Oskri Fiber Bar: Almonds and Cranberries

When we read the nutrition label for Oskri Fiber Bar Almonds and Cranberries, it made us a bit nervous. 13g of fiber in a 1.5 oz serving! Not to worry though. The bar itself is a rather dry but tasty mix of Chicory root extract, Almonds, Cranberries, Rice crisp, amaranth, buck wheat, pumpkin seeds. It is made by Oskri Organics in Lake Mills, Wisconsin though the multi-lingual label might lead some to believe it’s origin to be something slightly more exotic. It is fully labeled in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Arabic. We question the wisdom of using such a one-size fits all package for the US market at least. Finally, the package design is an appalling montage of maple leaves and dull fonts set on a pink background. So underemphasized is the flavor text on the front label, that it wasn’t until the last step of writing this review that we realized the flavor for this bar was not “Fiber Bar” but rather “Almonds and Cranberries”. Label design aside, the bar is pretty tasty, and anything this good with this much fiber is alright by us.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Olympic Granola: Honey Almond

Olympic Granola’s Honey Almond Trail bar is an authentic tasting bar that delivers big taste, starting with a delicious base of oats and seeds. From there, you’ve got a touch of almonds, honey, coconut, and salt, which give the bar its amazing depth of flavor.  From that point of view, the bar’s “honest ingredients” yield great results and, since there are no emulsions in the bar, you can see exactly what you are eating.  What else can you ask for from a granola bar?  Branding and packaging look wholesome and high end, with a clear plastic wrapper that lets you see the square shaped bar before you buy it.  The design is clean and has an outdoorsy vibe to it, which fits with the theme of being a “trail” bar.  However, one thing that we’re not fans of is the way they do the nutrition panel, which labels this 3 ounce bar as having 2 servings.  Seeing as the label is not resealable and that common convention is that bars are single serve, we strongly dislike that approach.   Clearly, it’s an effort to list the calories and fat lower than they really are (380 calories and 18g of fat per bar).  Overall, we’re big fans of this bar – but labeling it as a single serving is a necessary change.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Luna Protein: Chocolate Cherry Almond

Luna Protein Chocolate Cherry Almond lives up to its name on taste. Light and subtle – if a bit bland – the three named flavors blend such that none overpowers the others while successfully masking the bar’s soy and whey protein. The bar feels mostly chewy, with a pervasive, mild crunch and occasional dried cherries that offer both a textural surprise and a burst of flavor. At 180 calories, this bar falls on the lighter end of the spectrum, but that’s intentional. The packaging calls the bar an “indulgent satisfaction – under 200 calories,” while also boasting its nutrient load. The bar delivers a smattering of vitamins and minerals at moderate levels, topping out at 30 percent of your daily suggested intake. However, for putting “protein” in the name, this bar is light on that particular nutrient. While 12 grams might be fine for the typical office worker, that’s a small dose for most consumers who will reach for a protein product. Overall, Luna Protein Chocolate Cherry Almond is a well-rounded bar that comes up a little short in the protein department.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Pure: Cherry Cashew Bar

This bar is made with ingredients that are USDA Organic, raw, vegan, and gluten free, which helps make it live up to its “for all people” tag line. There’s a pleasant base of date and almond flavor to the mix, which has been sweetened with agave and has a slight crunch from small chunks of walnuts throughout. The cherry flavor is subtle, adding a nice tart flavor to the otherwise earthy tasting bar. We’re definitely pleased to see that they didn’t make it too “fruity” tasting. Nutritionally, this 1.7 ounce bar packs a fair amount in, including 400mg of omega 3, 4g of organic fiber, 6g and protein, 200 calories, 9g of fat, and vitamins and minerals. Packaging has a relatively simple style of presentation to it, with a white wrapper that’s decorated with a yellow illustration of a female face. It’s an appealing design that has a definite vibe of health and nutrition to it. The rest of the wrapper has a lot of text on it, but in this case, it all logically fits together as opposed to creating clutter. Overall, an exceptional tasting bar that delivers the perfect balance of flavor and nutrition.

Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Honey Stinger: Dark Chocolate Coconut Almond Pro

Part of Honey Stinger’s protein bar lineup, this bar’s most notable selling point is the fact that it contains 20g of protein. Advertised as a having dark chocolate, almond, and coconut flavors, this 3 ounce bar is loaded with enjoyable flavor as well as nutrition. The flavor of this bar can definitely hold its own, with the smooth chocolate center delivering a rich dose of flavor with light coconut and almond notes. If there’s anything we might change, it’s the sweetness of the bar, which is a bit strong, but it does help mask the underlying protein flavor. The bar weighs in at 380 calories, so there’s plenty of substance to it, plus there’s 20g of fiber, 3g of fiber, and loads of vitamins and nutrients. Packaging definitely looks and feels like a protein bar, with a dense 3 oz bar that has bold and colorful labeling. Plus, the Honey Stinger bee logo works quite nicely, emitting a wholesome but aggressive vibe that helps define this product’s niche. Overall, a really nice tasting bar that’s backed with 20g of protein. One of our favorite protein bars to date.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Sun Valley Bar: Goji Lemon

Admittedly, our expectations for this bar were somewhat low. Why? Well, aside from the fact that we haven’t had that many goji flavored bars (or other food products) that taste all that good, it’s the combination with lemon that made us have low expectations (lemon + goji??). Fortunately, what’s inside the wrapper is an extremely enjoyable product, with a perfectly balanced mixture of flavors. There’s a soft base of oats, almond butter, seeds, and nuts, which gives way to a touch of goji and a pleasant note of what tastes like lemon zest. It very much has a homemade feeling to it, which is furthered by the product’s minimalist label design. Nutritionally, the bar has 230 calories, 10g of fat, 7g of sugar, vitamin A, vitamin C, and iron. The ingredient list is mainly comprised of items that are recognizable to your average consumer, which is certainly a plus. So, our only concern for this product is its minimalist packaging, which doesn’t allow you to see in and is completely devoid of any personality. That, in our opinion, might make for a tough sell when it’s going up against more flash competitors. Still, a very enjoyable product.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Vega Whole Food Energy Bar: Berry Flavor

Like the other Vega Whole Food Energy bars, this one is made from “raw, alkaline, plant based superfoods.” You’ll find dates, hemp protein, almond butter, agave nectar, sprouted whole flax seeds, cranberries, raisins, almonds, sesame seeds, organic sprouted mung beans, organic wheat grass, and a few other ingredients for flavoring. It’s a soft but chewy bar, with a slightly dry texture, especially at the finish. Flavor is really enjoyable, with notes of the fruit and nuts throughout. There’s also a slightly earthy note of flavor to the bar, which is likely from the wheatgrass, mung, and flax. Nutritionally, the bar is a winner, with 10g of raw protein, 250mg of potassium, 6g of fiber, omega 3 and 6, vitamins, and minerals on top of 240 calories. The bar is great as for snacking before a workout – or to help supplement a meal with something that’s sweet but nutritious. Packaging is probably the only area that we’d like to see some improvement, with a look that feels technical rather than inviting. To a degree, the label made us expect a bar that didn’t taste good, which is fortunately not the case. Overall, it’s a very enjoyable product, but kicking up the packaging a bit would definitely help.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

KIND Bar: Fruit & Nut Delight

This is sort of Kind’s catch-all dried fruit and nut bar and its mix of peanuts, almonds, brazil nuts and walnuts, the nut part is certainly up to snuff, although we’d like it if there was a bit more variety to the fruit beyond raisin and apricot. Also, the Kind folks really overdid it with the honey/pectin coating on this one – it glistened and gleamed dangerously, and we were a bit worried we’d lose a tooth. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case, and the flavors were all pretty distinguishable in the mix. On a packaging point, the blue trim on the wrapper is absolutely gorgeous.

Calories: 170
Protein: 5 g
Fiber: 3 g
Fat: 11 g
Carbs: 16 g

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Vega Whole Food Energy Bar: Chocolate Flavor

As the label states, this bar is made from “raw, alkaline, plant-based superfoods.” So what’s in this bar? Key ingredients include dates, sprouted flax, cocoa powder, almonds, sprouted mung beans, and wheat grass. The resulting product has a decidedly earthy but fruity flavor to it, with a soft but dry base that’s has big notes of cocoa, dates, and sprouted flax. The bar has a nice balance to it, with just the right amount of chocolate to level out the other flavors. It’s really easy on the palate, making it a pretty easy bar to scarf down in a hurry. Nutritionally, this 240 calorie bar has 6g of fiber, 10g of protein, vitamins, minerals, potassium, omega 6, and omega 3. It’s enough to help tide you over in between meals – or to give you a boost before a workout (our preferred use). Packaging is clean and easy to understand, but it lacks in the “biteability” department (meaning it doesn’t whet the appetite). Regardless, this is a bar that we’d pick up again and again for both flavor and to satisfy our hunger.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Honest Foods: Cran Lemon Zest

