum in One Square Meal are not only that it assists with meeting our dietary requirements for fibre but it also has the added features of being a prebiotic soluble fibre. |
| Blackcurrants |
Blackcurrants are another superfruit receiving glowing reports. We use concentrated blackcurrant fruit pieces in our Cranberry One Square Meal because of their high fruit content, no added sugar, no preservatives and no artificial colours or flavours. Not only are blackcurrants naturally colourful with a unique juicy flavour, but they are rich in antioxidants*. Blackcurrant fruit pieces are a tasty complement to cranberries - we know you'll love this flavour combination!
* Independent lab testing of our blackcurrant pieces has confirmed that they demonstrate antioxidant capacity comparable to fresh raw blueberries. Using the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) method, blackcurrant fruit pieces have an average ORAC value of 71 micromils of Trolox Equivalents per gram. This is comparable to the commonly acceptable ORAC of fresh blueberries (66 micromol TE/gram) which have gained superfruit status doe to this high antioxidant capacity. |
| Brown Rice Syrup |
Brown rice syrup has a mild buttery flavour and a delicate sweetness. It is comprised of a range of carbohydrates from simple short chain sugars, which provide energy up front, to long chain complex carbohydrates which are metabolised more slowly, allowing for steadier blood sugar levels. This all helps One Square Meal to provide a more sustained supply of energy over time. |
| Citric Acid |
Citric acid is a weak organic acid that is found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, most notably citrus fruits. In One Square Meal it enhances the berry flavour and adds balance to the taste profile. |
| Dried Apricots |
If oats are the king of cereals, dried apricots rule in the kingdom of dried fruit! They are rich in phytonutrients, a good source of dietary fibre and potassium, a very good source of vitamin A and contain iron, niacin and lots of other vitamins and minerals as well as having a low glycaemic index.
A favourite for many, we added dried apricots to One Square Meal not only for nutritional reasons but also for colour, flavour and zing! We don't add preservatives to One Square Meal, although the dried apricots we get from our supplier already have sulphur dioxide added which enables them to them keep their quality. |
| Dried Cranberries |
These amazing berries aren't called superfruits for nothing! They are a great choice for the nutrition conscious consumer. Cranberries are packed with nutrients and have a delicious berry flavour. They have a naturally rich red colour without the use of added colours or added preservatives.
We chose dried cranberries for One Square Meal because they taste so fantastic and are full of goodness. |
| Emulsifier - Lecithin |
Emulsifiers are used in food products to enable liquids such as oil and water (or water based liquids) to mix together. Lecithin is classed as an emulsifier but nutritionally it has so many important functions in the body that many people buy it as a supplement to add to their food.
Lecithin is a naturally occurring group of phospholipids that is found in nearly every living cell and is one of the many healthful components of soybeans. Lecithin and its primary component, choline, are believed to play many essential roles in the body including liver and cell function, fat transport, cardiovascular health, reproduction and child development, brain function, physical performance during endurance activities and cell-to-cell communications. |
| Humectant (Glycerine) |
Glycerine occurs naturally in many plant cells, it is a common humectant used in foods and is also finding application in sports nutrition to increase hydration. A humectant is any ingredient that holds on to moisture in a food to stop it drying out, a common problem with cereal based bars. We chose glycerine made from coconut for a humectant to help keep One Square Meal moist and delicious. |
| Isolated Soy Protein |
To deliver high quality protein we chose Isolated Soy Protein for One Square Meal because it has the highest possible quality protein score. It is very digestible and not only provides all the essential amino acids your body must get from food, but these essential amino acids are present in the right balance to meet human needs. Soy protein is also a good source of micronutrients such as iron, phosphorus, copper and folate and bioactive phytonutrients such as the isoflavones genistein, daidzein and glycitein. As soy is often associated with genetic modification we ensure our soy protein is guaranteed to be made from non-GM soybeans. |
| Malted Barley Extract |
A sweet nutritious extract from the malted barley grain, this food ingredient is included primarily for flavour rather than sweetness.
