Oskri: Pecans & Raisins

Oskri’s bar are phenomenal in one aspect: their fiber content. This 1.5 oz bar contains 12g of fiber, while containing only 3g of sugar. This particular flavor is not our favorite in the line-up. The pecans tend to dominate and there is very little raisin flavor. The result is something that really lacks an acid edge to it and it purely sweet and savory. The ingredients are simple. They are: Chicory root extract, pecans, raisins, rice crisp, amaranth, buck wheat, pumpkin seed. Our biggest gripe with this brand is the horrible packaging. It has to be one of the least attractive brands on the market. That said, Oskri bars are a dieter’s dream. They taste good and they leave you full for hours.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Pure Bar: Cranberry Orange

Pure Bar’s Cranberry Orange flavor is one of 6 flavors in its line-up of organic, gluten free flavors. This is one of the best in the group. The citrus nature of this bar makes the sour notes that come with fruit bars totally acceptable. The bar is extremely fragrant and the orange is very strong. The bar uses orange zest and organic orange flavor to hit the strong citrus notes it hits. The cranberry flavor get’s a little drowned out in the orange, but as a whole it really works. To us, this bar tastes like nut-bread you might get around the holidays. It is nutritionally sound at 190 Kcal, 3g fiber and 6g of protein. The label is attractive. There is really nothing about this bar that isn’t top notch.

5 out of 5 stars

Elevate Me: Banana Nut Bread

Elevate Me!’s Banana Nut Bread is a high-protein, high-fiber bar that carries the slogan “the world’s simplest protein and fruit energy bar”. A quick glance at it’s ingredients, and you’ll see that PROsnack Natural Foods have grounds for this claim. The ingredients are the following: whey protein isolate, organic raisins, dates, almonds, apples, organic bananas. The reason we reached for this bar to review this morning is simple: hunger. Something substantial with fiber was needed and Banana Nut Bread fit the bill at 230 kcal, 9g of fiber and 16g of protein. The flavor of the bar does actually taste like banana bread. The almonds and banana really come through in the flavors. The downside to this bar is that it is very dense. There isn’t a ton of crunch to it. It simply a solid little brick of food. The label to the bar is rather hokey, complete with a photo of its founder raising her arms above her head in a triumphant pose. The other downside to the package is that it is a Canadian product and therefore is required to have certain key label elements in both English and French. This of course gobbles up valuable space on the label that would otherwise on a monolingual lable be freed up for educational or promotional text/images. Overall, this is a seriously nutritious product with an accurate flavor. It’s not exactly a  treat to eat, but it fit the bill for us when we needed some substance and energy.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Kelp Krunch: Original Sesame

For a bar that only has 4 ingredients (two of which are listed in its name),  Kelp Crunch Seaweed Energy Bar Original Sesame delivers a surprising range of flavor notes as you make your way through each bite. Molasses, hoisin sauce, and raisin are some of the notes we got. Yet, the bar only contains sesame seeds, brown rice syrup and kelp! The flavor is unusual but it doesn’t take long to begin to enjoy it. In fact, it becomes strangely addictive. Each 1 oz bar contains 124 kcal (70 of which are from fat), 3g of fiber and 3g of protein. It is not very substantial by any measure. A recent scientific study found that a component of Kelp called algenate does a better job at preventing fat absorption than most over-the-counter supplements. So maybe it doesn’t deliver 70 fat calories after all.

So what is Kelp? If you have ever been to the Monterey Aquarium, or if you have seen underwater footage of the kelp forests of the West Coast, you know that Kelp is the magnificent brown algae seaweed that grows from the ocean floor up to the surface.

The packaging and branding of this bar is where things get a little strange. The front panel of this bar features a Humpback whale breaching with a not-to-scale piece of kelp in its mouth. Any self-respecting whale lover knows that humpbacks do not eat kelp. So what’s the deal? The back panel explains that the manufacturer, Maine Coast Sea Vegetables, donates proceeds from bar’s sales to Allied Whale, a whale research, conservation and educational organization. So we’re not going to get on their case for misrepresenting Humpbacks as frolicking herbivores. While not whale food, kelp is in fact quite nutritious, and is eaten commonly in Japan and Korea, rather ironic in the context of this review given that whale meat is also consumed in Japan.

In summary, this is definitely an oddball product. The manufacturer really should find space to explain the nutritional benefits of kelp on the packaging. Most people don’t purchase products purely on the basis of charitable affiliations alone. However strange this product may be, we did really enjoy it and it nearly goes without saying, we’re totally in support of Allied Whale and frolicking Humpbacks worldwide.

