You have now idea how excited I am about today’s post! It will get even more exciting for you by the end of the post, but before that, let me build up the suspense with all the yummy details. Now, you know I only review and promote products I absolutely love. If I wouldn’t or can’t eat it, I will not dedicate a whole post to it or promote it. But let me tell you, Ola! Granola and their amazing products are so spectacular (really!) and are the definition of the perfect granola.
Ola! is a semi-local company here on the Northern East Coast, located in Connecticut. Here is their story:
It was a “Family Favorite” even before she had a family of her own. Growing up in a family of eight, Dina Houser enjoyed her mom’s healthy, homemade, great-tasting granola — the same satisfying recipe she recreated as a working mother of three young boys. Carefully fine-tuning her family’s recipe – using whole grains, nuts, and pure maple syrup – Dina’s hand-baked granola quickly became everyone’s favorite ready-to-go breakfast, snack and topping.
Running a design business with her husband, Dina would bake special blends to gift, “sharing the love” with their clients and friends. After years of being urged to make her granola available to food lovers everywhere, her son’s second grade teacher asked Dina where he could purchase it. It was then she decided to fulfill her dream of making it for the world to enjoy. Ola! was born.
With the help and support of family, friends, neighbors and the community, Ola! Foods was launched on Earth Day in 2009. Soon, the entire household got involved, from packing boxes to attending local events and farmers markets. Dina’s boys even helped come up with the name Ola! around their kitchen table, eager to say hello to everyone who likes healthy and yummy.
Dina’s passion for quality and taste shines through in all aspects of Ola’s business. Since its inception, the company has achieved significant milestones and praise and now has an extended family of bakers in its state-of-the-art Connecticut kitchens.
Pretty awesome story right? I met Dina at the GFAF Expo (yes, another company that I got to meet there). I had never heard of Ola! before the expo so I stopped by the booth and did some inquires. First I asked about their allergy protocol. Well lucky me, I found out all Ola! products are handbaked, gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, egg-free, oil-free, low sugar, vegan, non-GMO, kosher, and 100% natural. I almost fell on the floor right there. They also have 4 amazing flavors: Chocolate Banana Chip, Cranberry Orange Pecan, No Nut Vanilla, and Vanilla Almond. If you remember my recap of the expo, I purchased the Chocolate Banana Chip right there on the spot. And still to this day it is my absolute favorite granola, not only of their flavors but every every granola I have ever eaten…even my own 😉
It has the most lovely amazing chocolate banana flavor. But it doesn’t stop there. After you first taste you get hit with this subtle cinnamon flavor. It is so crazy good! Chocolate+Banana+Cinnamon=Genius! I literally could eat the whole bag in a day. So when these arrived at my door step for review, I tore open that bag first thing!
Plus, look at their steller nutrition info! Yea, you read that right. A granola that has a 1/3 cup serving size of 100 calories! None of that 1/4 cup crap that have like 300. You can have a real bowl of this stuff and not kill you calorie count for the day! Plus it is so low in sugar, fat, and sodium! Perfect, real, and amazing!
These are the ingredients for the Vanilla Almond. The vanilla almond is the only one that contains nuts, otherwise every flavor is completely allergy-friendly. But really, look at that. Everything is real. You can find all those ingredients at the store (probably even already in your pantry). This stuff is gold!
Ola! also just released cute little single-serve snack packs. Each is 100 calories and comes in either the No-Nut Vanilla or Vanilla Almond. These are so perfect for topping a smoothie or a light snack on the run! Ola! also offers their 9oz resealable bags, 16oz gift jars, and 3lb bulk bags!
I really can’t say enough amazing things about Ola! Dina is so sweet to work with and so passionate about what she does. They are still a small company though, but are quickly expanding. See if a store near you carries them! if not, you can always order right online at their website! And now for the moment you have all be patiently waiting for 🙂
One lucky duck reader will receive: ALL 4 flavors in their 9oz bags + 2 boxes of their two single-serve packs + a cute Ola! tote bag! I know, crazy right?! You better start getting your entries in, you do not want to miss out! I know the feeling when you receive the Ola! box at your door. (Mine arrived at night, so when I woke-up the next morning my dad had brought in the box and left it right there in the kitchen. It made my day, what a surprise!) All you have to do is click the Rafflecopter link and do the options it tells you! This giveaway is open to all continental US residents and will be open from 3/11 to 3/14 and I will announce the winner on the Friday Finisher!
Dina also offered to give you all a discount on any orders you place for free shipping! SAS2014 (exp 07/01/14).
You can also connect with Ola! through these social media sites!
**I received Ola! Granola products for review and was not compensated in any other way. All opinions and thoughts are my own and come form the heart! I truly love this company and support their products! 
I also want to thank Dina, who helped coordinate sending me the products and allowing me to review them and offer you guys the giveaway!**
Before I go, here are some glamor shots of my favorite flavor 😉
Happy Tuesday!
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Vera K
I would love to try the Vanilla Almond granola.
