Powerbar Performance Bar Versus Balance Bar Gold Caramel Nut Blast

In a hectic world, foods that are shelf stable, portable, and have some nutritional value are well worth their cost. One such food, engineered for healthy eaters on the go, are energy bars. Although there are now a wide variety of these vitamin-loaded meal replacements, I am going to compare two of the most well-known and highly sold brands--Powerbar (the original, or "Performance" bar), and Balance Bar Gold.

The original Powerbar is the oldest energy bar, having been developed in 1983, and the corporation itself started in 1986. In 20 years the original "Powerbar" has not changed much, if at all, and the bar definitely shows its age. Powerbar Performance bars come in a foil package that clings to its sticky, semi-malleable form. When you open the package you might think that you are in for something that tastes nothing like real food--and you are right.

Your first bite will likely be a bit of a shock, but certainly a unique and memorable experience. I still remember my first taste of a Powerbar performance bar about 10 years ago. I took one bite and promptly discarded it, annoyed that it had been labeled "chocolate" since the flavor bore no resemblance to anything cocoa. For whatever reason, I tried a Peanut Butter Power Bar years later, and found it tolerable--something like Bit-O-Honey, only grainier. Fast forward to present day, when I enjoy Powerbar Performance bars of all flavors on a regular basis. Powerbar Performance bars, in other words, are an acquired taste.

What about the nutritional information? Well, most Powerbar Performance bars come in at around 230 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, 45 grams carbohydrates, 2-3 grams fiber and 10 grams of protein. They also have a variety of vitamins and minerals added, most notably B vitamins. What does this mean? Well, in sum, Powerbar Performance bars are good pre-workout substantial snacks, something that you can eat at work after your lunch but before your evening workout, for example. The high amount of simple carbohydrates and relatively low amount of fat and protein make for an easily digestible snack that will give you a little extra energy for a particularly strenuous workout. However, the downside to lack of protein and fat is that it won't keep you full for long, so it is not well used as a meal replacement or supplement.

Balance Bars have not been on the market for quite as long as Powerbars, but nevertheless are an established brand at this point and sell very well. One of the most popular varieties of Balance Bar--more commonly sold than the original--is the Balance Bar Gold variety, with one of the most popularly sold flavors of this variety being the Caramel Nut Blast.

As a longtime consumer of energy bars, I can remember when this particular bar hit the shelves. It was marketed as tasting like a Snickers bar, and, while the Balance Bar Caramel Nut Blast does have the slightly chemical aftertaste that energy bars are notorious for, it does in fact taste fairly similar to a candy bar. Although it is smaller than the Snickers, it has a layer nougat-like material, along with a layer of caramel and nuts. Flavor wise, definitely not as much of a hard sell to the taste buds than Powerbar Performance.

So, how can something that tastes so good be good for you? Well, when you examine the nutritional information, you realize why. One Caramel Nut Blast Balance Bar has a comparable amount of calories (210), but has 7 grams of fat, 4 of which are the artery clogging saturated variety. It tastes like a candy bar, in other words, because it has almost as much fat. However, the redeeming quality to this bar nutritionally is that it contains 15 grams of protein, and 23 vitamins and minerals. The high fat content and higher protein content of the Caramel Nut Blast bar, as compared to the Powerbar Performance bar, means that it would not be as well suited for consumption before a workout, as it would take longer to digest. The Balance Bar would most appropriately be eaten as an emergency meal substitute or supplement in addition to portable fruit and vegetables, if possible.

In sum, then, if you need a portable, healthy preworkout snack to eat at work, and aren't picky about flavor, Powerbar Performance bars fit the bill nicely. If you are looking for a tastier treat that can fill in for real food if necessary, and aren't watching your fat intake too closely, then Balance Bar Caramel Nut Blast is a good choice.