Product: thinkThin Chocolate Dipped Mixed Nuts Crunch Bar – $1.99+
Pssst.
Let me let you in on a little secret. I am the worst person at properly fueling pre-race and during running. I just can’t seem to get a handle on what I need to eat before certain distances to get my body working without making me uncomfortable during my distance runs. And today…was no different.
I was prepping to run in a 5 mile race, away from the city I live in. Travel. Not far. It just meant an early morning. So I ate some cereal at my apartment before leaving and figured I’d eat something about an hour before the race. The question was…what. For 5K races, I’ve been using the snack-size LäraBars. But this was 5 miles…so I didn’t think that would keep me feeling full long enough if I ate it an hour out and then ran for at least 45 minutes. So…reaching into my drawer of gluten-free running goodies, I emerged with a thinkThin Crunch Bar that I got at the Making Tracks for Celiacs 5K race in Birmingham, Alabama.
I figured this would be fine. Not a stupid amount of calories, and the front of the wrapper noted it would provide 10 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber, and not overload me on sugar. In fact, the bar only has 3 grams of sugar in it. And regular thinkThin bars usually have 0 grams of sugar and 20 grams of protein…so I was liking this already.
My only trepidation on the chocolate. I wasn’t too sure how well that would sit in my stomach pre-run. I haven’t done too much experimenting because I’m afraid of upsetting my stomach while out on runs, so this was a trial by fire moment. I figured it was light layer on the bottom of the bar of chocolate, and not entirely chocolate…so I might do okay with it. And the nuts would provide ample protein.
Most fruit and nut bars load you down with sugars…usually around 13 grams. Not these Crunch bars by thinkThin. Only 3 grams of sugar. That makes for one happy athlete here! This bar contained peanuts, almonds and cashews that were drizzled with honey and covered in chocolate. I admit, I hesitated for a moment before tearing into the wrapper, telling myself I should have brought other options. But it was all I had. It was gluten-free. It was protein. It was fuel. So, I tore into it…and took my first bite.
Wow. I wasn’t expecting this sort of awesomeness. This isn’t the first time I’ve had thinkThin bars (my first experience was due to my good friend, Tawn, who brought me gluten-free goodies when I visited California!), but this was the first experience with one of their Crunch bars. I loved it. The nutty texture was amazing. The chocolate was light and didn’t overpower the rest of the bar. The honey lent a bit of sweetness. It was actually pretty filling too. Usually I get hungry within 2 miles of a race. Not this time. I was full throughout and I didn’t start getting hungry until about 4 hours post-race. So, it was really satisfying and filling and gave me the energy necessary for the race. Powered me into a new personal record for a 5 mile race. How about that?!
This bar only sets you back 190 calories, which isn’t bad considering what some protein/energy bars can. I loved the crunch, the texture, the flavors…they all worked. I loved how satisfying it was and how it made me feel full, even while running 5 miles at a 7.5 mph pace. YES! It worked. Why I ever doubted, I don’t know. But I think these are going on the grocery list from now on when I have distance races to attend. It was perfectly filling, perfectly tasty, perfectly powering.
Protein perfection in a simple nut bar. thinkThin does gluten-free protein bars right. And this is just further proof of their sheer awesomeness. So, thank you, Tawn for giving me my first thinkThin bar, and thank you Gluten-Free Expo in Birmingham for allowing me the opportunity to sample one of the thinkThin Crunch bars. I’d be lost without you.
And thinkThin…keep on impressing me. Because I can’t say a single bad word about your products thus far. I’m satisfied and a super-happy consumer.
The Celiathlete 