Make Your Own Bars

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

Myoplex Lite: Peanut Caramel Crisp

With a label boasting 15 grams of “high quality protein” and bearing the Myoplex brand name, the promise of this bar is clear. A protein blend (both soy and whey) stands at the top of the ingredient list and that’s reflected in the taste. While its layer of crushed peanuts and caramel over chocolate creates an interesting texture – a mixture of crunchy and chewy – the peanut and chocolate accents only create a distraction from the cardboard undertone common to the protein bar category. The real test, though, is the nutrition panel. The bar’s 15 grams of protein is less than others in the category, but it also weighs in at a scant 190 calories – making it more of a pre-workout snack than a meal replacement. Where the bar really shines is on its nutrient content. It boasts 50 percent the USDA’s daily suggested intake of a suite of vitamins, including A, C, and E. It’s also a significant source of calcium, magnesium and zinc. Overall, the Myoplex Lite bar offers a good source of quick nutrition, even if it’s not the tastiest option on the shelf.

Rating: 3.5 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

State of the Functional & Nutritional Bars Market

An interview with DSM, one of the world’s largest suppliers of nutritional ingredients. Read more

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

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

Auto Control Medical introduces first low-carb, low-sugar snack food tailor-made for managing diabetes

TORONTO, June 15 /CNW Telbec/ – Auto Control Medical is pleased to announce that ExtendBar is now available in Canada. Read more

Clif Bar: Blueberry Crisp

Made with organic oats and soybeans, Clif’s Blueberry Crisp bar has a pleasant tasting base that’s very chewy with a slightly crispy finish. There’s a fair amount of flavor to this bar, with the oats and blueberries providing the majority of the flavor, while an earthy note added flax seed and oat bran. It’s a relatively sweet bar, but not too sweet to the point where you can’t consume it during physical activity. Functionally, this bar definitely has some sustenance to it, with 240 calories, 5g of fiber, 9g of protein, and loads of vitamins and minerals. It’s just the right portion for a quick pick me up – or even to replace a light meal. Packaging has a “crunchy” vibe to it, complete with brown toned colors and an image of a mountain climber. It’s appealing and credible, especially given the equity that exists in the Clif Bar brand name. Overall, a very enjoyable product.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

ProBar: Nutty Banana Boom

ProBar has hit the nail on the head yet again with this one, a pleasant bar that blends nuts, seeds, and fruit into an awesome tasting “whole food meal.” The bar has multiple layers of flavor, including notes of oats, dates, dried bananas, and nuts, all of which are perfectly balanced and working in unison. Like other ProBar products, this product one is extremely satisfying and nourishing, which is the result of the organic and unprocessed nature of the bar (your body will be thankful!). The bar has a variety of key nutrients, including fiber, protein, potassium, calcium and iron. Packaging is extremely appealing, with images of bananas, nuts, and seeds on the front — it whet our appetite very quickly. Overall, this is a great choice for a meal replacement bar. We’ll definitely be reaching for this one again.

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Calories: 380
Fat: 6g
Fiber: 7g
Protein: 9g

WildBar: Mountain Mint

Made with raw cacao and wild blue green algae, this gluten free, vegan, and USDA Organic bar is designed to be the “ultimate meal in a bar.” The bar, which is dark in color and has a dry but chewy consistency to it, has a lot of flavor to it, including cacao, mint, and macadamia nuts. Unfortunately, these flavors aren’t balanced well, resulting in a harsh, almost off putting, mint flavor that leaves a bad taste in your mouth (and a lingering aftertaste). Conceptually, we think it’s a good one, and some refinement to the recipe might make this a better tasting product. Otherwise, this bar is likely going to appeal to someone who’s really hell bent on adding blue algae (Crystal Manna and Blue Manna) to their diet. On the packaging front, this product’s wrapper design made us expect something very different than what was inside it. Specifically, the bright colors and emphasis on the mint leaf seemed to be somewhat of a head scratcher, while there are no visual aides to call out the other ingredients in the bar. That seems like a big mistake, especially since mint isn’t something that’s likely to whet the palate of too many bar shoppers. Overall, this bar needs work, both in packaging and flavor.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Calories: 185
Fat: 2g
Fiber: 14g
Protein: 5.5g
Vitamins: Vitamin B5: 9%, Vitamin D 3%, Vitamin E 8%, Magnesium: 2.5g, Copper 26%, Zinc 12%, Selenium 16%, Molybdenum 37%, Phosphorous 60%

