Spring Cleaning with Balance Bar and J.R. Watkins {Prize Pack Giveaway!}

While there are many days that I would like nothing more than to bury myself under the covers and hibernate until spring has truly arrived, I know that isn't possible.

Fortunately, I can keep reminding myself that although much of the country still has snow on the ground, warm weather is truly right around the corner. By the end of March, it's time to dust off our winter cobwebs and freshen up not only our homes, but also our lifestyle and eating habits.

While people traditionally consider Spring Cleaning to mean window washing, shower scrubbing and more, Balance Bar is celebrating the change in season by setting the refresh button and "cleaning up" some of our bad eating habits and introducing some healthier habits – including healthy snacking!

Founded in 1992 by a group of sports enthusiasts, scientists and people with a passion for life, Balance Bar was one of the originators of energy bars and the nutrition bar category.

As they have long crafted their products with the perfect balance of great taste, quality nutrition and lasting energy, it is easy to see why their 40-30-30 nutrition principle (40% of calories come from carbohydrates, 30% from quality protein and 30% from dietary fat) provides balanced energy... as opposed to a sugar rush and subsequent crash.

Add to that the many different flavors, styles and formats of energy bars that Balance Bar offers and there is no reason that nutrition can't be easy and delicious for everyone. These convenient bars can be eaten at home, work or on-the-go, so no matter if your day has you attending meetings, running errands, picking up the kids, squeezing in a workout or more, you can stay balanced and ready to keep up with it all.

So, with the official start of spring later this week, it is the perfect time to check out some great Spring Cleaning advice from registered dietician Sharon Richter:

• Step 1: Empty everything from your food pantry. It's okay to start with a mess and you'll be surprised what's hiding in there!

• Step 2: Throw away anything that has expired, has been open for more than a couple weeks or you know you're just not going to use.

• Step 3: Organize everything by category – snacks, meal starters, nuts and dried fruits, oils/dressings, cereal and carbs, etc.

• Step 4: Check the labels. Here are a couple ingredients you simply shouldn't have in any foods: hydrogenated oil, HFCS, MSG.

• Step 5: Make sure you have plenty of portion controlled snacks readily available and at the front of the pantry as you tend to eat more of what is eye-level or easily accessible. Tip: stock up on Dark Balance Bars!

These are definitely great tips! As well as being impressed by Sharon's knowledge on how to clean up my kitchen and my eating habits, I was happy to be able to try out a selection of her favorite Balance Bars from the Dark line.

Yum, yum and yum! I love that each of these bars include a great deal of fiber and protein, while keeping the calories fairly low. Instead of reaching for an unhealthy snack to satisfy my chocolate cravings, I'm definitely grabbing a Dark Chocolate Peanut, Dark Chocolate Crunch or Dark Chocolate Coconut Balance Bar instead!

At the same time, I love the way that the J.R. Watkins White Tea & Bamboo All Purpose Cleaner and Hand Soap have been able to provide premium natural ingredients for our hands as well as our home. Who doesn't want soap that will leave our hands exceptionally clean without added chemicals?

And why wouldn't I choose to remove grease and grime from most surfaces in our home (including appliances, sinks, countertops, floors, walls, fixtures, and more) without the harsh toxins found in other all-purpose cleaners?

Whether you are struggling to add some much-needed Spring Cleaning to your life or you simply know that it is better for your body to eat healthy snacks throughout the day to stay fueled (and not starving!), Balance Bars are a delicious way to keep you on track... while giving your taste buds a treat at the same time.

Why not combine the great taste of sweets with healthy nutrition, energy and convenience and stay energized and ready to take on some much-needed cleaning? You can find out even more ways to spring clean your pantry and starting the new season on a healthy note at the upcoming Balance Bar Twitter Chat this Thursday!

Join @BalanceBar and @TheRichterReco (nutritionist Sharon Richter) for a one-hour Twitter chat using the hashtag #SpringIntoBalance on Thursday, March 20 at 3:00 PM ET!

To find out more about the HUGE variety of Balance Bars and the endless number of flavors available, visit them at Balance.com as well as on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. As well as keeping an eye out for these bars at your local grocery store and health food store, you can also find them at ShopBalance.com as well as on Amazon.

To learn more about the great collection available from J.R. Watkins and their commitment to making hard-working products from high-quality natural ingredients, be sure to visit them at JRWatkins.com and connect with them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Plus, thanks to the generosity of Balance Bar and J.R. Watkins, one person will be even more prepared for great Spring Cleaning as well, because...

One lucky person will win a
Balance Bar/JR Watkins Spring Cleaning Prize Pack*!

*Prize Pack includes 15 Balance Bars in Dark Chocolate Peanut, Dark Chocolate Crunch and Dark Chocolate Coconut as well as J.R. Watkins White Tea & Bamboo All Purpose Cleaner and Hand Soap.

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A big thank you to Balance Bar for providing a prize pack for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.