CLIF bars

NeahF
NeahF Posts: 49 Member
edited December 25 in Food and Nutrition
Are they good or bad for you?
Do you eat them? How often and what kind?
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Replies

  • harper16
    harper16 Posts: 2,564 Member
    I don't think they are bad for you. If you like the taste, and can fit them in your calorie goals I see no issue with eating them. I like the Lara bars better than Clif bars.
  • MaltedTea
    MaltedTea Posts: 6,286 Member
    Our house is into the peanut butter crunch. I have a bar on occasion and tend to cut it in half. Can't remember the last time I ate a whole one in a single sitting. They're really sweet/sugary tasting.

    So, one half is enough for my longer bike rides (90+ min). They also keep in my pack very well over the long term.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    I like them the ones I have are not really low calorie though, good for energy and to add cals, I put them in the toaster oven for a few min and cut them into little pieces to have with my coffee
  • NeahF
    NeahF Posts: 49 Member
    sardelsa wrote: »
    I like them the ones I have are not really low calorie though, good for energy and to add cals, I put them in the toaster oven for a few min and cut them into little pieces to have with my coffee

    Oooh never heard of that! Reminds me of a healthy poptart :D
  • ritzvin
    ritzvin Posts: 2,860 Member
    I have a few boxes of the minis in my car for before/after trail running/cycling (along with my fruit snacks).
  • ritzvin
    ritzvin Posts: 2,860 Member
    MaltedTea wrote: »
    Our house is into the peanut butter crunch. I have a bar on occasion and tend to cut it in half. Can't remember the last time I ate a whole one in a single sitting. They're really sweet/sugary tasting.

    So, one half is enough for my longer bike rides (90+ min). They also keep in my pack very well over the long term.

    I used to do the same (half a bar at 125-130 calories). They now sell boxes of "Mini" ones that are 100 calories each that I started buying (convenient & ~comparably priced). (Also makes it easier to stash in top tube bag).
  • Reynekai
    Reynekai Posts: 1 Member
    I use to eat them. They taste good and are healthier than some of the alternatives. However I now eat maxines burn bars because they're lower in calories and fat.
  • MidlifeCrisisFitness
    MidlifeCrisisFitness Posts: 1,106 Member
    I like them. The peanut butter one is my reward for a big burn workout. I can't fit them in my calorie count otherwise.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    They're "good" in some contexts and "bad" in others. They're just a calorie-dense snack food that is high in carbohydrates. They're excellent as what they're designed for, food to sustain activity. I have them several times a year, I especially like the salty and nut butter filled versions.
  • SuzySunshine99
    SuzySunshine99 Posts: 2,989 Member
    Neither good or bad...it's just food.
    But, they are pretty calorie-heavy, so I only eat them in two situations:
    On a long hike as a snack, or as a lunch replacement if I am in a rare situation where I can't get a real lunch.
    I find them tasty and filling. My favorite is peanut toffee buzz...which has some caffeine for extra fun.
  • moonangel12
    moonangel12 Posts: 971 Member
    My fave was the white chocolate macadamia nut. I used to keep one on me at all times for unexpected blood sugar crashes... and I would pack one in my bag for kayaking on the river, or other similar outings. Haven’t bought any since starting MFP because of the calories... now that I have doing more endurance activities it actually might be a good thing to have one hand though!
  • RelCanonical
    RelCanonical Posts: 3,882 Member
    I like them. Generally they are pretty high-calorie for my needs, so I use them for when I'm very active or when I'm traveling and need something in my stomach, but am having trouble stomach-ing things (I get motion sickness very easily, so clif bars are an airport staple for me).
  • cosmiqrecovery
    cosmiqrecovery Posts: 171 Member
    i keep a box in my car as an emergency breakfast/lunch, i just wish they had more protein (or that i hadn't eaten every flavor of builders bar into the ground). the new coffee shop flavors are nice as a pick-me-up since they have an espresso shot's worth of caffeine in each but my absolute favorite is the peanut butter banana with the dark chocolate chunks.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,432 MFP Moderator
    I love them. Certainly had no issue when i ate then during my initial 50 lb loss.
  • ritzvin
    ritzvin Posts: 2,860 Member
    They're "good" in some contexts and "bad" in others. They're just a calorie-dense snack food that is high in carbohydrates. They're excellent as what they're designed for, food to sustain activity. I have them several times a year, I especially like the salty and nut butter filled versions.

