BEST ENERGY BARS

What are the Best Energy Bars? Power Bars. Energy Bars. Breakfast Bars. Cereal Bars. Snack Bars. Bars are everywhere. It’s no wonder they’re so popular with our hectic, on-the-go lifestyles. They sure are convenient. But, are they really ‘healthy’?

 

Nutrition bars can be part of a busy yet healthy lifestyle. However, it’s also clear why they’re not stocked next to the kale and blueberries at your grocery store!

Many are made with cheap, low-quality ingredients and are hiding tons of sugar and additives. I started a mission to find the best bars for us to have on hand for those busy, hectic, hungry times.

Here are four criteria for a better bar:

1. Does it have at least 3 grams of fiber? Fiber helps our bodies in many ways, but in a bar, it will slow digestion and make the energy from the bar last longer.

2. Does it have at least 5 grams of protein? This helps balance the carbohydrates, so the bar seems more satisfying and the energy lasts longer. Some bars have 1 or 2 grams of protein, while others have 10 or more grams.

3. Does it contain less than 35% calories from sugar? Not many bars meet this guideline.  Try to calculate the percentage of calories from sugar because different brands of bars differ in size. If you calculate sugar by percentage, you can compare them fairly.

4. How much total fat and saturated fat does it contain? You definitely want some fat in the bar, so that it has a more satisfying taste, texture, and helps slow digestion a bit. But you don’t want too much fat, and you certainly don’t want any saturated fat if you can help it.

Best Energy Bars

Lemon Poppy Seed Core Bars – Purchase here

Core bars are full of nutritious ingredients with no added sugars. They also contain added probiotics and prebiotics, both of which can benefit your digestive health. They’re USDA-certified organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, kosher, and vegan and come in a variety of interesting flavors.

Honey Roasted Nuts and Sea Salt KIND Bars – Get them via Amazon

KIND bars are made with healthy ingredients like nuts and dried fruit. They’re good sources of protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Opt for bars that contain just nuts and fruits and aren’t coated with choco.ate.

GoRaw Dark Chocolate Protein Bars – Purchase here

These bars are made with sprouted watermelon seeds and pack 12 grams of plant-based protein. The sprouting process may increase the bioavailability of some nutrients, like zinc and magnesium. They do contain a small amount of added sugar, but most of the flavor comes from nutritious ingredients like cinnamon, dates, and cacao.

Health Warrior Apple Cinnamon Chia Bars – purchase here

This 100-calorie bar packs a lot of punch in a small package. There are vegan-friendly and gluten-free. The base of these bars are chia seeds, which are packed with antioxidants, protein, fiber, and omega-3s.

Autumn’s Gold Cinnamon Almond Granola Bars – go here to purchase

Autumn’s Gold is another Paleo-friendly granola bar that uses nutritious protein-rich ingredients, almonds, pecans, and sunflower seeds. Also, they have coconut oil for a dose of healthy fat.

Kate’s Real Food Bars are made with “real” organic, non-GMO, and gluten-free ingredients. They come in a variety of flavors but, keep in mind that these bars contain two servings per package.

 

 

If you enjoyed this post, you may also like to read this on Low Cal Snacks!

This post contains affiliate links. If you click the link and make a purchase I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Visit all my recommended products at Paula’s Picks on Amazon. Read my entire Privacy Policy here.