ProBar: Maple Pecan

ProBar has achieved perfection again, this time in the form of their Maple Pecan bar. It is a splendid mixture of nutritious organic, whole foods that deliver enough substance to replace a meal and plenty of enjoyable flavor to satisfy your palate. On the flavor side, there’s a slight note of maple to it, but the base of the bar is the classic ProBar style formula (nuts, dates, seeds, peanut butter). As the name suggests, they’ve added pecans, which combine nicely with the maple, giving the bar an almost butterscotch-like note. The pecans, as well as the nuts and seeds, also create the “savory” flavor that the bar advertises. There’s a nice yin and yang thing going on inside this wrapper – and it’s definitely one of the best bars that we’ve ever had the pleasure of testing. On the outside, they’ve done a great job as well, presenting a design that’s an accurate portrayal of what’s inside the wrapper. Plus, the combination of nuts and maple graphics makes our mouth water. Overall, if there were a bar “hall of fame”, this one would certainly deserve to be in it.

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Calories: 400
Fat: 22g
Total Carbs: 44g
Fiber: 6g
Protein 9g

Honest Foods: Apple Ginger

This is a nice tasting bar, with notes of oats, apple, ginger, raisins, and seeds. It’s moderately sweet and somewhat sticky, with a fair amount of chew to the bar. The result is something that’s quite palatable and provides just the right amount of substance to supplement a meal or act as a snack. At 210 calories and 9g of fat, this vegan bar delivers 4g of fiber, 5g of protein, whole grains, and 190mg of omega-3. Honestly – and no pun intended –our biggest complaint about the bar is how quickly it disappeared. A hungry person could certain devour this in only a few bites (as we did). Packaging is simple and effective, with a name that lines up nicely with the whole foods that are inside this wrapper. Overall, a very enjoyable product.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

ProBar: Art’s Original Blend

Art’s Original Blend is named after Art Eggersten, the founder of ProBar. It’s a soft and chewy bar that basically tastes like a trail mix bar, delivering a soft base of oats that is accented with peanut butter, nuts, seeds, raisins, dried fruit, dates, and chocolate chips. But, unlike other trail mixes that we’ve tried, this one has just the right amount of savory and sweet. Plus, it’s loaded with nutrition, including 9g of protein, 6g of fiber, calcium, iron, and Omega 3 and 6. Like other ProBar varieties, this bar is definitely something that is substantial enough to be a meal replacement product. It seems like the perfect product for the person who is on the go or for those occasions (like a long car trip) where you can’t necessarily get something healthy to eat. Packaging is bright and colorful, but we’re not sure that it’s an accurate portrayal of what’s inside the wrapper. Specifically, it seems to emphasize the fruits that are in the bar, which might lead one to believe that this is some sort of fruit bar rather than the trail mix product that it really is. Nit picking aside, this is one of those products that we’d reach for again and again — a true classic.

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

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

ProBar: Kettle Corn

When we saw a bar named “Kettle Corn,” it certainly whet our appetite.  Kettle corn is one of those nostalgic things that has an enjoyable sweet but savory flavor.  We were certainly curious to see how it translated into bar form.  However, ProBar’s spin seems to be a bit far from the original, with toasted corn being the main connection back to the original.  In some ways, we’re okay with what they’ve done with this bar.  They’ve blended a variety of “whole foods” into this organic and vegan meal replacement bar, including whole grains, seeds, chocolate, coconut, dates, and peanut butter.  It’s chewy and soft, with a slight crunch to the finish.  Nutritionally, this bar packs in a lot, including 10g of protein, 6g of fiber, and a variety of vitamins.  Plus, it’s a product that will truly satisfy your appetite.  Still, we’re a bit disappointed by the Kettle Corn name – it sounds like something that would be more fitting for a candy bar than the ProBar line. 

Rating: 4 of 5 stars