Element Bars Review (National Nutrition Month®)

I wanted to find something fun, creative, and tasty to feature for my National Nutrition Month® series. Element Bars certainly fits the bill. The company provides nutritious, flavorful, and customized snack bars. There are many healthy snack choices available out in the market, but who says you can't make your own?

About Element Bars
Element Bars is a company that allows their customers to customize their own snack bar. Founders Maria and Jonathan were determined to create bars that were healthier alternatives than what was currently available. Dismayed at the ingredients found in mass-produced bars, Maria and Jonathan got in their kitchens and created a real nutrition bar that was free of high-fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors, high in saturated fat, and low in nutritional content. Joined by Jonathan Kelley, the three founders created Element Bars to provide a product that caters to each individual's dietary needs and palate. 

Social Networks
Blog, Facebook, Twitter

Where to buy
Element Bars are available at the Element Bar website.

MY THOUGHTS

Before trying Element Bars, the only snack bars I've eaten were the crunchy kind. After Element Bars, I think I prefer the chewy bars more. It may have something to do with Element Bars themselves, the ingredients they contain and how good they taste, but I'm a convert regardless. These bars are delicious, nothing like the cardboard snack/health bars I've tried before. I really like the texture and consistency of the bars. Even though each flavor is unique, due to the specified blends of ingredients, all of them are gritty and chunky, which I like. 

I was fortunate enough to try several different flavors, including some with ingredients that I probably would not have put in a bar had I created it myself. I honestly liked each of the bars I tasted. I do have to say that I favor the Almond Sunrise, followed by the Chocolate Cherry, out of all the bars I reviewed. 

Besides the taste, what's great about these bars is that they are a powerhouse of nutrients. Each bar provides both macro and micronutrients with minimal calories. Well, I say minimal because as someone who is breastfeeding, I'm suppose to consume a minimum of 1,800 calories a day, so 200 - 300 calories a bar in nothing. (Seriously, I can eat these bars the whole day). 

The process of creating your bar is very easy and user-friendly. Some of the ingredients have an organic option available. Additionally, as you create your bar, the nutritional value is shown to you so you know exactly what you are getting in your bar. Bar Power Keys at the bottom of the screen facilitates ease of selecting ingredients by grouping together items that provide a certain property (i.e. antioxidant, muscle/strength,etc.). Another selling point to creating your own bar, no matter how many ingredients you add, including an organic option, is each personalized bar is only $2.99. 

Image courtesy of Element Bars.

And if you so desire, you can further customize your bar with your logo. I think these would make a great gift for someone. Who doesn't like personalized gifts? 

Image courtesy of Element Bars.

Although Element Bars are known for custom made bars, however, if you don't want to think about creating your own bar, they do have wonderful pre-made bars ready to order.

Thanks to Element Bars, one of you will get a chance to customize your own bars.

GIVEAWAY - CLOSED
Prize
12 custom made bars ($41.88)

Timeframe
Giveaway is open from March 31 to April 14, 2012, 12:01 AM EST.

Rules
1. Open to US residents, 18 years and older.
2. Enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Comments left on this blog do not count as entries. 
3. If you are selected, I will verify all of your comments. If I can not verify your comments, I will choose a new winner.
4. The winner will be selected by random.org (per Rafflecopter) and notified by email.
5. The winner will have 48 hours to reply back before a new winner is selected.
6. Element Bars is responsible for fulfilling prize award to the winner.

Good luck!

Disclosure: I received a free product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided. All opinions expressed are my own.