    This. A great item to grab before/during/after cardio in/next to the car/on the bike/in the middle of a trail. But, IMO, a really bad item to have at the ready if a boredom snacker with down time and minimal extra exercise calories.
  • ritzvin
    ritzvin Posts: 2,860 Member
    i keep a box in my car as an emergency breakfast/lunch, i just wish they had more protein (or that i hadn't eaten every flavor of builders bar into the ground). the new coffee shop flavors are nice as a pick-me-up since they have an espresso shot's worth of caffeine in each but my absolute favorite is the peanut butter banana with the dark chocolate chunks.

    I keep 1-2 boxes worth of Balance bars in the car 'food bag' along with the 1-2 boxes worth of Clif minis and fruit snacks. I'll reach for the Balance before Clif if I'm bit lower on protein that day.

    Also a fan of the peanut butter banana. (Luckily, they were on major clearance on Amazon once upon a time, otherwise I might never have tried the flavor). (I'm kind of hoping the newer minis catch on in popularity and more flavors translate over since they are so much more convenient). Even when mountaineering (where I would eventually eat the entire thing), I tended to keep them in a front pouch and nibble them in smaller more frequent increments.
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,760 Member
    I like the kidz clif chocolate chip bar. Fewer calories than the grown up bars but still tastes great.
  • extra_medium
    extra_medium Posts: 1,525 Member
    nothing is "bad for you" really unless it's poison. just figure out if the macros and calories fit into your plan one way or the other and enjoy what you enjoy.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    NeahF wrote: »
    Are they good or bad for you?
    Do you eat them? How often and what kind?

    I wouldn't say they are inherently "good" for you or "bad" for you...context is important. Anything can be good or bad for you depending on context.

    I don't eat them on a regular basis, but they are a great hiking or rock climbing food that is small and easy to transport and high in energy (calories). I also used to have one on me for long rides and endurance cycling events for that reason as well. I don't eat them on the daily...IMO, flavor is decent, but not great and I could think of a lot of other tasty things to eat if I'm just at home. They are great when I need energy though, and at that point not really giving a whole lot of thought as to how they taste. I prefer the peanut butter ones the most.
  • pancakerunner
    pancakerunner Posts: 6,137 Member
    r6n8yug0d7t9.png
    Do with it what you will. Not something I would ever eat considering there are so many alternatives
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,760 Member
    r6n8yug0d7t9.png
    Do with it what you will. Not something I would ever eat considering there are so many alternatives

    Personally, if I'm gonna eat something with that many calories, I would prefer it to have more protein (10g/100 calories at least). Unless it's cake...or pie. :p Or chocolate.

    But that's because I'm usually low on protein since I automatically reach for the carbs.
  • pancakerunner
    pancakerunner Posts: 6,137 Member
    glassyo wrote: »
    r6n8yug0d7t9.png
    Do with it what you will. Not something I would ever eat considering there are so many alternatives

    Personally, if I'm gonna eat something with that many calories, I would prefer it to have more protein (10g/100 calories at least). Unless it's cake...or pie. :p Or chocolate.

    But that's because I'm usually low on protein since I automatically reach for the carbs.

    I agree. Plus, there is no ingredient integrity whatsoever. A little biased, but CLIF, KIND and the like are criminal in how they market themselves. And anything by Quaker lol
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,760 Member
    glassyo wrote: »
    r6n8yug0d7t9.png
    Do with it what you will. Not something I would ever eat considering there are so many alternatives

    Personally, if I'm gonna eat something with that many calories, I would prefer it to have more protein (10g/100 calories at least). Unless it's cake...or pie. :p Or chocolate.

