Welcome to “McDaniel’s Bite-Sized Reviews” | Jif Power Ups Creamy Clusters
It’s a weekly series we’re calling “McDaniel’s Bite-Sized Reviews!” Every other week, we’ll share a popular food, drink or supplement one of our MNT Registered Dietitians tried, reviewed and rated. With the growing number products on the grocery store shelves, figuring out which items are getting you the most nutritional bang for your buck can feel overwhelming? Our hope is that we can make grocery shopping at least 0.5% easier!
FYI – these posts aren’t sponsored. They are opinions of unpaid tastebuds.
Check Out Our Past Reviews:
- Week One: Banza Elbow Pasta Made with Chickpeas
- Week Two: Lifeway ProBugs Organic Pouches
- Week Three: Sports Research Collagen Peptides
- Week Four: Lúvo Planted Power Bowls
- Week Five: Kodiak Power Cakes Flapjack & Waffle Mix: Buttermilk
- Week Six: Beyond Meat Burger
- Week Seven: Litehouse Cilantro Greek Yogurt Dressing
- Week Eight: Clif Whole Lotta Bars
- Week Nine: Hippeas Organic Chickpea Puffs
- Week Ten: Cauliflower Crackers
- Week Eleven: Happy Inside Cereal for Digestive Health
- Week Twelve: PROBAR Live
- Week Thirteen: Popcorners
- Week Fourteen: Dave’s Killer Breads Rockin’ English Muffins
- Week Fifteen: Smart Sweets
What are Jif Power Ups Peanut Butter Creamy Clusters?
Jif Power Ups Creamy Clusters are granola clusters with peanut butter centers. They are made with no corn syrup and contain 6 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber per serving. They’re individually packaged to make on-the-go snacking easier.
Why Did We Try Jif Power Ups?
Last week I made the mistake of taking my 3 year-old to Walmart. He put three different types of bas/bites into our cart. With the reliance on Instacart, it’s been awhile since I perused this section of the grocery store. I was shocked at the options of energy bars/bites targeted to kids. While it’s nice to have options, it also felt overwhelming to figure out which bars offered a nutritious option for a reasonable price. One of the bites we tried were the Jif Power Ups.
Jif has a whole Power Up line consisting of various types of energy bars, as well as their creamy clusters. These granola and peanut butter clusters come in individual packages which make them a great option to bring for quick fuel before a soccer game or simply running around town.
Jif Power Ups: How Many Stars?
Our 5 Star Rating
Taste: 4/5 stars
Delicious, whole-grain nutty flavor. Like a scoop of Jif straight out of the jar rolled in sweet, crunchy oats. Two out of three boys loved them.
Nutrient Density: 4/5
As you can see below, most of the products are similar, nutritionally speaking. The one thing to note about the Jif Power Clusters is the additional fully hydrogenated oil. These oils are not as artery clogging as partially hydrogenated oils (i.e trans fats), but they act like saturated fats, which we need to limit. That being said, there is only 2.5 g sat fat/serving which was lower compared to other options. If I had to choose from the following, my vote would be the Bear Naked brand based on its nutrition resume and price!
Value: 3/5
The average cost per serving ($1.20) is similar to other energy bite products. However, it may be more cost effective to make your own energy bites (which also allows you to control things like added sugar and protein content)!
Average Rating: 3.6/5
Where To Find Jif Power Ups
In the Midwest, you can find this product at Schnucks, Dierbergs, Target, and Wal-Mart. Use their store locator finder if you are outside of the Midwest.
How We Enjoyed Jif Power Ups
A snack to keep mouths happy on the way out to the pumpkin patch!