Honest Foods’ Cran Lemon Zest bar is made with a base of whole oats, almond butter, and brown rice syrup, which results in a relatively dry consistency with a moderate amount of chew. It also contains nuts and dried fruit, which are ultimately what give it the cranberry and lemon zest flavors that the bar is named for. Cran Lemon Zest is pretty much spot on when it comes to expected flavor, with a mellow cranberry flavor that’s complemented nicely with the bit of lemon zest. As far as the size of the bar is concerned, this 1.9 ounce bar is certainly not the biggest bar on the market, but it’s also a more manageable size if you’re looking for something to snack on. Plus, it’s vegan, made with whole grains and contains protein, fiber, and omega-3. Packaging is simple and clean, with a clear plastic wrapper that lets you see what’s inside. We’re big fans of that approach, especially when a wholesome looking bar like this one is inside. Definitely give it a try.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Eat Natural: Almond & Apricot Bar

Made in the UK, this bar is billed as being a “luxurious bar full of premium quality ingredients and nothing else.” It’s a yoghurt coated bar that’s made with dried fruit, nuts, puffed rice, and honey. Flavor is really good, with a pleasant tasting body that’s light but crispy, with a sweet note of honey, fruit, and yogurt followed by some crunch from the almonds, which are added in large pieces. Eat Natural has done a great job with this bar, blending extremely enjoyable flavor, substance, and nutrition. From a nutrition point of view, this 235 calorie bar has 2g of fiber, 4g of protein, calcium, and iron, which certainly isn’t the most nutritious bar out there, but it’s still a good one. Packaging is intuitive and appealing, with the name “EAT NATURAL” making a pretty obvious statement about what’s inside the wrapper. Plus, you can see through the clear plastic wrapping, which helps whet the appetite. Overall, a very enjoyable bar that’s flavorful, nourishing, and nice looking.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bora Bora Organic Snack Bar: Almond Sunflower

The Almond Sunflower variety of the Bora Bora Organic Snack Bar line is an extremely enjoyable bar. It’s made with only a few simple ingredients, including raisins, nuts, seeds, rice, agave syrup, and brown rice syrup and it’s certified organic. From a flavor point of view, the product actually has a lot more peanut flavor than it does almond, but it’s enjoyable nonetheless. That’s followed by a touch of salt, some sweetness from the brown rice and agave sweeteners, and a fair amount of crunch from the nuts and seeds. Wellements’ effort is extremely well executed, with just the right amount of sweet & savory as well as a nice balance of chew & crunch. Nutritionally, the bar has 180 calories,, 2g of fiber, 5g of protein, iron, and calcium. Lastly, there’s the packaging, which is appealing and lets you get a good look at the bar before you open it. Overall, a very palatable and nourishing bar that looks great to boot.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Clif Bar: Chocolate Almond Fudge

As far as Clif Bar products go, this is definitely one of the more indulgent tasting bars that we’ve sampled. It uses a base of organic oats and soy, which have been nicely paired with a strong dose of chocolate / cocoa flavor and a small dose of nuts to provide some crunch. Like most other Clif Bars, this product has a soft, but very chewy consistency, which helps give this product a feeling of substance. There’s a lot of stuff in this bar, including rolled oats, soy crisps, roasted soybeans, chocolate chips, nuts, and loads of added vitamins and minerals. The result is something that tastes great and has a lot of nutrition to it, including 10g of protein, 5g of fiber, and vitamins A,C,E,B1,B2,B3, and B6, just to name a few. On the exterior, the label is classic Cliff Bar, which makes it instantly recognizable. However, the use of the color red as the accent color isn’t what one would naturally choose for a bar called Chocolate Almond Fudge (maybe something dark or brown?). Overall, a very enjoyable and energizing bar.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Honest Foods: Pomegranate Walnut Crisp Granola Plank

