The Best Protein and Snack Bars
Snack bars and protein bars make many promises, however no bar can actually replace whole foods like nuts, seeds, crunchy vegetables and juicy fruit. We do recognize that busy lives do make these foods handy in a pinch. It does feel like the marketplace for these bars expands daily so we’ve taken some of the guess work out of the equation to help you select a better bar to have on hand.
Here is the criteria we use when selecting a snack bar for ourselves and our families.
Less than 250 calories
Less than 7 grams added sugar
No Sucralose of other sugar alcohols
No more than 2 grams of saturated fat
At least 8 grams of protein in a protein bar
Protein Bars
RxBar- 12 grams of protein, simple real ingredients. The chewy texture may not be for everyone.
RxBar Plant- 10 grams of protein, used peas and almonds for protein.
A.M. RxBar- 12 grams of protein and under 250 calories. This bar does have slightly more added sugar than we’d like to see, but with its simple ingredient list and other attributes we can let that rule bend.
Lara Bars- These have similar ingredients to an RX bar but skip the egg whites. These bars come in a wide variety of flavors and meet all of the above criteria. They also have a kids and a mini version that are good to keep on hand when hunger strikes between meals.
Nut bars
Perfect Bars- Jil’s favorite for taste! A full size bar is 350 calories, but the snack size bar is a good option between meals.
KIND bars- A tasty blend of nuts, dried fruits, and honey, offering a wholesome, flavorful snack with transparent, simple ingredients.
Fody Bars- contain no inulin and are easier for some to digest.
Granola Bars
KIND Bars and KIND Breakfast Bars
Cascadian Farm- No added sugar
Kodiak and Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bar- slightly high in sugar at 2 ½ teaspoons but close!
Bars for Kids
Cerebelly- These soft, chewy bars contain no added sugar and are made with brain supporting nutrients.
Skout Bars- These small bars are great for adults and kids. Emilee’s family likes the subscription so that her kids can update their preferences for each box.