I should start off by saying that protein and nutrition bars are a highly personal thing and that what is right for me might not be what suits your needs and dietary restrictions. I've done my best to highlight a variety of different bars that are designed for different purposes. It should also be noted that contrary what I thought in college, protein and nutrition bars do not make a suitable 'real food' meal on a regular basis. They do a great job at filling in the holes on a busy day, during exercise, as a snack or while traveling. However, it's my belief that eating bars should never take the place of salads, smoothies, fruit, whole grains and other wholesome ingredients.
#1: Larabar
Nutritional highlights (banana bread flavor): 13% DV of potassium, 5 g fiber, 6 g protein
Why I love them: These are by far my favorite bar of the bunch. I first discovered them in college and was drawn to them because of their short ingredient list, which is rare for a bar. The banana bread variety only contains three ingredients: dates, almonds and bananas. Doesn't get more transparent than that!
Favorite Flavors: Banana Bread, Cashew Cookie, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Coconut Cream Pie, Peanut Butter Cookie, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
#2: Cliff Bar
Nutritional highlights: 10 g protein, 23 vitamins and minerals, high in fiber, vegan, 70% organic
Why I love them: I'm a big fan of the protein in Cliff Bars, and while the ingredient list is longer than that of a Lara Bar, I can pronounce everything in them. They are a great choice for before or after a tough workout because they provide a big boost of carb-filled energy. They come in a large variety of flavors, all of which taste delicious.
Favorite Flavors: Carrot Cake, Crunchy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Peanut
Nutritional highlights: 10 g protein, 3-4 g protein, gluten-free, good source of fiber
Why I love them: Unlike many nut-based bars, these babies contain 70% less sugar than traditional varieties, which I appreciate. They also have plenty of protein to keep me full throughout the afternoon and come in around 200 calories each, a reasonable calorie count for my afternoon snack. I guess it goes without saying that these taste great. They really do.
Favorite flavors: thinkThin Mixed Nuts Crunch Bar and thinkThin Chocolate Dipped Mixed Nuts
Giveaway time! The amazing people at Larabar sent over some samples for me to try and a set of Larabar flavors for you to try, too! Flavors include Carrot Cake, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Coconut Cream Pie and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.
To enter, leave a comment below telling me what protein/nutrition bars are your favorites by Wednesday, June 9 at 10 p.m. I'll announce a winner on Thursday!
Madison
Giveaway time! The amazing people at Larabar sent over some samples for me to try and a set of Larabar flavors for you to try, too! Flavors include Carrot Cake, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Coconut Cream Pie and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.
To enter, leave a comment below telling me what protein/nutrition bars are your favorites by Wednesday, June 9 at 10 p.m. I'll announce a winner on Thursday!
Madison
67 comments:
I really like Luna Bars--they're big, but not calorie-dense (around 180), come in a variety of flavors, and have iron and folic acid and other lady-nutrients.
My faves are the mini-sized Lara Bars for a quick snack, usually the coconut cream pie, cashew nut, apple pie, or peanut butter cookie. I also love love love Be Kind Bars, especially the blueberry almond flavor! Sooooo yummy!
Honestly, I have never tried a Lara Bar. Of the other brands I have tried I always stick with peanut butter. I have yet to find a bar I like though and just haven't made it to Lara bars yet!
I enjoy Kind bars as well as Luna bars. I always enjoy making my own bars too.
PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP LARA BARS! Love your blog! Just started reading it :) roxiehankins@hotmail.com
Love this! I really like KIND+ bars because they have a fairly short and understandable ingredient list and a good amount of fiber and protein.
Larabars are a favorite of mine b/c of the few ingredients they contain. I also love a kashi bar on occasion too!
I really like LunaBars & the clif bars for kids, but I recently started trying Lara Bars and I'm liking 'em!
I also love clif bars-- especially when I serve! I can eat them quickly and have energy for my shift at work! :)
Clif, Luna, and Kashi granola bars. But I love bars in general!
I'm a fan of Pure Protein bars...the peanut butter flavor. Not as natural but it packs a punch without too much sugar.
Haha, I like the sugary kind, more like snack bars than health bars! ;D Those flavors sound delish! Thanks for the giveaway!
I actually don't have a favorite protein bar, because I never know which ones to try! I have been wanting to try the Lara Bars though since seeing a promo for them on The Biggest Loser.
I love Chocolate Raspberry Balance bars, its secretly like eating a candy bar :)
My favorite bars are clif bars, but lately I've been making my own homemade bars to save $$. I've actually never tried Larabars but would love to try them!
Cherry Pie Larabars are my fave! I also really like Kind bars
Lara Bars are my favorite, but I also really love Luna Bars too.
Larabars are my favorite! :)
Meggs♥
urbakinmecrazyy@aol.com
urbakinmecrazyy.blogspot.com
Larabars are my favorite! As a new "plant based dieter" I find myself always with a stash. You have to try the key lime, amazing!
I like Larabars for the exact same reasons!! they fit in pretty well with my paleo diet.
i used to eat Luna bars all the time too, but I find they have too much unnatural sugar now.
www.cupcakesomg.blogspot.com
Larabars! :)
love larabars!
Larabars are my favorite due to the limited ingredients and because they're compatible with a Primal eating plan.
Iron Girl bars by Powerbar are my second favorite due to pronounceable ingredients and they're lower in calories than most energy/protein bars out there.
Mona M.
Confession: I have yet to try Larabars! Crazy, I know. The bars I like most right now are Luna but I'm sure I would love Larabars when I get a chance to try them. :)
Larabars are great... I'm also intrigued by thinkthin, since I'm gluten free and need low sugar.
