Nutrition Bars...again!

[Jewel]

I've done a search on Nutrition Bars and come up with a few ideas from you all, but I'm still a bit befuddled... :confused:

What I'm looking for is a breakfast bar. I need/want a high protein breakfast that will fill me up, taste good, and give me the nutrition and fiber to keep me going until my usual lunch of 1/2 cup brown rice mixed with 1/2 cup of Edamame! ;) I've tried eggs for breakfast, shakes, smoothies, Chex Morning Mix, all to no real satisfaction. I'd LOVE to make a smoothie every morning with frozen fruit and soy protein powder, but my morning time is way too limited, so my breakfast needs to be portable.

I've never tried Luna bars because in the package they look so small! When I've seen an open one in a photo they look almost like Rice Krispy bars, and I wasn't sure how filling that would be. I bought two 'single' bars yesterday at the grocery, and had one this morning: EAS AdvantEdge in Peanut Butter. 220 calories, 5 gr of fat, 15 grams of protein but only 1 gr of fiber. It was good, a bit chalky, but decent. My other bar that I haven't tried yet is a GeniSoy Soy Protein Bar in Chocolate Mint. It's 220 calories, 3.5 gr fat, 14 gr of protein, and 2 gr of fiber.

I'll head off to the store and buy a few more singles if anyone can point me in the right direction! ;) I want to find one that tastes great and has enough size, fiber and protein to keep me going! I LOVE the chocolate/peanut butter combination, so that is a primo draw for me! :) Once I find a brand that I like I want to buy a case online, but I'm doing the single thing until then! :o

[RebeccaT]

Jewel, I LOVE Luna bars! You can get some with up to 9 g of soy protein, or the regular ones which have 4 grams. I find them to be very filling, and very satisfying (they're chewy, so you can't really wolf them down). They're tasty, too! I like the Chai Tea and the S'mores flavors the best of the ones I've tried.

In the past I have also tried Balance Bars, and I have found them to be very filling as well. I have mostly switched to Luna bars b/c I like the taste better (although the Yogurt Peanut flavor of the Balance bars is pretty darn good).

Hope this helps! :D

[greysangel]

I'm a big Luna Bar or Cliff Bar fan. One of those suckers keeps me full from 9am til about 1pm. I love the flavors of the Luna Bars.. Nuts over Chocolate, Pecan Pie, Key Lime and Lemon Zest are my favorites.

I have also heard good things about the SlimFast meal to go bars. They have two different ones so you have to make sure it's the meal and not the treat.

I have tried others and they are all pretty comparable though I keep going back to Luna. You also have to watch as some are very high in calories/fat. Luna Bars have lots of protein and are only around 180 calories.

JeAnne

[Laura B]

Don't throw things at me, but you may want to try the slimfast meal on the go bars. I picked up a box of the Milk Chocolate Peanut flavor, and they are actually pretty good. A little dry, but reminiscent of a Reese's Peanut Butter cup. The stats: 220 calories, 5 grams of fat, 8 grams of protein, and 2 grams of fiber. That's 4 winning points (for those on weight watchers). I find them pretty filling. I like to keep one in my bag so that if I have a hunger emergency, I can eat that and not resort to less healthy options! You can buy them individually at the grocery store.

[BosunsWife]

I'll put in another vote for the Luna Bars - my favs are the Lemon and the Key Lime since I love tangy food.

I used to eat them for breakfast with milk or coffee. Now that I'm pregnant I will sometimes eat them for a mid morning snack or an afternoon snack.

[gertdog]

I like the Luna bars... chocolate pecan pie, nutz over chocolate, lemon zest, orange bliss, and chai tea. Plenty of protein, but I wish they had more fiber. About 4 ww points each.

Balance yogurt peanut and honey peanut flavors are good, as is mocha chip.

Balance has a new line called Oasis, which is meant to directly compete with Luna. It includes a chocolate peanut crisp bar that is good. Nutritional profile is identical to Luna bars... only 1 g. of fiber, but plenty of protein.

Could you combine a bar with a piece of fruit to keep the calories down but up the fiber?

[Jewel]

Originally posted by gertdog
Could you combine a bar with a piece of fruit to keep the calories down but up the fiber?

I'm not a raw fruit eater at all. My 'apple a day' is usually a Grannysmith apple peeled and diced, sprinkled with Brownsugar SugarTwin or a packet of Equal, and tossed with cinnamon. A minute in the microwave gives me a yummy baked apple without the baking! :D I try to have that as an after-work snack, but not for breakfast. Breakfast has to be pretty much one item...

I wish those Luna Bars were higher in fiber! :( I'll pick up a few today on the way home and experiment. Sounds like the S'Mores flavor might be a good one!

No one has tried the GeniSoy? 14 grams of soy protein and 2 grams of fiber sound pretty good! I just hope this Chocolate Mint thing is good! ;) I'll try it tomorrow morning!

[pearlygrl]

I haven't tried the luna bars, but I can vouch for the slimfast meal on the go bars and also zone bars. They are pretty good and high in protein too. I don't have one handy to check out the fiber. Good luck, I'm anxious to find out how the genisoy bars are, I usually like their products.

[donleyk]

Jewel, I know you asked about the bars and I would also recommend Luna bars. The Chai Tea's are awesome.

Have you thought about eating frosted mini-wheats dry or the like? I sometimes eat mine dry right out of the box. That way you aren't committed to the whole bowl thing.

Also, DH made a batch of the morning glory muffins yesterday. I ate 2 of them (they are kinda small) today and I stayed full until 11:30. Mind you, since he followed the directions and only got 20 muffins instead of 24 the calories are almost 200 each. (I am still trying to figure out why, tho')

Hope this helps some.

[gertdog]

Originally posted by Jewel


I'm not a raw fruit eater at all.

Me either! Those who can't do, suggest that others should! :p

I blend my fruit into smoothies, but I have more time in the mornings.

There used to be something on the market when I was in college called Fi-Bar, with sort of a yogurt-y coating over a semi-soft filling. I liked those, but can't remember if they really had fiber in them!

There are also those Kashi Go Lean bars... I tried them and thought they were nasty, but others on the board liked them, and they had a good bit of fiber.

Here is a link to a rating of snack bars by Nutrition Action Health Letter... they mark the ones that have at least 2 g. of fiber. It does not include many of the "nutrition bars" being discussed here... I think it's at least a year old. But the Slim Fast bars, FiBar, etc. are on there.

http://www.cspinet.org/nah/10_00/bar_chart.html

[m4star]

While watching TV this weekend I saw this report about a ConsumerLab.com test done on 30 nutrition bars. It turns out that they lie about their nutritional values right on the label! Half of the bars contained more carbohydrates, more calories, and more fat - components that people who are dieting are trying to avoid. Seven of the bars had significantly more sodium than labeled, which is a concern for people with high blood pressure who need to restrict their sodium intake. You can read more about their test here:
http://www.consumerlab.com/results/nutbars.asp

The FDA has even recalled some of the Metabolife bars because they have excessive vitamin A.
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/enforce/2002/ENF00728.html

[ashleenicole]

I just wanted to put my vote in for the Luna bars. I just had the Toasted Nuts and Cranberry: 170 Calories, 3 G Fat and 2G Fiber (3 WW points). My fav is the Key Lime pie! I enjoy the bars because they are so filling.

Good luck in your quest!

[funnybone]

Jewel, are you interested in recipes to bake your own? I'm sure we can all help out with some.

[AmyO26]

Jewel,

I love the chocolate mint Genisoy bars! They are actually pretty filling (chewy texture) and taste great...they sort of remind you of the G.S. Thin Mint cookies

Luna Bars are good too...especially the Chai Tea variety

I sometimes also will pack a baggie of dry cereal (Honey Nut Shredded Wheat, Life, etc) and eat it in the car on the way to work.

Enjoy taste-testing the bars!

Amy

[Jewel]

Originally posted by funnybone
Jewel, are you interested in recipes to bake your own? I'm sure we can all help out with some.

Bake my own??? :confused: I had no idea I could do that! Depends on what's exactly involved, remember I'm Dough Challenged!

