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Fruition: Cran-Raspberry

admin — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:00:39 +0000

ProBar’s Cran-Raspberry Fruition Bar is a very enjoyable bar. The base of the bar is heavy on fruit flavor (hence the name), with notes of cranberries and raspberries and lots of date flavor. It has a soft and satisfying feeling in your mouth, especially with the added small chunks of dried fruit. There’s also a very slight crunch to the finish, thanks to some added nuts and seeds. This is a nice added dimension that complements the bars soft consistency quite nicely. All in all, the bar is extremely enjoyable to eat (or scarf if you’re like us). The bar’s wrapper is clean and appealing, with illustrations of fruit providing the border around the bar’s cleanly executed logo. The design has a healthy and natural vibe to it, which is definitely an accurate representation of what’s inside the wrapper. Nutritionally, this 1.7 ounce bar has 160 calories, 2g of fat, 4g of fiber, 3g of protein, calcium, and iron. From our perspective, this is a nice option for a healthy snack or for a light pick me up when you are on the go. Overall, an exceptionally well done bar.

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Clif Bar: Banana Nut Bread

admin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:47:29 +0000

While it certainly has a lot more chew to it than real banana bread, Clif has done a great job of creating a flavor that’s an accurate interpretation of the original. There’s a pretty good banana flavor to the mixture, thanks to the use of dried bananas, while the base is the same organic oat and soy crisp base that you’ll find in the rest of this line of Clif Bars. It’s got a fair amount of chew to it, with some light crunch to the finish, which is also aided by some walnut flavor. Nutritionally, this bar has 9g of protein, 240 calories, 250mg of potassium, 4g of fiber, and loads of vitamins and minerals. That being said, it functions as both a nice snack alternative or a light meal. Packaging follows the same template as the rest of the Clif line, with a caramel colored strip along the bottom for the flavor name. It’s honestly somewhat hard to get excited about Clif’s packaging at this point, but since it’s so ubiquitous with the energy bar category, it definitely gives us a certain feeling of comfort when we see it. Overall, it’s not an overly innovative flavor, but it’s a well executed one and, therefore, a bar that we’d have no problem picking up again.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Post tags: bar, calories, chewy, flavors, fruit

ProBar Fruition: Strawberry

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:00:13 +0000

ProBar’s Strawberry “fruition” bar is a particularly enjoyable one, complete with large chunks of dried strawberries interspersed throughout the bar. That, paired with the soft date and rolled oat base, makes for something that’s extremely satisfying to the palate. The product also has brown rice syrup (sweetener), black and white chia seeds (for a touch of crunch), and cashews (in ground form). There’s a nice amount of sweet flavor to this bar, especially compared to ProBar’s flagship line which has savory flavors as well, while the soft and chewy consistency makes it extremely easy to eat the product at a fast pace. At 160 calories, this 1.7 ounce bar makes for a nice snack, which is made better by the fiber (4g), protein (3g), and vitamins and minerals. Packaging is simple and aesthetically appealing, with bright fruit images going around the border of the wrapper. It looks similar enough to the regular ProBar line while still feeling different. Plus, we love the new look to the logo and the new tag line. Overall, an awesome bar that makes for a nice complement to the core ProBar lineup.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

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Post tags: bar, flavor, fruit, fruits, tastes