Designed to be a fresh made granola “plank,” this bar does a great job of combining that wholesome made at home flavor with the convenience of a ready-made bar. There’s a nice oat and nut flavor to the base, with almonds, peanuts, and walnuts adding some crunch. Dried fruit in the form of cranberry and pomegranate provide some chew and a dash of sweet flavor, which is a nice complement to the granola base. However, they’ve also added some additional flavoring to the bar, which, as you eat the bar, starts to mask the flavor of the granola. In our opinion, this bar can hold its own without the added flavoring, so we hope to see if removed in the future. On the exterior, the product looks very clean and appealing, with a clear front that has only a red strip for the logo going across it. The use of lowercase text and a simple font gives the product that “wholesome” feel that they’re clearly going for. Overall, very enjoyable, but it would be more enjoyable without the added flavor.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Honey Stinger: Rocket Chocolate

Featuring a dry but chewy consistency that’s loaded with chocolate, the Rocket Chocolate flavor of Honey Stinger is a very enjoyable product. Like the other Honey Stinger products, the base is made with soy crisps and rolled oats, which add nutritional value and substance to the bar. Its flavored with chocolate chips, cooa,,and, of course, the “honey stinger” blend (honey, sea salt, water), before finally being coated with ground almonds. The flavor of the bar is spot on, with just the right amount of chocolate, crunch, sweet and salt. Nutritionally, the bar has 190 calories, 4.5g of fat, 2g of fiber, 10g of protein, and it’s loaded with vitamins and minerals. On the outside, they’ve given the product and aggressive, but wholesome theme that’s a nice alternative to the artificially formulated bars on the supplement aisle. Overall, a really enjoyable tasting and looking product that’s definitely got some substance to it.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Elevate Me!: Espresso Cocoa Crunch

Billed as “The world’s simplest protein & fruit energy bar”, the flavor of this bar certainly lives up to this intention. Blending whey protein isolate, dates, organic raisins, apples, almonds, cranberries, cocoa, and coffee beans, the product has a very “raw” and homemade flavor to it. It has a dry but chewy consistency, with pleasant notes of dried fruit and nuts, followed by decent note of cocoa and a hint of coffee to the finish. All in all, it’s a very pleasant and satisfying bar to eat. Nutritionally, this bar has 230 calories, 6g of fiber, and 16g of protein, which is certainly enough substance for us. That leaves us with the packaging, which is the largest area for improvement. Specifically, there’s something that’s unappealing about the design, especially compared to the better designs of other players in the category. We’d probably say the same for the name, which sounds like something that’s more appropriate for a supplement product. Overall, very enjoyable flavor and nutrition, but needs work on the packaging.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Honest Foods: Almond Trail Mix

Honest Foods’ Almond Trail Mix bar is a pleasing bar, but we don’t really consider it a trail mix bar. In this case, it’s got a decent amount of oats to the mixture, which have been paired with almond butter, nuts, seeds, and raisins. While there are almonds present in the bar, the majority of the almond flavor comes from the added almond extract. If you’ve ever used almond extract, you probably know that a little goes a long way – and in this case, they need to use a little less of it in future batches. Aside from this issue, the concept and quality of the bar are quite good. Packaging is minimalist, but very appealing, especially since you can see the bar right through the label. Overall, a good effort, but they definitely need to dial down the almond extract.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Calories: 210
Fat: 9g
Fiber: 4g
Total Carbs: 31g
Protein: 6g

Weil by Nature’s Path Organic: Banana Manna

Billed as a bar that’s flavored with pure fruit and nuts, this product is, unfortunately, not much more than a mushy mess of dates. Yes, it’s vegan, organic, made with only a handful of ingredients, and has no sugar added, but it just isn’t an enjoyable bar to eat. There’s a little bit of banana and almond flavor, but not enough to make it a palatable experience. Really, this bar is going to sell because of its affiliation with Dr. Weil and the implied credibility that comes with that. Otherwise, there’s not really much to like about this product.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Honest Foods: Maple Almond Crunch

The Maple Almond Crunch “Granola Plank” is definitely our favorite flavor of the Honest Foods lineup. The maple aroma is extremely inviting, and the flavor of the bar is awesome and enjoyable. However, Maple Walnut Crunch might be a more appropriate name as the bar has the distinct flavor of walnuts throughout the mix. There’s also a nice oat flavor to the bar, which helps give this bar its soft but crunchy consistency. Packaging is clean and attractive, with a clear front panel that lets you see the entire “plank” before purchasing. Plus, we like the size of the bar (3oz), which feels substantial and nourishing. Overall, an exceptional tasting bar that has a great balance of flavor, nutrition, and packaging.

