Clif Nut Butter Bar review summary: At 50 g, the energy bar packs a caloric punch with 230 calories per bar. It supplies 11 g of fat, 7 g of protein, and 26 g of carbohydrates, including 6 g of added sugars. It has a delicious flavor and suitable texture and packaging for mid-run consumption.
If only one brand can be credited for energy bars’ crossover from sports nutrition to the everyday snack market, Clif certainly deserves the honor. The original Clif Bar has long been a part of my fueling repertoire for ultramarathons and other outdoor adventures. I’ve also enjoyed the company’s Builder protein bars aimed at recovery and products from the Luna sub-brand.
Clif Nut Butter Bar is another product series from the brand’s diverse portfolio, targeting the snack bar and meal replacement segment. Below is a review of the Chocolate & Peanut Butter flavor of Clif Nut Butter Bar.
What is Clif Nut Butter Bar? Ingredients and nutrition facts
Source: Clif Bar website
At 50 g, Clif Nut Butter Bar packs a caloric punch with 230 calories per bar. It also supplies 11 g of fat, 7 g of protein, and 26 g of carbohydrates, including 6 g of added sugars.
If you want to get technical, the Chocolate and Peanut Butter flavor is not a nut butter bar since peanut is not a nut (yes, I know. That sounded snooty).
The majority of the ingredients are organic, and the bar contains a variety of micro-nutrients like electrolytes, trace minerals, and vitamins.
Source: Clif Bar website
Although the brand claims that Clif Nut Butter Bar is “a quick, easy snack that satisfies your hunger and craving“, is “low glycemic“, and is marketed as a daily snack, you should be aware of the many sugary syrups that are part of the list of ingredients.
From a sports nutrition point of view, with 26 g of carbohydrates and only 7 g of protein, Clif Nut Butter Bar is more of an energy bar than a protein bar.
What are the taste and texture of Clif Nut Butter Bar?
I tested the Peanut Butter & Chocolate flavor and found it very tasty. What’s not to like about chocolate encasing a peanut butter filling? If you’re a peanut butter snack fan, you’re going to enjoy this bar. Here’s another yummy one we’ve reviewed.
The texture is also suitable for mid-run consumption. Not too soft that it will break apart while eating it on the go, and not too hard that chewing becomes a chore.
If you’re not a super health-conscious person who needs to watch your sugar intake, Clif Nut Butter Bar is delicious enough to be an everyday snack.
The bar comes in two other flavors: Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip & Peanut Butter.
Is Clif Nut Bar healthy?
Energy bars are rarely classified as healthy, and Clif Nut Butter Bar is no broccoli. They’re highly processed and typically high in sugar content.
However, as a fuel option designed for convenience and to maintain glycogen levels and caloric intake, it’s on the better end of the healthiness spectrum, in my opinion.
If you train hard and live an active lifestyle, eating a Clif Nut Butter Bar occasionally before, during, and after workouts shouldn’t be a cause for concern.
How’s the packaging of Clif Nut Butter Bar?
Despite its high caloric content, Clif Nut Butter Bar comes in a compact 13.5 cm x 6 cm package, which should fit in most fuel-carrying gear and bags you bring to work or the gym.
The wrapper rips open easily, so eating the bar while hiking, running, or cycling shouldn’t be an issue.
Conclusion – when should you eat Clif Nut Butter Bar?
Clif Nut Butter Bar is marketed as an everyday snack bar but is suitable for pre-, mid-, and post-run situations as well.
With 26 g of carbohydrates and 150 mg of sodium, the bar is excellent as a convenient pre-run fuel to manage glycogen and electrolyte levels. Since it’s a solid food, you should eat it at least an hour before your workout to allow time for your digestive system to process it properly.
If you’re doing longer races or runs where hunger might become an issue, Clif Nut Butter Bar provides a tasty option to keep your body truckin’ along and your spirits high. However, the bar is quite sweet, so consuming multiple servings without mixing in other types of flavor may lead to taste fatigue.
As a recovery option, 7 g of protein is a good start after a run. The rule of thumb is 20-30 g of protein within 45 minutes post-workout. A proper protein-rich meal is recommended to optimize recovery after extended efforts and quality workouts.
