Did I look up the origins of the expression “bar none” in order to title this post the way I did? Yes. Did I feel sort of silly for not realizing it’s just short for ‘barring’ none? Yes.
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I first heard about The Simply Bar at the Blend Retreat this year, when Janetha was spotted lugging a giant cardboard box of them into the center of our pre-hike gathering and said, “Let me introduce you to the bar that will change your life.”
OK. That’s not entirely how it happened. But it could have. It should have.
The Simply Bar might not have changed my life, but it did change my ideas about protein bars.
Unlike many bars I have eaten (and, to be honest, did enjoy) The Simply Bar is not a sugar-high masquerading as a protein bar.
I was immediately shocked at the incredible amount of protein–16g?!–for the comparative number of calories (only 150).
Even more incredible than that, however, are the flavors. From the Caramel Peanut that provided a much-needed afternoon pick-me-up at school…
….to the Cinnamon Pecan that saved my stomach from eating my spine* on a road trip to Richmond.
*Thank you Laura for that turn of phrase.
And–even when it was miniature and smushed–who can deny the deliciousness of anything Chocolate Peanut Butter?
I’m also pretty sure that the Lemon Coconut–a lemon coconut protein bar?!?!–was partly responsible for Lemon Bar Nutty Butter. 
Thanks to the kindness of the company–and the fact that I won not one…
…but TWO different giveways…
…I have been able to try all of the flavors. 
[Even if I am really bad about sharing...]
“Sorry, Liz, I totally brought this Simply Bar so you could taste it…but I ate it on the way here.”*
*True story.
I might be bad about sharing, but I’m REALLY great at spreading my love for these bars, as we all discovered (later that same day) when I was expounding their fabulous characteristics with such effusiveness at the Richmond Vegetarian Festival that the volunteers became confused about who was actually working the booth.
I can’t, unfortunately, hook you up with the (amazingly incredible) Chocolate Raspberry, but I CAN give away a set of the other four most popular U.S.-distributed Simply Bars.
How to win a set of Simply (the best) Bars of your own?
Simply leave a comment telling me what creative bar flavor YOU would create if you could: Ginger cashew? Maple strawberry? Vanilla orange cardamom?
Additional entries:
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Follow The Simply Bar on twitter.
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Follow The Smart Kitchen on twitter.
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Tweet about the giveaway…something like: ” @thesmartkitchen is giving away a set of @thesimplybar–it’s simply SMART to enter
http://tinyurl.com/dxjptxj “
I’ll pick a winner in a few days!
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Before I giveaway The Simply Bar, I should probably close the Birthday Cake Nutty Butter giveaway, huh?
Happy (Nutty Butter) Birthday to….
E-mail me Kristen…I can’t wait to get you some Nutty Butter! 
{ 152 comments… read them below or add one }
hmm…i would create pumpkin chocolate chip!
I would make a Strawberry Pistachio bar
OK, I am wayyyy too excited about this!!!!!!!!!!!! First you send me a salad spinner (which I use all the time, by the way), and now I win the best sounding flavor of nut butter EVER! I’ll email you right away! Thanks, girl!
Mmmm! Strawberry Cheesecake!
I follow the Simply Bar on Twitter serene_streams
I follow you on Twitter serene_streams
These are *so* good.
PS you should linkup on my TTL post since you’ve got a giveaway going!
I tweeted! https://twitter.com/Serene_streams/status/235345248979664897
Thank you so much as they sound delicious just like your yummy nut butters!
I’d make a vanilla cinnamon coffee cake! or something like that.
tweeted!
already following you! duh!
already following SB!
maca mexican hot chocolate!!
I’d find a way to make either an Oregon Huckleberry or a Michigan Cherry (& nut) bar.
I would create a orange pineapple macadamia bar. mMmMmM
I follow Simply Bar on Twitter
I follow you on twitter
I tweeted the giveaway
Cinnamon latte would be my flavor of choice!
