I don’t have a bar ’stash.’ In fact, I’ve never had one.
I don’t have a drawer full of barz to ‘eat through’ and I don’t keep barz in my purse as ‘emergency snax’
…because barz don’t stand a chance around me.
(Obviously, I did not take that photo because I would never have that many barz in my possession!)
I don’t have any barz in my house because I ate them all.
I don’t keep barz in my house because I will eat them all.
If I bring a bar with me in my purse, I’ll eat it even when it’s not an emergency.
If I buy barz at the store, you can be sure that they’ll be gone by the end of the day.
Yes, even if I buy them at 10 PM.
…midnight snack, ya know?
***
The last couple of days have been filled with barz and nutz. No no, not sports bars and crazy psychopaths.
Even better….

This morning, I had a freshly made AllieBar and some coffee in my Duke beer stein.
I made 6 batches of AllieBars last night. I always forget how exhausting it is to make these bars until I’m a hot mess 5 min. into the process. Between making, wrapping, cleaning, packing and delivering to the post office, it took over 5 hours.
5 hours that I did not spend packing up my room
.

They may look pretty but don’t be fooled…they’re high maintenance! AllieBars are made with love.
I got this mug exactly one year ago at the start of my senior year.

While packing up the AllieBars, I had half of this Greens+ Chocolate Energy Bar.

This bar is one of my favorites….ever (and that’s saying something!). My brother got me hooked on these a year ago. It tastes like a nougaty candy bar, but it’s filled with good stuff like greens!

It’s hard to read the label but the ingredients are real, wholesome, and green! 
Looks wonky but tastes amazing.

Workout*:
60 min. elliptical + 15 min. leg weights
*much needed to fight packing stress!
***
Post workout:
A salad with Mango Ginger tempeh and tomatoes.

I started by sauteing crumbled tempeh with tomatoes.

…and then added some TJ’s Mango Ginger Chutney (a new to me product).

It gave the tempeh flavor, spice and everything nice!

I also used the chutney as a salad dressing yesterday while packing (I warned you about lame meals, didn’t I?).

That’s a Dr. Praeger’s Tex Mex Veggie Burger. Not quite as tasty as the v-burg from The Counter but still good. I must say I went back and squirted some ketchup on the burger after a couple bites.

Boulder Canyon Olive Oil Kettle Chips on the side.

At my new make-shift photography spot….with the darn beach chair that finds it’s way into every photo!

On my way home from the post office, I stopped by Whole Foods just to look around. I didn’t have anything in mind but I figured it couldn’t hurt to browse…
OH
MY
NUTZ…
****JACKPOT****!!!!

First I found the Larabars, then I found the Justin’s and then I found the Barney Butter. My jaw dropped lower and lower as my eyeballs got wider and wider.
I almost got this jar too but I had to exercise some degree of self control.

I was just browsing the Barney Butter website yesterday looking for a location near me that sold it. I was beginning to feel hopeless (because the closest locations to me were in Southern VA). I was also giving up hope that I would ever find the elusive Carrot Cake Larabars.

I couldn’t even wait the 1/2 mile drive home from WFs to dig in. I did save this little nub to photograph for you all though.
How nice of me.

Loved it. Loved it. Loved it. It tasted so much like a real piece of carrot cake. I especially loved the pineapple flavor. I may or may not go back and buy the 2 boxes in stock.
…and they’ll last a week, tops
.
***
Then I did what any other level-headed person would do….

Note: That was 3 hours ago. Those jars do NOT look like that anymore! Oops. Perhaps I shouldn’t keep a nut butter stash either…?
After spooning with my jarz, I decided to spread them on a slice of bread and top it with banana slices. Ya know, to balance it out.

The Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Butter is a dream come true. It tastes like Nutella but without the random ingredients.
I can’t wait to dig into the Chocolate Chip Brownie Larabar (I was allergic to the other new flavors)!
…hopefully it’ll survive ’til tomorrow!
Doubtful.
***
Tell me: Do you have a bar stash?’What is your favorite bar (just one!!)? What about your favorite nut butter?
If I have to choose…Greens+ and TJ’s Sunflower Seed Butter (duh).





