Photos: YouBar
There’s nothing better to take on the trail, drop in a gym bag, or stash in a desk drawer, than an energy bar. The problem is, they can deliver more than you bargained for, like a big dose of sugar, along with artificial ingredients and preservatives. If only you could design your own perfect bar, without having to spend a fortune or order a pallet load you’ll need to store in your garage for the next 18 months…
Enter YouBar and their “Fresh, Customized Nutrition Bars.” Started by a mother/son team who were fed up buying mass-produced bars that reflect generic tastes, YouBar lets you easily (and I mean ridiculously easily), design and build your own customized bars that cater to your personal wants and needs—depending on what activity you’re bringing it along on, whatever food allergies you may have, and basically what tastes best to you. And you buy them by the 13-bar box, none of this 12 case minimum stuff you might run into with private label manufacturers.
YouBar founders Ava Bise and Anthony Flynn
Need one after a workout? Pump up the protein with either soy, rice or whey. Going on a day-long hike? Add in more carbs for more fuel. The YouBar site makes it incredibly easy to be the master of your energy bar domain.
Simply check off your choices from the 8 categories of possibilities and options, and you’ll not only get their recommendations, but there’s a Nutritional Facts label that instantly updates with each selection, so you know exactly what you’ll be getting out of your bar. All ingredients are fresh and all-natural with many of them certified organic.
Name your custom bar
When you’re done, you can name your bar, and it’ll be delivered to your door in custom printed wrappers. You can even decide if you want them made into small, medium or large bars… no more trying to rewrap half-eaten bars to finish later, or downing two just to take the edge off your hunger. All for around $2.99 per bar, about what you’d pay for an off-the-rack bar.
Since I’ve been known to eat an energy bar or two, I hit the site to see what I could come up with. The bars I created have a base of organic almond butter and organic dates (the “recommended” base), added soy protein for after workouts, almonds and pecans for crunch, dried cherries and organic goji berries for sweet chewiness, agave nectar for a little added sweetness, chocolate chips, coffee crystals, vanilla granola for some texture, and a vitamin infusion. Name? “Eric’s Bar of Awesome.” (I’m all about humility.)
Not the create-your-own-bar type? For those that are culinarily challenged, YouBar has several pre-created bars you can order, and variety packs so you can try a few to see which combinations you like. And if you want to take the customization thing a step farther, they’ll let you create your own trail mix and protein shake powders as well. Finally, “Have it Your Way” can apply to something that’s actually good for you.
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Tags: Life
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