If you are tired of the usual snack options when hitting the trail this summer, five new companies have cropped up recently to put some life back into your palate. Similar to Kate's Real Food, these five companies are looking to offer you a more natural alternative to traditional energy bars.
Named after his beloved labrador, Jason Pastega started Skout out of his passion for the outdoors combined with his excitement for creating tasty, healthy food. Based in Portland, Oregon, the Skout trailbars are made from only a handful of whole organic ingredients. Flavors include Apple-Cinnamon, Blueberry-Almond, Cherry-Vanilla, Chocolate-Coconut and Chocolate-Peanut Butter. Individual Skout trailbars retail for $2.49 and $26.99 for a 12 pack.
Austin, Texas based climber Caleb Simpson and his brother Chris recently launched the Bearded Brothers snack food company. The 100% organic handmade energy bars are gluten free and vegan friendly, with most of the bars made from completely raw ingredients. Flavors include Maca Chocolate, Ginger Peach, Coconut Mango and Blueberry Vanilla. A pack of 4 energy bars retails for $11.60.
Picky Bars was started by championship distance runner Lauren Fleshman and her pro-marathoner friend Stephanie Rothstein as a project during injury time. After a year of experimentation, the duo found the perfect ingredient combination for an energy bar with a 4:1 carbohydrate to protein ratio, slow releasing carbs for level blood sugar, minimal soy content, and healthy fats making up 25% of the calories. The gluten free and dairy free energy bars come in three varieties and retail for $9 for a 3 pack.
Bonk Breaker is another gluten free and dairy free alternative to normal energy bars. Baked fresh weekly, these energy bars are free from any preservatives and promise you will be able to recognize and pronounce every ingredient on the list. The Bonk Breaker bars come in 6 flavors, most as some sort of variation on peanut butter (peanut butter and jelly is the favorite). A case of 12 Bonk Breaker energy bars retails for $24.99.
Miles Outside
Those of you looking to take your brood with you on the trail this summer, new San Francisco company, Miles Outside, offers dehydrated baby food. Made from 100% natural and organic ingredients, the dehydrated baby meals will save you a ton of weight and hassle. Easy to prepare, the baby food is re-hydrated simply by adding water, breast milk or baby formula. A package of 10 Miles Outside dehydrated baby meals retails for $20.