Vegan Whole Food Energy Bars

When I'm on the go and I need a quick food source that is both delicious and healthy, it is sometimes helpful to turn to energy and whole food bars. I have tried a wide variety of the different bars available and have made a list of some of my favorites. Here they are, listed in no particular order:

1. Vega Whole Food Vibrancy Bars - The Vibrancy Bars come in three different flavors, Chocolate Decadence, Green Synergy, and Wholesome Original. I have not tried the Wholsome Original, but I have tried the other two. I like these bars very much. Made from all-natural, raw, organic, and enzymatically-active plant-based superfoods including sprouted buckwheat, sprouted almonds, white chia seeds and hemp seeds, the bars certainly pack a nutritional punch. Not only are they Vegan, but they also are gluten-free, alkaline-forming, and rich in Omega-3. They taste earthy, especially the Green Synergy Bar. It is a pleasantly mild taste, very natural and wholesome. My favorite, being a chocolate fan, is the Chocolate Decadence bar.

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2. Pure Bar Chocolate Brownie - This bar is delicious. It is a bit sweeter than some of the other whole food chocolate bars (much sweeter than Vega's Chocolate Decadence Vibrancy Bar, for instance), which is fine by me. The rich creaminess of the chocolate contrasts nicely with the crunch of the nuts. It is made with organic dates, organic walnuts, organic agave nectar, organic almonds, organic cashews, organic brown rice protein, organic cocoa.

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3. Pure Bar Apple Cinnamon - This is my favorite of the Pure Bar flavors. The taste is light and refreshing. I am a big fan of the apple-cinnamon combo. The two ingredients just naturally go well together. Here is a sweet and simple flavored bar, made from organic Dates, organic apples, organic agave nectar, organic walnuts, organic cashews, organic almonds, organic rice protein concentrate, organic cinnamon.

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4. Pure Bar Cranberry Orange - This bar is quite tangy and rich. It tastes like a tart desert - very good. The nuts in the bar give it a nice texture. The orange flavor is bright and clear! It is made from organic dates, organic cranberries (with organic apple juice concentrate and organic sunflower oil), organic walnuts, organic cashews, organic brown rice protein organic almonds, organic agave nectar, organic orange peel, organic orange oil.

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5. Goraw Spirulina Energy Bar - Now for a seriously weird looking bar. The Goraw Bar is green as can be and it's hard like brittle. It doesn't look appetizing, but it is actually quite tasty. The predominant flavor is banana, with a hint of coconut. It is sweet, but not very. I like it a lot. Goraw products are typically a little pricier than some of the other bars, but sometimes it might be worth it to splurge a little. This bar is made from sprouted organic sesame seeds, organic banana, organic coconut (unsulphured), organic date, and of course, organic spirulina.

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6. NuGo Organic Dark Chocolate Almond Bar - Here is where I go for my chocolate fix. The chocolate coating contrasts nicely with the crunchy soy and rice crisp center. It tastes kind of like a chocolate-covered Rice Krispie. The chocolate coating may be a little too on the sweet side, but for the most part, this bar is a decadent treat. The Mocha Chocolate flavor is also quite good. It has a strong dose of coffee flavor, if that's what you crave. This bar seems more like a vegan treat than a wholesome nutrition bar.

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7. 22 Days Enlightened Pumpkinseed Vegan Protein Bar - I like this bar very much for its smooth and nutty taste. The seeds in the bar provide a good source of protein.

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Fueling Up: A New Energy Bar Made for Endurance Athletes

When I crewed at Badwater this summer, I remarked on how quickly our Clif Bars melted. After just a few short hours on the course, they were reduced to a gooey mess. Of course, just about anything that can melt will melt in Death Valley's summer heat. But, here's an energy bar that won't melt!

Seriously, it won't (attention all Badwater runners). It's called 3BAR.

It was invented by Erin DeMarines, a triathlete and certified sports nutritional consultant. Erin developed these bars from her grandmother's cookie recipe. As an athlete, you know how important fueling is. These bars can help you meet your fueling needs! The bars are diabetic-friendly and safe for hypoglycemics, vegans, and vegetarians.

A big concern for me as an ultrarunner is finding food that won't upset my stomach during a run. Fortunately, these bars were specifically designed for athletes who need to digest energy fast without upsetting the stomach.



They come in three different flavors: Blueberry Blast, Tropical Tri, and Cocoa Crunch. Each bar boasts that it is vegan, kosher, wheat free, dairy free, gluten free, trans-fat free, cholesterol-free, GMO free , all natural. While these words may send up red flags for the taste-conscious consumer (healthy = bland and tasteless), the bars also promise an incredibly good taste. These are grandma's concoctions after all, and grandma only makes the very best tasting treats!

If you are interested in 3BAR, visit the website at: http://www.tri3bar.com/index.htm. A single bar costs $1.99 on the website; a box of 15 bars costs $29.99.

Also, I've attached a video below of an interview with creator DeMarines. Enjoy, and happy running!

*Note: I was not compensated for writing this article, nor was I encouraged to write it. I am always interested in better and smarter ways to fuel up for a run. When I ran across 3BAR, it seemed like something worth sharing!