    But that's because I'm usually low on protein since I automatically reach for the carbs.

    I agree. Plus, there is no ingredient integrity whatsoever. A little biased, but CLIF, KIND and the like are criminal in how they market themselves. And anything by Quaker lol

    Didn't they start marketing the Kind bars with the ingredients you can pronounce tag? Whatever it was, it annoyed the hell out of me. I don't eat them now for other reasons but whatever it was totally put me off.
  • VegjoyP
    VegjoyP Posts: 2,773 Member
    They are higher in sugar than other choices however if you enjoy them and keep calories right sure. They do taste very good. They are dense but can be a satisfying snack-treat- pick me up. I get Garden of Life bars. 200 calories and they are somewhat similar category
    The peanut butter chocolate are awesome. Ive introduced them to a lot of people who love them.

    A ~200 calorie snack like that is what kept me from binges for years. Knowing that I can ve something that I really enjoy every day gives you freedom.
    Again they are tasty 😋
  • MaltedTea
    MaltedTea Posts: 6,286 Member
    edited May 2020
    glassyo wrote: »
    snip
    Do with it what you will. Not something I would ever eat considering there are so many alternatives

    Personally, if I'm gonna eat something with that many calories, I would prefer it to have more protein (10g/100 calories at least). Unless it's cake...or pie. :p Or chocolate.

    But that's because I'm usually low on protein since I automatically reach for the carbs.

    I agree. Plus, there is no ingredient integrity whatsoever. A little biased, but CLIF, KIND and the like are criminal in how they market themselves. And anything by Quaker lol

    I'm all for banning "The Man" for the littlest of reasons, believe me. However, CLIF bars have the structural integrity that helps it keep in my packs for a while. There are, of course, higher-protein bars with much less sugar (Simply Bars are a tasty example) but they break apart in your hands at the slightest wisp of air. Perhaps it's just me, but I'd rather not look like this when sweating in public and noshing a snack...

    bomlmemztanq.gif

    NOTE: thanks to @RelCanonical, I just put some CLIF bars in my carry-on luggage where "Future Me" will be OVERJOYED for a snack that doesn't come from an airline steward.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    r6n8yug0d7t9.png
    Do with it what you will. Not something I would ever eat considering there are so many alternatives

    What I like about these bars is they go down easily, they are pretty high calorie for the size (which I need) and I usually won't want another one after I'm done. So it's palatable but not delicious so I don't crave them at all. They could have more protein but I usually eat them after or with a protein shake.

    But if I was on limited calories I probably wouldn't choose them over another lower calorie high protein option.
  • ritzvin
    ritzvin Posts: 2,860 Member
    glassyo wrote: »
    r6n8yug0d7t9.png
    Do with it what you will. Not something I would ever eat considering there are so many alternatives

    Personally, if I'm gonna eat something with that many calories, I would prefer it to have more protein (10g/100 calories at least). Unless it's cake...or pie. :p Or chocolate.

    But that's because I'm usually low on protein since I automatically reach for the carbs.

    I agree. Plus, there is no ingredient integrity whatsoever. A little biased, but CLIF, KIND and the like are criminal in how they market themselves. And anything by Quaker lol

    I have no issue with how Clif markets itself....unless I'm missing out on some of their advertising, AFAIK they went with the I'm a backpacker sick of the blech choices, and so formulated something that tasted less disgusting while being fairly-ish well-rounded on macros, and keeps and travels well, also a decent ~$1/meal price tag for that.

    As far as I know, they didn't go the "organic"/"superfood"/'blah blah blah' route to advertise to the stupid people like Kind, etc., also whichever brand makes those stupid sugar-bomb ground date-based ones that snobbish people like because they are 'healthier'). They are far from being protein bars, but are much better than trail mix, granola bars, and a lot of other traditional portable non-perishable trail food, as far as protein content goes.
This discussion has been closed.