I am looking into a good breakfast bar. Something that tastes good, isn't all sugar, doesn't 'mush' easily and isn't real expensive.

For those of you who use something like that, what do you like/suggest?

the last few years i've taken Quaker Oatmeal bars for my "travel" day breakfast.
while i'm breaking camp i boil water for coffee on stove and then after all but tarp is down i stop and have a cup or two of coffee and 2 bars.
of course taste is very subjective but i think there pretty good and are very filling.
there reasonably cheap and while you might get something nutritionaly superior, you'll pay for it.
try a box before trip and see what you think??
i've also made "homemade" energy bars from a backpacker cookbook, there 1000 calories each but not as handy as the bars.
if your interested, i can e-mail you the recipe??

I second the idea of Quaker Oats Breakfast Bars. On our group trip last summer, someone packed a bunch of them in our "no cook" lunch bag. Although I am not a big fan of granola, there were a couple of other good tasting varieties in the bag - apple cinnamon (?) and one that was some kind of berry (?). The only complaint I can make about those two kinds is that they were kind of small and I needed 2 or 3 to get what I needed.

Along the same line, I nearly always take newtons (fig, cranberry, blueberry, or strawberry) on my solo trips. They probably don't pass the "crush" test, but taste great, are more nutritionally balanced than sugar cookies, go good with most drinks, and you can get store brands by the pound for little cash.

Almost, forgot - around this time of the year, the online bicycle places (Bike Nashbar, Performance Bike, etc) have the energy bars on sale by the dozen. I can't say that any that I have tried have tasted good enough for me to give them a second look. Perhaps others have had more and better experience with Powerbars and Cliffs, etc.

-aj

Solo trippper,

Don't know if I'd be able to make them for all my customers (which is where I need them for), but I'd like to get your recipe just for myself, yes!

Want to email it to me or post it here?

Here's a good one one from Beth Buckley in an old BWJ:
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Toast a few more oats as you might find you need em. Personally, I skip the raisins.

Power bars are pricey but a whole lot easier. Neither is really breakfast food though.

I recently bought a Kashi Protein Bar at a convenience store, really out of curiosity.  It has the Kashi Go Lean cereal in it, and was peanut butter flavor.  I don't remember exactly how many calories, but it was 5-6 Weight Watcher Points, so probably about 280 with several grams of fat and fiber.  I had bought it for a snack, but when I realized how many calories it had, I saved it for a meal replacement.

It was larger than a Quaker bar, and very chewy, so it was quite satisfying to eat.  I ate one for breakfast; and  noticed that after my usual morning exercise (swim laps + water aerobics class, total 1.3 hour) I wasn't quite as famished as usual.  I was surprised at how substantial it seemed for a meal replacement, and it tasted pretty good, too.  I don't know if they come in other flavors than peanut butter.

I thought it tasted a lot better than most of the power bars I have eaten.  But I would still prefer eggs, bacon and hash browns for my canoe country breakfast.   ;)

That's why I need Weight Watchers!

a cliff bar does a real good job at giving you the necessary pick me up before or during a paddle. my bag never has less than one per day. they come in a myriad of flavors and most taste pretty damn good, with maybe the exception of lemmon poppy seed.

thebutcher

My wife buys the Luna bars, they are made by Clif Bar. They are about $1 each if you find them on sale. Have never eaten one for breakfast, but they are pretty good. Key lime pie is especially good. This one contains 10g of sugar.

The Kashi bars are pretty good also. I think we had some that were plain, but the trail mix version contains 6g of sugar.

My choice for years was Carnation Breakfast Bars, along with a packet of Carnation Instant Breakfast drink mix (and powdered milk of course) - alternate days were oatmeal.  For years, that was the only choice, but there is a lot more competition now.  Haven't seen the Carnation Bars for a couple of years now, so maybe they don't make them anymore?   If you can find them, they are a good choice.   Just go to any large grocery store and you will most likely find a whole section of this type of product - that's what I do now, and just select by flavor choice rather than brand name - they are mostly all about the same in nutrition.  These type of products aren't cheap though.