{ 61 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh. Wow. HOW JEALOUS OF YOU AM I?! The Justin’s… lucky lucky girl you are. Actually I have a squeeze pack of that that I forgot about.. excuse me while I go inhale it.
Anyways, I’m a bar freak. My favorite is probably any of the Clif Mojo bars.. so good!
Haha! Today I drove clear across the Twin Cities to find the Larabars! I couldn’t take it anymore!!! I drove 30 minutes out of my way to get them and you know what? I haven’t even eaten them and I know it will be worth it!
I also found Justin and Barney, but I didn’t bring them home with me — I know I have no self control and I already have some Justin and some Maranatha at home — so there was no need to get more. But I’ll be back…
I have a total bar stash — they get their own shelf in the pantry!
Oh those nut butters look fabulous. YUM! Next time try a barrel and a shovel. Works way better than a jar and a spoon.
I do have a bar stash. Mostly Larabars in various flavors, as well as a few Kashi Roll bars. And I do keep a bar in my purse as an emergency snack at all time, because if I didn’t I would probably end up hitting a drive-thru and that doesn’t do anybody much good!
Yum! I’m like you — no bar stash because I go through them like it’s my job.
If you want to try sunflower seed butter, check out TJ’s. They have a fairly inexpensive tub of it that I love.
I just stocked up on Luna Bars at TJs today! And I LOVE the carrot cake Lara! Also, at WF the other day, there was a serious nut butter sale happening so I got 2 PB and Co. pbs for 7 bucks! And I Justins Maple Almond for 5 i think? Weee!!!! They’re coming to school with me along with a Teddie’s natural, a TJs almond roasted flax and a monsterrrr maranatha almond from costco — I’m set for the YEAR!
Haha LOVE that you say you can’t keep bars in your purse because you’ll eat them even if it’s not an emergency…that is SO what I do! My favorite bar has to be Larabar Cashew Cookie…although all these new flavors floating around out there (Carrot Cake?!!) might change my mind. And I’d have to say Justin’s Almond Butter is my fave…but I love them all!!
This post totally spoke to my almond butter craving and my love of Angela’s Globars. I have a hard time resisting the bars when they are in my bag; even if I’m not hungry I just keep reaching for them (and then reminding myself they’re precious so I should savour them). Oh, and almond butter, it’s getting kind of ridiculous. Yesterday I went on a trail ride and didn’t refuel enough with lunch. An hour later I found myself at the kitchen counter with a spoon, the almond butter, and some blueberry preserves…it wasn’t a pretty sight, but oh, it was delicious!
Ahhhh I want that Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut butter!!
I do have a bar “stash”, but I also have the problem where if I bring an emergency bar in my purse, it is likely to get eaten before any emergency has the chance to happen. I also prefer to eat my nut butter out of a jar rather than on toast. Bread just gets in the way of me eating more nut butter!
Hmmmm… my favourite bar would have to be the Chocolate Peppermint Stick Luna Bar (can you say girl scout thin mints!?), and my favourite nut butter is MaraNatha Dark Chocolate Almond Butter. Although I think JCHB would beat it
Nice work making another batch!
I love the chutney in chicken salad. Yummy! You have lots of fantastic snacky items!
I’m the opposite–my bar stash just keeps getting bigger. I used to be a big bar person, but I guess I grew out of it, as I have tons of them stored in my pantry.
That Greens+ bar reminds of the Amazing Grass bars–have you ever had them?
Favorite bar=Chocolate Chip Clif; Favorite nut butter=good ol’ almond butter.
Favorite Bar: Cashew Cookie Larabar
Favorite Nut Butter: Straight up Smucker’s all natural PB
I can barely keep a stash – it’s a danger zone in here!
your AllieBars look amazeballs! (amazebars??)
I love the new square Justins jar!
I don’t have a bar stash, because I’ll eat them all! Especially clif bars. YUM!
I can’t wait until my local Whole Foods starts carrying the new Larabars. I’m dying to try the chocolate chip cookie dough flavor!
fav nut butter is definitely NUTTZO! fav bars are Raw Crunch bars…..like raw sweet n salty bars……so delicious!
honestly, i love bars, but i don’t like all the funky ingredients that are in a lot of them, so i don’t buy them often.
aaahh, your alliebar pictures are going to drive me bonkers, they look so good!
