I received complimentary Balance Bars and other goodies to help me in the Balance Bar Summer Shape Up Challenge. All opinions are my own.

This Summer, Balance Bar is challenging you to shape up and get fit once and for all. The 40-Day Challenge is well under way, but it’s never too late to join in! Throughout the Challenge, Balance Bar will be sharing fun 30-minute workout challenges, tips for eating better and other ways to get healthy and stay healthy all year long. You’ll find the tips every day on the Balance Bar Facebook page.

Holly Del Rosso, an NASM certified personal trainer, created the workout and also shares some other great tips on the Balance Bar Summer Shape Up Challenge page. One of my favorites: Drink more “fun” water! I received a Ball Wide Mouth Jar Infuser and a Ball mason jar in my kit. I haven’t had a chance to try out the infused water, but I’m planning to take fresh mint from my garden (by garden, I mean, fresh mint plant, as it’s the only thing that really survived) along with some lemons and see how that comes out. I rarely drink plain water, so the idea of infusing it with fresh fruits and herbs definitely sounds more appealing!

Balance Bars Keep You Satisfied Between Meals

I tried out the Peanut Butter and the Cookie Dough Balance Bars. My favorite is definitely the Cookie Dough! Both are good, but that one has the chocolatey flavor that I crave for a snack. The Cookie Dough Balance Bars follow a 40-30-30 nutrition principal. This means it’s 40% carbs, 30% protein and 30% dietary fat. The idea behind the principle is that this combination keeps you feeling satisfied longer because it has a slow glycemic response. Basically, it’s supposed to digest slower.

I don’t really understand all of the mechanics and “behind the scenes” science that goes into creating the perfect snack bar. I mostly care about how it tastes and whether it leaves me wanting something else right after I finish it. Balance Bars are not only filling, they’re also pretty good! Each bar does have 210 calories, but they’re definitely well-spent calories, especially since the bars are such a great size.

I actually like to eat them for breakfast. I never have time to sit and prepare and actual meal for myself throughout the day, pretty much until dinner. I need food that I can consume while I type. I know it’s not the healthiest way to live, but I support my son on my own. I have to make every minute of my work day count. Sacrificing a home-cooked breakfast and lunch means that I can actually end the day before my son goes to bed. Balance Bars definitely do the job of helping me keep going.

Since I enjoyed the Cookie Dough and the Peanut Butter so much, I am dying to try out the other flavors. The Dark Chocolate Peanut and the S’mores Balance Bars sound amazing! Don’t miss the great tips in the Balance Bar Summer Shape Up Challenge. Even once it’s over, you’ll still find the tips on the Facebook page. You can also follow Balance Bar on Twitter and Pinterest to keep up with the Challenge.

Have you tried any of the Balance Bar flavors? Which is your favorite?