I aslo get those Quaker Oatmeal bars? or whatever they are called now.  A good portion size, since they are a solid chunk of oatmeal, more or less - Rasberry Streusel and Apple Cinnamon.  they are supposed to be the equivalent of a bowl of oatmeal, and one thing I like is that they aren't overly sweet.  Another good thing is that they are "solid", and don't get all crushed or crumbled up in a pack.  I'll even occationally bring one to work to have with morning coffee.
I just bought 2 boxes on sale last week, 2 for $5 I think it was, but the regular price is maybe $4 a box, for 8 bars.

I recommend   (You need to Login or Register but of course I may be biased.  They are always a hit on my trips and they pack a lot of immediate plus sustained energy.

Snowdogs bars are great! As long as they're not burnt!  ;D ;D ;D

hey VN, i'll post it here incase anyone else is interested??
i'll vouch for there energy punch but taste?, that's a personal thing ;) ;).

combine in large bowl: 3 cups quick-cook oatmea;
                               2-1/2 cups dry milk
                               1 cup brown sugar
in  small pan, bring to boil:
                                1 tbls. honey
                                1 tbls. water
                         add: 1/2 pkg. (3 oz size) lemon gelatin
dissolve the gelatin in the hot honey water. combine the dry ongredients,mixing well.
add more warm water,a little at a time,till the mixture is moist enough to mold. pack into a greased foil-lined pan,and place in the oven turned to the lowest setting. if it is over 250 degree's leave the door open a few inches.
when dry,cut or break into 2" pieces. wrap in foil and store in freezer.
i've made "variations" adding raisins,dried cherries or cranberries, unsalted nuts, they were all pretty good IMO?
i think you could add just about anything as long as the moisture content didn't get to high??
hope you like them ;D ;D?

wrote on Apr 7^th, 2006 at 1:27pm:

Snowdogs bars are great! As long as they're not burnt!  ;D ;D ;D

Burnt??  You must be referring to the "French Roast" variant of the recipe that I experimented with.  Some people just don't have a broad enough palate to appreciate true culinary greatness and daring!   ::)   ::)   ::)

Snow_Dog,
Made your bars last night... except I left the raisins out and substituted unsalted peanuts, and some coconut... very tasty!!  The will be going with me for a short time on my trip this summer...  ;D  Just hope they make it up there ;) ;)

Bruce

wrote on Apr 12^th, 2006 at 11:18am:

Snow_Dog, Made your bars last night...  Just hope they make it up there ;) ;) Bruce

That's one of the reasons I don't make them too far in advance.  Too tempting!

Leaving out the raisins is the right thing to do if you add choc chips.  You can use either, but both together might not be a good combo.

wrote on Apr 12^th, 2006 at 11:18am:

Snow_Dog, Made your bars last night... except I left the raisins out and substituted unsalted peanuts, and some coconut... very tasty!!  The will be going with me for a short time on my trip this summer...  ;D  Just hope they make it up there ;) ;) Bruce

Snowdog,

PLEASE be sure to slip a few pounds of your bars into Old Salt's pack, as he's volunteered duty as lead chef and we'd prefer to head off any muntiny (just in case).  :P

-YB

I'll slip a few pounds of SOMETHING into his pack for sure!  Jimbo's got lawn ornaments covered, so whatever I slip in will have to be even less useful...maybe a croquet set?

YB,
If you guys are lucky... I might have a few left when you get there on Thursday :D :D  Although after eating a few of them this morning and at school today...  ;) ;)  there is a great possibility the two batches I will make to go with me for a week...  ;D ;D  will be gone in a few days...  :o :o and I will be a very happy camper/canoer  8) 8)

Bruce

Apple-Berry bars  at Wal-mart. (Yes I believe if Wal-mart don't got it, You don't need it!!)  Not really a meal replacement bar , a granola bar, but could be. I love them as a snack, or with a sandwich for lunch. They travel well and are inexpensive. Don't y'all go buying all of them on the shelf though. Sometimes they are hard to get as it seems others like them as much as I do. ;D

If you are intested in making your own, I have a recipe for Logan Bread.  It is dense, high in calories & nutrients, and more of a bar than bread.  It is also fairly simple to make it.

clouserminnow,

Could you please post your recipe for Logan Bread in the 'recipes' section? Thanks! 8) 8) 8)

old salt

Here is good too.