Clif Kid Review and Giveaway

A couple of weeks ago we were invited by LUNA and CLIF Kid bars to a Mommy and Me Nutrition Event at San Francisco's Zeum museum. We had never been to Zeum before and we had a fabulous time at all their cool exhibits (and that's the subject of a whole new post!) , but what made the event memorable was everything the kids got to learn about organic foods, healthy snacking, and sustainable living. Alfie and I have been making a big push away from meat and toward vegetables as the main focus of our meals, so this event could not have come at a better time.

First, some experts talked to the kids about the dangers of chemicals and pesticides in the foods we eat and the containers we use. They went through a fun exercise of choosing healthy, safe foods and putting them in a shopping basket. Even though it was geared to kids, I learned a lot too (did you know that some canned food contains BPA?).


Next, the kids got to decorate some cute bento boxes while a nutrition expert spoke to us about making the right food choices for ourselves and our kids. She gave some great ideas for snacks and lunches that kids would love. Now, why didn't I think of packing hummus and pita and carrots? Maybe it's because I've never had anything to pack it in. Now that we have these bento boxes, I don't have an excuse.

The smash hit of the day was our session with Gardener Benjamin, who showed the kids all the yummy vegetables that they could grow themselves. They got to play some fun veggie guessing games, smell some heavenly basil leaves, and taste some heavenly tomatoes.


Even better, Benjamin had an assortment of plants and giant pots so each kid could plant his own mini vegetable garden and take it home! I nearly broke my back and arms dragging/carrying three huge, heavy pots to the parking garage (3 blocks away), but it was worth it to have each kid so proud of having their own onions, lettuce, and basil. I love seeing them so motivated to take charge of their own health! I am notorious for my black thumb, but the kids have been really good about watering their pots, so I'm hopeful we'll be able to harvest some great veggies soon.

We all went home a little happier, a little healthier and little smarter. The Pea has turned into our BPA watchdog, and all the kids are reading nutrition labels and watching their refined sugar intake. I'm putting those bento boxes to good use to pack the kids' lunches, and we've already gone through the assortment of Clif Kid and Luna products we were sent home with. Fortunately, not long after this event I was sent even more Clif Kid products to review! Keep reading below to see what we think of Clif Kid products, and enter to win some of your own....


The Basics

Organic Twisted Fruit is an all-natural tangy fruit snack. Kids love eating Organic Twisted Fruit because of its cool, easy-to-eat rope shape and its fun rush of flavor. And parents like them because each one is equivalent of one whole serving of fruit and is a good source of vitamin C.

Nationwide, Organic ZBaR is the number one kid's snack bar. ZBaRs are a flavor favorite of kids and are made from all natural ingredients including rolled oats, blueberries, chocolate chips and more. What Parents like about the ZBaR is its nutrition value: they include the right blend of protein, carbohydrates and fiber that work together to balance kids' energy levels without crashing. ZBaRs are basically snack bars modeled after what parents would bake at home for their kids, if they had time of course.

The Bongga
The italics say it all. CLIF Kids products taste great and they're made with healthy ingredients. 'Nuff said.

Actually, I can't keep my mouth shut about how good they are, so I'll say more.

The Twisted Fruit ropes are a smash hit with my kids. They adore the chewy texture and sour, tangy taste -- it's no surprise to me that their favorite flavor is Sour Apple. Unlike some of the natural fruit leathers I buy, Twisted Fruit seems to have a "cool" factor with the kids -- they're on par with those gummy "fruit" pieces in little pouches. And the ZBaRs have always been favorites at our house. I like them because they're just the right size for kids and they're made with good ingredients, and the kids love how they taste!


The Blah
ZBaRs are pretty much in every major grocery store now, but I can't say the same about the Twisted Fruit. I haven't had much luck finding it at Safeway (I lucked out at REI, and bought enough to last my kids through a month of snacks. Or less, if their friends come over).

The Bottom Line
CLIF Kids Organic Twisted Fruit and Organic ZBaRs are a great choice for kids' lunchboxes because they're all natural, easy to pack, and delicious.


Win a CLIF Kids Gift Pack
One lucky Bonggamom Finds winner will receive an assortment of CLIF Kid products similar to the photo below:


(These are the actual CLIF Kid samples I received. Actual contents of prize package may vary. Bowl not included -- sorry, that's my bowl and I'm keeping it. Hey, I did say "similar to the photo"!)

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me your child's favorite CLIF Kid product. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.


Extra Entries
For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry with a way to verify the entry (i.e. tweet link, blog post link, Facebook id, Twitter id, etc.).

1) Grab my blog button and post it up on your blog (1 entry).

2) Subscribe to Bonggamom Finds updates (1 entry).

3) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):

I entered the CLIF Kid giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/2v943x5

4) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Networked Blogs (1 entry).

5) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger(1 entry).

6) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):

Win a CLIF Kid gift pack from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/2v943x5 #giveaways


The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on September 21, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on September 22 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. US addresses only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: My kids and I received complimentary admission to the Zeum Museum for the Clif Kids event, and afterwards I received an assortment of Clif Kid products to sample. Thanks, CLIF!

I was not paid to review the product or event, or to give my opinions. Product information is provided by the featured company/product and is clearly indicated as such. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.