Healthy Nutrition Bars: How To Choose The Right One

April Schum
Aug 31, 2017
5 min read

When I put food (fuel) into my body, 90% of the time I want it to come from the best energy sources so that it will in fact GIVE me energy rather than do the opposite. And that goes for nutrition bars too, because NEWS FLASH, NOT all nutrition/energy/protein bars are created equal. Just because they are classified as an "energy" bar doesn't mean they are also good for you! Most ingredients in nutrition bars are processed and loaded with sugars, some are so bad that you might as well be eating a candy bar! Also, be careful, if the sugar content is low, most likely they have replaced it with fake food to get rid of the cardboard flavor! Now, if you remember, way back in the day your choices for nutrition bars were pretty slim. Made choosing one pretty simple, either cardboard #1 or #2, and despite the taste, you may have still choked it down because (if you were anything like me) the thought of eating a nutrition bar makes you feel "healthy" and "mindful" of your weight. Thankfully, now I'm more aware of what these bars are actually made of and I no longer view them all as "healthy". If you walk down the energy bar aisle today, you'll feel extremely overwhelmed by all of the shiny wrappers and the big bold words that read "20 grams of protein", "only 2 grams of sugar", "high in fiber", "RAW", "Gluten-Free" etc. So how is one suppose to really know which one is good for you? I'm going to take you step by step in what to look for when choosing a healthy nutrition bar as well as some of my top picks. Choosing A Healthy Nutrition Bar #1: Check the ingredients for sugar: The last thing I want to do is add MORE sugar to my diet, so I hunt for one that doesn't have any kind of added sugar. If there is sugar in the bar, it should be naturally occurring sugar in the foods used to make the bar. We get enough from natural foods like veggies and fruits, we don't need to be adding in more. SO, before looking at ANYTHING else on the wrapper I immediately flip the bar over and look at the ingredients. I ignore the big bold print on the front of the wrapper and read through the ingredients. The number 1 thing I look for is the word "sugar" OR another name for sugar, like maple syrup, barley malt, cane sugar or dextrose to name a few. If I see any of these names I immediately put the bar down and continue on with my search. #2: Check the ingredients for whole natural foods: I get my fuel from whole natural foods, mainly because that's what our body processes the easiest and can use as an immediate source of energy. When I eat like this, I'm more energized, my workouts are better, I'm less moody, I sleep better, I don't have aches and pains etc. Ingredients that I'm looking for are things like Cashews, Almonds, Dates, Carrots, Egg Whites, Lemon Juice etc. These are all examples of whole natural foods. Ask yourself if a kid would be able to identify what all the ingredients are, that's a good indicator if it's safe or not. #3: Look at how many grams of protein and sugar it has: Now after ensuring that this bar is only made of whole-real foods, you can look to see what the best pick is for highest protein and carb content. Try to pick one that is 6-20 grams of protein and depending on if you're needing something higher in carbs or not then pay attention to that as well. #4: Feel the bar for texture: As silly as this sounds, this is important! Is the bar soft or hard? This is all a matter of personal preference, but I'm typically a fan of chewy bars. Ones that seem harder are not as enjoyable to me... they're messy, crunchy and loud when chewing, plus I don't need to be breaking a tooth at the age of 30! ;) My Top 3 Picks

EPIC BARS Epic Bars are 100% grass fed animal based protein bars. They are known for a higher protein content and low in carbs. They are low in sugar and do not contain gluten, dairy or soy. Great option for a quick post workout snack or when you're feeling hungry and need a pick me up! The taste might take you off guard at first, these are unlike any kind of bar I've had. They are comparable to beef jerky in texture but less chewy and softer. Flavors include Bison Bacon Cranberry, Chicken Sriracha, Venison Sea Salt Pepper and more.

RxBars

What I love about these bars is that they're made from egg whites, nuts, dates and natural flavors depending on the flavor of the bar, that's it! Most of them have up to 12 grams of protein which is pretty good! These are not as low carb and low sugar friendly due to the dates, so careful with consuming too many of these, but still a great source of quick protein. They could definitely replace a serving of fruit and a sweet tooth fix. The texture is the perfect chewiness too! :)

LaraBars

About half of the LaraBars on the market would pass my test. There are some that contain chocolate chips, which are ones I tend to stay away from unless I'm treating myself a little extra. Flavors like cashew cookie, lemon bar, lime bar, carrot cake, apple pie, coconut cream pie all pass my ingredient test. They are also higher in sugar because of the dates--- dates are very sweet, but it's all natural! They're made with nuts and are high in healthy fats which is a bonus too! These are definitely more of a treat bar in general, but a great pick me up when in the need! Texture wise, they're soft and chewy with a little crunch due to the nuts.

Now you know a tad bite more on choosing a healthier nutrition bar I hope the next time you're in the store you're able to use these tips! I love seeing photos of my fans putting my pointers to use, so if you're chowing down on one of these, feel free to snap a selfie and tag me in it! Be Unstoppable,