Patty A.
Definitely Vanilla Almond!
Patty A.
Definitely it would be Vanilla Almond! So glad to find a new granola brand!
Vunda V
cranberry orange pecan sounds tasty!
Rosi
I would love to make healthy pancakes for babies. A friend of mine and I even have a name! 🙂
Strength and Sunshine
That’s a cool idea! Pancakes rock 😉
Rosi
Cranberry Orange Pecan…mmmmmm, yes please! 🙂
Meredith
I love the banana chocolate chip already but I haven’t tried any of the others. I have granola on my yogurt practically every night before bed so this would be amazing And I got so excited from instagram I had to enter!!
Strength and Sunshine
The chocolate banana is pure granola heaven!
Gayle S
If I were to open up my own small food business I would like to make and sell flavored popcorn. The flavors you could sell are endless and are only limited by your imagination
Strength and Sunshine
Haha that is really interesting, super awesome idea! 😉
Gayle S
All of the flavors sound delicious but the one I am most interested in trying is the Cranberry Orange Pecan.
Kisses from the Sun
If I started a business, I’d make a coffee shop with breakfast foods- omelettes, pancakes, muffins! yummm
Strength and Sunshine
I love little places like that! 😉
Kisses from the Sun
chocolate chip banana sounds delicious!
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets
The cranberry orange peel flavor looks delish! I love granola and would love to try a truly healthy brand…love the name too!
Strength and Sunshine
Haha, it is a unique name! 😉
nourishbymelissa
Actually, starting a small food business is my dream!! I want a little baked goods/smoothie/coffee shop
Strength and Sunshine
So cute! I would totally be a customer 😉
nourishbymelissa
Granola and PB are my favorite foods on earth! Haha I’d love to try to chocolate banana
Maryellen
The cranberry orange pecan sounds yummy. Love your blog.
Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Maryellen 🙂
Georgiana
Vanilla Almond sounds wonderful!
Georgiana
I’d love to open a gourmet coffee shop!
Life After Swimming
Oops just saw that it said small foods business….maybe FUEL for swimming…
Strength and Sunshine
It’s all good 😉 Anything that interests you is fine by me 🙂
Life After Swimming
Hmmm my business would probably be special education related! That’s what I know most about! Maybe swimming, too!
Life After Swimming
I’ve tried the no nut but would love to try the chocolate!! Loved the other one!
stephanie
I would love to try the chocolate banana one!
eatsofagirldiscovering
Vanilla Almond!
eatsofagirldiscovering
I would make pancakes and oatmeal!!
Deanna Michaels (@DeannaMichaels)
I love to sell seasoning packet mixes for Indian food and also fudge. Quite the combination there.
Deanna Michaels (@DeannaMichaels)
Vanilla Almond!
janet @ the taste space
I’d probably open a cafe and sell brownies.
janet @ the taste space
Banana chocolate chip sounds great!
Sara P.
I would like to try the vanilla!
Sara @ lifebetweenthemiles
I want them all, but if I had to choose just one, the chocolate banana chip would be it!
Raymond
I’d like to open my open pizza restaurant if I could!
Raymond
The No Nut Vanilla gets my top vote!
Renata S
If I could start my own business, I’d make healthy date and nut bars as they are my favorite snack!
Renata S
The Vanilla Almond sounds scrumptious!
Martha (@QCPChic)
If I started my own food business I would offer plenty of vegan dessert options! I’m such a dessert-aholic!
Martha (@QCPChic)
These all sound amazing, but the cranberry orange sounds particularly good
Yoojin
the chocolate banana chip flavor sounds amazing!
Katelyn Sheffield
I have never heard of this company but I would love to give their “No Nut granola”, it looks delicious!
Theresa
You had me at Gluten Free! I love granola.
Amanda @ Running By Day
vanilla almond!
Amber @ Fit, Foodie Runs
Cranberry Orange! Ooooh delicious! And I would start a healthy snacks business
Jen B
I would love to try Vanilla Almond!
Tina Muir
They all sound amazing! Chocolate banana chip though! I am the biggest cereal/granola fan, so I could eat it every single day for breakfast and be happy! I also LOVE genuine, honest, sustainable companies, and Ola seems like they are the perfect ambassador for that! I really hope I can find them in stores, as I would LOVE to try them!!! They would be a great sweet treat during this phase in my training cycle too!
Thanks for introducing me
Strength and Sunshine
Small food businesses are the best! You know you are getting a quality product that is real and wholesome for the body 😉
Danielle (@itsaharleyylife)
chocolate banana chip! andddd a cupcake business!
Amy Lauren
I’d love to try banana chocolate chip.
Tessa
The banana chocolate chip sounds so good!!
Strength and Sunshine
It is! 🙂
jillconyers
My business? I would make a variety of all natural gluten free products.
Strength and Sunshine
I would be a fan 🙂
jillconyers
It’s a toss up between chocolate banana chip and cranberry orange. Yum!
jillconyers
I love granola and a gluten free option is a must try!