I've just finished my 1/2 cup brown rice 1/2 cup Edamame mixture, and I'm stuffed. That EAS AdvantEdge bar did hold me all morning, I'll give it that! I just want it to taste better and have more fiber! :D:D:D

[funnybone]

I have not tried these, but came across them a while ago.


Home Energy Bar Recipies

These recipes are an inexpensive alternative to the pricy commercial energy bars, and will also taste better.

Oat Bars

The odd ingredient in the bar, paraffin, is widely used in chocolate manufacture to improve smoothness and flowability, raise the melting point, and retard deterioration of texture and flavor. Butter can be used instead, but a butter-chocolate mixture doesn't cover as thinly or smoothly.

1 cup regular rolled oats
1/2 cup sesame seed
1 1/2 cups dried apricots, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups raisins
1 cup shredded unsweetened dry coconut
1 cup blanched almonds, chopped
1/2 cup nonfat dry milk
1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
2 teaspoons butter or margarine
1 cup light corn syrup
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups chunk-style peanut butter
1 teaspoon orange extract
2 teaspoons grated orange peel
1 package (12 oz.) or 2 cups semisweet chocolate baking chips
4 ounces paraffin or 3/4 cup (3/4 lb.) butter or margarine
Spread oats in a 10- by 15-inch baking pan. Bake in a 300 degree oven until oats are toasted, about 25 minutes. Stir frequently to prevent scorching.

Meanwhile, place sesame seed in a 10- to 12-inch frying pan over medium heat. Shake often or stir until seeds are golden, about 7 minutes.

Pour into a large bowl. Add apricots, raisins, coconut, almonds, dry milk, and wheat germ; mix well. Mix hot oats into dried fruit mixture.

Butter the hot backing pan; set aside.

In the frying pan, combine corn syrup and sugar; bring to a rolling boil over medium high heat and quickly stir in the peanut butter, orange extract, and orange peel.

At once, pour over the oatmeal mixture and mix well. Quickly spread in buttered pan an press into an even layer. Then cover and chill until firm, at least 4 hours or until next day.

Cut into bars about 1 1/4 by 2 1/2 inches.

Combine chocolate chips and paraffin in to top of a double boiler. Place over simmering water until melted; stir often. Turn heat to low.

Using tongs, dip 1 bar at a time into chocolate, hold over pan until it stops dripping (with paraffin, the coating firms very quickly), then place on wire racks set above waxed paper.

When firm and cool (bars with butter in the chocolate coating may need to be chilled), serve bars, or wrap individually in foil. Store in the refrigerator up to 4 weeks; freeze to store longer. Makes about 4 dozen bars, about 1 ounce each.

Per piece: 188 cal.; 4.4 g protein; 29 g carbo.; 9.8 g fat; 0.6 mg chol.; 40 mg sodium.




Bars of Iron

These are another inexpensive replacement for commercial energy bars, which tend to taste better to boot.

1 cup dark raisins
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/3 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup toasted wheat germ
1/2 cup golden (or dark) molasses
1/2 cup nonfat dry milk
1 cup sliced almonds (optional)
1 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup liquid milk
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Chop raisins (using a food processor if possible). Cream butter, sugar, molasses and egg.

Combine flour, dry milk, wheat germ, baking powder, baking soda, salt and ginger. Blend into creamed mixture with liquid milk. Stir in oats, raisins, and half the almonds (if desired).

Pour into greased 13x9x2 inch pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle with remaining almonds (if desired).

Bake at 350 degrees for approx. 30 minutes. Cool in pan and cut into 1x4 inch bars.




Apricot Oat Cakes

1 cup quick oats
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 package lemon flavoured jello
1/2 chopped apricots


Bring the water to a boil before dissolving the sugar and jello. Add the oats and apricots then wait for the oats to absorb water. When mixture is nice and pasty, roll it out into a cylinder about 2-3 inches in diameter. Place the dough on a cookie sheet and "dry" it with the oven set to about 200F for a few hours or until desired level of "dryness" is reached. Finally slice it into 1" thick disks, wrap each individually and store in freezer for freshness.

[Julia1Pin]

PB & J Luna Bars are awesome!

[Molli526]

The Kashi bars are OK. Some are sickingly sweet- too much honey or something. They are about 280-290 calories, but they have a lot more fiber than the Luna Bars. I could eat half of one and be fine.

The Genisoy Mint Chocolate is good! They just don't have enough fiber in them to justify. I do eat these when I have a work meeting as they are better than bagels and danishes etc.

I do not know how a Luna bar can fill you guys up for so long :confused: I last about 2- 2 1/2 hours and my tummy is grumbling!

I would be interested to hear how the homemade bars taste if you try them.

[MKSquared]

I need a more substantial breakfast than some bars can provide for me. I love Luna Bars, espcially the non-chocolate flavors. (I think the S'mores flavor tastes like bananas -- weird!!)

Kashi bars are really good, in my opinion. They're 5 WW points apiece, so they're kind of "pricey," but they fill me up. Tons of fiber/protein compared to some other brands.

I've tried the GeniSoy Chocolate Mint bar, and as much as I love Soy stuff AND chocolate mint, it didn't work in my mouth.

[JHolcomb]

OK, Jewel, I think I've found your nutrition bar match for the AM. Cliff Bar's "The Ice" series Chocolate Java Avalanche. 250 cals, 5 grams of fat (ouch-1.5 grams sat), BUT they have the redeeming quality of 5 grams of dietary fiber and 10 g of protien, some of which is soy protien (don't know how much, but soy protien isolates, soy flour, roasted soy butter and tofu are listed as main ingredients, so I'm guessing close to 10 grams IS soy protein). Oh, did I mention the best part? They taste good! Oh, and they are caffinated, which is why I mentioned it as an AM thing (I can't do caffine past noon). I had one for lunch ( took one bite of my asparagus and brown rice and my stomach turned-must be TOM-I get queasy and very picky and easily turned off by food then) at 11:30 and I'm still VERY full at 1:15-feeling overfull, in fact. And some of their other flavors are not caffinated, but this is the first one I tried.

Oh, have you tried whole soy's drinkable soy yogurt? I bought one to try before my workout. I'll let you know how it is.

Oh, I tried the Genisoy. Flavor was OK, but texture was icky. And I like Luna bars, but they don't fill me up. I'm left considering whether I should eat two.

[Jewel]

Originally posted by JHolcomb
OK, Jewel, I think I've found your nutrition bar match for the AM. Cliff Bar's "The Ice" series Chocolate Java Avalanche. 250 cals, 5 grams of fat (ouch-1.5 grams sat), BUT they have the redeeming quality of 5 grams of dietary fiber and 10 g of protein.

Thanks Jen! :D I'll look for the Cliff Bars. I was thinking that the Luna bars looked too small for me! I also like the high fiber part. I don't care if it's an extra point on WW, if it keeps my hand out of the cookie jar a bit longer it's actually saving me points in the long run! :rolleyes:

Thank you!

[BeckyM]

Another vote for Luna Bars! I LOVE these and use them as breakfast substitutes pretty regularly on the mornings I don't have time for my usual bowl of cereal (FlaxPlus mixed with Kashi Go Lean Crunch). They fill me up pretty well, though I almost always have a mid-morning snack. I don't even try to eat enough for breakfast to NOT have a mid-morning snack. I think that would leave me feeling too full after breakfast.

Anyway, Jewel, I think you ought to at least try a Luna Bar sometime just to see how well they fill you up. I think they are the absolute best tasting nutritional bar out there -- some taste almost "chalky" to me. I agree I wish they had more fiber, but I try to get that in other ways during the day if I have a Luna Bar for breakfast.

Becky

[wallycat]

Jewel, have you tried ZOE bars?? they make cereal too...
they are soy and flax. They taste OK--but definitely NOT something you'd over-indulge in....get the chocolate. 7 grams of fiber....

[KateH]

I like Odwalla bars -- though they are kind of an acquired taste. I really like the Carrot/? flavor, but they also have Chocolate/Raspberry, and Peanut Butter/?, and plain, and other flavors. They pack a lot of grains, and either rice or soy protein.

The stats are (for Chocolate/Raspberry): Fiber 5g, Protein 6g, Fat 5g, Calories 220g.