Vega Whole Food Energy Bar: Berry Flavor

admin — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:20:12 +0000

Like the other Vega Whole Food Energy bars, this one is made from “raw, alkaline, plant based superfoods.” You’ll find dates, hemp protein, almond butter, agave nectar, sprouted whole flax seeds, cranberries, raisins, almonds, sesame seeds, organic sprouted mung beans, organic wheat grass, and a few other ingredients for flavoring. It’s a soft but chewy bar, with a slightly dry texture, especially at the finish. Flavor is really enjoyable, with notes of the fruit and nuts throughout. There’s also a slightly earthy note of flavor to the bar, which is likely from the wheatgrass, mung, and flax. Nutritionally, the bar is a winner, with 10g of raw protein, 250mg of potassium, 6g of fiber, omega 3 and 6, vitamins, and minerals on top of 240 calories. The bar is great as for snacking before a workout – or to help supplement a meal with something that’s sweet but nutritious. Packaging is probably the only area that we’d like to see some improvement, with a look that feels technical rather than inviting. To a degree, the label made us expect a bar that didn’t taste good, which is fortunately not the case. Overall, it’s a very enjoyable product, but kicking up the packaging a bit would definitely help.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Post tags: 6g, agave nectar, almond butter, almonds, bar, calories, chewy, chewy bar, cranberries, cranberry, energy bar, fiber, flavor, flavorings, flavors, flax, food energy, fruit, fruits, hemp, liking, meal, mung beans, nectar, nuts, omega 3, organic, organic wheat, potassium, Protein, raisin, raw, seed, seeds, sesame seeds, snack, superfood, sweetness, tastes, texture, vega, vitamins, vitamins and minerals, wheat, wheat grass, whole food, workout

KIND Bar: Fruit & Nut Delight

admin — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:00:45 +0000

This is sort of Kind’s catch-all dried fruit and nut bar and its mix of peanuts, almonds, brazil nuts and walnuts, the nut part is certainly up to snuff, although we’d like it if there was a bit more variety to the fruit beyond raisin and apricot. Also, the Kind folks really overdid it with the honey/pectin coating on this one – it glistened and gleamed dangerously, and we were a bit worried we’d lose a tooth. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case, and the flavors were all pretty distinguishable in the mix. On a packaging point, the blue trim on the wrapper is absolutely gorgeous.

Calories: 170
Protein: 5 g
Fiber: 3 g
Fat: 11 g
Carbs: 16 g

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Post tags: almonds, apricot, bar, brazil nuts, calories, carbs, dried fruit, fiber, flavor, flavorings, flavors, fruit, fruit nut, fruits, honey, KIND, kind folks, liking, nut bar, nuts, peanuts, Protein, raisin, walnuts

Honest Foods: Cran Lemon Zest

admin — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:00:51 +0000

Honest Foods’ Cran Lemon Zest bar is made with a base of whole oats, almond butter, and brown rice syrup, which results in a relatively dry consistency with a moderate amount of chew. It also contains nuts and dried fruit, which are ultimately what give it the cranberry and lemon zest flavors that the bar is named for. Cran Lemon Zest is pretty much spot on when it comes to expected flavor, with a mellow cranberry flavor that’s complemented nicely with the bit of lemon zest. As far as the size of the bar is concerned, this 1.9 ounce bar is certainly not the biggest bar on the market, but it’s also a more manageable size if you’re looking for something to snack on. Plus, it’s vegan, made with whole grains and contains protein, fiber, and omega-3. Packaging is simple and clean, with a clear plastic wrapper that lets you see what’s inside. We’re big fans of that approach, especially when a wholesome looking bar like this one is inside. Definitely give it a try.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Post tags: almond butter, almonds, bar, brown rice syrup, complement, consistency, cranberries, cranberry, cranberry flavor, fiber, flavor, flavorings, flavors, fruit, fruits, grains, lemon zest, liking, manageable size, marketing, moderation, nuts, nuts and dried fruit, oat, oats, omega 3, ounce, plastic wrapper, Protein, snack, vegan, whole grains

