Welcome to the latest edition of Wellness Wednesday! Today we’re discussing our absolute favorite JUNK FREE nutrition and energy bars.
Each month, Rose (my assistant) and I test out our favorite foods, give recommendations and discuss why they’re great. Our hope is to introduce you to new products and encourage a nutritious well-balanced approach to food. We love sharing energy bars because it seems that we’re always reaching for a snack around 3pm, and sometimes it’s nice to stock up on a few goodies.
The bars below were all personally tested by us and have our recommendation. You’ll find additional product information, nutrition highlights and our favorite flavor for each bar below! We hope you enjoy the bars. Be sure to let us know if you have any you love that aren’t on the list by leaving a comment below. xo!
1.) FLYJOY
About FLYJOY: All bars are all-natural, gluten-free, non-GMO and made with vegan and kosher ingredients. They are made with wholesome ingredients like quinoa, chia, flax, and oats. The company also donates a portion of the profit from each bar to HOPE International, a nonprofit that works to help families break the cycle of poverty. Eating these bars can help make a difference! GF & V options available!
Favorite flavor: Blueberry almond! We love the FLYJOY bars for their unique texture, made up of crunchy quinoa, chia seeds, ground flax, and oats. Yum.
Nutrition highlights:Â 180 calories, 5g fiber, 4g protein
2.) Simple Squares
About Simple Squares:Â Made with whole food ingredients, sweetened with only honey, and packed with beneficial herbs and spices. All products are organic, paleo, and made with less than five ingredients. GF & Paleo friendly.
Favorite flavor:Â We’re in love with the cinna-clove version, which has just the right amount of (natural) sweetness.
Nutrition highlights:Â 230 calories, 3g fiber, 6g protein
3.) this bar saves lives.
About this bar saves lives:Â Bars are natural, non-GMO, gluten-free, fair trade, and bee friendly. Not only are these bars amazing, the company provides a life-saving packet of food for someone in need each time a bar is purchased. Healthy, delicious snacks for you, and food for those less fortunate around the world – it’s a win-win! GF options.
Favorite flavor:Â Dark Chocolate Cherry & Sea Salt. Also known as the best flavor combo.
Nutrition highlights:Â 180 calories, 3g fiber, 4g protein
4.) Go Raw
About Go Raw bars:Â These bars are made with raw foods full of enzymes that help the body to digest food and added nutrition. All products are enzyme-rich which helps provide overall healing.
Favorite flavor: Banana bread. These Go Raw bars taste just like a healthy, vegan, nutrient-dense version of banana bread. They’re made with sprouted grains which help keep the bar low in calories but substantial enough as a light snack.
Nutrition highlights:Â 70 calories, 2g fiber, 1g protein
5.) GoMacro bars
About GoMacro: All bars are certified organic, gluten-free, and made with non-GMO ingredients. They are also free of refined sugar and made with a plant-based protein blend. V, GF options available!
Favorite flavor:Â Protein pleasure aka Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip! You can’t go wrong with the classic combination of peanut butter and chocolate, and the GoMacro bars are the best example of that. These bars are packed with protein, making them a great option for an on-the-go breakfast or afternoon snack!
Nutrition highlights:Â 290 calories, 3g fiber, 12g protein
6.) Kind Bars
About Kind Bars: Bars are made with whole nuts, fruits, and whole grains. All ingredients are natural and wholesome. KIND bars are a classic nutrition bar staple in my diet.
Favorite flavor:Â There are endless varieties but we’re in love with the salted caramel almond, salted maple pecan, and the madagascar vanilla almond bar — each contain only 5g sugar! Tip: Watch the sugar content in some of the Kind Bars, not all are created equal.
Nutrition highlights (from the salted caramel almond):Â 200 calories, 7g fiber, 6g protein
7.) Oatmega bars
About Oatmega: These bars are made with non-GMO ingredients and grass-fed whey protein. All bars contain a healthy dose of Omega-3s, fiber, and many micronutrients. Oatmega bars are a delicious and healthy snack option, and the mission behind the company is just as great: They use their platform as a way to give back to the community and ensure that everyone is able to live a healthy life! GF options available!
Favorite flavor: Chocolate Peanut Crisp. Two of everyone’s favorite ingredients combine into one sweet and salty bar.
Nutrition highlights:Â 190 calories, 7g fiber, 14g protein
8.) Mediterra bars
About Mediterra bars: All-natural bars made with nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, wholesome grains packed with fiber, and seeds. Mediterra bars have unique sweet and savory combinations, all of which are inspired by the healthy Mediterranean Diet. GF & V options available!
Favorite flavor: Apricot Pistachio. We love the apricot pistachio version as a sweet afternoon treat that helps keep you both full and satisfied!
Nutrition highlights:Â 180 calories, 3g fiber, 7g protein
9.) Health Warrior Chia Bar
About Health Warrior Chia Bars:Â These bars contain chia as the main ingredient of all products. The chia seeds provide healthy omega-3s as well as protein and fiber. Most bars are 100 calories. GF & V options!
Favorite flavor: Apple Cinnamon Chia Bar! Health Warrior chia bars are a longtime favorite for both of us. Chia seeds are an excellent source of healthy fats and help to provide a unique, crunchy texture. The apple cinnamon bar tastes like a healthier version of apple pie that you’ll fall in love with.Â
Nutrition highlights:Â 100 calories, 4g fiber, 3g protein
10.) RXBAR
About RXBars:Â Bars are made with three core ingredients: egg whites, fruits, and nuts. There is no added sugar, no dairy, no soy, and no gluten. All are non-GMO and whole30 friendly. GF, V & Paleo friendly.