[Jewel]

Well, I just tried the Kashi Go Lean bar in Chocolate & Peanut Butter. 290 calories, 6 gr of fiber, and 13 gr of protein. Well...it WAS filling...but JEEZ was that tough to eat! Very hard and tough to chew! I don't think it was stale, just very, very dense! I tried the Genisoy Chocolate Mint yesterday, and it was also very dense and more like a chewy candybar. OK flavor, but I can see that texture is going to be very important in this quest! ;)

I haven't been able to find the Cliff 'The Ice' series bar that Jen mentioned, but I'm still on the lookout! :D Thanks for the help everyone! The quest continues!

[JHolcomb]

FYI, I had a "regular" Cliff bar this morning (too lazy to make smoothies or egg white omlettes these days and regular yogurt and a piece of fruit isn't cutting it) and it was very good, too (Almond Chocolate) but my fave is the Ice Mint Chocolate. The regular ones have 20 or 30 fewer cals, though (and the same amt of fiber, I think). The texture is a little weird but way better than the Kashi or Genisoy. Oh, try WholeFoods or TJ's to locate them.

Hey, I wouldn't want 'cha to go into this uniformed :D

[Molli526]

I tried the Cliff Ice Series today- Orange Chocolate Chill. It was really good. Now we will just see how long it will stick with me.

[Molli526]

Ok, it is now about 3:15 and I ate the bar around 11:45. I am hungry. About 3 1/2 hours. Not too bad.

[Jewel]

Originally posted by JHolcomb
OK, Jewel, I think I've found your nutrition bar match for the AM. Cliff Bar's "The Ice" series Chocolate Java Avalanche.

Oh Jen, thanks so much for the heads-up! DH and I went to Trader Joe's today before heading to Home Depot to buy some trees. I found the Chocolate Java Avalanche you mentioned, and bought one for 99 cents. I told DH that I was going to try it while we were at Home Depot across the parking lot, and if I liked it I'd come back and buy a box of 12. Imagine my surprise when I took my first bite and bit into a roasted coffee bean! :eek: YUM! This bar was SO good and very filling. DH had a bite and liked it too! After we bought our trees (a bright red 5 gallon Rhody, a bright red camelia tree and a huuuuge Snow Fountain White Weeping Cherry Tree ;) ) I went back to TJ's and bought a box of 12 each of the Java Chocolate, and a box of the Clif bar 'Crunchy Peanut Butter' which I've yet to try, but I'm taking a chance! :p

Thanks so much for the help! Looks like I found my bars! :D:D:D

[SandyM]

Well, I took the plunge and bought 5 different flavors of Luna bars, hoping I'll like them as much as everyone else around here does! Will know more tomorrow! :D

[Jewel]

Sandy, if you can find them, try the Cliff Bar 'Ice Series' that Jen told me about in Java Chocolate! I know you're not big on coffee, but they're mostly chocolate! Just that stray roasted coffee bean in there every few bites for crunch! (I know how much you'd love that! :p ) The other Cliff bar 'Crunchy Peanut Butter' is also very good!

[JenZen]

Ditto on the Ice Series. I just tried a Mint Chocolate one, and it was yummy. One another note, I had the worst ever nutrition bar this week. I think it was Koshi Lean Bar or something light that. Yuck.

[Jewel]

I was at Costco last weekend and one of the 'sample stations' had a guy snipping PowerBars apart. I had a hunk 'o Peanut Butter Bar, and that was the nastiest tasting thing I've tried in a long time! I looked at the label and it wasn't even worth it! Hardly any fiber or protein for so much fat and calories! ICK! The Kashi Go Lean bars are OK, but really tough to chew!

[JHolcomb]

The Ice Cliff bars finally got DH to eat breakfast!!! I know they're a little high in sugars and overall carbohydrates, but thank goodness he's eating breakfast and getting more fiber than what I feed him in dinner. He never could understand why his metabolism was so slow and why he was so "snacky" all day long. Eating something for breakfast should help him out. He likes the orange ones, btw.


And Jewel, you may find this a little creepy, but the first thing I thought of when I bit into the coffee bean in that bar was "Oh, I've gotta tell Jewel about these! She'll love 'em." I'm starting to feel like your cyberstalker :D

[Jewel]

Originally posted by JHolcomb
And Jewel, you may find this a little creepy, but the first thing I thought of when I bit into the coffee bean in that bar was "Oh, I've gotta tell Jewel about these! She'll love 'em." I'm starting to feel like your cyberstalker :D

Woohoo! Finally! I've been jealous of Goddess Gail having to run screaming from her stalker SandyM, and I finally got one! ;) I'll start practicing right away: "Back off, Wench, you're starting to give me the willies!" :D:D:D

Just kiddin' Jen...I'm happy you thought of me! Now I just gotta find that Ice Series Chocolate Mint everyone is talking about! TJ's has only two of the Ice Series, the Java Chocolate and the Orange, and I'm not too into Orange. I'm on a mission now! ;)

[gertdog]

I've got to find the Clif Ice bars. The chocolate-java one sounds so good!

I was at TJ's in Philly last weekend and bought an assortment of Luna bars, Clif bars, and Balance bars (some regular, some Oasis).

I'd never tried a Clif bar before. Yesterday I ate the crunchy peanut butter one and it was okay, but I didn't like it as much as Luna or Balance. I have one other Clif bar to try.

Jewel, I'm with you on the Power Bars. Nasty stuff.

[Lynn B]

Originally posted by Julia1Pin
PB & J Luna Bars are awesome!

I have never seen this flavor of Luna bars! Is it new, or maybe just a regional thang?! :)

Lynn

[Lynn B]

And while we're on this subject...

The new PRIA bars are kinda good. Not very big - better for a snack than a meal - but satisfying. Taste is along the lines of Luna bars... but Lunas are better.

Lynn

[Molli526]

Yes, the Pria bars taste god but no where near as filling as the Cliff Ice bar. They are good for that 3:30 hunger attack....

[Lynn B]

Molli,

LOL over your "byline"!!! :)

Lynn

[CHRIST1NE]

I'm a recent fan of the Kashi Go Lean bars. I've started going to the gym 3x a week right after work and actually use these as my "dinner" on those nights. I start eating it about 4:15 and and am done with it at 4:45. My workout is at 5:30. That seem to work out really well. I'm energized during my workout and not famished when I get home. Usually a piece of fruit of a few nuts when I get home is all I need.

I agree though, it would be hard to justify their calories for just a snack.

[Molli526]

I know it isn't a nutrition bar, but has anyone tried the Kashi Shakes? I use the powder instead of the cans. I really like it for a quick breakfast. 250 calories, 7 g fiber and 30 grams of protein! .

[SandyM]

Hi Molli,

Where do you get the shakes - Whole Foods? There's a gourmet market in Brighton that sells a lot of Kashi cereals and bars, but I was just there yesterday and didn't see a powder or canned shake. Sounds like something I could try (maybe even tossing in a ripe banana and blending it.

I tried a Chai Tea Luna Bar today - blech. Maybe it's something that grows on you?? :p

[gertdog]

The Chai Tea Luna bars aren't my favorite either. I think they taste more like a not-so-yummy oatmeal cookie. I do like the Lemon Zest and the Chocolate Pecan Pie flavors.

I just ate a Genisoy Chocolate Mint bar. I chewed... and chewed... and chewed. The flavor was okay. The texture was too much for me. It was very filling though! Probably not a repeater for me.

[Molli526]

I would think Whole Foods would have them. I got my first box (7 packets in a box) at a health food store in Ferndale. I then ordered them from the Kashi Website. It really like it when I travel b/c they mix with water- so you can take them anywhere.

[Jewel]

Originally posted by gertdog
I just ate a Genisoy Chocolate Mint bar. I chewed... and chewed... and chewed. The flavor was okay. The texture was too much for me. It was very filling though! Probably not a repeater for me.

My feelings exactly! :cool: I also tried this one and my jaw was tired after eating the darned thing! I'll stick with Clif Ice Series! :D

[gertdog]

Originally posted by Jewel

I'll stick with Clif Ice Series! :D

Does anyone who eats the Clif Ice bars know how much caffeine is in them, and how that amount compares to a cup of coffee? I really want to try them, they sound yummy, but I'm a non-coffee drinker in part because caffeine tends to make me jittery sometimes.

