Balance Gold Nutrition Energy Bars
Balance Bars are based on the macronutrient ratio popularized by Barry Sears in the Zone Diet: 40% carbohydrate, 30% protein, 30% fat. Now manufactured by Kraft Foods, they come in a range of 4 different types: Original, Balance Bare, Pure, Carb Well and Gold. There are 4 Gold bar flavors: Caramel Nut Blast, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Chocolate Mint Cookie Crunch and Triple Chocolate Chaos.
Manufacturer’s Description: Lasting energy combines with triple layer goodness. Complete with 23 vitamins and minerals perfect for on-the-go hunger satisfaction and maintaining your healthy lifestyle.
Product Label:
| Serving Size 1 bar (50g) Calories 210 Calories from Fat 60 Total Fat 7g Saturated Fat 4g Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol <5mg Sodium 125mg Potassium 140mg Total Carbohydrate 23g Dietary Fiber 1g Sugars 15g |
Protein 14g Vitamin A 50% Vitamin C 100% Calcium 10% Iron 25% Vitamin E 100% Vitamin K 25% Thiamin 25% Riboflavin 25% Niacin 25% Vitamin B6 25% Folic Acid 25% |
Vitamin B12 25% Biotin 25% Pantothenic Acid 25% Phosphorus 15% Iodine 25% Magnesium 10% Zinc 25% Selenium 25% Copper 25% Manganese 25% Chromium 25% Molybdenum 25% |
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Ingredients: Balance Pro 4 Protein Blend (Casein, Whey Protein Isolate, Partially Hydrolyzed Casein and Whey, Soy Protein Isolate), Evaporated Cane Juice, Invert Syrup, Corn Syrup, Sugar, Fractionated Palm Kernel Oil, Glycerin, High Maltose Corn Syrup, Milk Protein Concentrate, Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Canola Oil, Contains Less Than 2% of Natural Flavor, Nonfat Milk, Whey Protein Concentrate, Fructose, Soy Lecithin, Cocoa, Maltodextrin, Dextrose, Heavy Cream, Butter (Cream, Salt, Annatto for Color), Carrageenan, Salt, Mixed Tocopherols (To Help Protect Flavor), Fish Gelatin. Vitamins & Minerals: Calcium Phosphate, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Magnesium Oxide, Vitamin E Acetate, Beta Carotene, Copper Gluconate, Niacinamide, Ferric Orthophosphate (Iron), Zinc Oxide, Biotin, Phytonadione (Vitamin K1), Potassium Iodide, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Chromium Chloride, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, Sodium Molybdate, Sodium Selenite, Riboflavin, Thiamin Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Folic Acid. |
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Comments: I was able to pick up a couple of Balance Bar samples from my local Fred Meyer for only $1.00 (US) each – a pretty good bargain, although Bodybuilding.com also sells them for $16.95 per box of 15…which is pretty close ($1.13 each).
I sampled both the Triple Chocolate Chaos (shown above) and the Chocolate Peanut Butter. Both were pretty tasty: chocolatey, sweet and chewy, without being difficult to chew – if you know what I mean. The “Chaos” bar had a particularly deep, dark chocolate flavor, rather than the more typical milk chocolate, which I liked.
I liked the look of the protein blend, although was less than thrilled with the low fiber and 14 grams of sugar. Admittedly, this amount of sugar is about half that of a candy bar of the same size, but if you’re trying to keep your intake of simple sugars reasonably low (like me), you might prefer the Balance Carb Well bars instead.
Nonetheless, as “value-added candy” I thought the Gold bars were pretty decent. They’d make a good, portable on-the-go snack for an active person.
[usrlist “Taste:4.0” “Quality:3.0” “Efficacy:3.0” “Value:4.5″ avg=”true”]
