I am very much a skeptic when it comes to “energy bars.” College volleyball had me cramming Clif Bars and Tiger Bars into my mouth before games and subsisting off more of the same while traveling around Australia. At the time (and at that budget!), these quick bars seemed like a healthy option. But I’ve since learned that most energy bars are nothing but sugar and preservatives. Yikes!
I had given up on any energy bar being nutritious, and had told my boyfriend that he HAD to stop eating those the sugar brick bars he kept in his car, his hiking bag, his kitchen, his closet… they were everywhere. We recently experimented with the VitaMix and had found a simple, nutritious recipe with less than five healthy and delicious fruits and nuts. Our homemade energy bars were so much better than those in packages!
{Want some recipes for homemade energy bars? Here you go! Chocolate Energy Bars, Hemp Protein Bar, and Maca Energy Bars}
Perusing Instagram one day, I saw a local athlete promoting a company called Rise Bar. Curious, I checked out their account and photos and read that they were an all natural nutrition bar free of gluten, soy, GMOs, peanuts and preservatives. I could find nothing wrong with eating something like that. Lucky for me, they were running a contest so I hurriedly entered a photo! I woke up the next morning to a message saying I was chosen as the runner up and won a variety case of Rise Bars. SCORE!
My Rise Bars just arrived in the mail and I excitedly opened the cool packaging to see 12 different types of bars… all for me! Breakfast bars, energy bars, protein bars, Rise Bar has you covered.
As a wellness advocate, the first order of business was to check the label for ingredients. The Crunchy Perfect Pumpkin Breakfast Bar included awesome ingredients like pumpkin seeds, honey, dates, raisins, apricots, cranberries, organic amaranth, crisp rice, and salt. These short list of ingredients blended nicely to create a perfect pick me up mid-morning after my yoga class.
I have since kept at least one in my bag with me at all times. With 12 different flavors to choose from (and a mix of vegetarian and vegan options) my favorite waivers between the Crunchy Carob Dip and the Coconut Acai! I still have a few flavors to test out though ;)
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