Sunday Shopping, Trader Joe's v. Sprouts and a Bar Review!

Happy Start of Summer!  Happy Longest Day of the Year!  Happy Summer Solstice!  I decided I was going to start this day out by doing my favorite thing - running at the Lake with my BRF Danielle!  I expected sunshine to greet me this morning but nope, FOG!  FOG on the first day of summer?!  And it wasn't cool fog.  It was humid fog!

Notice I am wearing My Race Ragz "Running with SD Mom" shirt...coming to a race near you!

I also cheated today.  Well, a little.  In a few different ways.  First, I am writing my Sunday shopping post on Saturday.  Second, I went to Sprouts BEFORE I went to Trader Joe's.  And finally, in addition to running this morning, I also chased a 7 year old and a 4 1/2 year old all around the Legoland water park.  I don't have a water proof camera so no pics.  You will have to settle for shopping tales!

Have you been to Sprouts?  I am not even sure they are in other parts of the country.  (UPDATED: My good friend Sheila gave me this info.  They have 170 stores nationwide and just opened 4 in Georgia.  Henry Boney (the founder) opened up a fruit stand in San Diego in 1943 and look where he is now)

Before you TJ loyalists start getting mad at me, know that there are things you get at Sprouts that you CANNOT get from TJs.  For example, all of these.

Yeah, where else am I supposed to get my Vega fix??  Thankfully I had a gift card because that canister of Vega Pre-Workout can get expensive at $45.99!  But mine has lasted about 7 months now so I think it is worth the investment.  My rule is no Vega unless I am running more than 6 miles.  And since my hip (AAAH stop with the HIP!) injury, unfortunately those runs have been few.  Sprouts does have supplement sales where they have these things 20% off!  I suggest you buy them then.  They also have single serve packets at $2.50 a pack.  Maybe worth it to try once. Each scoop is 80 calories.  Don't be tempted to buy the sugar free one...it has Stevia in it and no carbs!

But then, not to fret!  I was back at TJ's!  With a beautiful cotton candy cloud view.  Aaah summer!

I wanted to try out a little experiment.  I eat at least one bar a day and I want to make sure it is the most nutritional value form without wasting my daily maximum of fat and calories and carbs.  So, which "energy" "protein" "food" "weight loss" "organic" bar is the best for you?  Here are the ones I bought from Trader Joes:

In order, top to bottom, they are:

1.  Think Thin White Chocolate High Protein bar

-  The bar promises 20g protein and 0g of sugar.

-  The ingredients are numerous and include something called "coating" with a bunch a ingredients I can't pronounce.

2.  Pure Organic Chocolate Brownie Bar

-  I am most excited for this one because it has only 7 ingredients and they are all whole foods.  Dates, Agave, Brown Rice, Cashew butter, Almonds, Walnuts and Cocoa!  Yum!

-  And hello?  Did you not hear the chocolate BROWNIE part??

3.  Clif Mojo Bar in Dark chocolate Almond Coconut

-  I love the KIND bar coconut almond flavor so I am optimistic for this one.  

-  It also promises 8g of protein and 3g of fiber.  But also, yucky artificial ingredients.

4.  Lara Bar Cashew Cookie

-  I have had this one before and it is delicious!  It has 6g of protein and 230 calories.  Most importantly, it has 2 ingredients.  2 INGREDIENTS!  Dates and cashews!

5.  Luna Bar in Caramel Nut Brownie

-  LOVE LOVE these too!  This bar used to be my standard afternoon snack.  This and the peppermint flavor.  

-  BUT Luna Bars have a MILLION ingredients, most of which I can't pronounce.

In terms of healthy, I am leaning towards the Pure bars.  In terms of taste, I will have to try them all and let you know.  I will do a review on the best tasting in this week's Friday Fascinations post!

Don't forget to enter the My Soxy Feet giveaway!  24 hours left to win!

Have you tried any of these before??  Do you shop at Sprouts AND TJs?  Do you use Vega products?

As always, I wish you Happy Feet,

SD Mom