BAR-U-EAT, Bar-I-Eat, The Bar Everyone Should Eat!
By Joey Hassett – RDN & Triathlon Coach for Aspire Performance and Nutrition
Being a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), I often find myself diving deep into the nutrition facts label of all the sports nutrition products I plan to put into my body or recommend to athletes…. Often, I find myself coming up short on products that live up to my expectations and values.
When I first heard about BAR-U-EAT, I thought, “this is just another date-based bar that will take 10 minutes to chew each bite and is nearly impossible to eat while out on a ride”. Wow, was I wrong! As soon as I had the product in my hand, I was already impressed with their sustainable, compostable packaging – and this was before even reading the nutrition facts. When you flip the packaging over, it is clear to see that not only is there great thought going into eliminating single-use plastics but also with the ingredients being used. The ingredient list comprises whole foods (which are all organic) and responsibly sourced. As an RDN that puts great thought into all aspects of environmental sustainability, BAR-U-EAT is checking all the right boxes.
After being blown away by the simplicity of the ingredient list and sustainability efforts, I dove into the most crucial part – the nutrition facts! BAR-U-EAT currently offers four different flavors, each around 200 calories. When looking for a pre-workout or intra-workout snack, all four flavors have precisely what you are looking for.
Before a training session, 1-2 hours out, we want our snack to be primarily carbohydrates (CHO), with little protein and fat. With all the flavors offering over 26 grams of CHO, you can guarantee this will be plenty to top off your glycogen levels (the primary source of fuel used during exercise) leading into your training session or event!
When looking for a snack to fuel those long grueling rides, 14er summiting trips, or day-long backcountry ski adventures, you must have a fueling strategy onboard, so you don’t “hit the wall” – a term used when we have depleted our glycogen stores. For a session lasting more than 1.5 hours, it is vital to think about what you will be eating along the way.
BAR-U-EAT can be a terrific addition here for several reasons. The main reason is that it offers multiple transportable carbohydrates – different types of CHO (glucose, fructose, etc.). This is important for long sessions because if we consume just one source of CHOs, our absorption pathways become saturated and reach a point where they can no longer absorb the CHOs being put into the body. This will lead to gastrointestinal distress, decreased energy, and decreased performance. They also provide the right number of calories with the correct macronutrient distribution to continue providing Energy throughout your session!
My recommendations when fueling with BAR-U-EAT:
- Four hours before your session, make sure to have a well-balanced meal of CHO, fat, and protein
- 1-2 hours before your session, have your favorite flavor bar from BAR-U-EAT along with 12-16 oz. of water
- During your session, eat at least 1 bar every hour after you have been going for over 1.5 hours
- Stay hydrated before, during, and after your sessions – this will help those nutrients absorb efficiently
Joey Hassett, RD/BSc
Please feel free to reach out to the Aspire Performance and Nutrition team if you are looking for additional fueling strategies, endurance coaching, or just have a question!
Happy Trails! - Joey