"energy bar" news and stories

If you've ever run a race - or missed a meal - you know the name "Clif Bar." Packed with protein and carbs, these pocket-sized portions can get you through a tough race or a long meeting.

Between energy bars, sports gel, and even kids' granola bars, the Clif family has sure made a name for itself. So now that they've conquered the sports food arena, why not go for something a little more...laid-back?

Clif Bar's owners, Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford, fueled by motivation, entrepreneurial spirit, and probably a few bites of Maple Nut-flavored Clif bar, are now pouring their energy into wine. The Clif Bar Family Winery focuses on sustainably-farmed and organic grapes, and the collection includes a white and red both named "The Climber," as well as a zinfandel, a syrah, and others.

Energy bar to wine might not be the most obvious transition, but since they opened up shop in 2004, things seem to be going just swimmingly for the Clif Bar family.

With the taste of Jelly Belly's Sport Beans still in my mouth, I've got energy food -- you know, the stuff you eat when you exercise -- on the brain.

As I see it, the problem with energy food is one of extremes: either it tastes like cake icing (energy gels are a good example) or it tastes like something from a '70s-era power-to-the-people co-op (i.e. healthy but gross).

With this spectrum in mind, I took a recent look at the Hammer Bar. Made by Montana's sports supplement powerhouse E-Caps/Hammer Nutrition, the Hammer Bar does a pretty good job of reconciling taste and nutrients.  It's got all the right stuff (it's full of phyto-nutrients and enzymes and essential fatty acids from flax, quinoa, sesame seeds, and almond butter; on top of that, it's non-GMO, vegan, non-dairy kosher, organic, and it may just own an Ani Difranco album). And the chocolate chip bar I tried -- made with real Belgian chocolate -- tasted good. Mind you, it didn't taste Butterfinger good, nor Snickers good, nor even Baby Ruth good. But it tasted good.

My next problem? Finding energy. That may prove even harder than finding decent energy food.

Matisse and Jack's is a company that makes mixes for homemade, natural energy bars. The mixes come in two flavors, Chocolate Chip and Cranberry Walnut, and include healthy ingredients like oats and flaxseed. The mixes have no refined flours, no preservatives and no hydrogenated oils. They're a good source of protein, iron, calcium and omega-3 fatty acids. The premise behind the mixes is that are a fresh, economical and eco-friendly way to snack on energy bars. Sounds great, but how do they taste?

For something so simple and healthy, they taste very good. The chocolate chip bars are absolutely packed with chocolate chips. To make the bars, you just stir in a combination of applesauce and/or yogurt according to the package directions. The resulting bars are very moist and chewy. They have a fresh, oaty taste, unlike the processed, overly-sweet taste of commercial bars. I think that they're a great option for on-the-go breakfasting, especially because I actually did feel energized after eating them!

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