Clif Bar Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Organic Energy Food Review

Testing out the Clif Bar Oatmeal as my first meal of the day.

First up for review out of my recent #ExpertGear package is Clif Bar's Apple Cinnamon flavored Oatmeal Organic Energy Food.

The Skinny: Clif Bar seems to have expanded recently into the liquid (how else do I describe it) energy market and this is one of their new offerings. It is in a recognizable pouch container that you would typically see organic applesauce or fruit smoothie in. It comes in a 4.23 oz serving size and contains 140 calories, 45 of which are from fat. In looking at the ingredients lists it sounds very yummy as it contains oats, apple puree, quinoa, maple syrup, just to name a few.

The ingredients sound delicious and so does their product blurb on the back!

Hits and Misses: My first impression was the texture was off-putting. It has more the consistency of toothpaste than of an applesauce or fruit smoothie that I am used to coming out of the same kind of container. So one reason I don't like it is because it's too thick to be squeezing out of a tube. But then again oatmeal isn't supposed to be this runny. Oatmeal is supposed to be a hardy stick-to-your-ribs kind of meal. So the other reason I don't like it is because it's not thick enough. I know you cant have it both ways, It's just not what I was expecting. I was expecting well, Oatmeal. You know the lumpy bowl of porridge your mother used to make you eat growing up. It's funny I as in all actuality Oatmeal was one of my favorite meals growing up. I guess because I grew up loving oatmeal I am probably a little but more critical of Clif Bar's rendition of a breakfast staple.

Once I get past the texture though, the taste isn't any better. I can taste a hint of oat, I can taste the apple and definitely the cinnamon. But the tartness of the apple is overwhelming. There is also a hint of a metallic flavor in there, in my opinion. It might just be me, but it doesn't really taste, or feel, like I am eating oatmeal. It comes across as a slightly tart thick goo.

I understand the niche market for a product like this. They want to go after those ultra athletes who need a quick easy breakfast before a rigorous workout or competition. I think they are onto something with that line of thinking I just think they can do a lot better in making it more appetizing.

I hope the rest of my products are more appetizing or this is going to be a long testing period. But fear not! I am here taste testing these items so you don't have to! I think I might have try Skratch Labs hydration mix next to get this awful taste out of my mouth. Until then keep taking your kids outdoors...