Granola Bar

Clif Bar has been making chewy whole grain energy bars for almost 20 year now, so it was only a matter of time before the company started making a crunchy version. Reminiscent of the granola bars of my youth, Clif Crunch ($4.50 for a box of six packages, each containing two bars) comes in the familiar flavors — Honey Oat, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip — as well as the gourmet White Chocolate Macadamia. Each pouch contains two slim and crunchy bars just like those of yesteryear. I have tasted all the flavors with peanut butter being my favorite, but my daughters enjoyed the white chocolate version — it's a bit sweeter.

Clif Crunch definitely feels like a lighter treat than the traditional Clif Bar, and although they don't parch your mouth I would save the bars as a post-workout treat. They didn't works so well in the middle of a long ride. Paired with an apple or grapes, a Clif Crunch makes for a nice afternoon snack too.

To see how the Clif Crunch compares nutritionally with Nature Valley granola bars, keep on reading.

Is it odd to count a food brand as one of my best buds? Made with real ingredients, I find tasty Kashi products have become something I rely on, and I stash the company's bars in my purse, desk drawer, or gym bag — they make for great pre or postworkout snack to enjoy. If you're a fan of Kashi's TLC Fruit & Grain bars, check out this new flavor, Cranberry Walnut.

To find out what surprised me about this bar read more

Made to be snacked on when riding a tram car to the top of the mountain, you don't need to be a skier to enjoy these all natural energy bars. A friend turned me onto a Tram Bar ($3 to 4), and it was love at first bite. Made with organic goodies including oats, honey, peanut butter, dried bananas, chocolate, dried apricots, raisins, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds, no two bites of the bar are the same. It's super delicious, and even though it's only about three inches long, a Tram Bar is also super filling. One makes a great pre- or post-workout snack, but I've also eaten them when I crave a sweet treat after dinner.

To see a closeup of this bar (you can really see the wholesome ingredients), and see the surprising nutritional info read more

Granola bars make great pre and post-workout snacks, so I always keep some in my gym bag to nosh on. Since variety is the spice of life, I like to try out news ones, and recently sampled some Bear Naked Grain-ola Bars.

Each bar is made with 15 to 17 grams of whole grains, with no hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, or preservatives. To find out what I thought of the Chocolaty Cherry flavor, keep reading