Eat Natural: Almond & Apricot Bar

admin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:00:30 +0000

Made in the UK, this bar is billed as being a “luxurious bar full of premium quality ingredients and nothing else.” It’s a yoghurt coated bar that’s made with dried fruit, nuts, puffed rice, and honey. Flavor is really good, with a pleasant tasting body that’s light but crispy, with a sweet note of honey, fruit, and yogurt followed by some crunch from the almonds, which are added in large pieces. Eat Natural has done a great job with this bar, blending extremely enjoyable flavor, substance, and nutrition. From a nutrition point of view, this 235 calorie bar has 2g of fiber, 4g of protein, calcium, and iron, which certainly isn’t the most nutritious bar out there, but it’s still a good one. Packaging is intuitive and appealing, with the name “EAT NATURAL” making a pretty obvious statement about what’s inside the wrapper. Plus, you can see through the clear plastic wrapping, which helps whet the appetite. Overall, a very enjoyable bar that’s flavorful, nourishing, and nice looking.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Post tags: 4g, almonds, appetite, apricot, apricot bar, bar, blend, blends, calcium, calories, crunch, dried fruit, fiber, flavor, flavorings, flavors, fruit, fruits, honey, honey flavor, job, luxurious bar, natural, Nutrition, nuts, plastic wrapping, point of view, Protein, quality ingredients, sweet note, sweetness, tastes, yogurt

Honest Foods: Blueberry Vanilla Crackle

admin — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:00:16 +0000

Of Honest Foods’ “Granola Plank” line, this was our favorite – and a new member of our Hall of Fame. The bar blends flavor and texture perfectly, starting with a base of nuts, seeds, and puffed rice, wheat and corn. It’s soft but has a slight amount of chew and crunch, which has then been perfectly flavored with vanilla extract, dried fruit (blueberries & cranberries), brown rice syrup, brown sugar, natural flavors, and a touch of salt. The resulting bar has great depth of flavor, starting with the grains and nuts, followed by the dried fruit, and finally finishing with vanilla. From a nutrition point of view, this bar, which is labeled for 2 servings, has 380 calories, 3g of fiber, 4g of protein, iron, calcium, and 300mg omega-3. It’s got a lot of substance to it, so we’d certainly recommend that you only eat half at a time – you certainly won’t be hungry. Packaging is simple and extremely appealing, with a large window to view the bar. The placement of the Honest Foods logo in the centers adds a touch of wholesomeness and credibility to the product. Overall, one of the best bars we’ve had in a while.

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

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Post tags: 4g, bar, best bars, blend, blends, blueberries, blueberry, brown rice syrup, brown sugar, calcium, calories, crackle, cranberries, cranberry, credibility, crunch, fiber, flavor, flavorings, flavors, fruit, fruits, grains, granola, hall of fame, natural, natural flavors, new member, Nutrition, nuts, omega 3, Protein, puffed rice, seed, seeds, texture, vanilla, wheat

Clif Bar & Company Gives Protein Some Zest With New Lemon-Flavored CLIF Builder’s™ Bar

admin — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:11:31 +0000

BERKELEY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Clif Bar & Company is bringing the refreshingly tangy taste of lemon to its CLIF Builder’s™ protein bar lineup. (...)
Read the rest of Clif Bar & Company Gives Protein Some Zest With New Lemon-Flavored CLIF Builder’s™ Bar (229 words)

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Post tags: bar, clif, flavor, flavorings, flavors, fruit, fruits, natural, Nutrition, nuts, organic, Protein, sampling, soy, tastes

Honest Foods: Pomegranate Walnut Crisp Granola Plank

admin — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:38:06 +0000

Designed to be a fresh made granola “plank,” this bar does a great job of combining that wholesome made at home flavor with the convenience of a ready-made bar. There’s a nice oat and nut flavor to the base, with almonds, peanuts, and walnuts adding some crunch. Dried fruit in the form of cranberry and pomegranate provide some chew and a dash of sweet flavor, which is a nice complement to the granola base. However, they’ve also added some additional flavoring to the bar, which, as you eat the bar, starts to mask the flavor of the granola. In our opinion, this bar can hold its own without the added flavoring, so we hope to see if removed in the future. On the exterior, the product looks very clean and appealing, with a clear front that has only a red strip for the logo going across it. The use of lowercase text and a simple font gives the product that “wholesome” feel that they’re clearly going for. Overall, very enjoyable, but it would be more enjoyable without the added flavor.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Post tags: almonds, bar, complement, convenience, cranberries, cranberry, crunch, flavor, flavorings, flavors, fruit, fruits, granola, home flavor, job, nuts, oat, peanuts, s, sweet flavor, sweetness, walnuts