Ingredients and nutritional facts – what is in a Larabar Orginal Bar?
Below is the nutritional label of PBCC provided on the product website. At 45 g, the energy bar provides 210 calories, 12 g of fat, 23 g of carbohydrates, and 5 g of proteins to deliver a well-rounded macro-nutrient profile. It also provides 65 mg of sodium and 280 mg of potassium to boost your electrolyte intake.
While many of the flavors claim to have zero added sugar, PBCC has 4 g of added sugar due to its use of “semisweet chocolate chip.”
The front of the package states, “Just 4 Real Ingredients.” Technically, it’s eight ingredients since “semisweet chocolate chip” is made with unsweetened chocolate, cane sugar, cocoa butter, and vanilla extract.
What are the taste and consistency of Larabar Original?
PBCC is delicious. I want to say it right off the bat.
It goes to show that real, wholesome foods don’t have to be bland and boring. Select a well-balanced mix of ingredients and let Mother Nature do the heavy lifting. The result is an energy fuel/snack that’s not overly sweet, powers your adventures, and satisfies your taste buds and hunger.
Full disclosure. Peanut butter is one of my favorite foods. If peanut butter is not your cup of tea, there are 31 other flavors. I’ve tried several flavors and liked them all.
The texture of the energy bar remained soft despite cold temperatures. I had three PBCCs in my hydration vest for a five-hour trail run. They held together well and did not crumble, even though I ate two while running.
When fueling with energy bars, I need something tasty that also doesn’t require much effort to chew. Larabar Original delivers on both fronts.
Is Larabar Original’s packaging convenient?
The size of Larabar PBCC is about the length of your palm. It will fit most fuel-carrying gears (vests, packs, belts, shorts pockets, etc.). The wrapping material is standard. Easy to rip open even on the move.
Nothing to compliment, but also no complaints.
When should you eat Larabar Original?
Larabar PBCC is thus far my favorite of the Original series (however, I’ve only tried seven).
I often eat them as a snack when I get a sugar craving. While no energy bars can genuinely be classified as healthy, eating a Larabar is undoubtedly not as bad as chowing down chemical-packed junk foods that are engineered to be addictive and contain empty calories.
Its well-rounded nutritional profile makes it suitable for endurance sports. While an energy bar might require too much time to process for activities that are less than 3-4 hours, solid foods are critical for longer adventures, such as trail ultramarathons that can take upwards of 20-30 hours to complete (frequently longer).
When you’re stuck between aid stations and dealing with sub-optimal weather conditions, a convenient and effective energy source that also tastes good is critical.
(Here are some recommendations for ultramarathon fueling and a comparison of energy gels and energy bars to help you select the proper energy supplement.)
Conclusion
Larabar Original Nut & Fruit Bar – Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip is an energy bar with only four ingredients – dates, peanuts, semisweet chocolate chips, and sea salt. At 45 g, it provides 210 calories, 5 g of protein, 12 g of fat, and 23 g of carbohydrates, of which 17 g are from sugar.
The energy bar is delicious and stays soft and chewable even in low temperatures. Though soft, the bar doesn’t crumble while consumed on the go, making it ideal as an energy source for many outdoor activities and endurance sports.