REVIEW: ProBar LIVE Bars

If you've been around my corner of the InterWebs for a while, you've probably heard me talk about ProBar before. They're my go-to for race fuel, protein bars, etc. I've actually been lucky enough to be a part of their ambassador team for the past few years now (but even if I wasn't, I'd still be chowing down on their products and singing their praises from the rooftops).

I've got a confession to make. I am a creature of habit. Once I find something I like, I normally stick with it and have a hard time venturing outside of my favorites. I found this be the case with my ProBar orders as well. I normally stock up on BOLT Chews (for my training runs, races, long hikes, etc), PROTEIN Bars (for my breakfasts or post-run snack), Nut Butters (for my lunches {on a tortilla with a banana}) and every so often the bite Bars (for a mid-afternoon snack). Within those categories I still have favorite flavors and normally don't venture too far outside of the lines {my go-to BOLT flavor is Pink Lemonade, PROTEIN flavor is Frosted Coconut, Nut Butter is Superfood Almond and bite flavor is Coconut Almond}.

Far Left: PROTEIN Bar for the drive home after RnRSD / Left: MEAL Bar while we explored Yosemite / Middle: Nut Butter lunch
break / Right: PROTEIN (previously "BASE") Bar for breakfast in Alabama Hills / Far Right: BOLT Chews while hiking Mt. Whitney

Recently I was introduced to one of their "newer" products (they technically released these bars back in the late summer of 2018, but, like I said, I am a creature of habit and haven't actually tried them until now), the LIVE Bars. This is a line of fresh, whole-food bars infused with the power of live probiotics. These probiotic nutrition bar have 10 grams plant-based protein, zero added sugar and 1 billion CFUs (colony forming units) of live Bacillus coagulans.

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The LIVE probiotic bars are made with minimally processed ingredients, without any preservatives or emulsifiers. In order to maintain optimal flavor and texture, refrigeration is recommended. The proprietary binding system provides a unique texture and flavor at cold temperatures. However, these bars are still completely delicious outside of refrigeration for a few days, so pack them in your lunchbox, backpack, gym bag and more! The probiotic strain in the bars is shelf-stable.

And, I'm sure what you are all interested in is the FLAVOR, right?! Well, let me start off by saying they are scrum-didily-umptious. As you can see from the picture above, I have tried three of the four flavors - Coconut Cashew, Almond Butter and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip. (There is also a Peanut Butter flavor, but I have yet to get my hands on that flavor yet.)

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As I mentioned, because they are made with minimally processed ingredients, without any preservatives or emulsifiers, they don't have your typical bar texture. It is more like all of this delicious goodness is pressed into a mold and magic binds it together. With that said, they are a bit more dense than a typical bar. (The hubby mentioned he would find it a little tough to eat if he didn't have some water to wash it down.) In their pursuit to deliver the cleanest nutrition panel possible, they’ve focused on real food, like nuts, nut butters, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds and date paste to let the true flavors of the ingredients shine through without adding unnecessary sugars. The result is indulgent and extremely satisfying.

I'm not sure these pictures really show how much goodness is inside of the bars. If you break
off a piece, you will often have a full pumpkin seed, chunk of nut, sunflower seed, etc fall out. 

And here is where I need to make confession number two of the post (number one was that I'm boring AF and once I find something I love I don't deviate from it often). I grew up in the age of SnackWell Cookies and Low-Fat everything. The diet culture has ingrained in me that "fat is bad". When I originally looked at the nutrition facts of these bars I was a bit taken back... Although there are 10 grams of plant-based protein and zero added sugar, there are 25 grams of fat. I might have cringed because the fat hater in me still resides deep down, but I realize there are "good fats" and "bad fats" and these are chocked full of nuts, seeds, oil, aka the good stuff. And, I've gotta say, at least for me, when I eat healthy, whole foods higher in fat, I stay fuller longer! With that said, these have been a great option for breakfast, to grab for lunch with some fruits (like a bowl of berries or a few clementines) or as an afternoon snack when I've got a long shift at the running store.

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I was trying to decide which flavor was my favorite and I had (and still am having) a hard time deciding. I like the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip bar because the chips add an extra crunch and break up the texture of the bar, but the Almond Butter bar is super decadent and rich tasting while the Coconut Cashew bar has a tropical flavor to it that I love. All of them are USDA Organic, Certified Gluten-Free and Non-GMO Project Verified. I guess you can't lose with any of them ;)

If you want to try these bars for yourself (which I would highly recommend), I would suggest checking out the refrigerated section in your local grocery/ health food store. If they don't carry them, ASK THEM TO! Did you know you can request stores to carry specific products? It doesn't meant they will, but it definitely doesn't hurt to ask, right?! The more people who request something, the more likely they are to stock it. But, if you can't find them, you can order them online HERE.

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FYI: They're NOT paying me to say this. In fact, I don't get paid by them at all. They did send me the bars to try, but did not ask for anything in return. I just figured I'd share my thoughts on them since they were YUMMY and new to me.

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What are your thoughts on probiotics?