Favorite flavor:Â RX Bars are, hands down, one of the best bars we’ve ever tried. We fell in love with the chocolate sea salt version. It tastes like a rich, decadent dessert without all of the calories and junk! They’re full of protein from egg whites, too. These are a MUST HAVE.
Nutrition highlights:Â 200 calories, 4g fiber, 12g protein
11.) Pure Organic Ancient Grain Bars
About Pure Bars:Â Made with organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, vegan, and kosher ingredients. All bars are wheat free and full of nutrients. GF & V options!
Favorite flavor: I love vanilla almond ancient grains. These wheat-free and vegan bars are amazing. They’re also perfect for those following a paleo diet. All bars are made with simple, tasty ingredients that create the most delicious natural flavor, all under 200 calories!
Nutrition highlights:Â 150 calories, 2g fiber, 4g protein
12.) Perfect Bar
About Perfect Bars: Made with non-GMO ingredients and superfoods. Every bar is gluten-free, kosher, and full of complex carbohydrates and protein. They’re a great post-workout snack to help fuel you back up or a on the go breakfast. GF & V options available!
Favorite flavor: Fruit and Nut. These bars are perfect for nut butter addicts! Almond and peanut butter are the main ingredients in all varieties, and they are a great source of protein and healthy fats.
Nutrition Highlights:Â 310 calories, 4g fiber, 16g protein
13.) Square Bar
About Square Bars:Â Organic and non-GMO bars made with sprouted and whole grain plant protein. All bars are gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free with natural ingredients. GF & V options available! P.S. Square Bars are offering AK readers 20% off if you use the code “ambitiouskitchen” on SquareBar.com
Favorite flavor: Chocolate coconut. There’s not much better than chocolate and coconut, and the combination in these Square Bars is the best example of that. We love these protein-packed treats, sweetened with all-natural ingredients like coconut nectar and dark chocolate!
Nutrition highlights:Â 230 calories, 2g fiber, 11g protein
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Huge thank you to my assistant Rose (pictured above on the right) for helping with this workout series! This post is not sponsored, however it does contain affiliate links. Thanks for continuing to support AK and the work we do. xo!
All excellent picks!
I will have to try the Go Raw bars. I generally buy the Lara bars that only contain dates, nuts and fruit. Thanks for this information!
If you like Lara Bars, then you’d love the original Pure Bars! 🙂
Awesome round up! What about quest bars? I know you used to love those
Hi Rachel! They used to be so good, however, they changed some of the ingredients to include corn fiber, and I just don’t find them as appetizing anymore.
I love those Go Raw bars! Epic bars are another favorite of mine!
My new favorite go-to is KU’L CHOCOLATE MACA & FRUIT superfood chocolate. It’s 70% dark chocolate, vegan, GF, and is 1.48 oz/bar at 210 calories! The fruit is cherries, cranberries, raspberries and pomegranate. It’s a bean-to-bar company out of Minnesota and the beans are sourced directly from the farmer! It’s DELICIOUS!!
Monique! There are so many options here I’ve never tried… and I am super intrigued by that apricot and pistachio Mediterra bar! I just tried Wella Bars (http://www.wellabar.com/) for the first time and am hooked – and I found them at Costco!
RXBar is a fan fave!!! I love all the flavors except coconut/cacao. Question about the Simple Squares: do you feel that the flaked coconut is very tasteable (texture-wise)? I don’t mind coconut flavor, but really hate the texture in/on my teeth. I know that sounds odd, but it just is…. Thanks!
Kind of? But it definitely wasn’t overpowering!
KIND bars and Health Warrior bars are amazing. I also love CLIF bars, LARAbars and Quest bars!
Love KIND bars, I also really like pureprotein or detour bars! But I’m not sure how healthy they are for you but good for on the go for sure! 🙂
x Kenzie
Hi Kenzie! I wouldn’t recommend the Pure Protein or Detour bars — definitely check out their list of ingredients next time you purchase — it’s full of additives.
What do you think about Larabars? I’m trying to avoid added sugar and a lot of these bars have honey or brown rice syrup. Thank you!!
Personally I think some of the flavors are overly sweet. I like that they are minimal ingredients and that they are non-gmo, but the sweetness can easily turn me off. If you look at the sugars in Larabars compared to some of these, it’s easily double. I think it’s probably whatever you prefer though.
I was going to ask about Quest Bars too! Do any of these bars compare in protein content?
I list the protein in each review, so as you can see RX bar is probably the one that comes the most close. Unfortunately Quest has changed their recipe for their bars using Corn Fiber — I really dislike the taste of them now. That being said, I also heard they might be changing back to their old recipe. Another thing to consider is that Quest is simply a protein bar, not necessarily an energy or nutrition bar. I spoke with an athlete who informed me that the best time to eat Quest is after a workout, otherwise it just tends to sit in your stomach. FYI!
Thanks so much for the info! I agree they aren’t the best tasting anymore! Because I’m nursing baby #3 I’ve had to be very intentional about increasing my protein intake to function (guess I’m getting older…) 😉 I’m definitely going to try some of these suggestions! I’ve been on the hunt for a good bar to keep on hand in a pinch.
Great list! Have you tried the Corazon oat bars? The cranberry flax snack size is my favorite, I think it would be pretty easy to make a home made version. Any suggestions (besides the oatmega bars – which I love) for high protein bars under 200 cals? I’m also not a fan of the new quest recipe but looking for a bar with similar macros