5 Better-For-You Nutrition Bars for Increased Energy
The following article was written by Heinen’s Chief Dietitian, Melanie Jatsek RD, LD.
Nutrition bars are a sizzling hot, sought-after solution for those seeking a quick grab-and-go meal. The variety of bars on today’s grocery store shelves is proof alone, but it’s important to know that just because it’s classified as a “nutrition” bar doesn’t mean it’s necessarily good for you. In fact, some “nutrition” bars are heavily processed with lots of added sugar, so they won’t do you any good in satisfying hunger or boosting energy levels.
I’ve taken out the guesswork and narrowed down the sea of bars to my five favorites at Heinen’s, along with additional information to help you choose the best one for your particular dietary needs and preferences.
All five bars have these essential traits in common:
- Contain no more than 8 grams of added sugar
- Free of gluten
- Non-GMO
- No processed inflammatory seed oils (sunflower, canola, vegetable, etc.)
- No additives/preservatives
Raw Rev Glo Bar
This is one of my go-to bars because it’s loaded with good, healthy fat and dietary fiber—so it does a great job of keeping me full. My favorite flavor is the Mixed Nuts Caramel & Sea Salt.
Pro Tip: Check your teeth after you eat one of these bars as you just may have a chia seed or two lodged in there for the world to see!
- Vegan: Yes
- Dairy-Free: Yes
- Soy-Free: No
- Texture: Like cookie dough
- Flavors: Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt; Creamy Peanut Butter & Sea Salt; Crunchy Peanut Butter & Sea Salt; Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough; Double Chocolate Brownie Batter; Mixed Nuts Caramel & Sea Salt
Tosi SuperBites
These bars are like granola, but grain-free. They’re loaded with flavor and perfect for those who love crunch! Crumble into unsweetened plant-based yogurt, like Forager unsweetened cashew yogurt, and you’ve got a simple and nutritious breakfast for busy mornings!
- Vegan: Yes
- Dairy-Free: Yes
- Soy-Free: Yes
- Texture: Crunchy
- Flavors: Almond; Cashew; Almond Blueberry
Rx Bar
A combination of egg whites, dates and nuts, each bar packs 12 grams of protein and no added sugar. RxBar comes in a variety of flavors to satisfy all tastes and makes a great pre-or-post-workout snack!
- Vegan: No
- Dairy-Free: Yes
- Soy-Free: Yes
- Texture: Chewy
- Flavors: Blueberry; Peanut Butter; Coconut Cacao; Chocolate Sea Salt; Mint Chocolate; Maple Sea Salt; Mixed Berry; Peanut Butter Chocolate; Chocolate Chip; Banana Chocolate Walnut; Chocolate Sea Salt; Chocolate Peanut Butter
Over Easy Bar
This bar is like a portable bowl of oatmeal with a side of eggs. Known for its soft texture, what makes this bar truly unique is that it offers a substantial amount of protein from egg whites. The inclusion of nut butter also gives these bars the perfect amount of healthy fat to keep you satisfied all morning.
- Vegan: No
- Dairy-Free: Yes
- Soy-Free: Yes
- Texture: Soft and chewy
- Flavors: Peanut Butter; Apple Cinnamon; Banana Nut
Thunderbird Bar
A no-added-sugar nut and date-based bar with unique functional ingredients like maca, goji berries, and turmeric. This is a whole food nutrition bar at its best!
- Vegan: Yes
- Dairy-Free: Yes
- Soy-Free: Yes
- Texture: Chewy with chunks of nuts and seeds
- Flavors: Chocolate Coconut Cashew; Cashew Fig Carrot; Hazelnut Coffee Maca; Pecan Goji Pistachio; Cherry Hemp Turmeric
