Snack bars, protein bars, chewy bars, the works. There are a lot of names for these so called logs of protein. Some are said to be great on-the-go between meals, and some are to be meal replacements. Personally, I cannot even fathom replacing my breakfast masterpieces with a 5 by 4 colorless block; however, I still enjoy having the comfort of knowing there is a bar in my bag just in case the hangry monster starts to creep out.
There are so many freaking options of bars in the grocery store, there is no wonder people tend to fall for the more well-known brands, such as Quest Bars or Cliff Bars. Sure, their packaging looks intriguing (there is a little man climbing a mountain like… dang that is #goals), but have you looked at those nutrition facts? I’ll save you some time: they are either packed with sugar or filled with chemicals that not even a doctor can pronounce. When you are trying to be healthy and watch calories, why would you want to counter act that with unhealthy ingredients?
I am not here to granola bar-shame you – I am here to help. After days and months of trying different bars, doing my research, and reading numerous labels, I have created a list of my top five go-to bars for on the run or when you’re just not feeling like a full-blown breakfast before work. Trust me, I will (hopefully) be helping to save your gorgeous, ah-mazing body in the long run.
RXBAR
This is my go-to on-the-run if I am not going to last until 7pm bar. Their ingredients are stupid simple, using egg whites for protein, dates to bind, and nuts for texture. There truly is no B.S. in this bar, and it has become a great friend of mine on the busiest of days.
Perfect Bar
Perfect Bar is perfect because they use zero chemical preservatives, overly-processed ingredients or emulsifiers. Plus, I can eat one for breakfast on the busiest days and it’s smooth sailing until lunch. The only thing you have to worry about is refrigerating them to keep these bad boys fresh AF. But don’t worry, a couple hours in your bag is totally chill…but I doubt it would last a couple hours anyway. They are that good.
#SpoonTip: If you purchase these, for my sake please try the almond butter flavor. Your stomach will thank you later.
Bulletproof Bar
Ever heard of bulletproof coffee? Meet the people who live for peptides and collagen. And now, they have made a bar.
PSA: this is not the bar for vegetarians or vegans, as it does contain collagen from grass-fed cows; however, if you don’t follow that train, these have less than 1g of sugar per bar and are a fantastic meal replacement with ingredients you can pronounce.
GoMacro Bar
I love GoMacro because they follow their five principles to a tee: veg out (it’s a vegan bar), live long (it’s a macrobiotic), be well (wholesome), community (they give back), and tread lightly (it’s sourced sustainably). Plus, it has a great consistency and doesn’t taste like a protein bar. How much better could a bar be?
Elemental Superfood Bar
If you’re in the market looking for a seed bar, look no further. Elemental Bar, is an “organic, raw, gluten free, dairy free nutrition that is high in omega-3s and omega-6s, high in fiber and protein, with no genetically modified organisms, sweetened with organic raw honey, and with no refined sugar.” A mouthful, yes, but so drool-worthy. This is a bar that is great as a pick-me-up, a snack, or meal replacement, or simply best if you want something naturally delicious.
So, there you have it. My list of the top bars you need in your fridge or pantry ASAP. They are all approved by yours truly and so many other top food bloggers. So go out there, give your taste buds a workout, and be called to the bar.