CLIF Bar -- Nutrition for Sustained Energy (Review and Giveaway)

Closed. Congrats to Regina Tarter!!!

Have you ever tried a CLIF BAR or a LUNA Bar?  If not, why not head to your local market and pick one up today.  And, just in time for the holidays, both brands are offering up new flavor to savor.

Created by and for women, LUNA bars were the first bars just for us, with the vitamins and minerals our bodies need to stay healthy. Wholesome nourishment and delicious indulgence, they are 70% organic and just plain yummy.

New LUNA Bar Flavors for 2011:

Dedicated to delivering the best tasting women’s nutrition for today’s active women, Chocolate Dipped Coconut offers the deliciously decadent combination of toasted coconut and chocolate, while Chocolate Chunk is inspired by the classic chocolate chip cookie with big chunks of dark chocolate.

Nutritional Benefits for LUNA Bar

• 8-10 grams of protein
• Low glycemic
• Entirely natural and made with 70% certified organic ingredients
• Women-specific nutrition
o A good source of vitamin D to support calcium absorption
o High in folic acid and calcium
o A good source of iron
o Rich in antioxidants (vitamins A, C and E)
o Good source of fiber

LUNA® Protein
 

Mint Chocolate Chip offers a refreshing peppermint balance to the chocolate nougat and chocolate chips, and Chocolate is an indulgent chocolate fix with chocolate chips and crisps. LUNA Protein satisfies hunger with 12 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber. Additionally, the latest flavors are gluten free, offering a great natural and organic protein option for anyone with dietary restrictions around gluten.

Nutritional Benefits for LUNA Protein

• 12 grams of soy/whey protein
• Under 200 calories
• Entirely natural and made with organic ingredients
• Gluten free
• Women-specific nutrition
o A good source of vitamin D to support calcium absorption
o High in folic acid and calcium
o A good source of iron
o Rich in antioxidants (vitamins A, C and E)
o Good source of fiber

My Thoughts:

I thoroughly enjoyed sampling each of the LUNA bars that were sent to me.  The top standouts were:

Purple blueberry tartness under a layer of creamy deliciousness.

 

The classic cookie goodness of crunchy macadamia nuts and creamy white chocolate.  

Rich cocoa and organic peanuts are just meant to be together. 

Being a busy mom on the go to a 15 month old and due any day with our second daughter, I find it hard in the morning to sit down and have that crucial meal of the day -- breakfast.  And, when I don't have breakfast, I feel it, as I drag on throughout the day until lunch time.  But, over the past few weeks I have been grabbing a LUNA bar on those mornings where I just can't seem to find the time to have breakfast.  As a result, I can really see my energy level improve and I feel like I have consumed a hearty breakfast.  It is so easy to grab a LUNA  bar and sit down and munch on it while I am feeding my daughter breakfast.  Or, if we have an appointment in the AM or have errands to run, I simply a bar or two in my diaper bag and away we go.  Munching as I drive, I feel myself refueling, and able to tackle the busy morning ahead.

LUNA bars are great for buys moms as well as athletes and offer a plethora of nutritional benefits (see above bullets).  I will definitely continue to stock up on LUNA bars and make them readily available in my home, as I will need them once baby #2 arrives shortly.

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New CLIF BAR Flavors:

With the holidays upon us, I wanted to share news about the new peppermint flavored CLIF BARs that are available for a limited time only, in addition to the widely popular Spiced Pumpkin Pie and Iced Gingerbread CLIF BARs.

The cool tingle of a classic Peppermint Stick rounds out the warm, fresh-baked taste of Spiced Pumpkin Pie and Iced Gingerbread, while still delivering CLIF's athlete-crafted blend of carbohydrates, protein and fiber for sustained energy. All three seasonal flavors are made with organic ingredients and available nationwide now while supplies last (SRP: $1.39)., as well as share my thoughts on the brand overall, after having sampled some of their other tasty flavors recently.