and white chocolate wonderful is my favourite pb, hands down.
before i moved, i had 7 containers of different nut butters!
Haha I love you! This post is so honest! I am the same way with bars. People who eat half a Larabar and save the rest for later? Pshh. I’m not one of those people. I’m still searching for carrot cake…
I also understand the nut butter obsession. I’ve banned myself from PB & Co’s Dark Chocolate Dreams Peanut Butter after an incident this May. I swear that stuff has crack in it!
Luna Bar Cookies and Cream alllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll the way down
It doesnt help that my fave flava flavee anything is cookies n cream
so bad for you but ohhhh sooooo gooood <3
Ahh you’re so lucky! I haven’t been able to find any of those bars or nut butters yet. I’ve never heard of those greens bars. They look good!
Favorite bar = Cocoa Mole Larabar
Favorite nut butter = So hard to pick! I suppose…Trader Joe’s creamy salted peanut butter
Ha, love this! Yes bars are sooooo good!
And they’re fun cause you can try lots of new fun flavors.. i still need to try alliebars!!! Someday!!
That tempeh stir fry looks bomb! And haha I’m totally with you on the digging in to the nut but jar thing, I have three open right now, all to myself, at school! HA HA!
OH MY GOD!!!
I almost read “it tastes like a naughty candy bar”
I have a nut butter problem, too. My fella bought me a 28 oz jar of peanut butter that lasted me maybe two weeks? And that was with me decimating another Costco sized jar of almond butter at the same time, too.
Omigosh, look at all the yummy eats you found! I’m so jealous. I haven’t found ANY of those flavors, at all, at my local Co-op. As for my favorite bar? No fair making me choose just one! I’d have to say Boomi Bar Cashew Almond, though. So good!
Man, I feel unprepared for your little quiz! I have never really been a bar person, my bf just got me into clif bars…two weeks ago? But I am really liking them. Right now my fav is blueberry! But like I said, I have tried a pathetic amount of bars, so, yeah. And I’ve only just recently (thanks to your blog!!) ventured out of the realm of peanut butter. So I guess almond? It is sooo good, but the packaging tells me to keep it in the fridge (do you do that? it’s maranatha brand) so it isn’t very spreadable.
Also, I made these pumpkin/pecan/bran muffins the other day, made me think of all your posts on pumpkin! Even though it is nowhere NEAR fall (maybe in 2 months…maybe) here (seriously it was 104 today), I thought why not. I can pretend. This paragraph makes me sound like I stalk you, so I’m going to go to bed now. Bye!
Ahhhh, I HATE the pineapple in that Larabar!! Love the rest of it but not a fan of the pineapple, at all. I’ve never had pineapple in carrot cake and do not like the idea. Although I love pineapple
I found the brownie to taste really similar to her german chocolate cake, which was just “meh.” And the choco chip cookie dough was, hurt my teeth sweet!! Pnut butter choco chip was my fav of the new flavors but I think I’ll stick to making them myself at home now!
I LOVE the Greens+ chocolate bar!! They’re chocolate peanut butter bar is awesome as well. I think my favorite nut butter is the fresh honey roasted peanut butter at Whole Foods, but I haven’t tried too many (we stick with what we know). I’m trying to add new nut butters to my repertoire. The new fresh cashew butter at Whole Foods is pretty awesome.
I loved the Carrot Cake flavor, too, but I won’t be eating it ever again! I forgot to look at the label before shoving it in my face and realized later, when my stomach was in major pain, that it contains pineapple, which I am allergic to!
I learned a valuable lesson!
I love you meal ideas, I’m always looking for easy dinner options. I see you like Trader Joe’s too! What exactly is tempeh, Ive seen it so many times and I have no idea what it tastes like!?
-Larinna
iheartspandex.com
hi allie! i found it funny that i discovered your blog for the first time today – on the same day that i finally decided i’m ‘brave’ enough to carry bars around in my bag. i even made it a commitment in my post of the day! i’m tired of coming out of class or sitting on the bus totally starved, so it’s time to have a little faith in myself and start the stash
oh, and sometimes i play little tricks on myself like buying all 1 flavor so i’m not tempted to try ‘em all out or i consciously plan to wait and enjoy my bar over a soy cappuccino..