3.5 out of 5 stars

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

Sun Valley: Chocolate Chocolate Chip

Sun Valley’s Chocolate Chocolate Chip bar is an oat in rice syrup bar which also contains peanut butter, semi-sweet chocolate, maple syrup, pumpkins seeds, almonds, walnuts, rice flour, apples, sesame seeds, flaxseed, and cocoa. It has a nice chocolate flavor, and then nuts really come though. The peanut butter, though high on the list of ingredients, is not very noticeable. The bar is not chocolate coated, but rather contains chocolate chips in a chocolate-flavored mix. The overall taste is great. The long list of nuts and seeds in the bar don’t really interrupt that chocolate experience, but they do add to the bar’s fat content (11g) and it’s overall calorie count (230). The protein in the bar is a respectable 7g, while contain 4g of fiber. The bar’s package does little to convey the flavor. Overall, this is a great-tasting, nutritious product, but it could use a little more flair on its lapel.

3.5 out of 5 stars

GNU Foods: Lemon Ginger Bar

We’ve been fans of Gnu Foods line of fiber enriched bars since we first tried them – and their most recent flavor additions have strengthened our love for the brand. The lemon flavor is strong but natural, while the ginger flavor tastes very fresh and even has a little kick to it. The base of the bar is an enjoyable blend of whole rolled oats, organic whole wheat, wheat bran, organic kamut, psyllium, flax and millet.  It’s sweet, but not too sweet, with a soft consistency that has just a little bit of chew to it. And yes, it is very fibrous (8g of soluble fiber and 4g of insoluble fiber), thanks to these ingredients containing naturally high levels of fiber.  Having high levels of fiber is definitely a very marketable “function” for the bar to have, but it also contains 3g of protein, calcium, and iron.  Packaging is colorful and appealing, with a healthy vibe coming from the soft and not too serious branding.   It’s clean and catches the eye, which certainly help make the product have visual appeal.   Overall, this is a very enjoyable bar that has function that you can feel.  Definitely worth a try.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Octain: Brain Bar

Hailing from Germany, Octain Brain Bar is a “coated cereal bar” that’s enhanced with ingredients to “boost your brain.”  It features a crisped rice center that will be familiar if you’ve ever had a Rice Krispy treat.  It’s sweet and chewy with a light amount of crunch, while the milk based coating gives the bar a touch of indulgence to the finish.   Functionally, the bar has caffeine, ginkgo, kola nut, Nutriose (soluble fiber), and lecithin.   They haven’t done a great job of connecting the “brain boost” claim to what’s actually in the bar, which is certainly something that could be improved upon.  Then there’s the packaging, which comes in a double wrapped format.  The inner layer is your standard foil wrapper, which has a funky looking black colored design.  The outer wrapper is a cardboard box, which is something that seems more appropriate for loose pieces of candy than a bar like this.  In any event, two wrappers seems wasteful and unnecessary – they should simply pick one and skip the other.   Overall, Octain Brain Bar tastes nice, but the functional claims and the packaging could be refined.
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars

Clif Bar Crunch: Chocolate Chip

Clif Crunch is Clif’s granola bar line, which is very similar to what you’d get from the likes of Nature Valley – two thin granola bars stacked on top of one another.  Fortunately, this bar does have its own identity, with a slightly softer consistency that doesn’t crunch as much as the competition.  The flavor is heavy on the oats and rice crisps, while added sugar gives the bar a relatively sweet taste.  They weren’t stingy with the chocolate chips, which makes for a nice complement to the oat flavor at the base of the bar.  Nutritionally, this bar is basically an enhanced snack product, with 180 calories, 1g of fat, 3g of fiber, 4g of protein, potassium, iron, and calcium present in the product.  The wrapper is colorful and clean and makes good use of Clif’s branding to the point where it should be easily identifiable to most consumers.  Overall, Clif’s first entry into the granola bar market is a good one.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Forze GPS: Chocolate Decadence

Forze GPS Chocolate Decadence promises to help the consumer curb his appetite through a scientifically-formulated combination of fats, protein, nutrients and fiber. While that efficacy may be difficult to pin down, the bar still satisfies on taste, appearance, texture and nutrition. The bar’s top layer of chocolate chips and chocolate drizzle give it the appearance of an indulgent treat. Its taste resembles that of a brownie, though muted, with undertones of protein powder. Its texture pleasantly mixes chewy and crunchy, though it is perhaps a little scratchy on the throat. Nutritionally, the bar offers 8 g of protein, 5g of fiber and 10 g of sugar in 150 calories – a notable mix considering it makes no high-protein, high-fiber or low-sugar claims. Its vitamin suite is a little scant – just 10 percent of your daily need for vitamins A, C, and E as well as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and folic acid- though it also packs 40 percent of one’s daily need for calcium and 6 percent of one’s daily need for iron. Overall, Forze GPS Chocolate Decadence achieves a lot within its 40 grams and 150 calories.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Clif Builder’s: Chocolate

