Q: I read your comparison between Clif Bar and the Nature Valley Granola Bar. How does Clif Bar compare to PowerBar? ~ S.G., San Francisco, CA
A: PowerBar® makes slightly smaller bars than Clif Bar. A PowerBar is 2.29 oz. (64.8g) as compared to Clif Bar which is 2.4 oz. (68g). For this side-by-side comparison, the PowerBar nutritional information was calculated to match the larger 2.4 oz serving.
Note: Food labels list percentages of nutrients based on the amount you should consume each day — your Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). The term Percent Daily Value (DV) is used to declare what one serving of the food provides in relation to the established daily standards.
| Nutritional Facts | Clif Bar | PowerBar |
| Crunchy | Performance Energy | |
| Peanut Butter | Peanut Butter | |
| 2.4 oz | 2.4 oz | |
| 68g | 68g | |
| Calories | 250 | 252 |
| Calories from fat | 60 | 42 |
| Total Fat | 6g (9% DV) | 4.2g (6.3% DV) |
| Sat. Fat | 1g (5%DV) | 1.1g (5% DV) |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg (0% DV) | 0mg (0% DV) |
| Sodium | 230mg (10% DV) | 210mg (8% DV) |
| Potassium | 270mg (8%) | 110mg (3% DV) |
| Total Carb. | 42g (14% DV) | 46g (16% DV) |
| Dietary Fiber | 5g (20% DV) | 1g (4% DV) |
| Insoluble Fiber | 4 g | 0g |
| Sugars | 20g | 27g |
| Other Carb. | 17g | 0g |
| Protein | 11g | 5g |
| Vitamin A | 30% DV | 0% DV |
| Vitamin C | 100% DV | 73% |
| Calcium | 25% DV | 26% |
| Iron | 25% DV | 26% |
| Vitamin E | 100% DV | 0% DV |
| Vitamin K | 25% DV | 0% DV |
| Thiamin (B1) | 25% DV | 16% |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 15% DV | 10% |
| Niacin (B3) | 15% DV | 0% DV |
| Vitamin B6 | 20% DV | 26% |
| Folate | 20% DV | 0% DV |
| Vitamin B12 | 15% DV | 0% DV |
| Biotin | 10% DV | 0% DV |
| Pantothenic Acid | 20% DV | 0% DV |
| Phosphorus | 20% DV | 0% DV |
| Iodine | 15% DV | 0% DV |
| Magnesium | 25% DV | 0% DV |
| Zinc | 20% DV | 0% DV |
| Selenium | 20% DV | 0% DV |
| Copper | 15% DV | 0% DV |
| Manganese | 35% DV | 0% DV |
| Chromium | 10% DV | 0% DV |
| Molybdenum | 15% DV | 0% DV |
PowerBar and Clif Bar are fairly equal in calories with Clif Bar having more fat, but slightly less saturated fat. Clif Bar has five times more dietary fiber and Power Bar has zero insoluble fiber compared to Clif Bar with 4 gms. PowerBar is void of 17 of the vitamins and minerals that are found in Clif Bar.
Clif Bar also has over twice the protein and over 2.5 times more potassium than PowerBar. Potassium, an essential element, works with sodium to maintain normal water balance and plays a key role in muscle contraction. It is lost from muscle during exercise and through sweat.
Fit Tip: Choose Clif Bar as a quick, nutritional energy source. It outperforms the PowerBar Performance Energy Bar with its significantly higher amounts of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Moreover, athletes and exercisers are especially prone to potassium loss during workouts and Clif Bar packs in considerably more of this essential electrolyte.
(See previous post on Clif Bar v. Nature Valley Granola Bar.)
© 2009 Karen Owoc and The Health Reporter™. All Rights Reserved.
