Fruit and Nut Bars

I know I have mentioned my love affair with Larabars several times on the blog.  In my opinion, Larabars are an easy (throw in your purse) snack that is made with simple, healthy ingredients… just fruits, nuts, and spices.  I have several favorite Larabar flavors… lemon bar, ginger snap, peanut butter & jelly, cashew cookie, banana bread… just to name a few!

While perusing the “bar aisle” at Whole Foods, I noticed that there were a few other brands of fruit and nut bars that I have yet to try.  I decided I should introduce some variety to my bar consumption.  I mean is it really necessary to be in an exclusive relationship with a brand of snack bars?

Remembering my friend Nicole’s bar recommendation, I purchased a Think Thin Think Fruit Bar (Peanut Goji Glow).  I also bought a Clif Nectar Bar (Lemon, Vanilla, & Cashew) to try.  As much as I love chocolate, I’m not a fan of chocolate flavored snack bars.  I would much rather eat a piece of dark chocolate all by itself… so I avoided any bars with chocolate based on my personal preference.

Of course, I had to buy a stash of Larabars along with the newbies.

First, I tried the Peanut Goji Glow Think Fruit Bar…

Ingredients:  dates, peanuts, agave, flaxseed, pectin, natural flavors, goji berries

Overall the bar was pretty good but not as good as my beloved Larabars. 

• Pros:  I really enjoyed the goji berries.  For those who have never had a goji berry, they look like a red raisin with a mild, tangy taste.  Very yummy… not to mention they are high in antioxidants :) 
• Cons:  I wish they would disclose what “natural flavors” are in the bar!

The next day I had the Lemon, Vanilla, & Cashew Clif Nectar Bar…

Ingredients:  organic dates, organic cashews, organic goji berries, organic lemon juice concentrate, organic vanilla

Holy goji berries! This bar was awesome… some serious competition for my Larabars.

• Pros:  The lemon and vanilla are perfect compliments to the goji berries.
• Cons:  A little more expensive than Larabars.

Behind the wrappers, the actual bars look very similar with chewy textures.  What really wins over my heart is the flavor!  I loved the Lemon, Vanilla, & Cashew with Goji Berries.  But at the end of the day, Larabars are still ahead of the rest in my book with 16 different flavors.  Think Thin Think Fruit Bars & Clif Nectar Bars each offer only four flavors.

Do you have a favorite snack bar?