I’d stick to a tried and true best seller – chocolate mint! Yummy!
chocolate peanut butter banana (:
I’d make some kind of coffee flavored one.
I would create a dark chocolate crunchy bar filled with sea salt caramel.
i follow you on twitter
A birthday cake bar would be amazing. And probably healthier than eating birthday cake for a snack.
I follow The Simply Bar on Twitter! @jkasparbauer
I follow YOU on twitter! @jkasparbauer
Mmmm….strawberry peanut butter oatmeal?!
i follow them on twitter
I tweeted! https://twitter.com/jkasparbauer/status/235358620517273600
i tweeted.
I love any bar that has nut butter as part of its flavor–my creation would require it.
I’m following the Simply Bar on twitter!
I follow you on twitter!
Mmmmmm… I love pumpkin (and am longing for fall), so I’d say some sort of pumpkin pie bar
tweeted about the giveaway! (@Danica_ipnp)
Midnight snack – based on the ben and jerry’s ice cream flavor
Pina Colada would be a refreshing tropical flavor!
Chocolate coconut. Shocker huh. I’m addicted.
I already follow simply bar on twitter
Already follow you on twitter <3
I’ve seen these bars in stores before, and I’ve been meaning to try them– they look delicious! I think I’d probably create either a chai-spice and orange flavor or a spicy mexican chocolate bar
. Yum!
Yum!! I’d do a chocolate orange! OR an apple pie
I’d like to see ginger pear, which would have chunks of crystallized ginger and dried pear.
I tweeted!
Cranberry raisin would do it for me!
I twitter follow The Smart Kitchen.
I’d love peanut butter and jelly… Maybe that’s not the most creative one I could up with, but it sure does sound amazing!
I follow The Simply Bar on Twitter!
I follow YOU on Twitter!
And I Twitter follow The Simply Bar, too.
aaaaaaaaaaand I tweeted!
Following Miss Smart on twitter!
And now following Simply Bar on twitter as well!
Ginger Date would be my combination! Love dates & ginger! Thanks!
Blueberry peanut butter cinnamon it’s an amazing combo!(;
I would go for a chocolate coconut!
I would create a cinnamon apricot, peaches ‘n’ cream, or lemon drop flavor!
I’d love a lemon bar.
I would totally create a salted caramel pretzel….I know its so mainstream and has been done so many times but I LOVE that flavor combination!
I would create a cookie dough flavor! It’s not that inventive, for sure, but it’s my favorite flavor
I’d want to create something chocolately FOR SURE! maybe chocolate covered cherry? Dark chocolate with sea salt? Yum!!
following you on FB!
chocolate caramel sour cherry of course!!
all things lemon-y appeal to me these days. I blame summer.
also follow you on twitter!
Cinnamon, chocolate, coffee or something like that. Yum!
Any bar that I created would have to involve pumpkin, maple, and cashews. How could that not be wonderful??
I love Simply Bars!! New flavor? How about Mexican Chocolate – sweet and spicy! =)
White Chocolate Key Lime
Remember that time we went to the vegetarian festival and you practically SOLD the Simply Bars to everyone there? You’re the world’s best spokes-blogger
xoxo
Salted caramel apple!
I follow you on twitter
I follow simply bar on twitter
I’d love a s’mores flavor. I love s’mores everything!
I tweeted the giveaway
I have been looking all over for these and I can’t find them anywhere! I may have to order them online. I would totally create a coffee almond flavored bar.
i’m not that creative. all i want from a bar is peanut butter chocolate chip delicious.
I want a dark chocolate cinnamon bar with pretzels. For some reason, that sounds really good.
These will change your life! I want a coconut coffee one!!
I already follow you.
and I follow them.
tweeted!
If I could make ANY flavor I would make cinnamon apple peanut butter! I love all THREE mixed together as a snack and to be able to throw that in my purse and not have it mushed would be heavenly
Followed you on twitter @starsystemz Love and Shine CourtStar
I follow you on Twitter @TeenEatLive
Lemon peanut coconut
I follow Simply Bar on Twitter!
