Raisels Review and Giveaway


I like to give my kids little treats in their lunchboxes, but in the interests of good nutrition and dental health I only send candies on special occasions. For the most part I pack them fruit or yogurt or dried fruit or raisins to enjoy once they're done with their lunch. Team Mom recently invited me to try a great new product -- Raisels, "The Fruity Fruit Raisins" -- that is probably the first real fruit-based alternative to candy out there. Read more below to see why:

The Basics
Raisels are a new, healthier alternative to candy from the National Raisin Company. They are rich in antioxidants, fat free, cholesterol free and contain 100% of US RDA for vitamin C. Raisels contain zero sodium, high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners. These fruity flavored golden raisings come in four flavors -- Sour Apple, Sour Orange, Sour Lemon and Sour Peach -- and are available in six-packs of 1.25-oz (25-g) boxes.

The Bongga
Raisels, where have you been all my life? I love these little treats! My kids love these treats! Here's why:

* Even before you remove the plastic wrapping from the six-pack you can smell a heavenly fruity scent.

* Some kids are grossed out by the dark color of raisins, but Raisels are made with golden raisins so they look really nice.

* They really do taste like candy!! My kids are crazy about any kind of sour candy, so Raisels are right up their alley. We all have a different favorite, but they all taste great. My favorite is the Sour Lemon, which tastes exactly like a sour lemon drop. And they have that great chewy texture, so it feels and tastes just like you're eating a sour gummy candy.



After devouring a box each, the kids made me swear I was going to buy more, which I am more than happy to do after all the unopened boxes of raisins that come back home. This is one healthy treat that's destined to become a regular staple in our pantry!

The Blah
Nutrition purists are bound to object to the added sugar in Raisels, but 90% of the sugar in Raisels is actually naturally occurring (remember, grapes do contain fructose, a naturally occurring sugar, which is what makes them sweet!). Here's a comparison of the amount of sugar in Raisels versus similar snacks:

Raisels: 23 g sugar per 35-g serving (.66 grams sugar per gram of product)
Raisins: 20 g sugar per 28-g serving (.71 grams sugar per gram of product)
Yogurt covered raisins: 18 g sugar per 28-g serving (.64 grams sugar per gram of product)
Sweetened dried cranberries: 29.4 g sugar per 42-g serving (0.7 grams sugar per gram of product)
100% all-natural fruit roll-up: 14 g sugar per 21-g serving (0.67 grams sugar per gram of product)

See, Raisels' sugar content is actually the lowest of all of these... and none of the others taste like lemon drops. Yes, Raisels does have a bit of added sugar, but so does most kids' yogurt, and so does chocolate milk. If packing Raisels in my kids lunch boxes gets them to gobble raisins like candy, I'm happy to add Raisels to my list of approved healthy treats (and I was kidding about the gobbling -- everything in moderation, kids, even Raisels and especially candy).


The Bottom Line
Raisels are a great healthy alternative to candies and soft drinks -- they're your kids' best bet when they need to get a sour candy fix!


Win a Raisels Prize Pack

One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a Raisels prize package that includes a variety of Raisels flavors.

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me which kind of dried fruit you like best. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.


Extra Entries
For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry with a way to verify the entry (i.e. tweet link, blog post link, Facebook id, Twitter id, etc.).

1) Subscribe to Bonggamom Finds updates (1 entry).

2) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Networked Blogs (1 entry).

3) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger(1 entry).

4) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Raisels giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes

5) Write this on the Raisels Facebook page wall (1 entry):
I entered the Raisels giveaway on Bonggamom Finds! http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes

6) Follow Raisels on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):
Enter to win a prize pack of @Raisels, the new flavored raisins that taste like candy! @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes #giveaways

7) Join any of the open giveaways on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry for every giveaway you've joined).



The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on March 16, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on March 17 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received product samples from Raisels and Team Mom to facilitate this review. I was not paid to review the product or give my opinions.The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

68 Comments, Leave yours here:

Jenna Z on February 28, 2011 at 2:33 PM said...

I like dried cherries best, the Montemarte cherries from Trader Joes are awesome!

