SANS Meal Bar Tryout
07-27-20, 04:51 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
SANS Meal Bar Tryout
Over the weekend I did a 60 mile ride in the heat wave, and tried out a SANS meal bar as a mid ride refueling option. vs. my usual fig bars. I'd received two of them as a "free" offer - had to pay $3 shipping, so still $1.50/bar.
Way more calories - 380 vs. 140 for the fig newton package. Way, way more expensive - $3.75/bar if you but in bulk vs. 50 cents per package when I buy pre-packaged fig newtons on sale in a 12 pack. Or, $4.00 vs. $1.30 just buying a package of Fig Newtons at a convenience store. I guess cost/caloric intake means the SANS bar is not all that expensive.
From a taste perspective, I actually like fig bars but the SANS bar was really good. Their selling point is no added sugar or artificial sweeteners, no soy/gluten/dairy - and they donate bars to areas of the world in need. So, I was bit surprised how good it tasted. YMMV.
Way more calories - 380 vs. 140 for the fig newton package. Way, way more expensive - $3.75/bar if you but in bulk vs. 50 cents per package when I buy pre-packaged fig newtons on sale in a 12 pack. Or, $4.00 vs. $1.30 just buying a package of Fig Newtons at a convenience store. I guess cost/caloric intake means the SANS bar is not all that expensive.
From a taste perspective, I actually like fig bars but the SANS bar was really good. Their selling point is no added sugar or artificial sweeteners, no soy/gluten/dairy - and they donate bars to areas of the world in need. So, I was bit surprised how good it tasted. YMMV.
Last edited by jpescatore; 07-28-20 at 03:42 AM.
07-27-20, 01:28 PM
#2
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Me, I want sugar and gluten. Try Fig Newmans instead. Big difference.
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07-27-20, 04:08 PM
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Way too expensive...I can buy a box of granola bars for that price...Gluten, soy and sugar is a non-issue when riding.
07-28-20, 01:31 AM
#4
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I usually get Clif or Larabars. They're usually discounted to a buck a bar or cheaper, taste good, have a good texture (I've literally cracked teeth on some other bars -- Kind bars were the worst), and no digestive issues. Just plain sugar, which most folks can digest easily. I tried other bars that used sugar alcohols for the more rapid conversion to energy without screwing up sugar metabolism, but the stuff gave me turbo gas.
So I stick with mostly Clif bars and gels. Occasionally I'll vary the flavors but mostly stick with the mint chocolate bars with a little caffeine, and the mocha or espresso gels depending on how much caffeine I want. Sometimes I'll take a couple of bars without caffeine. I'm trying to cut back and just use caffeine when I'm really sagging.
My doctor fussed at me for using way too much caffeine and causing my heart to skip around too much. After adding it all up I realized I wasn't just drinking "one or two cups of coffee" a day. When I added the Clif bars, gels and energy drink mixes, I was getting the equivalent to a large pot of coffee a day, sometimes after sunset on long rides. No wonder my heart was pounding and skipping after midnight when I was trying to sleep!
If I want plain ol' sugar and carbs, I'll stop at the Dollartree. They have all kinds of sugar bombs. A buck will buy enough calories to last a full century ride. Sometimes those individually cello wrapped crunchy things are a nice change of pace and saves a visit to the convenience store.
So I stick with mostly Clif bars and gels. Occasionally I'll vary the flavors but mostly stick with the mint chocolate bars with a little caffeine, and the mocha or espresso gels depending on how much caffeine I want. Sometimes I'll take a couple of bars without caffeine. I'm trying to cut back and just use caffeine when I'm really sagging.
My doctor fussed at me for using way too much caffeine and causing my heart to skip around too much. After adding it all up I realized I wasn't just drinking "one or two cups of coffee" a day. When I added the Clif bars, gels and energy drink mixes, I was getting the equivalent to a large pot of coffee a day, sometimes after sunset on long rides. No wonder my heart was pounding and skipping after midnight when I was trying to sleep!
If I want plain ol' sugar and carbs, I'll stop at the Dollartree. They have all kinds of sugar bombs. A buck will buy enough calories to last a full century ride. Sometimes those individually cello wrapped crunchy things are a nice change of pace and saves a visit to the convenience store.
07-28-20, 03:47 AM
#5
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Thread Starter
I've found Fig Newtons (or Newmans, I don't taste much of a difference) to have about the same nutritional makeup of Clif bars and the like, and had switched to them years ago. I can't stomach gels at all.
On longer rides, I might have a stop where I would grab a sandwich - but harder to do that with pandemic shutting places down. I'm thinking these mealbars will be my sandwich substitute on 60 mile plus rides - vs. more fig bars.
On longer rides, I might have a stop where I would grab a sandwich - but harder to do that with pandemic shutting places down. I'm thinking these mealbars will be my sandwich substitute on 60 mile plus rides - vs. more fig bars.