And I follow you on Twitter too
I would make Coconut Blueberry- best combo ever!
I followed The Simply Bar on twitter
I’d like a snickerdoodle or a pumpkin spiced Simply Bar (and nutty butter…in case you are open to more flavor ideas!)
I follow you on Twitter.
And I follow Simply Bar on Twitter.
I would invent dark choc cashew w/ sea salt!
I follow you on Twitter
And… I follow Simply Bar on Twitter!
Ok, you’ve convinced me to search and consume these protein bars!
I would love to make a dark chocolate blueberry coconut bar, nom nom.
I would invent a rocky road bar.
hmmm how about a maple brown sugar with pecan flavor? random but sounds good to me
Funfetti cake batter. Whoa, yes.
Following you on Twitter!
Carrot Cake!
I would make a pecan pie type flavor!
I would make a strawberry pecan flavored bar
And I already follow you on Twitter =D
Creamsicle might be good!
I’d make a mint chocolate bar or a mango macadamia nut bar, mmmm
I follow Simply Bar on twitter
@j_mosh
I follow you on twitter, too
@j_mosh
I love cranberry orange combo. How about lemon/coconut??!!
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/j_mosh/status/235597094566637568
Oooh! Um, Key Lime (I like the key lime Larabar…), or maybe something pepperminty/chocolate, or espresso’y…
You said cardamon and now I’m totally dreaming of a chai latte bar…mmmmm!!
I follow Simply Bar on Twitter!
I follow you on Twitter….duh!
Annnnnnnnd I tweeted! And totally giggled when I read your play on words! Ahh, you are so punny!
White chocolate and lemon!
I follow the simply bar on twitter!
And I follow you on twitter!
I would make a Mint Chocolate Pecan Chunk bar!
Wow, the bars look and sound amazing, what great nutrition stats!
I would create a smores bar, and an oatmeal
chocolate chip, love that combo!
Ana
I follow the simply bar on twitter!
@KitchenspaceAna
Ana
I also follow the smart kitchen on twitter!
@KitchenspaceAna
Ana
I’d do coconut, almond butter with dried cherries! yum!
i am thinking something pumpkin-y!!! I also tweeted
OMG!! If they made a maple/brown sugar, I could get my tween to get her protein. As for me, choc rasp is MY love, lemon/blueberry, or even just a simple peanut butter and choc chip!
I would make strawberry and coconut flavor
Mine would be pumpkin peanut butter! YUMM
follow them on twitter!
follow you on twitter!
All of these flavors sound AMAZING! I am thinking maybe a chocolate cream eclair bar, or a bourbon pecan truffle bar, or an apple pie bar…whatever the case, I would LOVE to try the flavors! Thanks for the giveaway!
Someone already beat me to it! I would have picked Pumpkin Spice!
Since it’s already taken, I bet a Coconut Chocolate would be very yummy!
I don’t know if this contest is Canada friendly…
It is! Simply Bars are actually a Canadian product.
I’d make a strawberry rhubarb bar!
I’d make a French toast like bar – not sure how but something that tastes akin to French toast.
Blueberry almond!
I would create….. raspberry chocolate almond butter!
Already following you on twitter
Already following Simply Bar on Twitter
Tweeted!
Lemon Cherry, but more cherry than lemon
Hmm, you had me at cashew. Cashew… cranberry! Sounds good and colorful
Pb&J!
Following them on twitter!
Following you on twitter!
Omgeeeeeeee i think i would create a Hazelnut maple pecan flavored bar! Or a pumpkin ginger cashew, nom nom nom!!
I follow you on twitter already
!
I follow the simply bar on twitter also!
My custom flavor would involve dark chocolate, caramel and coffee!
I follow you on twitter!
I follow simply bar on twitter!
The flavor I would make is Hazelnut Coffee Toffee. YUM! PS… I would totally buy that in nut butter form as well!