Jenna Z on February 28, 2011 at 2:33 PM said...

I follow you via blogger.

Jenna Z on February 28, 2011 at 2:34 PM said...

I follow raisels on twitter and tweeted:
http://twitter.com/#!/corgipants/status/42351911919288322

Tabathia B on February 28, 2011 at 8:02 PM said...

apples
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

Tabathia B on February 28, 2011 at 8:03 PM said...

email subscriber
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

Tabathia B on February 28, 2011 at 8:03 PM said...

follow on networked blogs
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

Tabathia B on February 28, 2011 at 8:03 PM said...

google follower
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

Lori Thomas said...

dried apple or banana

ctymice@gmail.com

Lori Thomas said...

Subscriber to Bonggamom Finds updates

ctymice@gmail.com

Lori Thomas said...

Follow Bonggamom Finds on Networked Blogs (Lori Thomas)

ctymice@gmail.com

Lori Thomas said...

Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger

ctymice@gmail.com

Lori Thomas said...

Wrote on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page(http://www.facebook.com/BonggamomFinds/posts/191931057503862)

ctymice@gmail.com

Lori Thomas said...

Wrote on the Raisels Facebook page wall (http://www.facebook.com/Raisels?ref=ts&v=wall#!/Raisels/posts/174871749226264)

ctymice@gmail.com

Lori Thomas said...

Follow Raisels on Twitter (@crftyldy) & tweeted (http://twitter.com/#!/crftyldy/status/42473960025235456)

ctymice@gmail.com

Terra Heck on February 28, 2011 at 10:55 PM said...

I liked dried apples best. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

Terra Heck on February 28, 2011 at 10:55 PM said...

email subscriber
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

Terra Heck on February 28, 2011 at 10:55 PM said...

follow your blog
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

Teresa Young on March 1, 2011 at 9:14 AM said...

I like dried cranberries

Teresa Young on March 1, 2011 at 9:15 AM said...

I get updates via email

tmy1056 at yahoo dot com

Teresa Young on March 1, 2011 at 9:16 AM said...

Networked Blogs follower

Teresa Young on March 1, 2011 at 9:18 AM said...

Posted on your FB wall

Teresa Young on March 1, 2011 at 9:19 AM said...

I posted on the Raisels FB wall
http://www.facebook.com/Raisels?v=wall#!/Raisels/posts/129685690437901

Teresa Young on March 1, 2011 at 9:21 AM said...

I follow Raisels onTwitter - tmy56 & tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/tmy56/status/42635383590232064

Tamara B. on March 3, 2011 at 10:04 AM said...

I like raisins, cranberries and dried peaches.
tamben7996(at)aol(dot)com

Tamara B. on March 3, 2011 at 10:06 AM said...

I like you on Facebook and posted the link
(Tamara Bennington)
tamben7996(at)aol(dot)com

Tamara B. on March 3, 2011 at 10:08 AM said...

I like Raisels on Facebook and posted on their wall
(Tamara Bennington)
tamben7996(at)aol(dot)com

Natalia said...

I like dried bananas
natatheangel at yahoo dot com

Natalia said...

Follow your blog publicly
natatheangel at yahoo dot com

Natalia said...

Entered PediaCare contest
natatheangel at yahoo dot com

natatheangel on March 3, 2011 at 1:11 PM said...

Entered Ralph Lauren contest
natatheangel at yahoo dot com

John said...

I love dried apricots.
jdrombo AT yahoo DOT com

Steph on March 5, 2011 at 9:54 AM said...

I like dried apple or bannana. I have not had much dried fruit other than those two.

Steph on March 5, 2011 at 9:54 AM said...

I follow you on Blogger (Steph)

Steph on March 5, 2011 at 9:54 AM said...

I follow Raisels on Twitter (mnsteph) and tweeted
http://twitter.com/mnsteph/status/44093151148916736

Angela on March 5, 2011 at 11:07 AM said...

I love dried cranberries
veniceangel@hotmail.com

Angela on March 5, 2011 at 11:08 AM said...