My first LB was from HLS – can’t wait to try the new flavors, especially Carrot Cake.
I tried my first Pure Bar today – YUM!
Oh gosh, I have a huge bar stash!! All American too :p
Favourite nut butter…either Barney Butter, Cinnamon Raisin Swirl or cashew butter. I’m yet to try the chocolate Justin’s stuff, but I have 3 individual servings waiting, so I can’t wait to try!!
Fav bars cause i cant just pick one! cliff white choc macadamia, lara pb&j, and cliff kids choc chip
Fav nut butter, hmm i love them all! love pb & co flavs. Since I live in the NE, I want to try saratoga peanut butter, and vermont peanut butter. they look delish! hmmm nut butter swap??
I Love that Mango Chutney from TJ’s. They used to make an Apple Cranberry that we even better, but they discontinued it last fall and I almost cried in the middle of the store!
I am dying to find the new Lara Bars. Still no luck. And that Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Butter sounds incredible. I hope I can find it around here!
funny you bring up the question about bars.
I am the same way about bars as you are. If I see them I want to eat them even if I’m not hungry at all. I love love love bars and trying all different types. There are so many variations so I feel I must eat them all. Therefore to save me from death by bars I only eat them on occasion but I try to stick with my oatmealish granola stuff I make.
I love all the Luna bars and Barney Butter is by far my favorite nut buter!!
This post cracks me up because I have the BB and the Justin’s open in my fridge right now!! And I’ve been eating them like it’s my JOB, seriously. They’re delicious
I do have a bar stash!! I have way more self control around them then around nut butter…please don’t make me pick a favorite
Clif White Chocolate Macadamia, Oatmeal Raisin Walnut, Larabar Chocolate Chip Cookie dough and Clif Mojo Peanut Butter Pretzel are all in the running though!!
Hi Allie!
My favorites change, but for now my favorite bars are the luna protein ones, especially the cookie dough flavor. As for the nut butter, I love it all! But if I had to choose it would be….dark roasted pb and Justin’s maple almond butter! (I cheated (: )
My bar stash is pretty small since I’m allergic to most.
But I have my homemade bars, some No Nuttin’ bars, and a few that I found at a health food store that I haven’t tried yet. So far my favourites are my homemade ones.
Woohoo you definitely scored at WF! I’m so jealous you found Barney Butter there! I’m dying to try it out! Right now my favourite nut butter is soy nut butter. It doesn’t get enough love in the blog world!
So far my favorite are clif z bars. I try to bring them to work to save for my late afternoon snack, but they never make it past noon. ha!
Bars a life savers when crunched for time between classes!! I always have at leas ttwo in my bag. My stash is mainly made up of the fairly cheap stuff..special k, south beach, with a few Kashi and others. My favorite’s Kashi PB & chocolate (pfft, duh!). I just recently bought their Pumpkin & Flax granola bars which are awesome..I used to eat Nature Valley granola bars like it was my job..and I’ll probably go back to doing so.
Oh, and I just bought Justin’s chocolate peanut butter!! No doubt the hazelnut butter’s ammaazing but I could find it. But oyu better bet I grabbed the PB the first chance I got!
I love your blog! I have been reading for while now but never commented. Just wondering, how can I get my hands on some Allie bars?!?!? I am seeing them all over the blog world and everyone is raving about them! I am dying to try one! When are you going to start selling them?!?!?!
The Justins butter looks particularly amazing! I can completely understand why its hard to have self-control around it
I haven’t found the Carrot Cake larabar yet! I really really want to find one because I’m sure I’ll love it. Maybe I’ll have to go stalk out all the Whole Foods in VA. Which one did you find yours at?
Have you had the Dr. Praeger’s California burger? I always see both the California burger and Tex Mex burger at Trader Joe’s, and can never decide which one to pick!
Peanut Butter Larabars are my faaaavorite. I’m an equal opportunity nut butter lover, but my favorites may be the Kirkland Organic PB from Costco and TJ’s Crunchy Almond Butter with Flaxseeds (SO GOOD). I’ve never tried Sunflower Seed Butter.
Caitlin–