Also, I just noticed that early in this thread, I listed chai tea Luna Bars as something I liked, then later agreed with SandyM that they weren't so good. :o In the eariler post I meant to simply list some of the flavors that Luna makes, not to say that I like them all. Sorry! I guess what I'm trying to point out is that I'm not fickle. Just a bad self-editor. :p :rolleyes:

[JHolcomb]

50 units of caffeine. I can't remember the units of measurement for caffeine. Anyway, I think the Java Crunch on might have more, but I don't know how much more. 50 units is like a Mountain Dew, I'm pretty sure.

[Jewel]

Originally posted by JHolcomb
50 units of caffeine. I can't remember the units of measurement for caffeine. Anyway, I think the Java Crunch on might have more, but I don't know how much more. 50 units is like a Mountain Dew, I'm pretty sure.

:eek: No wonder I feel so good right now!! :eek: Do you poop out at parties?? Are you unpoopular?? Well try the new Cliff Java Chocolate Avalanche!!! :eek:

[gertdog]

Originally posted by JHolcomb
50 units of caffeine. I can't remember the units of measurement for caffeine. Anyway, I think the Java Crunch on might have more, but I don't know how much more. 50 units is like a Mountain Dew, I'm pretty sure.

Thank you for the information! I looked up caffeine content on the web and you are right on the money... Mountain Dew has around 55 units of caffeine per 12 oz. can. Coffee has anywhere from 90-150 units per 8 oz. cup.

Maybe I'll just try one and see how jittery I get. :) When I drink the occasional iced tea (70 units) I do not get the jitters.

[JHolcomb]

Jewel you weren't eating one of these AND drinking coffee at the same time were you :p Hope you're not climbing the walls!

[Jewel]

Originally posted by JHolcomb
Jewel you weren't eating one of these AND drinking coffee at the same time were you :p Hope you're not climbing the walls!

Well...I have my first cup of coffee while I'm getting ready for work in the morning about 6:15am. DH prepares my travel mug of coffee to take with me to work which I usually have down by 7:30. I usually pull out the Java Avalanche Bar at 7:45am or so for breakfast.... :eek: :eek: :eek: Do you poop out at parties???

[Robyncz]

Finally broke down and picked up an assortment of Luna bars to try out, based on everything I'd read as I lurked on this thread. I liked the nuts and chocolate one but I LOVED the Toasted Nutz and Cranberry. Yum. I can't believe how good it was. Good thing I only bought one of each flavor!

These things are a little pricey, though! Does anyone know where to get the best price on them? Are they available to order online?

[Jewel]

Originally posted by Robyncz
These things are a little pricey, though! Does anyone know where to get the best price on them? Are they available to order online?

The best selection and price I've ever seen on any nutrition bars has been Trader Joe's. The Clif and Luna bars at my local TJ's are 99 cents each, and at my grocery store they're between $1.19 and $1.50 each! :eek:

[Robyncz]

Originally posted by Jewel


The best selection and price I've ever seen on any nutrition bars has been Trader Joe's. The Clif and Luna bars at my local TJ's are 99 cents each, and at my grocery store they're between $1.19 and $1.50 each! :eek:

Well, thanks, Jewel. Yet another reason to regret the fact that we have no TJ's in Austin, Texas. Oh well. Any other suggestions?

[gertdog]

I have purchased Luna bars online by the case, but that was before I found them at TJ's. At TJ's you can usually get the bars for about .99 each (at the Valley Forge store, anyway!).

I think when I bought online it was from Drugstore.com, but their prices are terrible. A case of 15 bars is $17.99, plus $5.50 shipping!!! I think I bought them with a free shipping deal. But if you buy a case now, you get a free Gillette razor, $7.99 value. :rolleyes: So says the website, anyway.

[BeckyM]

My best source for Luna Bars is Wild Oats. They usually have them for $.99, and if you buy a whole case, you get a 10% discount. Last time I was there, they had them on sale for $.79 each! I really stocked up!

Every once in a while our Kroger has them on sale for $.99, but they're usually $1.49.

[Jewel]

Hey Westerners, if you have a 'Long's Drug's' anywhere near you, check them out soon! They're selling Luna and Cliff bars for 79 cents! They're in the pharmacy dept :rolleyes: and I nabbed about 15 Cliff bars yesterday! Very few 'Ice' series, but plenty of everything else! :D

[gertdog]

Originally posted by Jewel
Hey Westerners, if you have a 'Long's Drug's' anywhere near you, check them out soon! They're selling Luna and Cliff bars for 79 cents! They're in the pharmacy dept :rolleyes: and I nabbed about 15 Cliff bars yesterday! Very few 'Ice' series, but plenty of everything else! :D

:eek: :eek: :eek: I'll be at my parent's house in Fresno in two weeks, with a Longs right around the corner! I may be bringing home a suitcase full of Luna bars! Is this a special sale price (in which case I will send my mom over to scoop some up for me before I arrive), or their regular price?

By the way, I just finished my first Clif Ice bar (chocolate mint) and it was pretty good. We'll see if I'm bouncing off the walls in an hour from the caffeine! :)

[Jewel]

Originally posted by gertdog
:eek: :eek: :eek: I'll be at my parent's house in Fresno in two weeks, with a Longs right around the corner! I may be bringing home a suitcase full of Luna bars! Is this a special sale price (in which case I will send my mom over to scoop some up for me before I arrive), or their regular price?

Sale price! :( Call your mom and ask her to run down there for you! I hope it's not just a local sale here in Seattle! :o

My parents are in Visalia, my home town 30 miles from Fresno, and I called to ask her if they were on sale down there as well, but I got her dang answering machine! :rolleyes:

[Barrie]

Originally posted by Robyncz
... These things are a little pricey, though! Does anyone know where to get the best price on them?


Robyn, I was at Costco the other day and noticed that they have a 15-count box of Luna bars for $14.99 which is the same as the TJ's price (since you don't have one near you - my sympathies :( ). The box is made up of several different flavors, sorry I don't remember which ones specifically.

[lanie]

Ok - aside from the fact that those wonderful Luna Bars (the only ones I find available here are Chocolate Pecan Pie) are $3.49 per bar - does this really REPLACE a meal - like - are you all just not hungry after these bars. I had one at a movie the other day and just wanted more.................... just curious?

[Barrie]

Originally posted by lanie
... $3.49 per bar ... I had one at a movie the other day and just wanted more ...


$3.49? Yikes, that's expensive. I know you're in Canada and prices are higher there, but man, that's highway robbery! :eek:

I have found that after one, sometimes I do want more. If I have more than one sitting in my desk drawer at work then I'm more tempted to eat more than one. So I bring one to work each day and then I don't have to deal with that issue. Anyway, back to your question. :p I try to eat it slowly and with a glass of water so it does fill me up somewhat. Eating it at the movies and getting filled up from it would be difficult when you're surrounded by everyone munching on popcorn and candy. Even when I'm not hungry when I'm at the movies, I end up hungry just from all the sounds and smells around me.

[lanie]

Hahhahha - you got that right Barrie - everything is 'highway robbery' here - there are 'protein bars' - just can't remember the name that go for $3.99 + at Shoppers Drug Mart (that's a major drug store here) - they are all expensive here.

You are so right - the **** popcorn smell just whacks me when I walk into the theatre - I've even 'snuck' my own in (which we are not allowed to do) - but just doesn't cut it.

Thanks for your input!

Just an offside: movie ticket here for afternoon movie $6.50 - 1 small diet pepsi, 1 med popcorn - $8.05 - now I ask you - is that robbery!

[Alisa]

Originally posted by lanie
Ok - aside from the fact that those wonderful Luna Bars (the only ones I find available here are Chocolate Pecan Pie) are $3.49 per bar - does this really REPLACE a meal - like - are you all just not hungry after these bars. I had one at a movie the other day and just wanted more.................... just curious?


Hmmmmmm...I pay $1.99 for Luna bars here in N.S. - what gives Lanie???

