Gear Review | Kate's Real Food Energy Bars – Arizona Hikers Guide

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Company: Kate’s Real Food
Kate’s Real Food was founded by Kate Schade after her homemade bars gained popularity on the slopes of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The self proclaimed ski bum would fuel herself and friends she met on the early morning tram rides in Jackson. The high energy blend of protein and carbs became a local favorite and eventually came to market when Kate decided to ditch the skis and become a business owner. Kate’s Real Food Energy Bars now come in five power packed varieties that are healthy, filling, and full of energy.

• Large 3 oz. serving size
• Five varieties
• 5-9 oz. of protein per bar
• Different textures and tastes in every bite
• 80-92% organic ingredients
• 100% Non-GMO

Size	2.2-3 ounces
Calories per bar	260-360
Ingredients	Found here
Made In	Idaho

When it comes to food on the trail I look for three things; energy, taste, and filling.  Lately, I have been struggling to find a snack that fills my horse-like appetite, tastes good, and is not a 6 pack of Hostess doughnuts.  I tried all kinds of “energy” bars in the past they all were either gross, full of sugar, looked inedible, or deceptively small.  

And then I found Kate’s.

Kate’s Real Food makes bars just like every other mom and pop in the outdoor industry… except they aren’t anything like the other bars.  Most bars I tried looked like a processed nightmare of unidentifiable ingredients.  With Kate’s bars I could actually see what I was eating and every bite had a unique taste and texture.  Kate’s bars are also large and filling.  I took two bars with me on a day hike thinking I would get through both of them but just one 3 oz. bar kept me satisfied the entire hike.  The bar fills the entire packaging and is noticeably large and dense.   I also like how the wrapper is clear so you can see exactly what you are getting.

Kate’s Real Food uses only real ingredients (hence the name) and they strive to find only the highest quality ingredients which is noticeable when tasting the bars.  When I opened my first bar, which happened to be the original Tram Bar, my first thought was, “huh, this looks just like my grandma made this in her kitchen”.  I could really tell that these bars were homemade with real ingredients packed neatly together into a tight square perfect for my mid-hike munchies.

They aren’t just good on the trail either. When we aren’t hiking and exploring our great state of Arizona, my wife and I work as high school math teachers. As teachers we rarely get a chance to eat lunch and Kate’s bars have become our go-to “lunch bars” when we get busy. My favorite bar is the Tiki Bar which is their mango, coconut, cashew bar while my wife Casi enjoys the peanut butter and dark chocolate Grizzly Bar.

1. The size: If there is one thing I hate it’s having to bring two of everything on a hike to snack on.  Not with Kate’s.  Her bars are a generous 3 oz. (85 grams) serving which is 1 1/2 to twice the size of a typical energy type bar.  They don’t hide a tiny bar in over-sized packaging like some of the companies I have tried.
2. The taste: I love the idea of eating whole ingredients that aren’t so processed you can’t tell what it is you are actually consuming.  I enjoyed getting a different taste and texture with every bite.
3. The ingredients: Each bar has a short list of ingredients that I can pronounce.  For example, the Tiki Bar only has eight ingredients.
4. I actually get full.  Full disclosure: I love Kind Bars as well but my beef with them is that I have to eat two or three of their bars to feel satisfied.  With Kate’s Real Food I only need to eat one to feel full and happy!

1. Lack of real variety:  Yes, there are five different varieties but three of the five bars contain virtually the same ingredients.  The Tram Bar, the Grizzly Bar, and the Stash bar all contain peanut butter and either milk chocolate or dark chocolate as their main ingredients.  I’d like to see more nut and fruit varieties.
2. A little sweet for my taste: Although the bars are delicious they lacked the savor I was looking for in an energy bar.  Maybe that goes along with the lack of variety in the bars themselves.
3. This isn’t much of a dislike for Kate’s as it is for the industry in general but they are a bit pricey ranging from $2.79 to $3.29.  The price does, however, keep in line with industry standard pricing at around $1 per ounce so I can’t complain too much.

I was thouroughly impressed with Kate’s Real Food energy bars and can see myself picking them up in the future.  They far surpass the giants in the industry like Luna, Clif, and Odwalla bars in my book. I recommend them not only for backpacking and hiking adventures but also as a filling snack that will help you get through the day.

Right now Kate’s Real Food is offering A.H.G. readers 40% OFF your purchase when you buy from their ONLINE STORE!!  Just enter AHG40 in the coupon code when checking out (valid until 12/31/16)
You can pick one up (or a dozen for that matter) below;

Order From Kate’s Real Food Kate’s bars are anywhere between 80-92% organic. “For the most part organic.” We have just a few ingredients that are not organic, but are on the hunt for the perfect organic replacements in order to become 100% organic. There are many size and wording restrictions when it comes to labeling “organic” on packaging. That’s why we are unable to portray it more loudly on the front. Our facility is certified Kosher by OK Kosher. A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism that has been altered genetically through the insertion of a modified gene or a gene from another organism. We do not support this practice and currently are in the process of getting our non-GMO status. Any ingredient that is organic is also considered non-GMO. Here at Kate’s we always source non-GMO ingredients.
The bottle is also made in America from locally sourced parts. This allows us to minimize shipping costs and the environmental impact that goes along with them. The fact that our entire operation – from sales to production to shipping – takes place under one roof further reduces overhead, energy use, and environmental strain. We also are not vegan since every bar is sweetened with honey. The Tram Bar also has milk as an ingredient in its milk chocolate.
The Tiki Bar is made with gluten free ingredients, but is not certified gluten free yet. The other four bars are not gluten free because they contain “regular” oats. Oats are naturally gluten free, but because they are most often processed in a facility that also processes wheat, there may be a micro amount of gluten found in these oats. Some gluten sensitive folks can eat the oats, and others cannot. It all depends on the bodies’ level of sensitivity. First, let’s start by saying, “Looks can be deceiving!” The Tram Bar and the Grizzly Bar are a large 3 ounces. They are thicker and denser than other brands and our bar is not lost in its packaging. Ounce per ounce, the price of our bar is comparable to others, right about $1.00 per ounce. We encourage people to look at what they are getting when they pick up a bar. The bar next to ours may be flat, and wide, and $1.39. Sounds like a great deal right? But take some time to look at the size, only 1.3 ounces. The Tram Bar is 3 ounces, $3.00 and so much more delicious!

We use organic ingredients, which are more expensive than conventional. Organic ingredients have not been exposed to toxic pesticides nor are they genetically modified.

Personally, we believe they taste way better, are better for you, and better for the environment. Our bars are made in small batches, not machine made. Here at Kate’s, real mountain loving people make our bars. We find it adds to the great texture, and we are also able to continue to hire great people instead of machines.

The FAQ section came straight from Kate’s Real Food website
Some photos also came from Kate’s Real Food website.

*Disclaimer:  Two things: 1. Although this product was given to me complimentary for this review, it in no way influenced my testing or opinion of the product or company.  2. If you decide to make a purchase from my site I will receive a small (tiny) commission which helps me keep producing quality and free content (thank you in advance, you are awesome!).  There is no additional charge to you. Ever.