5 Healthiest Meal Bars On The Market
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Larabars are raw, vegan, gluten free and tasty breakfast or quick-snack alternatives (@larabar/Twitter).
They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Unfortunately, it often gets cast aside for those five extra minutes of snooze.
However missing breakfast is a huge no-no for many and the solution for busy-bees who can't start their day without something wholesome in their system is the grab-and-go breakfast. A quick and portable breakfast in the morning can be the difference between getting to work or class right on time, or arriving 15 minutes late. It can also make the difference between a satisfied tummy to hold you till noon, or the creeping grumbling noises by the mid-morning staff meeting or class break.
The perfect portable breakfast title is most often given to the various meal bars on the market. Supermarket shelves are lined with boxes upon boxes of meal replacement bars, from chewy granola-types to protein-dense blocks of sugar. It is no secret that some breakfast and snack bars are healthier than others. Too many are loaded with fake sugars and bereft of any nutritional value.
So how to weed out the good ones from the pack? Don't worry, we did it for you with this list of the top five healthiest meal replacement bars.
1. Larabars
There are a few different kinds of Larabars on the market, the most popular being their fruit and nut varieties. Consisting of simple fruit and nut mixtures, Larabars come in a wide variety of flavors. Mostly dessert-inspired, the most popular ones include Apple Pie, Cashew Cookie, Lemon Bar and Banana Bread. The nutritional profile of these bars are pretty impressive, with most bars containing no more than five ingredients. These ingredients are also whole, real foods as Larabar contains no additives in their products. They are also in the optimal calorie range for a decent size breakfast, topping no higher than 230 calories a pop. All in all, it is a great choice for anyone concerned with consuming overly processed foods and in need of fast yet substantial meal.
KIND bars come in different forms, either chewy fruit and nut combos or the newer granola type (@CNNMoney/Twitter).
2. KIND Bars
Boasting ingredients such as dark chocolate, chili, amaranth, millet and ginger, it is no wonder that KIND fruit and nut bars are among the most popular breakfast options. Wholesome and delicious, the fruit and nut line boasts low sugar content coupled with high fiber levels and packed with natural ingredients for optimal nutrition. There are a few special KIND bars on the market that are boosted with added protein, antioxidants, omega-3's and fiber to make them an even healthier option. The entire line is also gluten free, making it perfect for individuals with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease. Recently, the KIND company released a granola bar line dubbed KIND Healthy Grains. Less sticky and just as nutritious as the original KIND bars, these have made a pretty big splash in the granola bar community.
Gnu Foods FiberLove Bars wear their shining attribute right in the title: fiber. While some breakfast and meal bars focus on protein, Gnu Foods does it differently by pumping their bars full of fiber for better digestive health and a bar that sustains you until lunch time. Flavors such as Blondie Bar and Carrot Cake keep noshers hooked, and the whole-ingredient baked bar throws any reason for guilt out the window. The line is predominantly vegan, and a single bar fulfills half of your daily recommended fiber intake.
If body building and protein are keywords in your lifestyle, Quest Bars will soon be your breakfast buddy. With 20 grams of protein, high levels of fiber and sweetened only with Stevia, Quest is a good option for post-workout meals and hiking snacks, and is geared toward those with a more active lifestyle. Though not as natural as the previous bars, the company still uses predominantly natural ingredients and stays away from any additives. Mouth watering flavors such as Cinnamon Roll and Strawberry Cheesecake also help their case. Tip: Bake the bars in the oven for a warm, cookie-like treat.
Another bar boasting high protein, low sugar, the thinkThin protein bar line was developed by a retired model. Certified Kosher and void of any GMO-ingredients, these bars are perfect for a long roadtrip or flight where healthy food options may not be available. Similar to Quest Protein Bars, thinkThin bars are not as natural as others on this list. Among the army of meal bars, however, it still comes out ontop due to its impressive nutritional profile.
Bonus Option: What's even better than searching high and low for the healthiest grab-and-go meal bar? Making your own! Make a whole batch of knock off Larabars or chewy granola bars with all the ingredients you like for a week full of quick and easy breakfast options. Find a few recipes here and here.
Reach Staff Writer Ashley Seruya here or follow her on Twitter here.