Yes, I’ve tried the Cali ones before. It was several months ago so I can’t compare them. I think I remember Cali being better? I think Amy’s v-burgs are better in terms of store bought options though.
hi allieee… i finally set my blog up but there’s nothing in it hahaha…
haha…i love your bars post. you’re so funny. i’ve tried so many veggie burgers and i’ve not liked any so far. i have yet to try the Amy’s burgers. i see some people raves about it. what do you think? any veggie burgers you can recommend?
OMG that Alliebar looks delicious. I miss them!
And Justins… in a jar… whhhhaaaattttt
oh yeah..
i’ve only tried cliff and larabars. i really like both, but i have to say larabar wins my heart.
Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Butter is definitely my new fav but I love the Honey and Maple Almond Butter almost as much. I haven’t tried the Carrot Cake Larabar yet but I’m intrigued. My new bar is Bora Bora Exotic Coconut Almond. It’s kind of chewy but I think that’s what I like about it. Definitely need to try an AllieBar one of these days
The Lara Bars are so. dang. expensive! But they’re so DELICIOUS, I agree!
Could you try coming up with a recipe for the Carrot Cake Lara Bar!
Oh and even the Chocolate Chip Brownie? That would be amazing!
Oh beloved crunchy BB! Woohoo! I still have a few servings left in the creamy, and about one left in the crunch. Must.make.them.last! Oh, allie, always trying to make me pick favorites! I will say larabars are the only ones I buy, but sadly I haven’t tried any of the unique flavors! Just standard cherry, apple, peanut, etc. because those are the only ones in the stores near me. But I made some more homemade “lara balls.” They look absolutely disgusting and well, like poo, but I’ll put them on the blog anyways because they tasted good! I really want to try the choco hazelnut butter! I might try and make some homemade as I “borrowed” my mother-in-law’s food processor and haven’t given it back for awhile! Oops! It will be a little experiment…Anyway, I’m rambling now, but I loved the post, and happy to see your AllieBars again, even if they’re not literally in front of my face.
One more thing, I’m gonna try your mango chutney tempeh idea!
I do love reading your blog but there is far to much ‘barz’ and ’snax’ in this post! Makes me cringe
You seem to have a far greater variety of bars in the US than we do in the UK. They sound a lot more exciting!
Vicki–
Sorry?
Uh oh, have you gone barz-nanaz? I think I originally fell in love with Quaker’s Chewy Chocolate Chip granola bars. That’s when I originally realized that moderation was a problem when it comes to eating barz. I feel ya.
OMG…I am the exact same way. I can totally go through a box of bars within a couple of hours. *_* Nut butters don’t even stand a chance. I’ve actually had to stop keeping it in the house because if I don’t stop myself I can easily down a jar in a day. It’s kinda sad, but it’s just best to admit my weakness and only buy it occasionally. Darn my addiction!
Oh, it just makes me cringe to see the words spelt that way, with the z. I don’t mean it with malice.
I don’t have a bar stash but I want one. My favorite bars are Luna, but they are so sweet it’s like a dessert sometimes. That’s probably why I like them.
I just found the carrot cake bar at my Whole Foods and I was super excited. My friend who was with me looked at me like I was crazy, haha. I thought it was pretty good. I like the Clif one better, though. I have yet to find the cookie dough, though
That does it. I am SO getting Justins the next time I go to Whole Foods. That dual bread getup with the PB and chocolate just killed me. I want!
Diana–
I like the Amy’s the best of the store bought ones I’ve had. I’ve heard Sunshine is good but I’ve never tried it.
I always have a bar stash b/c I take one to eat each day before I workout. Speaking of said stash, it’s getting rather low!
How funny – I just visited Whole Foods today for the first time in a loooong time (I have one here near school, not at home) and was FINALLY able to find the new Larabars too! Have tried the chocolate chip cookie dough one already…foodgasmic. My WF also started carrying Barney Butter & Justin’s since the last time I was there and I forced myself to resist because I already had 2 jars of PB at home. I did buy 2 squeeze packs, though
I have a bar stash and a nut butter stash. Does that mean I have a problem?! LOL!
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