At a weight of 24 ounces per loaf, Natures Pride 100% Natural 12 Grain Bread is on the heavier side as far as loaves of bread go. It’s light in terms of neither weight nor calories. But oh, how filling, hearty, and great-tasting it is. At 110 calories per thick slice, It makes the simple toast-and-juice breakfast notably filling and enduring throughout the morning, until lunchtime. It’s so filling no doubt because of the twelve different grains in the recipe, and each slice weights 43 grams or 1.52 ounces. It’s coarse and dense; not too airy. Indeed, this is a substantial all natural bread product. So I’d highly recommend it as a nutritionally better-balanced and healthier alternative to white bread.
Benefits and Features
- As I do not consume many slices of bread per week, I keep this bread in the freezer and peel off each slice as needed. It keeps well in the freezer for over a year.
- No double bagging here. Yet this Nature’s Pride product stays fresh for days.
- Does not build up excessive water inside if you leave the loaf in the bag at room temperature for a few days.
- Overall, the flavor is significantly grainy, yet not overbearing. However, a loud sweet taste pervades here, which I’m not crazy about. But that’s easily offset with tomatoes and mayo on a sandwich, or butter on toast.
- I like the pieces of whole grain that they sprinkle on top of the loaf. Adds an air of authenticity to the 100% natural and 12 grain buzz phrases in this product’s title.
- This bread is carried, not just in health food stores, but mainstream grocery stores as well. Yet its ingredients list reads about like bread products you’d find exclusively at whole food markets and health food outlets.
- No high fructose corn syrup, bleached flour, or artificial preservatives either. It’s also free of saturated fat.
- It has an unassuming taste that fits with any sandwiching fixing and condiment.
- Each slice is not only large in area, but on the thicker side as well.
- You can easily inspect the bread through the clear plastic bag packaging.
- The color of the bread here resembles mostly that of whole wheat bread, though it may be a bit darker and more yellow and less gray than the whole wheat.
- Nature’s Pride, like Pepperidge Farm, is a reputable bread company. All in all, their vast bread making experience is reflected in the high quality and great taste of this whole grain product.
Disadvantages
- Tastes too sweet to me at times, perhaps because each slice contains three grams of sugar, and much of that sugar has been added; not natural. Perhaps if they went lighter on the raisin juice concentrate and molasses, they’d eliminate this problem.
- This bread does not fit well into my standard-sized toaster. Sometimes, I have to insert it lengthwise, and then, after the bottom part is toasted, turn the bread 180 degrees to toast the rest. I guess I need a bigger toaster, as I’ve also experienced this trouble with the Pepperidge Farm breads.
- Contains added wheat gluten. So people sensitive to this compound, please be aware.
Ingredients
Whole wheat flour, water, wheat flour, whole grain mix (wheat flakes, oat flakes, barley flakes, rye flakes, triticale flakes, buckwheat flour, millet, corn grits, sorghum cuts, brown rice flour, amaranth flour, quinoa), nonfat milk, honey, sunflower seeds, yeast, wheat gluten, sugar. Contains 2% or less of; oat flakes, soybean oil, salt, raisin juice concentrate, molasses, sesame seeds, barley malt, vinegar, cultured corn solids, cultured wheat flour, yeast extract, soy lecithin, soy flour, whey.
Contains wheat, milk, and soy.
Nutrition Facts
- Serving size: 1 slice (43 grams, 1.5 ounce). Servings per container: 16.
- Calories per serving: 110. Calories from fat: 15.
- Total fat: 2 grams, 3% DV.
- Saturated fat: 0 grams, 0% DV.
- Trans fat: 0 grams.
- Polyunsaturated fat: 1 gram.
- Monounsaturated fat: 0.5 grams.
- Cholesterol: 0 milligrams, 0% DV.
- Sodium: 150 milligrams, 6% DV.
- Total carbohydrate: 20 grams, 7% DV.
- Dietary fiber: 2 grams, 8% DV.
- Sugars: 3 grams.
- Protein: 4 grams.
- Vitamin A: 0% DV.
- Calcium: 2% DV.
- Vitamin C: 0% DV.
- Iron: 6% DV.
Product Rating
I am, on the whole, quite pleased with this Nature’s Pride natural bread. Aside from the processes of assembling and baking this product, it is about as natural as you can get in a prepared food. It does not put me into a sugar-low sleep after eating it, and it’s a joy to have found a producer such as Nature’s Pride that takes so seriously its mission of making the most natural products that are unadulterated with chemicals and artificial compounds. Bravo to Nature’s Pride. I’d therefore rate this product at 93 out of 100. I’d give it five more points if they’d make the bread just a little less sweet.
Where to Buy Natures Pride 100% Natural 12 Grain Bread
Find this product at larger food stores and health food outlets here and there. Look for it in the transparent plastic bag with the red and white label.