[JHolcomb]

Originally posted by lanie
Ok - aside from the fact that those wonderful Luna Bars (the only ones I find available here are Chocolate Pecan Pie) are $3.49 per bar - does this really REPLACE a meal - like - are you all just not hungry after these bars. I had one at a movie the other day and just wanted more.................... just curious?

Luna bars leave me starved, but Cliff bars fill me up-they have about 50-60 more calories than the Luna, and more fiber. They really, really work for me in the AM, and as an occasional lunch. The SLim Fast bars fill me up ok, too.

[lanie]

OMG Alisa - are you kidding me??????????????????? Those little things are $3.49 here at SHoppers Drug Mart - do you have those there? I am going to look at other drug stores and possibly I might find them in health food stores. Can you get other 'flavors' - not here, at least in Shoppers - does anyone buy those Smart Ones (I think that is what they are called) they taste good, but don't know the nutritional content - for some reason after I eat one of those bars I get so hungry??????

Where are you in N.S. Alisa? My son went to school in Halifax and we took a few trips out there - just beautiful!

[Alisa]

Originally posted by lanie
OMG Alisa - are you kidding me??????????????????? Those little things are $3.49 here at SHoppers Drug Mart - do you have those there? I am going to look at other drug stores and possibly I might find them in health food stores. Can you get other 'flavors' - not here, at least in Shoppers - does anyone buy those Smart Ones (I think that is what they are called) they taste good, but don't know the nutritional content - for some reason after I eat one of those bars I get so hungry??????

Where are you in N.S. Alisa? My son went to school in Halifax and we took a few trips out there - just beautiful!

Hi Elaine,
I get mine in health food stores - we havs Shopper's Drug Mart here but they don't carry Lunas. I've seen all kinds of flavours - my favorite is Chai. I've also gotten them in Sears for $1.99!!!!

As for other bars, I haven't tried many because they seem so high in fat & sugar.

I live an hour or so northwest of Halifax in the Annapolis Valley (i.e. the boonies!!). It's lovely here too with orchards, farmland and hills - and the Atlantic just a few minutes away.
Alisa

[gertdog]

Originally posted by Jewel


Sale price! :( Call your mom and ask her to run down there for you! I hope it's not just a local sale here in Seattle! :o

My parents are in Visalia, my home town 30 miles from Fresno, and I called to ask her if they were on sale down there as well, but I got her dang answering machine! :rolleyes:

Mom is hoofin' it to Longs this evening. She is a Luna bar fan too, so she'll pick up enough for me and her both. :) Thanks for the heads up!

[Molli526]

I was at Target today and checked out their "bar" selection. It was actually pretty good. The Cliff bars there are 99 cents. The Mint Chocolate Ice was 99, but the Java Ice was $1.29:confused: Those were regular prices

[gertdog]

Wanted to bump this thread back up to let Luna Bar lovers know that there are (at least) 3 new flavors out there! Julia1Pin had mentioned the PB&J flavor, which I was thrilled to find at Wegmans this weekend. It is 3 WW points and I really liked it. Kind of like a peanut butter rice krispy treat, but with some "jelly" (more like pieces of dried fruit) in it.

There is also a chocolate covered cherry flavor (4 WW points) and something called "sweet dreams" (also 4 points)... I purchased both but haven't tried either one yet.

[BeckyM]

Thanks for the news, gertdog! I'll have to keep an eye out for these. I'd be curious to hear what the "sweet dreams" tastes like, since the name isn't very descriptive. It sounds more like an aromatherapy product than a food. Maybe it tastes like warm milk or chamomile tea.

Becky :)

[ISAIAH30_18]

I can't seem to find Luna Bars easily here at all!!!! And I'm in a larger city.
Please let us know what Sweet Dreams tastes like. What about Orange Bliss? Has anyone had that one?

[MKSquared]

Dunno if anyone else has seen this Luna Bar flavor, but the Sesame Raisin variety is outstanding! I've only seen it once, at a drug store near a health club :rolleyes: , and I keep my eyes out for it all the time. Mmmmmmmm!

Found the page on cliffbar.com: !http://www.cliffbar.com/clifproducts/clifluna.html Aside from the ones you guys mentioned, there's also a chocolate-peppermint one. YUM!!!

Thanks for the heads-up on the PBJ variety. Sounds yummy!

[Natasha]

Elaine,

I have seen Luna Bars in Canada for $1.99 and $2.49. I think it might have been at Shoppers or another drugstore, or possibly a supermarket. If I see them again I'll let you know where they were for that price. I love the orange ones, but don't tend to buy Luna Bars since I find some of the others more filling and I want more calories for my buck. :)

Natasha

[gertdog]

Okay, I'm munching on a Sweet Dreams Luna Bar right now. It turns out it's like a chocolate rice krispy treat with peanuts in it, plus a coating that I think is supposed to taste like peanuts. It's pretty good, but I think I liked the PB&J better.

Don't know why they call it Sweet Dreams... like Becky, I also thought of chamomile when I saw the name.

Chocolate and peppermint? Can't wait to try it! Maybe it will erase the memory of the nasty Chocolate Mint Genisoy bar I ate a few weeks ago. :)

[Jewel]

Originally posted by gertdog
Chocolate and peppermint? Can't wait to try it! Maybe it will erase the memory of the nasty Chocolate Mint Genisoy bar I ate a few weeks ago. :)

Remember, I also tried that gag-me Genisoy Chocolate Mint bar! :mad: How can they do that to people?? The Cliff Bar Ice Series Chocolate Mint is REALLY good. Between the Ice Series Chocolate Mint, the Ice Series Java Chocolate Avalanche and the regular Cliff bar Crunchy Peanut Butter, I'm set...I alternate days and they're my weekday breakfast at work! FIND THEM!!! :D

[gertdog]

Originally posted by Jewel


Remember, I also tried that gag-me Genisoy Chocolate Mint bar! :mad: How can they do that to people?? The Cliff Bar Ice Series Chocolate Mint is REALLY good. Between the Ice Series Chocolate Mint, the Ice Series Java Chocolate Avalanche and the regular Cliff bar Crunchy Peanut Butter, I'm set...I alternate days and they're my weekday breakfast at work! FIND THEM!!! :D

I do remember! We chewed and chewed and chewed. It was a struggle to swallow the darn thing! :p Blech.

I love the Crunchy Peanut Butter Clif bar. I did try the Chocolate Mint Ice bar, and liked it, but the caffeine did a number on me. I got a little shaky during my workout, and while the Ice bar may not have been the true culprit, I blamed it anyway. ;)

[KathrynY]

Just tried the new Chocolate Peppermint Stick flavor Luna bar, and it's really good! The soy crispies actually have cocoa in them, and the "icing" part had peppermint flavoring. Yum - almost like a dessert. :)

Now I've got to find someplace that sells the Cherry Covered Chocolate flavor!

[MKSquared]

FYI: I just found ALL the new flavors at my TJ's. I bought a few chocolate-peppermint ones (thanks, Kathryn) -- I'll let you know my opinion after Easter!!

[elnant]

I just went to Target and found a couple of flavors of Luna bars that my grocery store doesn't carry: S'mores and Key Lime Pie. I just had a S'mores and really liked it...I can't wait to try the Key Lime!!!
Target sells them cheaper than my grocery store too...only 99 cents!!! Yippee!!! :)

[Mlasley]

I find that nothing beats the kashi bars for keeping me full. Some flavors are better than others : try the chocolate peanut butter or cookies and cream for starters. The WW 2 point bars are also pretty good. I usually keep one in my purse or in the diaper bag in case I don't have time to grab lunch.

[JenZen]

For all of you searching for the ICE Cliff bars, I've been getting them at Walgreens. Once in awhile they're even on sale for $.99. I had the cool mint chocolate this morning. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm......

[Jewel]

Originally posted by JenZen
I had the cool mint chocolate this morning.

Jen, that's one of my three favorites! I alternate the Java Chocolate Avalanche (Ice Series), the Chocolate Mint (Ice Series) and the Crunchy Peanut Butter (regular Clif bar) for breakfast every morning! I can't believe how good these things are for me when they taste so good and are so filling! And the regular price at Trader Joe's is 99 cents each if you have one close! I buy a case of 12 each whenever I go! :)

[JenZen]

I've got an empty Crunchy Peanut Butter Clif bar wrapper at my desk this morning.

yummmmmmmmmm...

