Starbucks Redux

After Starbucks discontinued its gluten-free Orange Valencia Cake last year less than three months after introducing it in U.S. stores, many in the gluten-free community expressed disappointment at not having a pastry option. The coffee purveyor has since offered KIND snack bars as a gluten-free selection.

Starbucks is now set to expand its selection of healthier snack options. Beginning tomorrow in participating U.S. stores, customers will find additional choices with 220 calories or less per serving, many of which are gluten free. In addition to the KIND bars, the safe products include:

• Lucy’s Cookies: Available in Chocolate Chip, Sugar and Cinnamon, these cookies also are free of dairy, eggs, casein and nuts ($1.50 for Grab & Go Packs and $5.95 per box)
  
• FoodShouldTasteGood: Available in Multigrain and Sweet Potato, the all-natural chips are made primarily of corn ($1.50 per bag)
  
• Peeled Snacks: No-sugar-added dried fruit snacks in much-ado-about-Mango, Apple-2-the-core, and Cherry-go-round varieties ($2 each bag)
  
• Peter Rabbit Organics: Organic fruit snack pouches sold in Apple & Grape and Mango, Banana & Orange varieties ($1.95 a pouch)
  
• Two Moms in the Raw: Blueberry and gojiberry granola mixes ($3.95 a bag)
• Sahale Snacks: Nut blends and glazed nuts available in Pomegranate Cashew and Soledad Almond varieties; it's not yet known whether a third offering, a Chipotle/Ranch Almond blend, is gluten-free, as it is a new-to-market Starbucks exclusive ($2.50 per package)
  
• Stretch Island Fruit Company: All-natural portable fruit "leathers" available in Harvest Grape, Autumn Apple and Summer Strawberry varieties ($0.75 each)