Product Description
The CLIF Bars are the first energy bar that
Clif & Company made. They come ready to eat in a coated plastic
wrapper, that is foil lined on the inside. At the
top of the wrapper there is an indicator where to open the
packaging. It says "tear here" with an arrow, but there is
no notch to easily tear the wrapper. I found it easiest to
tear the wrapper open by pulling on the back seam. Then the
wrapping opens nicely on the top, but it rips down the side;
which can be an issue if I do not eat the entire bar.
The CLIF Bars are generally low in fat and
sodium. They are packed with protein and some have a good
amount of potassium. None of the bars have trans fat or cholesterol.
All the bars are made with all-natural, 70 % organic ingredients
such as oats and soybeans. The bars are high in fiber and
are packed with 23 vitamins and minerals.
Below is the nutritional information on
the bars that I am testing.
Image obtained from the manufacturer's website
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APRICOT
Calories: 230
Calories from Fat: 30
Total Fat: 3 grams (5%)
Saturated Fat: 0.5 grams
(3%)
Trans Fat: 0 grams
Cholesterol: 0 mg (0%)
Sodium: 125 mg (5%)
Potassium: 310 mg (9%)
Total Carbs.: 45 grams
(15%)
Dietary Fiber: 5 grams
(20%)
Insoluble Fiber: 4 grams
Sugars: 21 grams
Other Carbs.: 19 grams
Protein: 10 grams (20%)
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Image obtained from the manufacturer's website
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BANANA
NUT BREAD
Calories: 250
Calories from Fat: 50
Total Fat: 6 grams (9%)
Saturated Fat: 1 gram
(6%)
Trans Fat: 0 grams
Cholesterol: 0 mg
(0%)
Sodium: 130 mg
(5%)
Potassium: 310
mg (9%)
Total Carbs.: 43
grams (14%)
Dietary Fiber: 5
grams (20%)
Insoluble Fiber: 3
grams
Sugars: 21 grams
Other Carbs.: 18
grams
Protein: 10 grams
(20%)
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Image obtained from the manufacturer's website
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CARROT
CAKE
Calories: 240
Calories from Fat: 35
Total Fat: 4 grams
(6%)
Saturated Fat: 1.5
grams (8%)
Trans Fat: 0
grams
Cholesterol: 0
mg (0%)
Sodium: 150
mg (6%)
Potassium: 250
mg (7%)
Total Carbs.: 46
grams (16%)
Dietary Fiber: 5
grams (20%)
Insoluble Fiber: 4
grams
Sugars: 21 grams
Other Carbs.: 20
grams
Protein: 10
grams (20%)
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Image obtained from the manufacturer's website
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CHOCOLATE
ALMOND FUDGE
Calories: 250
Calories from Fat: 45
Total Fat: 5 grams (8%)
Saturated Fat: 1.5
grams (8%)
Trans Fat: 0
grams
Cholesterol: 0
mg (0%)
Sodium: 140
mg (6%)
Potassium: 300
mg (9%)
Total Carbs.: 44
grams (15%)
Dietary Fiber: 5
grams (20%)
Insoluble Fiber: 4
grams
Sugars: 20
grams
Other Carbs.: 19
grams
Protein: 10
grams (20%)
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Image obtained from the manufacturer's website
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CHOCOLATE
BROWNIE
Calories: 240
Calories from Fat: 40
Total Fat: 5 grams (9%)
Saturated Fat: 1.5
grams (8%)
Trans Fat: 0
grams
Cholesterol: 0
mg (0%)
Sodium: 150
mg (6%)
Potassium: 340
mg (11%)
Total Carbs.: 44
grams (15%)
Dietary Fiber: 5
grams (20%)
Insoluble Fiber: 4
grams
Sugars: 22
grams
Other Carbs.: 18
grams
Protein: 10
grams (20%)
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Image obtained from the manufacturer's website
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CHOCOLATE
CHIP
Calories: 240
Calories from Fat: 45
