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Lifestyle

The 5 Best Vegan Granola Bars

This article is written by a student writer from the Spoon University at CSU chapter.

In today’s bacon-obsessed culture, vegan foods can get a bad rap for being boring. But I think we can all agree that granola bars are delicious.

Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or a carnivore, you’ll love any of these vegan granola bars.

5. Original Larabar

things you need for your apartment tea chocolate
Isabel Burton

Okay, so this brand technically doesn’t fall under the umbrella of granola—it doesn’t contain oats—but these snack bars are so great that they deserve a ranking on this list. 

Larabars are made from minimal ingredients (9 or fewer) and produced with totally natural products like apples, dates, cashews, and cinnamon.

They have no added sugars and are not processed, meaning that the ingredients have not been cooked or modified from their raw form. Oh, and did I mention they’re insanely delicious too?

Pros: tons of different flavors, from Apple Pie to Mint Chip Brownie to Snickerdoodle; minimal ingredients; high in fiber; gluten-free, kosher, and non-GMO; good source of healthy fats from nuts; all bars contain at least ¼ cup of fruit

Cons: high in sugar (from fruit, not added sugar); protein-poor

4. GoMacro MacroBar Mini

food waste nut almond
Torey Walsh

Packed with quality, clean ingredients like “organic crispy brown rice” and almond butter, these vegan bars are a healthy and tasty choice for plant and meat lovers alike.

According to their website, the Minis are USDA organic, gluten-free, sustainably produced, and certified vegan.

Pros: natural ingredients; low sugar; low fat; sustainably produced and made with fair-trade ingredients

Cons: protein-poor; low in vitamins and minerals

3. Health Warrior Chia Bars

cereal
Becky Hughes

These vegan granola bars contain chia seeds, a superfood, as their main ingredient. Chia seeds have omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for absorption of certain vitamins and minerals.

These bars are perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up because they’re only 100 calories but pack a nutritional punch.

Also, they come in a variety of flavors that can satisfy any sweet tooth. Craving chocolate? Try the Chocolate Peanut Butter bar. Want something fruity? Grab an HW bar in Açaí Berry flavor.

Pros: made from chia seeds; 1000+ mg of omega-3 fatty acids; low in sugar; moderate fiber; low in fat; gluten free and non-GMO

Cons: protein-poor; lengthy ingredients list; hidden sweeteners like brown rice and agave syrup

2. Clif Bar

Endurance beer
Emily Waples

These vegan granola bars are one of the most calorie-dense of all the products on this list, but for active or athletic individuals, they are a perfect energizing snack.

Clif boasts 17 different flavors, and all of them are mouthwatering. There’s Apricot for fruit fans, Chocolate Brownie for choco-holics, and Nuts & Seeds for, well, health nuts.

Speaking of health, these bars contain a hearty portion of whole grains from oats, as well as up to 10 grams of protein. Due to their high carbohydrate content, however, these are best consumed around a time when you’re going to be active…or when you’re just really hungry.

Pros: great source of whole grains (organic rolled oats); high protein; good source of fiber; non-GMO; variety of flavors

Cons: high in sugar; contains soy; some flavors higher in fat than others

1. Bobo’s Oat Bars

Fiber cereal wheat
Jocelyn Hsu

Of all the goodies so far, these are probably the best example of a perfect vegan granola bar. 

These yummy bars are made with whole grain rolled oats and come in a variety of vegan-friendly flavors. Just a few are Cranberry Orange, Coconut Almond Chocolate Chip, and Maple Pecan.

They don’t have much added sugar and get most of their excellent taste from things like fruit and nuts. (If you don’t like fruit or nuts, they also offer Original, Chocolate Chip, and Gingerbread flavor).

Pros: healthy whole grains (rolled oats); low in added sugars; non-GMO; gluten-free; decent fiber; low sodium; all locally made in Boulder, CO

Cons: two servings per bar, so read nutrition facts carefully!; protein-poor; low in vitamins and minerals

Conclusion

As vegan diets are becoming more common, you might be tempted to try more plant-based foods.

Granola bars are an easy and cheap place to start. so feel free to reference this list of the best vegan granola bars the next time you get a craving for a veggie-friendly snack!