[Robyncz]

Originally posted by elnant
I just went to Target and found a couple of flavors of Luna bars that my grocery store doesn't carry: S'mores and Key Lime Pie. I just had a S'mores and really liked it...I can't wait to try the Key Lime!!!
Target sells them cheaper than my grocery store too...only 99 cents!!! Yippee!!! :)

I never even looked at Target. What section do you find them in?
With the candy? In the drugstore area? I can't even guess where to look!

[MKSquared]

At my Target, you can find them in the pharmacy area ... right by the Slim-Fast bars and such. :)

[gertdog]

Early in this thread, Wallycat mentioned Zoe Flax and Soy bars. I just found them at our natural grocery, and bought a chocolate one (as per Wallycat's recommendation) and a peanut butter one. We'll see... they certainly sound promising... soy protein, 1 tbsp. ground flax per bar, and 4 g. fiber! Plus a good source of Omega 3 acids. Has anyone else tried these?

[AmyJane]

I hope y'all left some Luna Bars for me at our local Longs Drugs in Alameda, CA! Great price at 79 cents. These and Clif Bars are my favorite; Clif Bars can tend to be a bit heavy sometimes.

Sweet Dreams is awesome (my favorite) -- it's chocolate with a mocha or vanilla glaze. Chai Tea is pretty good (not weird like someone thought). I can't wait to try PB & J.

Someone mentioned that Costco sells the variety pack, but it's not much of a variety -- only Pecan Pie, Smores, and Lemon Zest. I think the Lemon Zest tastes like Lemon Pledge -- yuck!

[Barrie]

Originally posted by AmyJane
... I think the Lemon Zest tastes like Lemon Pledge -- yuck!


Do you eat your Lemon Pledge? I find it works better for dusting! ;)

[AmyJane]

Barrie,

I actually enjoy a cup of Lemon Pledge at night before I go to sleep! Ha ha -- you got me!! I SHOULD have written, "If Lemon Pledge was a Luna Bar flavor, this is what Lemon Zest tastes like." I had a feeling a left an opening for someone to rib me -- and it was you!! Well, all I know is that Lemon Zest Luna Bars have this weird after taste.

Sweet Dreams and Chai Tea flavors rule!

Happy Easter!



:D

[Lynn B]

Originally posted by gertdog
Okay, I'm munching on a Sweet Dreams Luna Bar right now. It turns out it's like a chocolate rice krispy treat with peanuts in it, plus a coating that I think is supposed to taste like peanuts. It's pretty good, but I think I liked the PB&J better.

Don't know why they call it Sweet Dreams... like Becky, I also thought of chamomile when I saw the name.



DD and I both tried the Sweet Dreams flavor. Liked it a lot, but couldn't quite identify the flavors! Looked on Luna's web site and all they had posted was the ingredient list, which we already knew didn't really tell us much! :)

So we e-mailed them asking what flavors were we supposed to be tasting?! They e-mailed back saying, "chocolate, peanut butter and caramel." So I thought that was interesting.

What that has to do with "SWEET DREAMS", though, I'll never know!!! :confused:

Lynn

[MKSquared]

Oh, wow, Jewel ... thank you for recommending the Cliff Ice Series!! AFter church tonight, I was finally able to eat chocolate again, and I gave the Chocolate Mint Ice Bar a try. It's incredible -- and not just because it's my first chocolate in a few months! :) Wow! Move over Luna! Thanks!

[gertdog]

Originally posted by Lynn B


So we e-mailed them asking what flavors were we supposed to be tasting?! They e-mailed back saying, "chocolate, peanut butter and caramel." So I thought that was interesting.

What that has to do with "SWEET DREAMS", though, I'll never know!!! :confused:

Lynn

Huh... I don't taste the caramel at all. I guess that's what the mystery coating is supposed to be! But it's a pretty good flavor anyway.

I'm finding myself addicted to the PB&J flavor. And of course that's the one that Wegmans is constantly sold out of. :mad:

[Jewel]

Originally posted by MKSquared
Oh, wow, Jewel ... thank you for recommending the Cliff Ice Series!! AFter church tonight, I was finally able to eat chocolate again, and I gave the Chocolate Mint Ice Bar a try. It's incredible -- and not just because it's my first chocolate in a few months! :) Wow! Move over Luna! Thanks!

OK Mary Kate, now you gotta try the Chocolate Java Avalanche...that bar is totally sinful! The roasted coffee beans add crunch, and I love the mix of flavors! :) I alternate between that, the Chocolate Mint, and the Crunchy Peanut Butter Clif bar! In my meeting this morning they brought donuts, and while everyone else was greasing the roof of their mouths, I had my Java bar! :D Two people leaned over and said "What IS that...? It looks so good!" ;)

[AmyJane]

Jewel,

You've got me craving that Chocolate Avalance Java Bar! Is this part of the Ice Series? I went to Trader Joe's on Sunday looking for the Ice Series, and they don't carry them. Bummer. Do you really like these better than Luna Bars? I have tried the Crunchy Peanut Butter Clif Bar and enjoyed it. However, I prefer Luna Bars b/c Clif Bars seem are heavier and have more lots more carbos (not that that's a bad thing).

[Gina O]

Just had to mention....

I have been working out with a friend who is doubling as my personal trainer. The payment: Cliff Bars! I thought this would be no big deal because I had found them at Costco, but that must have been a one time thing. I have been back twice and could not find them. I am going to check at Target today, but if anyone else finds them for a good price, please let me know! Thanks, Gina

[Jewel]

Originally posted by AmyJane
Jewel,

You've got me craving that Chocolate Avalance Java Bar! Is this part of the Ice Series? I went to Trader Joe's on Sunday looking for the Ice Series, and they don't carry them. Bummer. Do you really like these better than Luna Bars? I have tried the Crunchy Peanut Butter Clif Bar and enjoyed it. However, I prefer Luna Bars b/c Clif Bars seem are heavier and have more lots more carbos (not that that's a bad thing).

Amy, I have never tried Luna bars. Personally, I'm so satisfied with the Clif that I won't change! :D Plus, I like the extra 'heft' and nutrition that the Clif bars have. And yes, the Java one is an Ice series. My TJ's carries them! Try another store, maybe a Whole Foods if you have one around, or ask the TJ's if they carry them and are just out? Last time I restocked I found the peanut butter and the Ice Mint Chocolate in boxes, but the Java were loose in the bin so I just cleaned them out of the 9 they had! :p And as for more carbs, since it's got 10 grams of protein I don't look at the extra carbs as a bad thing. As long as carbs are eaten WITH protein, they can only help curb your hunger longer!

[dulcecoeur]

I have tried many many of the nutrition bars, as I usually find them convenient for a quick breakfast.
Here are my picks!

I agree with those of you that have posted that the Cliff Bars (both regular and Ice versions) are fantastic - mainly because they have a lot of texture and taste, and they take you a while to chew, making you feel like you've eaten a lot more! They seem to fill me up for a decent length of time as well. These are my favourite "all around bars" since there is a good variety of them, and even the non-chocolate ones are good! They are definitely more of a "home made" bar. MMMM, tasty.

I also really like the GeniSoy bars, I have tried the chocolate mint, chocolate fudge coated and the peanut butter. The first two have more of a "brownie" texture with chocolate coating, and the peanut butter one is chewier with a more "caramel-like" texture.
I like these as much as the Cliff bars, it just depends on my craving at the time! They have about 14 g of soy protein too.

The Luna Bars are also very good, but they are a lot smaller than the Cliff Bars and don't tide me over as much and I don't feel as satisfied after eating one. The Lemon Zest is tasty, if maybe a little sweet. Good for a snack, since unlike the Cliff Bars 250 calories, these only have 180 or so.

I also eat the Slim Fast Meal on the Go's: peanut butter chocolate, cookie dough and brownie ones. They are good but definitely drier than the above two and sometimes a little too sweet (I could not eat them every day as part of the "slim fast plan" though!)