Total Fat: 5 grams (8%)
Saturated Fat: 1.5 grams
(8%)
Trans Fat: 0
grams
Cholesterol: 0
mg (0%)
Sodium: 140
mg (6%)
Potassium: 250
mg (8%)
Total
Carbs.: 44
grams (15%)
Dietary
Fiber: 5
grams (20%)
Insoluble
Fiber: 4
grams
Sugars: 22
grams
Other
Carbs.: 17
grams
Protein: 10
grams (20%)
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Image obtained from the manufacturer's website
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COOL
MINT CHOCOLATE
Calories: 250
Calories from Fat: 50
Total Fat: 5 grams (8%)
Saturated Fat: 1.5 grams
(8%)
Trans Fat: 0
grams
Cholesterol: 0
mg (0%)
Sodium: 140
mg (6%)
Potassium: 240
mg (7%)
Total
Carbs.: 43
grams (14%)
Dietary
Fiber: 5
grams (20%)
Insoluble
Fiber: 4
grams
Sugars: 17
grams
Other
Carbs.: 21
grams
Protein: 10
grams (20%)
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Image obtained from the manufacturer's website
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CRUNCHY
PEANUT BUTTER
Calories: 250
Calories from Fat: 60
Total Fat: 6 grams (9%)
Saturated Fat: 1 gram
(5%)
Trans Fat: 0
grams
Cholesterol: 0
mg (0%)
Sodium: 230
mg (10%)
Potassium: 270
mg (8%)
Total
Carbs.: 42
grams (14%)
Dietary
Fiber: 5
grams (20%)
Insoluble
Fiber: 4
grams
Sugars: 20
grams
Other
Carbs.: 17
grams
Protein: 11
grams (22%)
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Image obtained from the manufacturer's website
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MAPLE
NUT
Calories: 240
Calories from Fat: 50
Total Fat: 5 grams (8%)
Saturated Fat: 1 gram
(4%)
Trans Fat: 0
grams
Cholesterol: 0
mg (0%)
Sodium: 220
mg (9%)
Potassium: 250
mg (7%)
Total
Carbs.: 42
grams (14%)
Dietary
Fiber: 5
grams (20%)
Insoluble
Fiber: 4
grams
Sugars: 20
grams
Other
Carbs.: 17
grams
Protein: 10
grams (20%)
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Image obtained from the manufacturer's website
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OATMEAL
RAISIN WALNUT
Calories: 240
Calories from Fat: 45
Total Fat: 5 grams (8%)
Saturated Fat: 1 gram
(4%)
Trans Fat: 0
grams
Cholesterol: 0
mg (0%)
Sodium: 130
mg (5%)
Potassium: 310
mg (9%)
Total
Carbs.: 43
grams (14%)
Dietary
Fiber: 5
grams (20%)
Insoluble
Fiber: 4
grams
Sugars: 20
grams
Other
Carbs.: 18
grams
Protein: 10
grams (20%)
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Image obtained from the manufacturer's website
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WHITE
CHOCOLATE MACADAMIA NUT
Calories: 240
Calories from Fat: 60
Total Fat: 7 grams (11%)
Saturated Fat: 1.5 grams
(8%)
Trans Fat: 0
grams
Cholesterol: 0
mg (0%)
Sodium: 160
mg (7%)
Potassium: 180
mg (5%)
Total
Carbs.: 41
grams (14%)
Dietary
Fiber: 4
grams (16%)
Insoluble
Fiber: 2
grams
Sugars: 21
grams
Other
Carbs.: 16
grams
Protein: 9
grams (18%)
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Initial Impressions
The only bar I tried so far is the Carrot
Cake, and this one is really yummy. It tastes like a carrot
cake flavored pastry. The bar was not super moist, but it
was not dry and crumbly either. It had enough moisture to
hold it together in the packaging and when I was holding
it in my hands to eat it. When looking at the bar I can see
the textures of the various ingredients. They look wholesome
and the bar looks very natural and not overly processed.
I ate the bar by breaking pieces off while it was inside
the packaging. There is a slight after taste that I can not
pin-point the source.
I can not wait to try the rest of the bars
on my upcoming hiking, camping, backpacking, and cycling
trips!
