I’m going to assume that if you clicked on this article, being healthy is something thats important to you. You are the person that believes eating real foods and taking care of yourself are going to make life better. I couldn’t agree more, and if you don’t know me then we should be friends. Believe it or not, most people think us healthy folks are crazy. Those are the folks that think health food tastes bad, and nutrition bars have to be good for you. As a matter of fact, my most popular questions are about what nutrition bars to eat.
When it comes to nutrition bars, what words come to mind? Healthy? Clean? Balanced? Nutritious? Paleo?
Ever wonder why nutrition bars are hanging out in one big isle at the grocery store and not over by the kale?
Up until a few years ago, bars were not something that took up a whole isle in the grocery store. Growing up as a kid or even in high school, I would never have grabbed a bar over a piece of fruit, popsicle, or even a cookie. More and more people are now beginning to choose bars as a quick, healthy option when they are on-the-go to have a more nutritious option and grocery store isles are on trend.
Many bars are made with cheap, low-quality ingredients that can cause digestive challenges, breakouts, leave you lower on energy than you started with. They also contain tons of hidden sugars, preservatives and artificial flavorings. If you find yourself wondering which bar you should grab, here are some great options and I found them all at Earthfare.
I’ve narrowed the list down to the best 6 bars to grab and put into your beach bag, car, or purse so you can rest assured that what you are eating is balanced, low in unnecessary sugars, and contains plenty of protein to hold you over and keep you from falling off the wagon on your next road trip.
I rated these bars based on quality of ingredients, nutrient value, taste and sugar content.
No. 1 That’s It.
Real fruit are the ingredients behind this simple bar. Coming in at only 100 calories and 4 grams of fiber to help balance out the sugar, each bar contains 2 servings of fruit. These are great for people that want something slightly sweet in the afternoon when they tend to crave candy. This bar is perfect for vegans or those with nut allergies.
No. 2 Wilde- Sweet Thai Style Basil Slow Roasted Chicken Bar
The great thing about this bar is the taste and the protein content (11g) packed into only 110 calories. The high quality ingredients include things like free-range chicken, dates, mango and coconut oil. It does contain so real cane sugar in the seasoning blend, but it is all-natural and well under the 10g I usually recommend that people stay under when it comes to choosing a bar.
No. 3 RXBAR – Blueberry
I discovered this bar recently and I recommend the blueberry by far because of its taste, minimal ingredients, and the fact that it packs in 12g of protein from clean ingredients like egg whites, almonds, and cashews. With no gluten, dairy, added sugar, or soy, this bar is a great option when you don’t have time for a meal.
No. 4 EPIC BAR – Wild Boar and Bacon
This is perfect for that Paleo-eater out there that is looking for a post workout snack because of its protein content. This meaty snack has 9g of protein and whole ingredients like wild boar, uncured bacon, celery powder, and dried cranberries for natural sweetness. Be sure to pack a bunch of these along if you tend to grab beef jerky at the gas station thinking it is a decent option. Let these give you your “meat fix” instead.
No. 5 KNOW ALLERGIES Dates and Seeds Bar
This bar for those with that deal with food allergies. It is made with gluten-free oats and is completely raw. It contains 5g of fiber, is sweetened mostly with dates and rice syrup, and contains omega 3’s in the form of chia seeds, brown flax seeds, and golden flax seeds. They use quality ingredients that are organic and non-GMO.
No. 6 CLIF KIT’s ORGANIC Fruit and Nut Bar in Cashew
This bar won’t necessarily work as post workout fuel, but it is great for a pre-workout snack to get you through a tough workout or have on hand as a snack to keep you from making bad decisions because you are starving. This is another option with minimal ingredients, perfect for the raw vegan foodie, and it is completely organic. Its minimal ingredients are dates, organic cashews, organic almonds and sea salt.
Have you given any of these a try? What are some of your favorite bars? I’d love to hear in the comments!
Be Well,
Wendie
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