Made with an “entirely natural” formulation, Clif Builder’s: Chocolate delivers a solid dose of protein with a reasonable sugar load and good taste. While the undertone of soy protein emerges in the bar’s finish, the overall flavor resembles a brownie – a feat considering the bar’s mere 20 grams of sugar, 270 calories and absence of artificial sweeteners. From a texture standpoint, this bar offers a mixture of chewy and crunchy achieved by sandwiching a crumbled core between two layers of chocolate. Nutritionally, the line’s 20 grams of protein puts it solidly on the lighter side of protein bar territory. It also freights significant doses of 23 vitamins and minerals – including 100 percent of the FDA’s suggested daily consumption of vitamins C and E – and four grams of fiber. The bar’s brightly-colored packaging catches the eye, with the brand taking top billing above the Clif logo. While the flavor hangs at the far right of the label, each bar in the line boasts a different color, making one flavor easily distinguishable from another. Overall, this is a solid entry, pleasing in both flavor and nutrition panel.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Make Your Own Bars

Make your own bars with ingredients found at your local grocery store. Read more

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

Luna: Caramel Nut Brownie

Luna’s Caramel Nut Brownie bar is an especially good one, both in terms of the nutrition content and the bar’s flavor. It’s definitely one of the more indulgent bars that we’ve seen from Clif’s Luna Bar lineup, with a sweet chocolate flavored soy, rice, and oat base (70% organic). From there, they’ve drizzled chocolate and caramel on the top of the bar, while the bottom also has a decadent chocolate coating. As a result, the bar is chewy but has some slight crunch and it’s sticky to the touch — so you might want to eat it directly from the wrapper. Nutritionally, this 180 calorie bar has 8g of protein, 1g of fiber, and loads of vitamins and minerals. Also notable is their promotion of the bar’s “Low Glycemic” index, thanks to the use of brown rice syrup as the bar’s sweetener. So, if you’re looking for a snack that’s more than just empty calories, this is a great choice. On the outside, the new Luna bar look is great, with clean illustrations that give the bar a look that should fit well with the yoga crowd that this bar is meant for. Definitely one of the better Luna Bars that we’ve sampled.

Rating: 4 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

NoNuttin’ Granola Bar: Double Chocolate Chunk

For a bar that’s named “NoNuttin,” this bar sure has a lot of flavor. Using a gluten free and nut free granola base, it has a pleasant oat and crisp rice flavor with a slight crunch to the finish. Otherwise, the bar is soft and slightly chewy There’s also a pretty heavy note of dark chocolate, which gives the bar a slightly indulgent – and very satisfying – flavor. We love the very lightly processed feeling to the bar, which is a testament to the product’s simple list of ingredients. What’s also nice is the bar’s relatively low amount of calories (130), making this a great choice as a light snack or supplement to a meal. There’s not a whole lot in this bar in the way of nutrition, with 2g of fiber, 2g of protein, 2% calcium, and 6% iron Packaging is decent, although the logo is somewhat hard to read and the placement of the flavor name requires your eye to search a bit. Prime placement of the product’s nut and gluten free recipe is smart and opportunistic. Overall, we really love what’s inside the wrapper, but the design needs a bit of work.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Clif Bar: Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch

While there’s not a ton of crunch to the bar, there’s a nice dose of peanut butter flavor to this bar. The addition of peanut butter also adds a fair amount of chew to the bar, while oats, soy crisps, and a touch of chocolate chips give the bar some crunch on the way out. We can’t help but feel as though there should be more to the chocolate flavor – it’s really muted in its current form. So really, this bar is like a more chewy version of your typical Clif Bar. That’s not a bad thing, but more a question of preference. In terms of substance and nutrition, this bar has 260 calories, 6g of fat, 11g of protein, 5g of fiber, and a bevy of vitamins and minerals. Plus, it does a nice job of satisfying hunger and a sweet tooth craving all in one shot. On the outside, it looks just like every other Clif Bar wrapper, which, in our opinion, could use a few more visual differences than just a color change in the mountain graphic. Overall, another solid bar from Clif – but not one that’s going to get anyone overly excited.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kashi Golean Roll: Oatmeal Walnut