Long
Term Report
May
31,
2011 |
I have enjoyed consuming this CLIF Bars
assortment while backpacking, biking, camping, and hiking
since January. They have provided me nourishment in the Southern
California Mountains and local parks. The CLIF Bars have
also journeyed with me to Southern Utah, Northern Arizona,
and Southern Nevada. This means that the CLIF Bars have been
exposed to various temperatures and climates. The temperatures
ranged from the upper 20's F (-3 C) to the high 80's F (31
C). The bars become harder in cooler temperatures, but I
can still bite them and chew them with no issues or broken
teeth. In warmer temperatures they became soft, but not gooey.
The package is a little bit hard to open.
I would like to see a notch at the top. I either have to
use my teeth to open it or use a multi-function tool (scissors
or knife). I have tried to open it with my hands and I am
still waiting to be successful.
The CLIF bars have been a good substitute
for a breakfast meal or a quick snack before an activity.
On long outings they gave me that extra caloric boost that
I needed. All the flavors are tolerable to consume, but I
have a sweet tooth and the fruit flavored bars are a true
hit with me. I also enjoyed the taste of the bars with the
nutty flavoring. The chocolate flavors are not much of a
hit for me. They are tolerable and that is about it. I love
chocolate, but these are a little heavy on the flavor and
leave an odd taste in my mouth; except for the White Chocolate
Macadamia Nut, which I truly love. None of the flavors made
me sick in the stomach and they satisfied my cravings while
in the outdoors.
My Thoughts on the Flavors:
Apricot: This flavor is
a hit with me; well of course it is since I already said
I like the fruity flavors. I do not particularly care for
apricots, but for some reason I am a fan of this bar's fruity
taste. There is the taste of a lemon flavor dominates this
bar. Maybe I like it because it does not taste like an apricot.
Banana Nut Bread: This
bar has a distinctive nut taste, but it has a mellow banana
flavoring. The flavoring is not as strong as the other fruit
flavored bars. I really like this flavor as it is not too
over powering.
Carrot Cake: I love carrot
cake or anything that has the word "cake" in it. I would
say that this bar does not have the punch of carrots or cake.
It tastes like a sweet desert, but one I can not identify.
I like this bar and I would say it is one of my favorites
in this line-up.
Chocolate Almond Fudge: Well
here we are with the chocolate flavors that I am not a fan
of. This bar has an odd initial taste and after taste in
my opinion. The almonds do not offer much flavoring to the
pseudo chocolate flavoring of this bar.
Chocolate Brownie: This
bar has the best true chocolate taste of all the bars in
this line-up. However, it has an odd after taste and it is
very heavy on the chocolate flavoring.
Chocolate Chip: This bar
is the most tolerable of the chocolate bars in my opinion.
The chocolate taste is very subtle and not heavy.
Cool Mint Chocolate: Another
chocolate bar that I am not a fan of. I am a chocolate fan
I swear. This bar just does not do anything for my taste
buds. It has a subtle mint flavor, but an odd after taste.
Crunchy Peanut Butter: This
bar is one of my favorites. It has a nutty flavor with a
slight taste of peanut butter.
Maple Nut: This is a sweet tasting bar with
a nutty flavor that I can not pin point. I found it to be
tasty.
Oatmeal Raisin Walnut: Mild
flavoring all the way here with this bar. However, it is
good and has a wholesome taste.
White Chocolate Macadamia
Nut: This bar
is my favorite of the bunch! It has a nutty flavor with a
slight white chocolate flavoring and no bad after taste.
Yummy!
Food taste is very objective. What one person
may find pleasant tasting another may not. I have enjoyed
this test because I got to sample many varieties of CLIF
Bars that I would not even think about purchasing. And the
funny thing is that I love chocolate, but I am not a fan
of the chocolate CLIF Bars as I prefer the nutty and fruity
flavors. Maybe I am just nutty :).
Things That Rock:
- Natural and organic ingredients
- Good source of protein, vitamins/minerals,
and fiber
- Wide selection of flavors
- Good quick source of calories
Things That Are So-So:
- I would like to see the opening notched
Remarks
This
concludes my reporting of the CLIF Bars.
Thank you Clif Bar & Company and backpackgeartest.org
for providing me with the opportunity to test the CLIF Bars.
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