Make Your Own Bars

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

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

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

NoNuttin’ Granola Bar: Chocolate Chip

Compared to their Double Chocolate Chunk flavored bar, NoNuttin’s Chocolate Chip bar has far less chocolate flavor. However, it’s still plenty to satisfy and it also leaves more oat flavor in the mix. Plus, there’s a note of what tastes like brown sugar and/or brown rice syrup (kind of earthy, hint of molasses). All of these flavors combine to give the bar just the right amount of each flavor, with a mild level of sweetness to complement the oats and chocolate. It has a definite high quality feeling to it, which is definitely a plus for this bar. From a portion point of view, this bar is definitely on the lighter side, having only 130 calories and 5g of fat per bar. However, being a gluten and nut free formulation is something that should definitely give this bar some added marketability. On the packaging front, this 1.06 ounce bar has a pastel green wrapper that’s pretty busy as far as text elements are concerned. While the name itself is clever, we’re not huge fans of the logo (they’ve got a yellow character blocking the “o”), plus something just feels disjointed about the way that things have been arranged. Our eye was circling around looking for the focal point and trying to absorb everything that’s on there. Still, the flavor is great and if they can tweak the label we think this bar would be perfect.

Rating: 4 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

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

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

Odwalla Bar: Mocha-walla

In case you are wondering what exactly a “Mocha-walla” bar tastes like, it’s a blend of coffee and chocolate flavors. The bar itself is soft, but on the dry side, with a strong note of coffee flavoring that’s followed by dates, oats, and chocolate. Our biggest issue is with the coffee flavor, which tastes like they went overboard with the coffee powder. This exposes the coffee powder for what it is – poor quality coffee. It leaves the bar with a rather processed feeling, especially since it leaves less of the chocolate flavor behind. Nutritionally, the bar is decent, with small amounts of vitamins, 3g of fiber, and 4g of protein per bar. On the outside, the package has a bit too much going on, with the Odwalla logo on one side and images of dates and chocolate chips on the other. Down the middle, you’ve got a dose of text, including the meaningless “Original Bar” and a load of copy that’s trying to sell the consumer of the bar’s nutrient benefits. What’s lost in the shuffle is something to whet the appetite – or at least reassure you that the bar itself tastes good. Overall, this is a bar that needs work, both in flavor and design.

Rating: 3 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

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

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

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

Jammy Sammy: Apple Cinnamon & Oatmeal

Like its counterpart, “Strawberry Jam & Peanut Butter”, this sandwich bar delivers excellent flavor in a nicely portioned size. Flavor wise, it tastes exactly like we would have expected based on the name of the product. There’s a lot of apple flavor that has a hint of cinnamon to the finish. The exterior has a nice oat flavor, with a consistency that’s like that of smooshed bread. Ultimately, it tastes very similar to the apple flavor that you’d expect to find in other mainstream products, such as cereal or oatmeal. That’s fine by us – and we think it will be a hit with kids as well. Packaging is colorful and clean, with an excellent design that gives of a credible vibe of nutrition and quality. The product is USDA Organic certified – and the logo is a key part of the front part of the wrapper. Overall, this is a very enjoyable and convenient product that’s sure to be something that will go over well with kids.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Calories: 100
Fat: 2g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 1g
Sugars: 10g

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

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

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

Bobo’s Oat Bars: Strawberry

When we saw this bar, we were pretty excited to see how the rolled oat base that Bobo’s Oat Bars are known for pair with dried strawberries. Unfortunately, there strawberry flavor is completely overpowered to the point where it’s really hard – if not impossible – to taste the strawberry flavor. Otherwise, this bar delivers a very enjoyable oat base that’s nourishing and tasty, with a moderate amount of sweetness. Packaging is clean and wholesome, which fits perfectly with the type of bar that’s inside the wrapper. Overall, it’s a good bar, but we’d pick one of Bobo’s other flavors unless they can give us more strawberry flavor.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Bobo’s Oat Bars: Coconut

Coconut is a great flavor to pair with the rolled oat flavor that we’ve come to expect from Bobo’s Oat Bars. However, there’s just not enough of it, with the oat flavor over powering that of the coconut. While the bar still tastes very good, we were a bit disappointed to see that they didn’t incorporate the coconut more. If they could increase it, we think that the pairing of rolled oats and toasted coconut would be great. Definitely needs some tweaking.

Rating: 3 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

Bobo’s Oat Bars: Original

The “Original” Bobo’s Oat Bar flavor is a soft and chewy bar that delivers a homemade, rolled oat flavor. It’s lightly sweetened with brown rice syrup, which also helps on the energy front, and the bar has a modest 180 calories and 6g of fat. The chewy consistency is pleasing to eat, although the bar is somewhat crumbly as the bar has minimal ingredients that bind it all together. This makes eating it on the go somewhat difficult as crumbs will certainly fall. Packaging is clean and attractive, with that homegrown look that we’ve come to love. Worth a try, but honestly, Bobo’s flavored bars are much more enjoyable.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

18 Rabbits: Cheeky Cherry Chocolate

Using a very soft granola base that’s heavy on the oats, 18 Rabbits’ Cheeky Cherry Chocolate is certainly a bar that’s easy on the jaw. The bar has a decent amount of sweetness, thanks to the addition of a bevy of sweeteners that have been used sparingly, including maple syrup, honey, and tapioca syrup. It’s a certified organic, wheat free formulation that delivers 4g of protein and 4g of fiber. The cherries and chocolate are definitely secondary flavors, but we felt as though a bit more cherries would make this bar even better. Chocolate adds to the finish, adding just a drop of indulgent flavor to this healthy tasting bar. Packaging is attractive and polished, with time clearly spent crafting and placing the elements that are on the front of the label. A viewing window is a plus as well. Overall, a very enjoyable bar.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Bar Companies at Expo West 2009 — Are you going?

Our list of bar exhibitors that will be at the 2009 Expo West Show in Anaheim.  Are you going?  Let us know — we’d love to stop by.

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