Late afternoons I often find myself a bit peckish. As an NYC woman on the go, I am always on the quest for a healthy snack bar, one that is easy to find when I’m hungry. My first grab is usually the KIND BAR, which due to some major distribution, is available at most markets, delis and drugstores. I happen to love dried fruit and nut clusters, and that is essentially what these are in a pre-packaged bar. They have 200 calories you can easily burn, 1 serving of protein to keep you full (7g) and are relatively low in carbs (17g). There are lots of tasty flavors to choose from, and right in line with the dietary obsession of the moment, are all Gluten free!
The best snack bars have a good balance of protein, carbs, fat and fiber to satisfy your hunger and keep the blood sugar stable. I look for bars with all natural ingredients and whole foods, ones that are low in sugar, have around 200 calories, 7-10 grams of protein and 16-24 grams of carbs. I am not as concerned about fat, 10-12 grams is fine, as long as its coming from things like nuts and the bars are high fiber.
Here are a few more that fit the perfect snack bar bill and most importantly, are quite tasty too!
NUGO ORGANIC: Covered in real dark chocolate, you might wonder how this bar can be good for you, but this USDA certified organic bar is rich in antioxidants and packed with all natural ingredients, soy protein, vitamins and minerals. NuGO Organic bars are sweetened with agave syrup, are vegan and Kosher, and are very satisfying. CAL 190/PRO 10g/CARB 26g/FAT 5g/FIBER 2g.
LARABAR: You can practically count the ingredients on one hand, and in fact no Larabar flavor contains more than 9 ingredients. Cashew Cookie, Banana Bread and Peanut Butter & Jelly are just a few of the delicious flavors, made from whole foods like unsweetened dried fruits, nuts, spices and yes, chocolate. CAL 220/PRO 6g/CARB 23g/FAT 13g/FIBER 3g.
KITS ORGANIC FRUIT & NUT BAR. Kit’s Organic is the vision of Kit Crawford, the co-ceo of Clif Bar, whose passion for organic farming and handcrafted food inspired this delicious 100 percent organic fruit and nut bar. Available in delicious flavors like Chocolate Almond Coconut, Peanut Butter and Cashew, these bars are gluten and dairy-free, and are naturally low-glycemic for prolonged levels of satiation and energy. CAL 170/PRO 4g/CARB 27g/FAT 8g/FIBER 5g
THINK THIN CRUNCH: Packed with mixed nuts and dried fruits, dipped in chocolate, caramel or yogurt, these bars are tasty source of protein and fiber that are low sugar, kosher, gluten free and dairy free. I ate one while writing this post! CAL 190/PRO 10g/CARB 16g/FAT 12g/FIBER 4g
LUNABAR: Also from Clif comes this longstanding favorite, now available in a dazzling assortment of flavors like White Chocolate Macadamia, Iced Oatmeal Raisin, and Peanut Honey Pretzel. CAL 180/PRO 8g/CARB 27g/FAT 5g/FIBER 3g
