Honey Stinger Energy Bars

Along with the gels that Honey Stinger sent to me I also received a sampling of their energy bars. I have always liked having energy bars in my stash as a grab and go snack between meals and since I had never tried this particular brand of energy bars I was anxious to put them to the test. Unlike my gel preferences of which I do have a definite favorite, I am less picky when it comes to energy bars.

There are a couple of things, however, that I do look for in an energy bar: calories, protein and total carb. My recent pick has been the Clif Mojo Peanut Butter Pretzel bar which has 200 calories, 21g carb and 10g protein, and what a great mix of saltiness and sweetness. I was really excited to try out the Honey Stinger energy bars to see how they compared to this and others that I regularly enjoy.

The four flavors of energy bar that I tested were: Peanut Butter ‘n Honey, Rocket Chocolate, Apple Cinnamon and Berry Banana Buzz. Each bar is made of their unique Honey Stinger blend of honey, sea salt and water, 18-22 vitamins and minerals and the unique ingredients and flavorings that go in to each indivual bar.

Peanut Butter ‘n Honey energy bar
190 calories, 27g carb, 10g protein
You can’t go wrong with peanut butter and honey mixed together. I often use this combination when I’m making a quick sandwich (add bananas to that and yumm!) or on toast in the morning before a run. When I saw that this flavor arrived in the box I was pretty certain that it would be a hit and it was. The peanut butter flavor is the first thing you notice when you take a bite and the texture is light with a slight crunch. There is a chocolate soy coating on the bottom of the bar for a little extra chocolate flavor.

Rocket Chocolate energy bar
190 calories, 28g carb, 10g protein
I do not consider myself to be a lover of chocolate. Give me vanilla anything and I’m happy. Chocolate, on the other hand, I usually pass. This particular chocolate energy bar, however, was actually quite good despite my original misgivings regarding the flavor. The chocolate is not overwhelming and there is even a chocolate soy coating on the bottom of this bar as well. I could easily detect the crunchy soy nuggets as well as the almonds. Yum.

Apple Cinnamon energy bar
180 calories, 28g carb, 10g protein
The apple and cinnamon flavoring in this little bar packs quite a punch. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I really enjoyed eating this bar. It actually has little bits of cranberries and apples. A definite favorite!

Berry Banana Buzz energy bar
130 calories, 28g carb, 10g protein
I had no idea what to expect with this bar and no opinions pre-formulated in my mind. The fruit bits (apple, banana, cranberry, strawberry) and almonds are visible which is always a good sign that natural ingredients have been used. The bottom of the bar is coated with yogurt soy which definitely adds to the flavor as a whole. Quite surprisingly, I do believe this is my favorite out of all four flavors. The nuts are large enough to provide a good crunch and the flavors complement each other well without being overpowering. Added bonus: This one also has the lowest calories in the bunch.