I don't really have a favorite, but I'd love to try some.
I love Parrillo Graham Cracker Energy Bars. Never tried Larabars, but the flavors sound yummy:)
I am an avid Larabar eater for so many reasons! People continuously ask me what a good mid-morning snack would be and I always suggest a Larabar! Full of flavor and contain all the necessary ingredients for an energy boost!! My favorite flavor is the chocolate chip cookie dough; when I have a sweet craving I immediately snack on this nutritious bar and it's satisfied. I would be estatic to try the new flavors and pass my review onto my friends, good or bad!
Well lets see I have had one lurabar which was delicious, I had one think thin bar which was also nice and one clif bar with was okay as well. But I must say the larabar was my favorite and I would love to try other flavors please!!!
I like the simplicity of ingredients in the Lara bars. I Los like Be Kind bars.
I eat bars to get a little extra fiber and protein into my diet. So recently I've been enjoying Fiber One bars and Zone bars. But I feel these have way to much sugar and feel at times they're more like a candy bar. Not. Good. I've been excited to try all 3 of the bars you've mentioned because everyone keep raving about them. (and I love ANYTHING with peanut butter!) but I've hear the LaraBars are the best!
Definitely Larabars, especially the cashew cookie one. And I also love your recipe for homemade Lara Bars!
Larabars are by far my favorite, but I have been known to use Clif Crunch bars before a workout.
Hey Madison! I really like key lime pie Larabars...and what draws me to them are the few ingredients on the label as well :) I also enjoy carrot cake flavor and ginger snap. They taste exactly what they "claim" to be withought ruining your diet.
My favorite are your recipe for homemade Larabars!
I absolutely love Larabars...I don't think I've had a bad flavor yet!
Ginger Snap/Cherry Pie Larabars and Oatmeal Crisp/Carrot Cake Clif Bars. I don't know how I would survive without them!
I'm currently liking Supreme protein bars, because of the protein without the sugar. But not a fan of all the chemical additives. So I'm on the lookout for a new one! I haven't tried lara bars yet. Been making my own at home.
My two favorites are definitely Larabars and Clif bars. Any of the flavors that include chocolate are a winner in my book. : ) I keep telling myself to branch out and try some of the other flavors but it's hard when the chocolate are oh-so-good!
I haven't had a chance to try Larabars yet (haven't really found them in my area), but I really like the Clif Bars. I take them on roadtrips and keep a few in my desk for days when I need a snack to get me through the day.
I love Larabars, but I always have a secret hankering for Balance Bars. They have a ridiculously unpronounceable ingredients list, but I find them to be strangely addictive as a once-in-a-while treat.
I love Larabars too!
I honestly do not have a favourite - I have had a few Cliff bars, but never had a Larabar - I would love to try them though!!
Larabars are my FAVORITE! i, too, was drawn to them by their short ingredient list. i like to know what's in the things i eat. plus, the only sugar is what's in the fruit, which is key for me. plus, they're SO YUMMY.
my husband's more of a Clif bar guy, but once i found Larabars there was no going back for me. :)
When I can afford them I really like YouBars...you can create your own type of protein/energy bar. Picj your ingredients and such! I LOVE IT because when i try to make granola bars at home they sometimes dont turn out that great :) Other times I really enjoy Kashi's bars :) tasty and good for you :)!!!!!!!!!!MMMMMMMMmmmm
I love Larabars!
My Fav is definitely the Lara bars. Yum... My Favorite flavor is cashew cookie. I crave them. :)
Perhaps the nice people at Larabar would consider shipping a box to a really cool American girl in Germany who can't buy them. :)
I love Larabar's! They are very affordable and I am able to eat two different flavors. My fav would have to be Apple cinnamon...
I am a Larabar and Cliff bar type of girl. Although I have to admit that I buy the cliff bar's more frequently because they are cheaper!
Obsessed with Larabar's short ingredient list - Lemon is the best. YUM.
Larabars are my favorite too! I like the cookie dough and PB & J flavors!
--Meagan
I love Kerrie Bars. They include peanut butter, honey, dry oats, and whatever nuts/fruit you want to add! Coming to grocery store shelves soon... actually, probably never. :)
I must say ProBars are quite fantastic…it's like eating pure (but tasty) earth... though the chocolate/dates of Larabars are favorites!
I love larabars and soyjoy bars! Those are my absolute favs :)
I like fiber one bars…I know, I know-fiber! I also like Luna bars, and Cliff bars but haven’t every tried Larabars!
I like Special K protein bars!
I like the Larabars too. My goal is to find ways to reduce the "bad" sugars and this bar is one that comes the closet to meeting that. I like Cliff bars as well.
Best protein bar EVER is Lenny Larry's Muscle Brownie!! Unfortunately, I could only find them when I lived in Waco, so I am now obsessed with Supreme Protein bars!
I've actually only tried Larabars whenever I went to Costco and they happened to be sampling them. I guess I must like them, because I always take seconds!
Larabars are for sure my favorite too! Tomorrow I am attempting to recreate them in my kitchen!
oooh made it just in time! that prize package is to die for...i only recently discovered larabars and i can't get enough! my other favorite bar? anything homemade!
Wow, we have the same favorite bars! Larabars are super tasty for breakfast, but I love cliff bars as an afternoon snack/treat. Love the blog, :)
I LOVE larabars! They're so tasty and their coconut cream pie flavor is amazing!
Actually I have never tried them. But being someone that has had weightless surgery, I am always looking for in-between meals to increase my protein intake.
I just found this giveaway and hoping the 10 pm deadline is PST lol
I like Cliff bars, but they are a bit more expensive so I settle for Special K and Chew bars.
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