So, here’s the deal with me and bars: up until this spring, I’d got into the habit of having yogurt with fruit and granola for my afternoon snack. I loved it, but it meant that I usually had to be at home in the afternoon to eat it, and since I was trying to get more flexible with my routine, I started incorporating bars every so often. I started with Luna bars; I could always keep one or two in my bag for when I was out and about. Eventually, I realized that Clif bars keep me satisfied better than any of the others, so they’re what I eat most often these days.
I’ve tried and enjoyed lots of the other brands — the Kashi Roll! bars were my favourite for a while — but if you’ve done the same, you’ll know that the Lunas and similar have a vitamin-y taste. It often seems to be the fault of the ‘chocolate’ coating or icing they put on those bars, and it’s the biggest reason I don’t eat them more often.
The regular Clif bars, though, taste more like really hearty granola bars. My top three favourite flavours are Chocolate Almond Fudge, Crunchy Peanut Butter, and Maple Nut. I think the maple and the almond fudge might just edge out the PB flavour, but they’re pretty well tied — I have to choose depending on my mood. Chocolate Brownie is also right up there, being very similar to the almond fudge, but it’s not quite as amazing. In the second tier, I’d place Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch (not all that different), White Chocolate Macadamia (amazing, but super sweet!) and Blueberry Crisp.
The only other flavours that I’ve tried and not been crazy about are Banana Nut Bread and Carrot Cake. They aren’t actually bad at all, but Carrot Cake in particular seemed a little clovey to me, and I’m fairly sensitive to cloviness in foods. There are still quite a few varieties to try, and I’m particularly excited for the seasonal flavours to appear in stores again, as I didn’t try them last year.
So the taste is a big factor for me, but I also like the protein content and the presence of carbs. The whole-foods bars (like Lara and Pur bars) are great for their short ingredients lists, but I need those grains to keep me satisfied for more than thirty minutes, you know? A Clif and a small piece of fruit (and a cup of tea) is just what I need in the middle of the afternoon.
You already know my biggest (only?) complaint when it comes to Clifs — they’re so chewy! I microwave them for fifteen seconds, which makes them warm and soft and melty and wonderful, but I hardly dare to eat one on the go.
What’s your take on Clif bars? (Or protein/energy bars in general? No judgment of those of us who enjoy them, though, please. Different strokes for different folks, and all.) Any flavour recommendations?
a girl, two cats, one dog, a house, some food, and a garden
My husband used to be kind of addicted to Clif bars (one of the chocolate flavors), but they always tasted kind of metallic to me. Personally, I’d rather have a Snickers than a bar, but I DO NOT JUDGE, and I know lots of people who love them. Regarding Clif bars in particular, a couple of my friends like their bars for kids. You might want to try those! Also, Clif puts out seasonal flavors, like pumpkin and gingerbread.
If you like the Clif bars, you have to try the kid Clif bars. I buy them in boxes of 24 and I literally will have one every day as an afternoon snack. The chocolate brownie and blueberry are the best ones, the chocolate chip I am not a fan of. They are much softer than the regular Clif bar (you wouldnt need to microwave it) and have half the calories but still keep you as full (if you are concerned about calorie content). They are worth a try!
Mariko and Nichole — I HAVE tried the kids’ ZBars. I like the chocolate chip flavour, but they’re not substantial enough for me — most of the reason I eat Clif bars (besides enjoying them) is the protein.
yay for clif bars! the best of the bars! I’ve never tried microwaving them though… Think bars are pretty good though I’ve only had the fruit ones but they’re just light snacks nothing like a hefty mighty delicious clif bar.
oh, i like the microwave idea. i just love clif bars, more than the others and i’ve tried them all. carrot cake and oatmeal raisin are my favs. And they have seasonal ones too, which are fun. Often I can’t break for lunch [lab-work is a brutal mistress] so a quick clif bar holds me over until my experiment is done.
I am a college student and these bars are great for a a long day out on campus. I usually take 1 or 2 with me. They’re packed full of carbs (including fiber) and protein so they energize you, stabilize your sugar, and make you feel like you’ve eaten a sufficient snack. They also taste great! My favorite is Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch, followed by Carrot Cake and Chocolate Chip. I’ve tried other energy-type bars (Luna, PureProtein, Kashi, BareNaked, etc.) but they usually don’t taste good and they don’t satisfy my hunger long enough. These bars taste delicious, like mentioned in the article (they are like a hearty granola bar), they are loaded with vitamins and minerals, and they are filling. They are the perfect on-the-go snack bar in my opinion.