In order to keep my writing fresh and relevant, I can often be found trolling the inspiring, well-stocked, orderly aisles of Whole Foods, wondering what will stir up some enthusiasm in my culinary habits.

On one such occasion, I discovered Seitenbacher, a German line of products ranging from cereal and müsli to noodles. Seitenbacher is a family-owned manufacturer of natural and functional foods which was founded in 1980 by Willi Pfannenschwarz, a descendant of German millers. The company notes, “As a very young man, he started questioning the health results of removing whole grains from our diet and experimenting to make whole grain products delicious and visually appealing.”

Finally, in 2006, with their products available in 8,000 European stores, Seitenbacher opened a distribution center near Tampa, so the brand’s products can now be found in most Florida health food stores, including all Whole Foods Markets in the state.

As I am always on the lookout for truly sugar-free treats – not “sugar free” as in laden with chemical sweeteners, but as in without any refined sugar in the ingredient list – what first caught my eye was something I was dearly missing from my sugar-eating days: fruit snacks. Seitenbacher makes a variety of these, with quirky, confusing names like Smooch Lions (they’re in the shape of lions, sure, but they aren’t smooching!) and Roses for You (a romantic fruit snack!) – both appropriate with Valentine’s Day fast approaching. I give the strangest award to Vampire’s Lunch, the pepper-spiked, surprisingly delicious and spicy black currant candies in the shapes of skulls and drops of blood. Other flavors include Cherry Dolphins, Elderberry Witches, and Fruity Sunhats.

Seitenbacher’s fruit snacks are sweetened by fruit juice concentrate, and their ingredients are simple, easy to read, and not unhealthy. For example, the Strawberry Alligators, my favorite, are made of: thickened apple extracts, strawberry juice, and lemon juice; apple pectin; natural flavor; and canola oil.

Another now-staple Seitenbacher product in our house is their nutrition-packed müsli (or muesli). We like their Müsli #1 Natural Body Power – like I said, the names are unusual. This one contains whole grain spelt, raisins, whole grain oats, peanut kernels, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, barley flakes, dried apples, European hazelnut kernels, and wheat germ. It serves as a good source of fiber, protein, and magnesium. Seitenbacher also has wheat-free, gluten-free, and low-fat müsli options. Their organic choices are: #21 Cashew and Almonds; #22 Raspberries and Almonds; and #23 Sesame and Almonds. Some other interesting varieties include: Men’s Formula, with pumpkin seeds (noted as being beneficial to the prostate gland); Senior Formula, with unsweetened GMO-free corn flakes for a softer texture; and the Pick-Me-Up Mix, with a generous dose of freeze-dried strawberries.

I should note that Seitenbacher’s müsli is like none other we’ve ever tasted, and I grew up with a family that loved the Swiss version. What makes theirs so unique is that they don’t simply sprinkle a few nuts and seeds in with mostly grains, but they make sure to include generous amounts of even the good stuff to make for the tastiest, healthiest müsli possible. As Willi has explained: “The worst mistake I ever made was calling this product müsli. So many people thought our product would be dry and powdery, with no pleasure. Ours are filled with the best quality, freshest fruits, European hazelnuts, all kind of flavorful seeds and nuts. That’s why people love them.” And he isn’t exaggerating!

Whole Foods also carries Seitenbacher’s spelt cereal, Ballastoos (another name that makes me giggle), which contains whole grain spelt, spelt bran, apple juice, and cinnamon. This cereal is both tasty and nutritionally sound – a great wheat-free, not-too-sweet breakfast option.

If you’re looking to up the flavor and nutrition of regular breakfast cereals, I strongly suggest you give Seitenbacher a try. Or grab a bag of their fruit snacks for a satisfying and healthy candy. Let me know if you like their products as much as I do!