13 March 2010

Deliciously Dangerous Clif Builder's Bars: Review And Giveaway

One month ago, I walked into a coffee shop next to the Y for a post-workout bagel and some water to rehydrate. While I was there, I looked down to see the usual array of Clif Bars that I had seen every morning. I have been eating Clif Bars for about two years before and during my workouts. I cut them up  into bite size squares and chomp them on my long bikes. If I am at work and I am heading to the gym for an afternoon workout (something I seldom do these days, per the agreement with my wife to get all my Ironman workouts done in the a.m.,) I will scarf one down for some much needed carbohydrates before engaging in any one of the "holy trinity" of triathlon disciplines.

Still, in a pinch at any time for some extra fuel, I tear open a Clif bar (usually chocolate chip, or chocolate chip peanut crunch, but I have been known to down a few Chocolate Brownie Clif's in my day as well.) However, on this particular day, I looked down to see a package that I was unfamiliar with. It read: "Builder's The Entirely Natural Protein Bar" Then I see the red Clif decal on the side of the wrapper and it says it has 20 grams of whole protein. "Hey," I thought " I'll give it a try."  Coincidentally, it was the only Clif Builder Bar left, and it was their chocolate bar (pictured on top.)
The Clif Builder's bar are one in word: dangerous. Why you ask?  I do not think I have ever eaten a recovery bar prior to tasting a Clif Builder's Bar that did not taste like paste, chalk, or tree bark. Granted, tree bark may very well be high in dietary fiber, but definitely not yummy. I gave some to some dancer friends of mine. They loved them.

Exhibit B:



























The top, or bottom of each bar has a thin glaze-like layer that tastes like the bar's particular flavor—chocolate, lemon, vanilla almond, chocolate mint, cookies 'n cream, and peanut butter of that particular bar. Then, a crunchy middle section—which in my opinion makes this bar unique—and makes it taste more like a candy bar, than a "good-for-you-taste-like-chalk," bar. What  makes the middle section crunchy and dangerously addictive are different with each bar as far as I can tell. When I look through the ingredient list, I read soy rice crisps, organic oats, dried roasted peanuts, and dried roasted almonds. I was especially humored by my wife, who spent  minutes carefully deconstructing  the Cookies 'N Cream Clif Bar with her mouth to isoloate the crunchy part as if she was trying to figure out a Rubik's Cube. Lastly, there is a gooey second outer layer, again either on the top or bottom depending on the bar.

My wife ate a Chocolate Mint bar on Saturday following her dance rehearsal and said, "Yeah, that should not even be legal. How do people avoid eating these as snacks? They taste too good!" Now, mind you, my wife is a harsh critic. I have bagged whole compositions I have been working on by the furrowed eyebrows and other non-verbal feedback I pick up in her body language while playing a composition for her. I wish I could say I had a favorite, but I don't.  The chocolate is really good, and can satiate my wife's discriminating chocolate fix. I have to admit I was a little leery about trying the lemon bar, until I did. If you like lemon meringue pie, don't eat this bar. Otherwise, you will only eat this bar and none others.  To me it has a refreshing lemon zest flavor.

Of course, the best part about this bar is that they are a great post-workout bar. These bar's are loaded with 20 grams of whole protein, 0 trans fat, and 23 vitamins and minerals, and they taste awesome!

Speaking of awesome, the fine awesome folks at  Clif are allowing me to give away THREE boxes of Clif Builder Bars on my blog. The rules for the Clif Bar Giveaway will be similar to the Timex Ironman Race Trainer Giveaway:

1) Go to the Clif Bar website and come back and leave a post telling me which Clif Builder Bar you would like the most. (1 entry)

2) Be a Follower of my blog. Leave a separate comment letting me know who you are (1 entry)

3) Become a Fan of Clif Bar on Facebook. Leave a separate comment letting me know who you are. (1 entry)

4) Post this contest on your blog, leaving a separate comment letting me know you've done so. (1 entry)

Okay everyone, in my next post I will explain how to make week 10 of Ironman training non-existent.

Train Smart!

31 comments:

Unknown said...

Cool giveaway, Mark! I would pick the chocolate mint.

Unknown said...

I follow your blog, too!!

Stefanie said...

This is a brilliant giveaway! I love Clif Products


I would Choose the Peanut Butter

Stefanie said...

I follow your blog!!!

Stefanie said...

I follow Clif bar on Facebook!

Stefanie said...

And Consider yourself publicized. I have posted your give away on my blog

http://theprincessrunner.blogspot.com/2010/03/later-today-i-am-going-to-post-my-race.html

RockStarTri said...

I'm chocholate-ista but have been known to partake in peanut butter or Cookies&Cream too.

My favorite Clif product are the Mojo bars. I can eat them all day! Give them a try too.

Kathleen said...

I am now following your blog :)

Kathleen said...

I just became a fan of Clif Bar on Facebook.

Kennyo said...

Hey Mark, I would pick Peanut Butter ( I love anything Peanut Butter) I like the idea,
Kenny

Kennyo said...

I Follow your blog now..
kenny

Kennyo said...

I posted your Post on my blog:
www.apolicemanslife.com

Kenny

Unknown said...

Fun give-a-way! Glad Stefanie posted it on her blog so I could find yours ... your training is going great and I look forward to following your journey.

I am now following you as well.

Jeff

Unknown said...

I love the giveaway. It is always great for someone to give back others.

I would choose the peanut butter.

Unknown said...

I am now a follower of your blog.

Unknown said...

I now follow clif bars on facebook.

Unknown said...

I posted your giveaway on my website. Now you are all over the cyberworld. www.paramedicmarathoner.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Now I follow ur blog too! I like the cookies n cream.

I also like Balance bars because they have higher protein than other regular bars.

Anne said...

Mark - count me in for 3 entries (comment, follower and FB follower). Lemon is my favorite -- yummmmm! I actually have a Luna Bar post forthcoming ...

KC (my 140 point 6 mile journey) said...

My comment is that i just went to the clif bar website, too many flavors to like. Cookies and cream and peanut butter sound scrumptious. I am a fan on Facebook, i am a devoted follower of yours (that's 3 entries right there) and my next post will mention your contest (#4 entry). Glad i didn't miss out.

Caratunk Girl said...

Great giveaway. Since I can't do one of each...Chocolate mint!

Caratunk Girl said...

Oh yes and I follow you too!

Big Daddy Diesel said...

am really tossed between Chocolate mint and lemon, hmmm, shoot. Lemon, no mint, lemon. Ok lemon, final answer

Big Daddy Diesel said...

I am a follower!!!

Big Daddy Diesel said...

FB - done!!!

Big Daddy Diesel said...

And last but ot least, I will be on Fridays morning post!!!

Krista said...

I'd pick peanut butter - I love peanut butter everything!

Krista said...

Posted on my blog!

Aimee said...

Yum...I love clif bars! I break mine up into small pieces too to eat during rides.

I think I would like the lemon flavor...yumm!

Aimee said...

I'm a follower! :)

TEX said...

Mark - great giveaway. I like the CHOCOLATE CLIFF BAR !!