Kashi’s “GoLean Roll” line is an interesting one and their Oatmeal Walnut flavor is definitely one of the better flavors. This bar is very chewy, almost to the point of being difficult to eat (it will give your jaw a workout), and there’s a slight amount of crunch to it from the puffed rice coating. The center of the bar has a pretty decent “oatmeal” flavor, although it was hard to distinguish anything that really tasted like walnut. Ultimately, our biggest issue with this bar is how processed it tastes (and looks). The same can be said for the long ingredients list, which, despite being “all natural,” will require a food science degree to decipher. Nutritionally, the bar has 12g of protein, 6g of fiber, and 190 calories. It claims to be developed for an “optimized glycemic response” (slow release carbs to balance blood sugar and protein/fiber to help you keep satisfied). On that front, the bar seems to work as advertised – it definitely satisfied our hunger. Packaging is good and takes advantage of the popular Kashi brand, but we can’t help but feel like the concept of a “roll” is somewhat unappetizing. Overall, a decent bar, but we’d like it more if it were easier to chew.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Clif Bar: Maple Nut

Maple Nut is one of the more enjoyable Clif Bar flavors that we’ve sampled. It tastes like exactly what the name implies, with a soft but slightly crunchy body that has just the right amount of maple flavor to it. There’s also a touch of salt to the finish, which gives the product a slightly savory note that helps balance everything out. In terms of ingredients, the bar’s key ingredients are organic oats and soy rice crisps, which help to add some substance and nutrition to the bar. They also account for the bar’s soft, but crunchy texture, which is quite pleasing and further adds to the sense of substance. Nutritionally, the bar has 10g of protein, 5g of fiber, 240 calories, and an ample dose of over a dozen vitamins and minerals. It’s a great choice if you need a snack before a workout or something to help get you through a long afternoon. Packaging is clean and appealing, although we’re not sure why the color purple was chosen to go with a maple and nut flavored bar. Still, the overall product is extremely good and we’d definitely reach for it again.

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

Lifeway Kefir Probiotic – Sweet n salty peanut

So, two different callouts of probiotic on the label are probably one more than necessary. But the real necessity is actually putting some salt into the product to justify the use of the name “sweet n’ salty” on the bar. Not to be too literal or anything, but it would help, as would some bigger peanut chunks. Underneath a fairly pedestrian yogurt coating – nothing to make one think Kefir in the flavor here – lies a slightly chunky nougat, but not much beyond that, except an exceptionally large number of calories for a bar this size. Make it healthier, or make it better, guys.

Calories – 240
Fat – 13 g
Protein – 7 g
Fiber – 3 g
Total Carbohydrates – 25 g

Rating: 2 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

Kashi GoLean Roll: Caramel Peanut

We can honestly say now that the success Kashi had with its earlier Roll bar was no fluke – the caramel peanut is as formidable as the chocolate in terms of taste and ability to satisfy. Its flavor can’t be beat in terms of caramel notes, although the nuts and rice are a bit bland. Texture is an issue, however, as the “nougat” center of the role – quotes used because very little nougat is used in the making of this bar – is resistant enough to yank out fillings or whole teeth, especially when your jaw is already tired from cranking through most of this bar. Still, it’s well worth the trouble, especially with 12 g of protein and 6 g of fiber sitting around to soothe the pain.

Calories: 190
Fat: 5g
Protein: 12 g
Fiber: 6 g
Total Carbs: 27 g

Rating: 3 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

Larabar Jocalat: Chocolate Coffee

Like other Larabar products, this one is made with simple, understandable ingredients, including dates, walnuts, hazelnuts, cocoa, cashews, and coffee (all are USDA Organic). The resulting mix is quite good, especially since the flavor of the nuts helps mask the flavor of the dates, which can tend to overwhelm other flavors. The use of cocoa also helps quite a bit, with a touch of indulgence added to this nutritious tasting bar. And speaking of nutrition, the bar has 4g of protein, 5g of fiber, vitamins and minerals, and 190 calories. So, there’s some substance to it, but not too much, and just the right amount of vitamin content to make this a worthwhile snack. Last, but not least, is the packaging. It’s dark colored theme seems like the right choice for a chocolate and coffee flavored bar, while placement of the USDA and Fair Trade logos are a plus. On the other hand, the “JOCOLAT” text seems to make it hard for the eye to find the flavor of the bar – just something to consider. Overall, a very enjoyable bar.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

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