I follow the Slimming World plan and part of my plan includes 'healthy extras' which give me my fibre and calcium for the day. One healthy extra listed is Alpen Light and I am allowed one or two per day.

~Alpen Light~

There are a few different flavours available in the Alpen Light range but my review will discuss the 'Apple and Sultana' flavour. When bought in supermarkets, you get 5 individual, foil wrapped bars. These bars are presented in a cardboard box and the flavour is instantly recognisable thanks to illustrations of sliced apples.

Alpen Lights are cereal bars which contain half the fat of the regular Alpen bars. The full description from the box is 'prebiotic mixed cereal bar with sultanas, apple and a yoghurt flavour drizzle'. They are high in fibre and are great for a healthy digestion. Alpen Lights are suitable for vegetarians.

Each 19g bar has 63 calories, 4.7g of sugar and 0.7g of fat.

Ingredients for those interested include cereals (a mix of whole oats, rice and wheat), prebiotic syrup, sugar, dried apple and sultanas. Full ingredients can be found the company website.

~Price and Availability~

A 5pk of Alpen Light retails at £2.00 and is available from big supermarkets. Asda currently have this range reduced to £1.50 and Tesco have a '2 for £3.00' offer running.

~My Thoughts~

Before starting Slimming World I wouldn't think twice about eating lots of Special K or similar breakfast bars. I now only eat Alpen Light cereal bars as they can be included as part of my plan. They offer my the recommended fibre amount on my plan by eating one or two instead of certain cereals or wholemeal bread. I find eating these bars more convenient and they are great for when I am out the house early but I still want breakfast or for snacking on in the evening as part of my plan.

I only ever buy these bars when they are on offer and tend to stock up. I like a few of the flavours on offer and I am happy to pay £1.50 for a box of 5. I usually eat them every second or third day depending on what my meal plan is like for the day. The Apple and Sultana flavour is my second favourite flavour and one which I have come to enjoy eating. The bars are small - there isn't much too them at all but they are fine for me. Each bar is kept fresh inside the foil packet and they are so easy to slip in my handbag or pocket. I like to take one to have at my slimming class after my weigh in as a way of keeping my sweet tooth under control.

The bars look like standard cereal bars - rectangular and with lots of visible oats and whole wheat rolled together. They aren't overly sticky compared to Special K bars but you can tell they are coated in a light syrup. The yoghurt drizzle is simply that - a drizzle. There is just enough of it to be tasted but not overdone. I find most of my Apple and Sultana bars to be similar in terms of how much fruit pieces there is - mainly visible sultanas. The bars smell mainly oaty which I wasn't keen on it at first but thankfully they taste pleasant.

These bars are surprisingly tasty in my opinion. They are quite hard so not for those with loose teeth but once I bite in to them, they are chewy and it does take me a while to eat one. They don't taste overly dry which I sometimes would expect from a cereal bar. The bars taste good and are quite sweet but not sickly so. They are no where near as sweet as Special K bars. The sultanas and apple pieces are sweet and I notice the apple flavour more as I believe there are apple juices running through the bar. They overpower the taste of the oats and other heallthy bits which makes my body think I am eating something a little bit more indulgent than i actually am. The drizzle of yoghurt gives a light creamy topping which is nice. One bar satisfies my sweet tooth for a few hours as they are quite flavoursome.

I also use these bars as part of a dessert if I don't fancy having one on its own. I usually crumble it up (this is very easy to do) and put it in a dessert bowl with some Muller Light yoghurt and fruit - very delicious and I don't feel guilty as it is actually recommended that I have them as part of my plan! They are ideal for a sweet treat when out on a picnic, for lunch boxes and as a snack at work if you just need something sweet to hit the spot. Much better than chocolate!

~Conclusion~

Whilst Alpen Lights aren't as cheap as some cereal bars, I do find them quite appealing and easy to eat. The sugar content isn't brilliant but providing you aren't scoffing an entire box, they are fine to have. I didn't think I would like them to be fair as they do verge more on the healthy 'oaty' side compared to the more calorific cereal bars but I have grown to like them and will continue to buy them on a regular basis.

Thanks for reading :)