Generation UCAN Snack Bars Product Review

Disclaimer: I received UCAN Snack Bars to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

What do you usually eat before you go on a long run or start a tough workout?  And what do you grab on the go or to recover after said workout?

Over the years, I’ve tried a variety of different types of fuel and I still haven’t been able to find a consistent routine.  I used to regularly have toast and jam before my long runs and then eventually get something to eat once I was done, but rarely in the 30-60 minute window.

It’s so important to have the right type of fuel so that you maximize your workouts and continue to build strength.  I had the opportunity to test out the UCAN Snack Bars and they did a great job keeping me energized on my long runs.  Keep reading to check out my review!

I’m joining Jill Conyers for the Health Fitness and Happiness linkup and Angela and Ilka for the Sunday Fitness and Food linkup!

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links.

[bctt tweet=”Learn more about the @GenUCAN Snack Bars and how you can get 15% off with code BIBRAVE! #bibchat” username=”Janelle_RWNR”]

Fueling with UCAN Snack Bars

Have you heard of UCAN products?  Generation UCAN consists of fueling products including the SuperStarch Drink Mix , Protein Drink Mix, Hydrate Electrolytes, and the UCAN Snack Bars.  These products can be used before, during or after your workouts and come in a wide variety of flavors.

What makes these products so unique?  SuperStarch!  

Our all-natural SuperStarch carbohydrate is a patented ingredient derived from hydrothermally treated non-GMO corn. All carb sources were examined by the top researchers in the world in an effort to find a food that maintained blood sugar levels for the longest period of time.

An independent IRB study at the University of Oklahoma validated the benefits of SuperStarch for athletes. The results showed that SuperStarch delivers a steady release of glucose that prevents hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, significantly lessens an early spike in blood sugar, and enables maintenance of steady glucose levels without a crash. For athletes, this means reliable, extended energy without the need to refuel repeatedly.

UCAN Snack Bars are recommended to be used in the following ways:

• Pre-Workout:  Eat a UCAN Snack Bar 30-60 minutes before your workout
• During Training:  Eat UCAN Snack Bars to help curb hunger during ultra runs
• Post-Workout:  Recover with a UCAN Snack Bar to avoid the crash of sugar-based recovery nutrition, curb cravings, and stay in fat burning mode
• Meal Replacement/Healthy Snack:  Eat during the day to curb hunger

My Experience with the Bars

 

 

Big milestone today…longest run ever ????! 14 miles, and they were all by myself! I smiled at every runner I passed and even got a high five! Saw 5 horses too! I’m very proud of myself, especially finishing strong in my final, uphill mile that I was tempted to avoid! Started the morning with the chocolate @GenUCAN snack bar…????Very proud of myself today…take advantage of this cooler weather and say safe from Hermine! #RWNR #bibravepro #sweatpink #cityfitgirls #run215 #marathontraining

A photo posted by Janelle (@runwithnoregrets) on Sep 3, 2016 at 8:36am PDT

I was really looking forward to the opportunity to try the UCAN Snack Bars.  Since I’m in the midst of marathon training, creating a solid fueling plan is one of the most important steps in having a successful race.  I was hoping that sampling these bars would give me a great option for fuel to take before my long training runs and eventually the marathon.

In my sample box, I was able to try one of each of the flavors:

• Chocolate Peanut Butter
• Chocolate
• Cinnamon Swirl
• Coffee Bean
• Peach Passion

My favorite flavors by far were the Cinnamon Swirl and Coffee Bean.  The Chocolate Peanut Butter, Chocolate, and Peach Passion were a bit too rich for my taste.  The texture of the bars definitely takes some getting used to as it’s a little tough to chew, but I found them to be really effective when taking them about a half hour before my long runs.

I wouldn’t recommend taking the UCAN Snack Bars during the middle of a run since they are pretty large and would be tricky to handle without stopping your run.  I didn’t try them as a post-workout fuel but I am sure they would work great.

I would definitely purchase the UCAN Snack Bars for future use in my training.  I ran out of samples before I could really get the hang of them, so I’d really like to continue to use them as fuel pre-long run and as a healthy snack after yoga or spin class.

What flavor of UCAN snack bars looks most appealing to you?  What do you usually eat before and after a workout?