This is a sponsored post on behalf of my work with Mom It Forward.
A quick and easy on-the-go snack that’s both delicious AND nutritious? Yep, it’s possible!
Whether it’s the summer time or during the school year, I’m always on the look-out for nutritious snack items that I can have on hand. And now that we’re in the home stretch of the summer, I’ve got my eye on things that would go well in lunch boxes.
Because, let’s be real. Although I want to make every single thing that goes into Madeline’s lunch box, it’s not going to happening. Because sometimes life and the best intentions don’t always go hand in hand. So my more realistic goal is to have a mix of the two.
Some things I make and some things I buy.
Because, balance.
And speaking of balance … I recently got a shipment of Balance Nutrition Bars.
Truth be told, when it comes to nutritious protein bars, I usually go in with really low expectations. Because so many of the products currently available in the marketplace are just plain awful. I have a few favorites, and usually stick to those to avoid disappointment.
So when I opened up the box, I wasn’t expecting much.
I’m happy to report that I was wrong.
Designed to help you snack smarter, and give you the feeling that you’re indulging, Balance bars were a delicious and pleasant surprise. Once the weather isn’t a bazillion degrees, I’m totally stashing a handful of these in the car for those moments when we’re stuck somewhere and need something nutritious to get us over that hunger hump.
The California-based company has been around since 1992, and have a slew of flavors for every palate, but they recently released four new ones: Chocolate Caramel Peanut Nougat, Chocolate Peppermint Patty, Dark Chocolate Pecan Turtle and Dulce De Leche & Caramel. Each bar has 190 calories or less and tons of fiber and protein. Besides the full-size bars, there are also minis available, perfect for topping your yogurt or cereal with.
I’ve now tried three of their flavors, and I think my favorite is the Dulce de Leche and Caramel bar (you can check out more of the flavors here. There is no doubt that it’s sweet and tastes like you’re eating dessert, which is pretty much something unexpected when it comes to protein bars. I felt like I was indulging, despite only 12 grams of sugar.
If you’re looking for a grab-and-go snack to try, toss a box or three of the Balance bars into your shopping cart. You can find them at CVS, Wal-Mart, and even Amazon. Be sure to follow Balance on Pinterest for lots of great fitness and workout ideas, and recipes as well.
And, because you know how much I love balance, here are some links to some of our favorite homemade grab-and-go snacks, so you can have balance *and* Balance in your lunch boxes:
These Banana Espresso Chocolate Chip Muffins are made weekly in our home, and they don’t last long.
Peanut Butter Quinoa Bars are a great grab-and-go choice and last forever.
I love these Baked Oatmeal Cups and how you can completely customize the flavors. I make them weekly as well, and they’ve even made an appearance at my kids’ cooking camps this summer.
*This post was sponsored through my work with Mom It Forward and their partnership with Balance. As healthy habits are a cause that is important to me, I was happy to be included to share some of their messaging. As always, all opinions are my own.
PS! You can win a box of Balance bars! Just comment below for your entry, and receive a bonus entry if you share this post via social media. Contest is open until midnight EST on Tuesday. Good luck!
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