Balance Bars are pretty good too, I like the Honey Peanut Best (coated with chocolate)

The bar I do NOT recommend are those old standbys: Power Bars...they are good if you are on a long hike and don't want your bars to melt, but I find them pretty disgusting - like eating the chewing gum stuck under a chair. (The Power Bar Harvest's are pretty good though, like granola bars)

I have also tried many others whose names I can't remember - obviously not very good, and lots leave a gross "iron" aftertaste.

[claire797]

Just wanted to add my 2 cents on Luna Bars. They are GREAT! At first, I thought they looked kind of small and insubstantial, but I was wrong. They are very compact, dense and filling. I can't believe they have so much protein and so little fat. The flavor I tried was the chocolate pecan pie.

The Kashi Go Leans are next on my "to-try" list.

[nori]

Anna, thanks for bringing up this thread. I have to read it later when I have more time, but I just want to add that I LOVE Kashi Go Lean Bar. They're great! Trader Joe's have it 99 cents!

I've been on those bar kick, but wondering if eating them everyday might not be a good idea, because of sugar contents. Plus, I've read somewhere that they're made from full of chemicals and not so natural....:confused: I don't know, I'm trying to not to eat everyday, so far.

That said, I still LOVE Go Lean.:D My favorite is cookie and cream, and peanut butter flavor. Oh, I like spice cake, too.:)

[MaryH]

I have just one word for ya'll.. Detour

At Trader Joes. The small bars have 15 g of protein and about 150 calories. The larger bar is 30 g of protein (and 300 calories.) I have only seen the smaller bars at our Trader Joes but GNC carries the larger ones. Brought to you by the folks who make Designer Whey Protein.

These taste like a Snickers bar. (They also have one called U-turn, but it's not quite as good.)

:D

[claire797]

Nori, I don't eat nutrition bars every day, but I've been doing some traveling lately and finding the need to eat something nourishing on the go. Nutrition bars are perfect. I really didn't think they'd be very satisfying, but they are. I'll definitely pick up a Kashi Go Lean bar on your recommendation.

Mary, we don't have Trader Joe's in Austin, but I'll look for the Detour bars. We do have GNC, so maybe they are there. I love Snickers bars and you really can't beat 15 grams of protein for 150 calories.

You really need a thread like this if you're new to nutrition bars because there are just so many to choose from! I remember when the only nutrition bars you could buy were Carnation breakfast bars (which were probably no better than having a Snickers and a vitamin) and these weird, chewy bars called "Tiger's Milk" which you could only buy at GNC.

[Lynn B]

Originally posted by MaryH
I have just one word for ya'll.. Detour

At Trader Joes. The small bars have 15 g of protein and about 150 calories. The larger bar is 30 g of protein (and 300 calories.) I have only seen the smaller bars at our Trader Joes but GNC carries the larger ones. Brought to you by the folks who make Designer Whey Protein.

These taste like a Snickers bar. (They also have one called U-turn, but it's not quite as good.)

:D

Mary,
What flavors do those bars at TJs come in? And how much fiber is in them? I actually have my sister bringing me a TJs order next week so I'll have her pick me up some to try! Thanks for the info!
Lynn

[Lynn B]

P.S. I loved seeing this thread resurrected, too! :)

Just my 2 cents... I LOVE the MOCHA JAVA flavor of the Kashi Go Lean bars, and they have 5 or 6 grams of fiber per bar (which is something I always note). They are YUMMY! I also really liked the Clif Ice bar in Chocolate Java Avalanche flavor - but it's been discontinued! :(

Also love S'mores flavor of Luna. I don't eat any of these bars every day, but they do come in quite handy for a ocassional quick and easy "on-the-road" snack.

Lynn

[claire797]

Just tried the Slim Fast Peanut Butter Bar (for dessert). It wasn't awful, but it wasn't nearly as yummy as the Luna Bar.

[MaryH]

Lynn, I'm sorry I don't have one in the house right now, otherwise I'd look it up for you. I don't remember the fiber being way high or low so I can't say.:confused:

[Lynn B]

Originally posted by MaryH
Lynn, I'm sorry I don't have one in the house right now, otherwise I'd look it up for you. I don't remember the fiber being way high or low so I can't say.:confused:

Mary,
That's OK - and thanks anyway! I did some cruising around in the Internet and found this info on Detour bars...

Detour Bars: The world's first deluxe whey protein energy bar! What's the buzz surrounding DETOUR? It doesn't look like a regular protein bar, and it certainly doesn't taste like a regular protein bar. But it is! With 32 grams of protein-powered by Designer Whey- each delicious Detour Bar bite delivers a candy-bar taste you've never experienced before! Take a DETOUR and unleash the outrageous flavor of real roasted peanuts drowning in carmel... smothered in rich chocolate.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving Size: 1 bar
Servings Per: 12
Calories: 290
Fat Calories: 80
Total Fat: 9g
Sat. Fat: 3.5g
Cholesterol: 40mg
Sodium: 480mg
Potassium: 150mg
Total Carbs: 21g
Dietary Fiber: 3g
Sugars: 6g
Proteins: 32g
Riboflavin: .1mg
Folate: 57mcg
Vit B12: .75mg
Calicium: 140mg
Iron: .5mg
Phosphorous: 153mg

Ingredients:
Designer whey protein blend (whey protein concentrate, hydrolyzed whey protein, pduf whey protein isolate), water, glycerlean, chocolate coating, peanuts, caramel, soy protein isolate, gelatin, calcium caseinate, inulin, peanut flavor, rice flour, salt, sucralose-splenda brand, potassium sorbate.

Suggested Use:
Eat one delicious bar as desired.

Warnings:
Contains peanuts.


I still haven't figured out if they have different flavors yet. The fat content is a little high (9 gms) and I prefer a little more fiber than 3 gms, but I still would like to try them. So I'll add them to my list for dear sister! :)

Thanks again for the recommendation!

Lynn

Edited to add: Well, looks as though there is only one flavor currently - the Snickers flavor. Mmmmm, sounds so yummy! :)

[ChristieinMB]

I just bought two boxes of the Uturn bars, they are good, I bet I'd like the Detour more, but the Uturn were on sale at Vitaglo.com, I just bought them because I needed to spend more to get free shipping, how is that for rationization. Anyway the reason I posted... They are so filling I've cut them in half, never had a full one yet.
Christie

[Laura B]

Lynn, the Detour bars only come in the one flavor. They are the best bar I've tried. The first one I ate truly did taste just like a Snickers! The more I eat them, the more ho hum they seem. I am still very impressed with them, though, and eat a couple a week.

[MaryH]

Originally posted by Laura B
Lynn, the Detour bars only come in the one flavor. They are the best bar I've tried. The first one I ate truly did taste just like a Snickers! The more I eat them, the more ho hum they seem. I am still very impressed with them, though, and eat a couple a week.

Yup, (I was going to say the same thing.) They're still better than most of the "chalky" stuff I went through before I found them.

[heide]

I've just read through this thread and decided I needed to add my two cents.

I've tried a few different nutrition bars. I like them for a quick breakfast before I go golfing or play tennis in the morning. Easy and convenient. I have to buy them in the US and bring them to Angola with me, but they're something I really love to have around.

Anyway, I can't believe no one has mentioned the ZonePerfect bars. I really really like these. They are high protein (14 or 15 g) and have a lot less sugar than many of the other bars. They also have some fiber, although I can't remember how much because I've run out. The Chocolate Graham flavor is fantastic, but they also have Lemon Yogurt, Chocolate Raspberry, Peanutbutter Chocolate, and other flavors. They aren't chalky or too heavy because they aren't made of that dense weird stuff that so many bars are made of. They are made with soy nuggets, I think. They kind of have that rice crispy treat crunchiness. They also aren't as super-sweet as some nutrition bars are. I really like them.

Which takes me to the Balance bar. I don't mind the Balance bar. It tastes like a candy bar with caramel and nuts and chocolate. But, for me, I really don't want to eat a candy bar for breakfast. It's just way too much sugar at that time of day. It's probably good for later in the day, but for breakfast, I didn't like it.

I don't have much experience with Luna bars, but what I've tasted, I liked. But again, they have more sugar than the ZonePerfect bars and less protein, so when offered a choice, I choose the ZonePerfect bars.