I follow on blogger

natatheangel on March 5, 2011 at 1:54 PM said...

Entered Spring Clean g-way

natatheangel on March 5, 2011 at 1:55 PM said...

Entered Mars needs Moms g-way

natatheangel on March 5, 2011 at 1:55 PM said...

Entered Pedia Lax g-way

natatheangel on March 5, 2011 at 1:55 PM said...

Entered Bar DVD g-way

Steph on March 6, 2011 at 4:50 AM said...

Daily Tweet
http://twitter.com/mnsteph/status/44379206444007424

Steph on March 7, 2011 at 5:20 AM said...

Daily Tweet
http://twitter.com/mnsteph/status/44749043829719040

moushka on March 7, 2011 at 4:11 PM said...

I like dried Cranberries!

Steph on March 8, 2011 at 4:54 AM said...

Daily Tweet
http://twitter.com/mnsteph/status/45105091975454721

Steph on March 9, 2011 at 7:42 AM said...

Daily Tweet
http://twitter.com/mnsteph/status/45509452337651712

Steph on March 10, 2011 at 4:52 AM said...

Daily Tweet
http://twitter.com/mnsteph/status/45829384707383296

Steph on March 11, 2011 at 5:39 AM said...

Daily Tweet
http://twitter.com/mnsteph/status/46202008629284864

Steph on March 12, 2011 at 2:22 PM said...

Daily Tweet
http://twitter.com/mnsteph/status/46697395601424384

Steph on March 13, 2011 at 5:50 AM said...

Daily Tweet
http://twitter.com/mnsteph/status/46915652149194752

Jennifer T. on March 13, 2011 at 3:49 PM said...

I like dried pineapple when I can find it.

Jennifer T. on March 13, 2011 at 3:49 PM said...

I'm an e-mail subscriber.

Jennifer T. on March 13, 2011 at 3:50 PM said...

I follow through Google Friend Connect.

Jennifer T. on March 13, 2011 at 3:50 PM said...

I'm a facebook fan of Bonggamom Finds under username Jennie Tilson. Left comment/link.

Jennifer T. on March 13, 2011 at 3:51 PM said...

I'm a facebook fan of Raisels under username Jennie Tilson. Left comment/link.

Jennifer T. on March 13, 2011 at 3:51 PM said...

I follow through Networked Blogs under username Jennie Tilson.

Steph on March 14, 2011 at 8:02 AM said...

Daily Tweet
http://twitter.com/mnsteph/status/47311432580214784

Jennifer T. on March 14, 2011 at 9:53 PM said...

I entered the Hungry Caterpillar book giveaway.

Steph on March 15, 2011 at 5:42 AM said...

Daily Tweet
http://twitter.com/mnsteph/status/47638755900788736

Steph on March 15, 2011 at 5:43 AM said...

I entered the Jumpstart giveaway

Steph on March 16, 2011 at 5:59 AM said...

Daily Tweet
http://twitter.com/mnsteph/status/48005459583565825

Helene on March 16, 2011 at 10:57 AM said...

My favorite dried fruit is dried apples.

Helene on March 16, 2011 at 10:58 AM said...

I Subscribe to Bonggamom Finds updates
h4eva@aol.com

Helene on March 16, 2011 at 11:00 AM said...

I wrote this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page:
I entered the Raisels giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes

h4eva@aol.com

Helene on March 16, 2011 at 11:01 AM said...

I Follow Bonggamom Finds on Networked Blogs
h4eva@aol.com

Helene on March 16, 2011 at 11:02 AM said...

I wrote this on the Raisels Facebook page wall:
I entered the Raisels giveaway on Bonggamom Finds! http://tinyurl.com/bonggaprizes
h4eva@aol.com

Helene on March 16, 2011 at 11:04 AM said...

I follow Raisels on twitter and I tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/mamahh/status/48082066381877248

h4eva@aol.com

Helene on March 16, 2011 at 11:05 AM said...

I Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger
h4eva@aol.com

bonggamom on March 23, 2011 at 9:39 PM said...

Thanks to everyone for entering, and congratulations to the winner: #20, Teresa!

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