Chia bars deliver taste, nutrition and energy

I’ve been a big fan of chia seeds for a couple of years now. They regularly occupy a prominent spot in my oatmeal or yogurt that I have for breakfast about four times a week.

Chia seeds are packed with omega-3s, protein, calcium and fiber. When I first discovered Health Warrior chia bars, I was instantly curious.

Disclaimer: I received a sample of Health Warrior bars to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro ambassador, and check out www.BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

In addition to chia seeds, Health Warrior packs their bars with other “superfoods” — quinoa, oats, almonds, coconut, etc. I sampled the chocolate peanut butter and vanilla almond.

Health Warrior also offers acai berry, apple cinnamon, banana nut, coconut, dark chocolate cherry, dark chocolate and mango in the bars that are just 100 calories. All of these bars are non-GMO, and gluten, soy and dairy free.

The bars are small but are intended to be a healthy snack before a run, after a run or to satisfy a craving in mid-afternoon (or really any time).

I tested out the bars in all of the above ways and then some. I found them to have a nice flavor, be easily digestible and provide a healthy boost. I preferred the chocolate peanut butter but that has more to do what I crave than any indication of the quality of the vanilla almond option. I am definitely interested in trying out other flavors, especially the dark chocolate options.

As a regular traveler, these small but mighty bars fit perfectly in my carry-on backpack, where I could easily reach them mid-flight for a quick snack. As a runner, I found them to be a great asset during training runs — they fit great in my water bottle holder or in my shorts pocket during a run.

Perhaps best of all, the chia bars are low in sugar — unlike many other bars that cater to runners and other endurance athletes. And it’s the ingredients that really make these healthy alternatives. For example, the health aspects of chocolate are pretty well known: dark chocolate contains iron, magnesium, copper manganese, potassium, phosphorous and zinc.

If you are interested in trying out Health Warrior bars, you can also can get a free copy of a coloring book with any purchase by clicking here.

Then you’ll be all set for your next cooldown after a workout or a race: a healthy snack and a relaxing activity.