Clif Bars

I’m a BIG fan of Clif Bar & Company.  They’ve done great things to create sustainability, promote eco-initiatives, provide healthy programs for employees, support their communities, and engineer a variety of organic & sustainable products for consumers.  Read all about Clif Bar & Company in their 2007 Aspirations Report.  You’ll become a big fan, just like me!

I’m a hypoglycemic, lactose-intolerant vegeholic* (*my definition: someone who can’t seem to get enough fruits & veggies but could really live without meat).  As a result, I need a consistent supply of protein to regulate my blood sugar levels but don’t naturally get it due to the lack of dairy and meat in my diet.  Clif Bar products to the rescue!  Clif Bar products do not use dairy sources, no high fructose corn syrup or hydrogenated fats, and contain high levels of protein.  Each Clif Bar product has a different purpose and benefits, and you can find out the details for each at the Clif Bar website.  Here are some thoughts:

Clif Bar: The Original: These all natural energy bars are a conglomeration of all kinds of natural goodness.  They average 230 calories per bar and contain 23 vitamins & minerals.  They come in a large variety of flavors, so if you don’t like one be sure to try some others!  Some people don’t like the mish-mash ingredients, but it warmly reminds me of a hearty cookie…  These bars now also come in minis!!!  You can’t buy them everywhere, but the minis are 100-110 calories apiece, perfect for any girl’s (or guy’s) pre-workout energy boost.  For the girls (and guys), there are also Clif Luna Bars below with other girl-friendly considerations.

Luna Bar: At 170-190 calories per bar, these are designed as the perfect fuel for active women who don’t want the calories of the average energy bar.  It contains 23 vitamins & minerals in a combination just for women, including high calcium and folic acid, as well as 9-10 grams of protein and 3g of fiber.  They come in a wide range of tasty flavors that don’t have that typical energy bar taste.  I usually keep a small stash of these around for when I’m having a sugar craving but want my calories to count for something.  These always hit the spot!

• Luna Bars also come in 3 specialty varieties: Luna Sport, Luna Teacakes, and Luna Sunrise.  I have not tried the Sport or Teacakes.  I have tried the Luna Sunrise, which comes in more breakfasty flavors than the original.  Sunrise does not have as many vitamins, contains more carbs, and fewer grams of protein than the original.  However, if you like these flavors better, you’re still giving your body a healthy boost.

Clif Mojo Bar: “The Sweet and Salty Trail Mix Bar” The biggest snacking surprise of the year!  I had low expectations of this bar, since I’ve tried many fruit and nut snack bars in the past and have never been particularly impressed.  If you have the same feelings, you should really give this a shot!  The glycemic index of this bar must be incredibly low.  I normally need to eat at least every 3 hours, but after eating this bar I was fully satisfied for over 5 hours!  Wow.  This bar does not contain the same number of vitamins & minerals as other Clif Bars, and each bar has around 200 calories.  But if you’re looking for sustained energy, this may be it.

• Clif Mojo Bars also come in a Dipped variety, which I have not tried.

Clif Nectar Bar and Nectar Cacao: This is how I bribe my husband into eating his daily serving of fruit.  Each bar contains two full servings of fruit, is made from 100% organic ingredients, and is a serious source of fiber.  These are pure decadence and might as well be eaten for dessert. We’ve tried every flavor, and they are delicious!!!  While these are an expensive way to get your fruit, they are a guiltless indulgence.

Clif Builder’s Bar: This bar claims to be the only all-natural protein bar, and it has 20g of protein per bar which means the glycemic index is very low.  It’s marketed toward men, but I’m a big, big, big fan of this one!  (Oh, and the hubby like it too!) There are about 270 calories for a full bar, so I like to eat one bar in stages throughout the day between meals to keep myself fueled. I was particularly impressed with the texture of this bar, which has a layer of “clif pro” (rice and soy puff stuff) and a layer of thick protein-y goodness, all dipped in a coating. (Sorry for the poor terminology!) This is simply a delight to eat, and I like it with a cup of coffee.  However, I’ve only tried the Vanilla Almond flavor so far, so the others may still be suspect.

Clif Kid Z Bar and Twisted Fruit: I haven’t tried these, but my hunch is they’re good!  They’re marketed as a healthier alternative to granola bars and fruit snacks.  According to Reader Ashley (see her comment below), she eats the Z Bars for dessert.  I’ll just have to try that myself…

Clif Shot: This is Clif Bar’s line for performance atheletes, and I haven’t tried any of them.  (I guess I’m just your average runner…)  There are 4 options: Shot Blocks is a pack of 33 calorie cubes to pop while on the course; Shot Gel is a packet of liquid carbs for an on-the-go boost; Shot Electrolyte Drink is a mix to use in your water bottle for before and during performance; and Shot Recovery Drink is a mix that contains all kinds of body-nourishing nutrients.  Once I try them, I’ll let you know.

I hope you turn out to be a big Clif Bar fan just like me!  Feel free to share your thoughts and comments, especially on the products I have yet to try.

Posted by: Lynnette

The World’s Healthiest Foods

 A nutrition class in college sparked my interest in healthy eating.  While the text book was informative, it was hard to navigate as a regular kitchen resource, so I kept my eyes open. Unfortunately the majority of nutrition books are fad or diet oriented, and I just wanted something to tell me the cold, hard facts.

I picked this book up at Costco over a year ago and have since recommended it to all of my friends who cook.  The author George Mateljan started the organic brand Health Valley and is now dedicated full-time to his foundation of the same name as this book.  His goal is to find the best way to preserve the most vitamins and best digestibility of every food.   Much of the information can be found on their website, but the book is a must-have for every health-conscious kitchen!

Things to love:  This book is intuitively organized by food group and then by individual food.  Each individual food is organized in the same manner, making it easy to follow and use as a quick reference on the fly.  Each food section has the following subsections: nutritional content, background, best way to store, best way to prepare, healthiest way of cooking, Q&A, health benefits & potential effects, and recipes.  The nutritional content for each food is more detailed than I’ve seen anywhere else, and the recipes consistently taste great.  In addition, there are several indices to aid in referencing foods by allergen, type of nutrient, medical condition, and a few others.  The book’s introductory chapters also give an overview of basic nutrition for those who are unfamiliar. I recommend “flipping” through the book on the Amazon site.

Less than perfect:  Because the book’s goal is to give the healthiest way of cooking everything, you won’t be able to cook most of your food the way you’ve been taught.  For example, frying veggies is BAD.  So be prepared to either embrace healthy, organic indoctrination or become comfortable ignoring that nutritional conscience you’ve been trying so hard to develop.  Furthermore, because George believes that an optimal amount of nutrients are absorbed with the aid of some particular combinations of foods, many of the recommended dishes take on a Mediterranean flavor.  I like this, but not everyone is a Mediterranean fan.  Fortunately, he makes other suggestions as well.  Lastly, the book is a giant paperback.  I anticipate some duct tape surgery for my copy in the near future.

Final Analysis:  This is an essential reference book for every kitchen.  The format and depth of information on each food has encouraged me to branch out and try cooking new foods as well as explore new methods of cooking common foods.  I frequently use this book “just to know” what George recommends or to find out what types of foods I should be eating for particular ailments.   This is well worth the $26 on Amazon.

Posted by: Lynnette