According to thr brand, these new energy food packets were "Inspired by the home recipe's of our Team CLIF Bar athletes." They created a "line of performance food made with real, organic ingredients...Each recipe is designed to deliver a combination of nutrients, giving you energy to perform your best." These were designed to be eaten DURING runs as an alternative or addition to gels and chews.
The ouches themselves look like those squeeze fruit sauce pouches that have become common over the last year or so (my son LOVES them!) The sizes of the CLIF foods range from 3.17-4.23 ounces.
I first tried the Banana Mango Coconut flavor during a particularly hard session of mountainside hill repeats. It hit the spot and went down so smoothly. The all Organic ingredients were amazing: Organic Banana Puree, Organic Mango Puree, Organic Coconut Cream, Organic Coconut (there were small coconut flakes in the puree!), Sea Salt, and Citric Acid. Calories came in at 100, 2.5 grams of fat, 15grams of sugar, and 65 mg of sodium. This was in a 3.17 ounce pouch.
I also enjoyed the other Banana Beet and Ginger flavor. I tried this one chilled and took it with me for a long 10 mile run this last Sunday. I found that these smaller 3.17 ounce sizes fit well into the side packet of my Orange Mud Handheld water bottle that comes with me on every single run I take.
CLIF made two other flavor, Margarita Pizza and Sweet Potato with Sea Salt. I think these pouches would greatly benefit long distance ultra and trail runners because they contained more volume (4.32 ounces), calories ranging from 160-200, and sodium ranging from 540-600 mg).
As I continue to train in the heat in hopes of a big PR for my Fall Race, I will rely on the CLIF Organic Energy Food to help me reach my goals and run strong! RunEatTweetAZ has an awesome giveaway on their Facebook page right now so you can try all the flavors for yourself, head over today. Which flavor are you most excited to try?
