Road Tested: Energy Bars

Nutrition & Weight Loss:Performance Training Foods

Road Tested: Energy Bars Energy bars made with ingredients you actually recognize. From the May 2010 issue of Runner's World

Kind Fruit + Nut Bar WHAT IT IS Made with dried fruit, whole nuts, and honey, this line of bars (with nine flavors) contains 150 to 230 calories. VERDICT Testers thought the bars were "fresh and naturally sweet tasting," as well as "light enough to eat before a run." kindsnacks.com ProBar Fruition Bar WHAT IT IS Each 160-calorie bar (with two grams of fat) has a base of dates, oats, chia seeds, and nuts, and then adds fruits like strawberries or blueberries. VERDICT Runners enjoyed the moist, fruity flavor. "It melts in your mouth," said one reviewer. theprobar.com Olympic Granola Bar WHAT IT IS These dense, 380-calorie bars (made with an oat, honey, and nut mix) feature unique flavors, such as espresso almond chocolate and lemon chamomile. VERDICT Testers described it as "rich and satisfying," and "hearty enough for a postrun meal." olympicgranola.com Bear Naked Grain-ola Bar WHAT IT IS Packed with whole grains and fruits like papaya and cherry, each thinly pressed bar has 220 to 240 calories. VERDICT Runners liked this bar's chewy texture. One person said, "It was filling enough to hold me over during a tough lunchtime run." bearnaked.com Choco Chia Cherry Bars Make your own all-natural energy bars with this no-bake recipe (featuring three nutrient-boosting ingredients) from ProBar founder Art Eggertsen. 4 1/2 cups pitted dried dates 4 tablespoons agave or maple syrup 1/4 cup cocoa powder 1/4 cup chia seeds Zest of 1 lemon 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup dried tart cherries 1/2 cup chopped almonds 1/2 cup granola Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl. Add half the mixture to a food processor and process until the mixture clumps together. Repeat with other half of the mixture. On a lightly greased baking sheet, press the mixture into a 10x8-inch square with a thickness of about 1/2-inch. Chill in the freezer for 15 minutes; then cut into equal-sized bars. Makes 12 bars.