The three limited-edition CLIF BARs join 16 year-round flavors, all made with organic, wholesome ingredients you can see and taste, such as fruit, nuts and oats. CLIF BARs also serve as a good source of protein and fiber, which help the body digest carbohydrates slowly to deliver sustained energy. What’s more, CLIF BARs don’t contain trans fats, hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors, sweeteners and preservatives.

CLIF BAR is the market’s best-selling energy bar in grocery and natural food stores, according to The Nielsen Company and SPINS.

My Husband's Thoughts:

He, too, finds it hard to make and sit down for breakfast in the AM.  On those days that he gets up late because Savannah has kept us up all night due to teething or tummy troubles, he is always on the lookout for fruit, granola or a quick snack bar to grab and enjoy on the road during his commute.  So, when I received a sampling of CLIF BARs, he was eager to try them out and see how good these best-selling energy bars were.  

CLIF BARs, he said it really helped boost his energy when he needed it most.  His favorite flavor was the Maple Nut bar.

 

Tapped right from the tree, maple is nature's sweet gift. Unwrap it. 

Overall, he found the CLIF Bars to be tasty and enjoyable, and he could really see and feel a difference on those sluggish mornings.

---BUY NOW---

CLIF BARS and LUNA Bars are available at most grocery and health stores, in addition to online stores like Amazon.  You can buy individual bars or boxes of these healthy and nutritious bars.

----GIVEAWAY---

One lucky Inspired by Savannah reader will win a 12-pack of the new Peppermint Stick CLIF BARS to savor this upcoming holiday season.  To enter, please complete the MANDATORY ENTRY first, and then as many EXTRA ENTRIES as you like.  Make sure you include your email address with the first comment, so that I can contact you if you win.  Good luck!

MANDATORY ENTRY:  Head on over to CLIF BARs Facebook Fan Page and like them. Then, leave a comment letting them know Inspired by Savannah sent you.  Make sure to include this post/giveaway url in the FB comment section.  When you are done, come back here and leave a comment below, making sure to provide your Facebook Username, as all entries will be verified.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

(Please leave separate entries for each, along with your email address)

1) Subscribe to my blog via email and/or become a GFC follower (2 entries each)

2) Follow me on Facebook (1 entry)

3) Enter any of my other giveaways, leaving a comment with the name of the giveaway (1entry per giveaway entered)

4) Blog about this giveaway. It must include a link to this specific post, as well as a link to my blog, http://ctmomreviews.blogspot.com/. (In your comment, please leave a link directly to your post – 3 Entries)

5) Follow me on Twitter (1entry)

6) Tweet about this giveaway (1 entry per tweet, per day; please include link to tweet in comment below)

Enter to #win 12 pack box of Peppermint Stick CLIF BARs @ClifBar  @rmccoy1234 http://ctmomreviews.blogspot.com/ #giveaway (Ends 11/21)

7) Vote for me on picket fence blogs (See button on right side of blog -- One entry per vote, per day; Note:  You can only your one vote per day on ONE giveaway; duplicate comments on other giveaways on the same day with be void)

8) Add to a Giveaway Linky site  (5 entries)

Open to US residents only. Giveaway ends on Nov. 21, 2011 at 11:59PM EST. I will then use Random.org to choose a winner. Winner will have 48 hrs. to respond to my email to claim prize. If I don't hear back from selected winner, I will draw another winner.

Disclosure:  I was sent samples of CLIF BARS and Luna Bars in order to write up an honest review.  The views above are mine and mine alone.

About Clif Bar & Company

Clif Bar & Company is a leading maker of nutritious and organic foods and drinks, including CLIF® BAR energy bar, LUNA®, The Whole Nutrition Bar for Women®; and CLIF Kid®, Nourishing Kids in Motion®. Focused on sports nutrition and healthy snacks, the employee and family-owned company is committed to sustaining its people, brands, business, community and planet. For more information on Clif Bar & Company, please visit www.clifbar.com, check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/clifbar or follow us on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/clifbar.

Recently Clif Bar & Company was ranked the No. 1 brand in the Forbes Breakaway Brands survey, conducted by Landor Associates using Young & Rubicam’s BrandAsset Valuator database measuring brand momentum from 2006 to 2009. (Forbes.com)