What do you crave?
I know I crave sweets–especially late at night when watching tv. For years I’ve felt guilty about eating sweets when the urge hit me. . .I’d either try to resist and wind up munching on everything else in the world trying to avoid the urge for sweets (and probably consuming far more calories) or else I’d cave completely and overdo. I don’t think I would be happy trying to forgo sweets forever (it’s hard enough when I’ve given them up for Lent!)–but I’m also not happy when I overindulge and wind up with a sugar rush followed by a sugar crash.
The answer is, like most things, being balanced. The choices aren’t the two extremes–abstinence or stuffing myself. . . it’s finding the right thing to eat that provides both nutrition and sweetness.
Enter Balance Bar, the kind folks sponsoring this post! (Note: Giveaway is at the bottom of this post!)
Balance Bars have been around since 1992 and are one of the original nutrition/energy bars! They asked me to try out their four new flavors–Chocolate Caramel Peanut Nougat, Chocolate Peppermint Patty, Dark Chocolate Pecan Turtle and Dulce De Leche & Caramel–and then share my experiences.
I know I always say this, but it’s so true. I have such wonderful luck when it comes to my blogging life–wouldn’t you know it, we were getting ready to head out on our family vacation in the Adirondack mountains. What a perfect way to try out Balance Bars!
Not only are nutritional/energy bars great on an active vacation as a portable between meal snack (when those cravings hit!) but they are also a great way to avoid those awful tourist town prices on snacks. I kid you not–while we were up in the mountains I stopped into the little local grocery–the most basic, dry, honey and oat granola bars were over $4.29 a BOX. Ack! The four boxes of Balance bars (6 ea) were small — super easy to pack!
So how did we eat our Balance bars?
Princess would pack one along in the pocket of her life vest when she went out kayaking on the lake. She really loved taking hour long paddles this year–a bottle of water and a Balance Bar made sure she had plenty of energy to get back home when she was done exploring.
We took a guided hike as a family along the 2.5 mile Moss Lake trail and spent 3 hours learning about the Moss Lake Girls camp from the son of the founder, who grew up there. The buildings are all gone now, but he had pictures and told fascinating stories. It was a pretty easy ramble, but 3 hours is a LONG time and we were very glad for the 4 Balance Bars we had thrown in a pack along with some water.
Right at our camp (well, it feels like our camp after renting it each summer for 4 years) there is a dock into Big Moose Lake. Buddy spent a lot of time fishing this year. He didn’t spend any time actually catching fish unfortunately. But sitting there tossing a line in the water was fun for him. Of course he frequently needed a snack, and Balance Bars were the answer. He was an awfully good sport about posing for some goofy pictures for me.
We also hiked the Rondaxe Fire Tower trail this year. The trail started out looking like a pretty typical walk through the woods, but then got steep and rocky in a hurry. Goodness, if I had realized what a challenging scramble that was going to be I’m not sure I would have gone (and I was very glad for the hiking pole my mom lent me). See that second picture down on the left? Where it looks like a little ridge in the rock? That’s the PATH. Walking on a 1 ft wide ridge. The gorgeous views were worth it though–we had the whole Fulton Lake chain laid out below us and the mountains receding into the distance. Just breathtaking.
I was feeling a bit shaky when I got to the top–breakfast wasn’t quite cutting it anymore. A bit of a rest, half a bottle of water and a Balance Bar (portable energy) and I was ready to face heading back down. I’m glad we weren’t carrying much–Yankee Bill just had a small pack with the water and bars.
For the 4th of July fireworks, we headed to the town of Inlet. You get to the park early to get a good seat, and they always have a band playing a free concert until it gets dark. We brought a couple of camp chairs, a lawn blanket, a cooler full of drinks, and a couple of Balance Bars. We started the evening facing the band, but then as the sky darkened we turned our chairs around to face the lake and watched the 100’s of boats start filling the lake, waiting like us to watch the fireworks. The fireworks show itself was great.
Finally there was a lot of time spent just relaxing on the big wrap around porch. I did a lot of reading, knitting and just drinking tea. Mid afternoon I’d usually get a craving for something sweet. Balance Bar to the rescue again!
So you can see, there are plenty of great times and reasons to eat a Balance Bar. I know I haven’t answered your most pressing question. . .
How do they TASTE?
Good! They really do taste good. There isn’t any of that sort of weird aftertaste that energy bars sometimes have. Everyone had their favorites, and those that they could take or leave. Well, with the exception of Dulce De Leche & Caramel–those were hands down everyones favorite and that box disappeared the first.
Buddy described the Chocolate Caramel Peanut Nougat as tasting like one of his favorite candy bars, but in energy bar form. He also really loved the Chocolate Peppermint Patty (which was one I could take or leave). Yankee Bill and I thought the Chocolate Pecan Turtle were awesome. Princess liked them all.
Balance is available at Walmart stores nationwide and on Amazon.
You can follow Balance on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. And of course you can find them at the Balance Website.
I always like it when a brand provides a bit extra–and Balance Bar has done that:
In 2015, Balance Bar introduced The Balance Project, an online hub to share ideas, daily victories and challenges and aid in America’s journey to sustain balance, with celebrity fitness and wellness role model Gabby Reece. For more
information about The Balance Project, visit www.project.balance.com.
And now for the giveaway! US readers can enter for a chance to win a box of their own Balance Bars! It’s quick and easy, so enter today!
* Disclosure: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I’ve received product samples for my time and efforts in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Trish says
Balance Bars help me crave freely as part of my morning routine for mental health: I eat a Peanut Butter Balance Bar every single say! Pardon the pun, but they really do balance my blood sugar, give me the energy and focus I need to get off to a great start, and help me maintain focus and concentration when it comes to my demanding, high-pressure job. There have been a few days where I have strayed from this routine, and I have noticed such a difference that I always return the next day. My ridiculously stubborn husband, who has multiple sclerosis and Type II Diabetes, started this as well, and was shocked at how much better he feels. And you’re right; they really do taste good! Nice to know some new flavors are on the horizon as well!
Michelle says
I’m hoping balance bars will help me crave sweets less. Give me the satisfaction of a sweet but in a healthy package.
Jendi says
I love Balance Bars. The local stores don’t always have all the flavors but we can find them online.
Dandi D says
I am always looking for healthy snacks to up my energy and these would definitely fit the bill!
Anne says
Of all the bars I’ve tried, I admit to not ever having tried Balance Bars. I think I need to go check them out!
Lee Ann Dezern says
Oh I would love to win a box!
Donna Freedman says
I like taking protein-type bars on the plane and also having them in a hotel room (or guest room if I’m staying with someone). Sometimes you just want a little nosh.
Donna Freedman says
Whoops — just noticed the “How would you use Balance Bars to help you crave freely?” question. Having a protein snack keeps me from eating too much junk food. Thus I could crave, say, something chocolatey and minty without resorting to candy or ice cream.
mary ballerin says
I don’t eat often but when I get hungry I want something with protein ready and waiting. These would fit the bill nicely.
Elle says
These would be great snacks on the go!
Hollie Jahnke says
I would take them to my kids practices. We are always looking for something to snack on while we are watching.