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Per serving (2 per bar)
Calories: 190
Fat: 7g
Protein: 4g
Fiber: 3g

ProBar: Cherry Pretzel

This is actually one of the better ProBars that we’ve had. Blending the salty flavor of pretzels with cherries is a surprisingly good combination. Of course, there are a lot of other good flavors in this bar as well, including peanut butter, oats, coconut, sesame and other seeds, almonds, cashews, and dates. Everything works in unison, delivering amazing flavor in a soft format that’s easy to chew. On the nutrition front, this bar is loaded with fiber (6g) and protein (10g), but also lands at 380 calories and 19g of fat. That being said, this is a bar that’s best suited as a meal replacement, which is why they’ve labeled it “The Whole Food Meal.” Packaging is bright and attractive, with images of cherries and pretzels letting the consumer know exactly what’s inside. Overall, this is one of the best of the ProBar lineup – we’d definitely come back for this one again.

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Raw Revolution: Cashew & Agave Nectar

If you’re like us and you subscribe to the belief that raw food is better for you than processed food, then this is a bar that’s worth checking out. Made with only a handful of ingredients (cashew, date, agave nectar, almond, sprouted flax seed), this bar delivers “raw” flavor that’s pleasant and satisfying to eat. The flavor starts out with a light (compared to other bars) date flavor that’s followed with notes of almond and cashew. Bear in mind, the taste of raw nuts is different than that of roasted, so this will likely taste somewhat different than you are expecting. The bar is, as the name suggests, sweetened with agave nectar, which gives it a subtle honey like sweetness and also helps bind this soft and chewy bar together. Packaging is hip and functional, with a cool looking logo that’s tries to make “crunchy” into something that’s fun. Overall, a superbly executed product that delivers great taste and nutrition using only raw ingredients.

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Honest Foods: Apple Ginger

Honest Foods bills its bars as “baked whole food bars”, which appears to refer to its soft oat and nut base. The bar has a soft but slightly chewy texture, with a heavy amount of oat flavor. There’s a hint of almond butter to it, but otherwise we do not taste any of the other nut ingredients that are in the bar. Then there’s the apple, which hits your palate in a big way. Really, we think there’s too much sweet apple flavor relative to the base grain flavors. Plus, it almost completely hides the ginger, which seems like a bit of an afterthought. Packaging wise, we like the look of the bar and the Honest name (hey, it worked for Honest Tea). Definitely worth a try.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Bumble Bar: Original with Almond

Bumble Bar’s “Original with Almond” is a good improvement over their Original bar.  This chewy bar combines sesame seeds, flaxseed, brown rice syrup, almonds, evaporated cane juice, vanilla, cinnamon, sea salt, and natural vitamin E into a USDA Organic certified recipe that’s also vegan and gluten free. The flavor is big on sesame, with a touch of flax and almond to the finish. However, there isn’t enough in the way of sweetness or almond to this bar — and there’s a slightly off (almost burnt) note that we can’t determine the source of.  Still, if you want a bar that’s made with organic, simple ingredients, this one is hard to beat.  On the outside, this bar has an attractive design, but it also might lead one to believe that this bar has something to do with honey, which it does not.  Otherwise, the bar’s lack of a window to see the bar might be a deterrent, especially since the product lacks any sort of descriptive text that might let the consumer know what to expect inside this wrapper.  Overall, an edible bar made with only a few simple ingredients, but we’d like to see a better connection of the brand to the flavor.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Details: calories 230; total fat 16g; fiber 5g; potassium 160mg; protein 6g

Pro Bar: Koka Moka

We were sucked in by this bar’s subtle but appealing name, but what was inside the wrapper is ultimately what would keep us coming back for more.  The core flavor is quite pleasant, blending raisins, dates, oats, and sunflower seeds with the decadent flavor of dark chocolate.  There’s an occasional crunch from raw almonds and sesame seeds, which helps give the bar its diverse texture.  The addition of other seeds (such as flax, pumpkin, and hemp), nuts, and whole grains help add to the product’s fiber (6g) and protein (9g) content while also rounding out the bar’s earthy flavor.  The only dig as this product is the high calorie (360) and fat (18g) content per bar.  That rules it out as a snack, but certainly makes it a good choice for a meal replacement.  Packaging is good, but when put side by side with other Pro Bars, the brand looks a bit monotonous. Adding something that helps whet the appetite and/or gives the bar a bit of personality would be a nice touch.  Overall, exceptional flavor and nutrition content still make this a very worthy bar to choose.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

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