Myth-Busting Nutrition Bars: 5 Clean Bars to Fuel Your Day
The following article was written by Heinen’s Chief Dietitian, Melanie Jatsek RD, LD.
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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 eliminated the guesswork and narrowed it down to my five favorite Fx™-approved bars 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 (most have 3 grams or less!)
- Free of gluten
- Non-GMO
- No processed inflammatory seed oils (sunflower, canola, vegetable, etc.)
- No additives, preservatives, or artificial ingredients
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. Each bar is made with a unique blend of freshly ground peanuts, vegan proteins (13 grams per bar), chia seeds, and organic coconut oil. My favorite flavor is Creamy Peanut Butter & 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
- Sweetener: Monk fruit (in Double Chocolate Brownie Batter and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough flavors only)
- Flavors: Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt; Creamy Peanut Butter & Sea Salt; Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough; Double Chocolate Brownie Batter
If you love crunch, you’ll love Tosi bars. They are like granola, but grain-free. Each flavor gets its protein from nuts and seeds only. Enjoy as a snack or 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
- Sweetener: Cassava syrup; evaporated coconut blossom nectar
- Flavors: Roasted Almond; Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate; Almond Blueberry; Toasted Cashew
This bar is like a portable bowl of oatmeal with a side of eggs. Known for its soft texture, what makes this locally crafted bar (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) truly unique is that it offers a nice 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
- Sweetener: Honey
- Flavors: Peanut Butter; Apple Cinnamon; Banana Nut
A cleverly crafted bar made from a blend of functional mushrooms grown in southern California. The mushroom mix includes cordyceps for energy, lion’s mane for focus and productivity, reishi for stress balance and sleep support, and chaga to boost your immune system. Not a fan of mushrooms? Don’t worry, these sweet and satisfying bars bear no resemblance to the fungi flavor you’re used to.
- Vegan: Yes
- Dairy-Free: Yes
- Soy-Free: Yes
- Texture: Pleasantly chewy
- Sweetener: Tapioca syrup; dates
- Flavors: Chocolate Brownie; Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip; Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Simple is good when it comes to nutrition bars, and Larabars are as simple as it gets! Made from whole foods like unsweetened fruits, nuts, and spices, each indulgent flavor contains no more than nine ingredients, is minimally processed, and is as close to its natural state as possible.
- Vegan: Yes
- Dairy-Free: Yes
- Soy-Free: Yes
- Texture: Dense and chewy
- Flavors: Lemon; Cashew Cookie; Apple Pie; Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough; Peanut Butter Cookie; Cherry Pie; Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
Key Takeaway
When made right, nutrition bars can help fill in nutritional gaps and save you from downing a bag of chips when you’re hangry and it’s not quite time for a meal. Why not create an “emergency kit” of your favorite Fx™-approved nutrition bars today so you’ll be prepared tomorrow?
