Why smoothie pouches are the best way for athletes to take in fuel

Hot Take: Bars are so old school. There's a new way for athletes to take in nutrition and it involves no chewing. Enter the smoothie pouch: it kicks open the door of what athletes have traditionally been told to eat. There are alternatives to energy bars out there. 

As an athlete, fueling your body is one of the most important things you can do. But if you don't like the trail snacks you brought, you likely won't eat them.

When I climbed Mount Rainer a few years ago, having a smoothie pouch for the alpine start made fueling easy and accessible. Eating before an alpine start is already hard, let alone eating while you're moving. The pouch allowed me to fuel on the go and still get in carbohydrates. 

Here are three reasons why we should all get bullish on the pouch format for athletes: 

1. Unmatched Convenience

I cannot understate the important of fueling and fueling properly. But, it's really challenging. Finding the right fuel that works can be a lifelong adventure. 

Neve (pronounced ne-vay) is in a pouch because it's simple for athletes to consume, it's that easy. Neve is resealable, portable and stashable. You don't have to consume it all, or you can. Totally your choice. This makes Neve the best ski snack, hiking snack, or really any outdoor adventure snack. Easy to consume. 

2. Nutrient Dense

Alternatives to bars like smoothie pouches provide an excellent source of essential nutrients. When shifting away from a bar, we are no longer confined to the bar format. Bars are typically a grain, a 'glue' (honey, peanut butter, etc), nuts and seeds, and whatever else is thrown in there. With a pouch, we get to go far beyond the confines of a rectangular plank. This also means we get to introduce macro and micro nutrients in fun and expected ways - hello boysenberries! 

3. There's no reason you can't have good nutrition wherever you are

It's 2025, I mean come on! Us athletes have largely been told what to eat, but I'm saying enough is enough! Neve means that you get to have really good nutrition no matter where you are, and that includes deep in the backcountry. It's 2025 - we don't need to compromise. 

Conclusion: The Future of Fueling for Athletes

From convenience to clean nutrition, smoothie pouches are quickly becoming a favorite among athletes of all kinds. As athletes we know we will take in nutrition from anything, as long as it works. I've seen some nasty stuff out there, but girls gotta eat! 

While the pouch is largely associated with baby food, I think it's time we all zoom out and realize how practical smoothie pouches for adults really are.