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Lead Stories: Tuesday, October 7, 2008

TFS Review: CLIF Bar

Posted May 26th, 2007 at 12:36 PM by Paul Petersen

Section: Nutrition, Product Reviews, Vegetarianism, Special Features, TFS Reviews

Product: CLIF Bar
Price: Retail $1.39 to $1.69 each, $15 for a box of 12
Rating: Excellent 8.8/10.0
Pros: Enjoyable taste, inexpensive, easy to digest, many flavor varieties, vegan/vegetarian friendly, 70% organic ingredients
Cons: Texture is not immediately appealing
Overall: CLIF Bars offer the best bang for your buck in the world of energy bars. Not only is the taste tolerable, but most flavors are actually very good, although like many bars it suffers from a peculiar texture. CLIF Bars are great to consume before and after races and workouts, with few digestion problems. In addition, they contain no animal products, and are filled with soy protein and carbohydrates.

I remember my first experience with energy bars, well over 10 years ago. I recall being somewhat curious and even a little excited about this new concept. I thought to myself, Will it boost my performance? Will it give me boundless energy?

My eager optimism crashed as soon as I began it to eat it. I managed to scarf down the dense, chewy mass, and proceeded to get a gut bomb that lasted the duration of my run. In the early days, some of those bars were terrible!

Then I discovered CLIF Bar. Conceived as an idea in 1986, debuted in 1992, and incorporated in 1997, CLIF Bar has chewed its way to the top as a leading maker of energy bars.

It is now ubiquitous in bike shops, grocery stores, and race goodie bags. Along with its rich history, CLIF Bar upholds many environmental, health, and social ideals via its philosophy and operations, and also through support of numerous outside organizations.
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Six “running-centric” strides to help the environment

Posted March 12th, 2007 at 10:30 AM by Paul Petersen

Section: Columns, SPOTLIGHT

Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” was a powerful and enlightening documentary. While viewing it in the theater last year, I was inspired by the tips that rolled during the ending credits on how to take action and make a positive environmental impact. As the movie’s website phrases it:

“You have the power to make a difference. Small changes to your daily routine can add up to big changes in helping to stop global warming.”

This statement both challenged and motivated me. Changes need to come from both the top-down and the bottom-up. It’s not just national and state governments’ responsibility to fix problems, but also my own! Personal responsibility is a powerful concept in the workplace, in our relationships, and yes, in the environment.

While there are many methods for making a positive difference in the environment through day-to-day living, my “running-centric” view of life leads me to relate everything to running. So I pondered the question, what can I do as a runner to aid the environment in which I live and play? Below are some of the ideas I came up with …
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Bear Naked: Ideal choices for fueling your active lifestyle

Posted March 5th, 2007 at 10:30 AM by Paul Petersen

Section: Nutrition, Healthy Eating

Runners like myself are constantly searching for foods that can both fuel our bodies for optimal performance and yet also satisfy our cravings and hyperactive metabolisms.

Unfortunately, the plethora of high-end and natural food choices in today’s marketplace often fail to meet those criteria by being tasteless and/or prohibitively expensive. However, one emerging player that seems to have finally gotten it right is neophyte brand Bear Naked.

Whether you’re looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle, are vegetarian or vegan, prefer organic, or are just plain hungry - Bear Naked is likely to offer something that will fit your fancy and power your workouts.

Bear Naked, a hip, home-grown business based out of Norwalk, CT, produces three primary food products: granola, low-sugar cereal, and organic hot cereal.

Their granola line features “Fruit and Nut”, “Peak Protein”, “Banana Nut”, “Apple Cinnamon”, as well as, the new and intriguing “Blueberry Walnut” and “Peanut Butter and Jelly”. The low-sugar cereals come in “Triple Berry Crunch” and “Vanilla Almond Crunch”, while the organic hot cereal is available in “Medley” and “Rolled Oats”.

Although differing in flavor, all of the Bear Naked products embody one, essential attribute: high-quality nutrition to super-charge your performance.

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ORGANIC: What does it mean and is it worth it?

Posted December 21st, 2006 at 5:35 AM by Jennifer Lipman

Section: Nutrition, Healthy Eating

The organic food movement has exploded and continues to grow at an exponential. Although it has enabled many people to positively alter their diets, it has also burned a hole in the pockets of countless families.

Therefore, the question is: Are they worth it?

The answer will of course vary depending on your personal preferences, nutritional requirements and financial situation. This article aims to arm you with the information you’ll need to make the right choice for you and your family.
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TFS Review: Vega Whole Food Energy Bars (Berry Flavor)

Posted December 9th, 2006 at 3:36 PM by Jenna Sumara

Section: Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Supplements, Product Reviews, Vegetarianism, Special Features, TFS Reviews

Below you’ll find TFS’s review of VEGA’s Whole Food Energy Bar. Vega is made by Sequel Naturals and was founded by Ironman Triathlon Champion and vegan athelte, Brendan Brazier.

Product: VEGA’s Whole Food Energy Bars (Berry)
Price: $2.95 (each)
Rating: Very Good 7.7/10.0
Pros: Clean and green; high in fiber & essential fatty acids; no refined sugars or oils; gluten free; easy to digest
Cons: Acquired taste, grainy consistency, too expensive
Overall: These bars took some warming up to and can be costly, but overall they are a very good choice for athletes, dieters, vegetarians, vegans and/or anyone looking for a healthy, all-natural supplement bar.

The berry flavored Whole Food Energy Bar by Vega is the most popular variety. The bar also comes in chocolate and natural flavors. These bars are not just the run-of-the-mill supplement bar; setting themselves apart by using 100% plant-based ingredients.
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