I really didn't like the Kashi GoLean bars, although I really like Kashi GoLean cereal. The bars and big and filling, but I didn't like the texture.

I haven't tried the Clif bars or the Ice series.

I really like Pria bars, and they are similar texture to the ZonePerfect bars, but they are too small for breakfast. Not enough to get me though a round of golf. Maybe if I eat two... Again, they are pretty sweet and are a great snack bar.

The SlimFast peanut butter crunch snack bar is just like a candy bar. Yum. But it's no good for breakfast.

So, that's my two cents. Try the ZonePerfect bars. Really.

[claire797]

I went to GNC yesterday to buy some nutrition bars. The GNC guy said that Detour was the number 1 seller and that everyone loved them. He said the only complaint he'd heard was that it had too many (which really didn't apply to me) carbs. There is a new bar out though called Odyssy. He said the new Odyssy tasted just like Detour but had one carb. The other low carb bar that he said was popular was Myoplex. Has anyone tried Myoplex? Even though I'm not doing low carb, I bought one anyway.

[Vicanddi]

I wanted to throw in my 2 cents about the Detour bars. They are yummy and taste like a Snickers bar! One bar has 30 gms protein, and I think about 300 calories. I am looking for a lot of protein, so it is great for me. I've tried many protein bars and feel that you can't beat the taste of the Detour bar. (They should hire me to do a plug, huh??!! :D )

[MaryH]

Originally posted by claire797
I went to GNC yesterday to buy some nutrition bars. The GNC guy said that Detour was the number 1 seller and that everyone loved them. He said the only complaint he'd heard was that it had too many (which really didn't apply to me) carbs. There is a new bar out though called Odyssy. He said the new Odyssy tasted just like Detour but had one carb. The other low carb bar that he said was popular was Myoplex. Has anyone tried Myoplex? Even though I'm not doing low carb, I bought one anyway.

I have tried the Odyssey bars and IMHO they are better than most but not quite as good as the Detour bars. (Here Trader Joes also carries the Odyssey bars.) Myoplex is from EAS (this is the BFL company - originally founded by Bill Phillips). I have never tried the Myoplex bars, but the shakes are pretty good. As far as I know, in Ca. you can only buy Myoplex at GNC or Rite Aid. Trader Joes does not carry it. (The cheapest way to buy Myoplex is to order it from the web.)

Aa for the Zone bars, I like them - Chocolate Mint being my favorite. And I agree that a Detour bar is not what I would want first thing in the morning - it really does taste like a candy bar. (Having said that I almost never have a bar first thing in the morning, but if I am on the go, I may have one at 10:30 or 11:00 a.m.)

[sunberst]

Originally posted by Jewel
Well, I just tried the Kashi Go Lean bar in Chocolate & Peanut Butter. I tried the Genisoy Chocolate Mint yesterday, and it was also very dense and more like a chewy candybar. both of these are very yucky to me. blech.

i love LUNA BARS! they are the best. also CLIFF BARS are not too bad either & seem bigger/more filling.

[Lynn B]

I DID NOT like the KGL bars when I first tried them... but my sister was so crazy about them that I tried them again... and they really did "grow" on me, and now I LOVELOVELOVE the Mocha Java flavor. It's the only flavor I really like though; the rest I can eat if I HAVE TO! :) Anyway, I think that their "texture" might make them a bit of an acquired taste. (Like wine and cavier and blue cheese!? :))

Lynn

[KristinK]

Butting in ... just a little FYI. There was some controversy regarding the innaccuracy of the nutritional information on the Detour bars. Here's a link to the correct information: Detour Bars Analysis (http://www.1fast400.com/store/article.php?&articleID=9&osCsid=8f19d8936d433be3e38e22383bea1e70). Few more calories, but more than double the sugar.

I agree with some others that so many bars out there are either too small or too sweet. I went through a short phase where I was eating them pretty often, but I haven't had one in a year or so. I look for relatively low calories and fat, but a good amount of protein (though 30g is too much for me!). I really like the PowerBar Sugar-Free ProteinPlus. I tried the Caramel Apple flavor once and found it way too sweet. I liked the Mocha Almond Fudge flavor - filled me up and tasted like a chewy candy bar without being overly sweet (170 calories, 4g fat, 19g carbs, 0g sugar, 16g protein). And now they have a Chocolate Peanut Butter flavor.

Anna, DBF used to eat the Myoplex bars occasionally, though they're not his favorite. I guess it depends on what you're looking for - DBF just wants a quick, high protein snack, and he doesn't care too much about taste (though he has found some to be too bad to eat). Incidentally, right now he really likes the Detour bars.

[RebeccaT]

Kristin, what do they use to sweeten the sugar-free Power Bars? And how's the texture? I have always found the regular Power Bars to have a terrible texture, like eating corrogated cardboard... (where's the "blech" smiley when you need it!)

[KristinK]

Rebecca, here's the ingredient list:

INGREDIENTS: PowerBar Trisource™ Protein Blend (Whey Protein Isolate [From Milk], Calcium Caseinate [From Milk], Soy Protein Isolate), Maltitol Syrup, Glycerine, Chocolatey Coating (Maltitol, Fractionated Palm Kernel Oil, Alkalized Cocoa, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla), Natural Flavors, Alkalized Cocoa, Water, Soy Lecithin, Roasted Soy Beans, Oat Fiber, Sucralose

Maltitol is the sweetener. It's a sugar alcohol (the label lists 17g sugar alcohol). I found some information on the Whole Foods website. You can check it out here (http://www.wholefoods.com/healthinfo/maltitol.html).

Oops - forgot to describe the texture. I'd say it's like a dense Three Musketeers bar (my favorite as a kid ;) ). The Mocha Almond Fudge bar has a thin chocolate coating with a smooth chocolate middle with teeny tiny pieces of chopped almond. And I couldn't taste the mocha, which is good because I hate the taste of coffee.

HTH!

[Lynn B]

Originally posted by KristinK
Butting in ... just a little FYI. There was some controversy regarding the innaccuracy of the nutritional information on the Detour bars. Here's a link to the correct information: Detour Bars Analysis (http://www.1fast400.com/store/article.php?&articleID=9&osCsid=8f19d8936d433be3e38e22383bea1e70). Few more calories, but more than double the sugar.



Wow! That was in interesting link - thanks for sharing! Although the higher fat and calories STINKSTINKSTINK!!! I will copy and paste the info from the link below, as an FYI if anyone is interested. This is starting to sound like a glorified candy bar! :)

Lynn

Total Fat
10
g/Bar
Protein
32
g/Bar

Sugar 14
g/Bar

Dry Weight
64
g/Bar

Ash
1
g/Bar

Carbohydrates
22
g/Bar

Calories
306
Calories/Bar

[RebeccaT]

Looks like Snickers is going to introduce an energy bar...

http://www.new-nutrition.com/newspage/270603a.htm

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/business/6146829.htm

"The two-ounce Marathon bars come in chewy chocolate peanut and multi-grain crunch, both with the Snickers classic taste trio of chocolate, peanuts and caramel. Former chef Bill Bellody, head of Masterfoods' prototype and design group, said his staff spent about three years tinkering with subtle confectionery flavors to perfect Marathon's taste.

Each bar is fortified with 16 vitamins and minerals and has about 10 grams of a special protein blend. The company says the formulation gives a long-lasting energy boost. Masterfoods plans to target active people its marketing staff calls "real marathoners," those who burn off as much energy during a busy day as a runner does in a marathon."

[claire797]

This afternoon I had 1/2 a Detour Bar (and a Godiva truffle, but that's beside the point) for dessert. The Detour bar was good, but not great. The top part tasted like Snickers, but the bottom layer tasted like funky whey protein and not at all like nougat. Still, I felt pretty good about fitting an extra 15 grams of protein into my dessert. If you really need protein, these are a good bar.

I think I like Luna bars better simply because they taste more natural....if that makes any sense. The Luna bars have a lot more vitamins and minerals too.

[Lynn B]

Originally posted by RebeccaT
Looks like Snickers is going to introduce an energy bar...



Hmmmm... that's interesting! But, as self-appointed :) Fiber Queen, I have to wonder...what will the fiber grams be?!!!!

Lynn