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| Manuka Honey |
We wanted the best for One Square Meal so we chose New Zealand's premium honey variety - manuka honey. With its distinctive taste, manuka honey is naturally nutritious as well as sweetly delicious. It contains fructose, glucose and other natural sugars, in addition to many enzymes, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other substances important for the body. Choosing manuka honey enabled us to avoid going down the route that many other bars take of using cane sugar or other nutritionally barren sweeteners. Manuka honey is all natural and is known as a 'kiwi wonder product'. |
| Natural Colour & Flavour |
To make eating a balanced meal as appealing and delicious as possible, we've included colour and flavour essences in One Square Meal. We chose these from natural rather than synthetic sources. |
| Raisins |
Raisins contain vitamins & minerals as well as natural sugars for energy. They have been the object of phytonutrient research primarily for their unique phenol content, as phenols found in fruit have been shown to have antioxidant activity and to help prevent oxygen-based damage to cells in the body. These delicious dried grapes are also one of the top sources of boron, a trace mineral important for health and of special interest in relation to the bone health of women. |
| Rolled Oats |
The Scots have known it for centuries – rolled oats are the king of grain cereals. They are composed mainly of carbohydrates but have higher levels of the other macronutrients, protein and fat than other cereals.
As a whole grain product, rolled oats retain their essential vitamins, minerals and trace elements. They provide useful amounts of the B vitamins thiamin, riboflavin and B6 and the minerals calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, phosphorus and manganese, plus some vitamin E, folic acid and potassium.
Oats are a good source of soluble fibre (notably beta-glucans), they contain natural antioxidants and phytonutrients and have a low glycaemic index. |
| Rice Flour |
Rice flour is a low allergen alternative to wheat flour and it is also a good source of manganese. We include it in One Square Meal so that the complex carbohydrate is sourced from a mixture of grains. |
| Salt |
Salt is one of the flavour components of food and while we shouldn't overdo our salt intake it is a useful source of sodium and chloride in our diet.
Sodium is an electrolyte essential for the maintenance of fluid balance, nerve transmissions, and muscle contractions in the body. Chloride, too, is essential for good health. It preserves acid-base balance in the body, aids potassium absorption, supplies the essence of digestive stomach acid, and enhances the ability of the blood to carry carbon dioxide from respiring tissues to the lungs.
Salt is present in One Square Meal at a low level to contribute to its flavour profile and to provide dietary sodium and chloride. The sodium from salt and other ingredients present in One Square Meal contribute 22.2% RDI for sodium. Being less than a third, this supports the health goal that many people have of reducing their overall sodium intake. |
| Vegetable Oil |
Virtually all of the vegetable oil in OSM is Rice Bran oil which is a rich source of micronutrients and natural antioxidants including vitamin E and oryzanol. Antioxidants are important for fighting free radicals (the substances responsible for causing rancidity in fats and cell damage in the human body), and those in rice bran oil have also been shown to inhibit cholesterol synthesis and absorption.
Rice bran oil also has the ideal balance of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids (meeting the New Zealand Nutrition Taskforce recommendations). It is non-hydrogenated and is free of trans fatty acids.
Because of its fatty acid profile and levels of natural antioxidants, it has been shown that rice bran oil can reduce blood cholesterol levels. Being balanced nutritionally with its extra potential health advantages, rice bran oil was an obvious choice for One Square Meal.
OSM currently contains less than 2% of Palm oil (which we source from a certified member of the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm (whose affiliate members include World Wildlife Fund, Zoological Society of London and Conservation International, and who have a strong focus on the welfare and protection of orangutans). But even though this is a very small amount, because there is both confusion and concern about Palm oil in general, we are currently exploring alternatives to replace this ingredient and expect have have replaced it very soon. |
| Vitamins & Minerals |
Vitamins and minerals are vital for human function. We have chosen our ingredients to supply healthy doses of most of these key micronutrients. For those vitamins and minerals that we couldn't tailor exactly to one third of the RDA we have topped them up to ensure you get just the right amount.
We were delighted to find the One Square Meal base recipe was so naturally high in vitamins and minerals that we didn't have to top them up to the extent we originally thought we would.
To learn about the functions of the main vitamins and minerals see the micronutrient section on our Nutrition Information page. |
| Wheatflakes |
Our wheatflakes are whole wheat grains that have been rolled and toasted. They provide carbohydrates, dietary fibre and protein as well as antioxidants, lignans and other phytonutrients. Whole grain wheat contains useful amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, vitamins B6 and B12, iron, zinc, potassium and magnesium and other vitamins, minerals and trace elements. They add crunch to One Square Meal as well as the natural goodness of a whole grain cereal. |
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