What to Look For in Healthy Snack Bars

What to Look For in Healthy Snack Bars

There's been a lot of time to re-evaluate what a healthy diet means to you in the past year. Many of us have begun prioritizing our mental and physical health, and one of the best ways to do so is through the food we eat. Eating nourishing foods full of vitamins and minerals is a great way to keep your body and mind feeling their best. If you have mastered planning out your meals and are still struggling to stay away from those mid-day indulgences, then it's time you start keeping more healthy snacks around. Nutritious foods like snack bars are an excellent way to treat yourself and curb those midday hunger cravingsmeaning that you won't have to (or want to) reach for the candy bar on your desk anymore. If you're curious to learn more about how incorporating healthy snack bars into your diet can boost your health, keep reading. In this article, we'll discuss what you should look for in a healthy snack bar, as well as the ingredients you should stay away from. Let's get started!

What to Look For in a Healthy Snack Bar

When choosing the healthiest snack bar, it's important to focus on the foods you do and don't want in your diet. Making your unique health goals a priority is key to finding the best snack bar for you. If you live a more active lifestyle, then finding a snack bar full of protein may be high on your list. For individuals whose diets lack fiber, then a fiber-rich snack bar is likely the best choice for them. Make a mental note of the foods you are currently eating and what your diet lacks in and choose a snack bar that will fill in the flaws. While healthy snack bars range in flavor, texture and nutrients, there are specific key health indicators that you should seek out when choosing which snack bar to enjoy. Keep scrolling as we list some of the best snack bar qualities around.

Whole Foods

If you're trying to fill your body with high-quality nutrients, it's essential to stick with whole food ingredients. Whole, natural foods that have not been modified are excellent sources of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and healthy fats. All of which are essential to good health. Many snack bars that use whole food ingredients are often listed as natural, whole grain, non-GMO, or gluten free. Bars that use whole grains like oats, quinoa and amaranth pack a lot more health benefits than those made with processed flours and oils.

Natural Sweeteners

Dark honey in a jar and a wooden spoon full of honey Too much sugar can quickly derail any healthy diet, and it's important that you know where the sugar you're consuming is coming from. When searching for a snack bar that's high in whole food ingredients, look at the sugars being used. Sugar alcohols and corn syrup should be avoided. Instead, bars that contain natural, organic sugars or one's that receive their sweetness from whole foods like fruit are often the best for you.

High Protein

When choosing a snack bar, choose one that will provide you with nutrients and health benefits that you might not find elsewhere. Protein is an essential part of a healthy diet, and while you can obtain it through the meals you eat, people who live an active lifestyle often require an extra boost of it. If you're biting into a bar before working out, after a busy day in the yard, or as a midday snack between meetings, choose one high in protein. Sneaking a little extra protein into your diet is an excellent way to make sure your muscle, organs and tissue have everything they need to remain at their healthiest.

High Fiber

Aside from protein, another crucial nutrient to seek out in a health bar is fiber. Fiber is packed with health benefits. From improving digestion to keeping you full between meals, incorporating more fiber into your diet is an excellent boost for your wellness. When looking to increase your fiber intake, it's recommended that you do it slowly. While fiber is excellent for you, too much of it at once can have adverse health effects. Working more fiber into your diet through healthy snacks like protein bars will not only allow you to get more of this nutrient, it will help you achieve it in a safe way.

What to Avoid When Searching for a Healthy Snack Bar

Young woman hand holding opened pack of cereal bar on pastel pink table Knowing what healthy snack bar ingredients to look for is essential. However, understanding what to avoid is equally as important. When searching for a healthy snack bar, there are certain foods, chemicals and health factors that you should avoid. To help you better identify the bar you'd like to buy, here's a list of the most common red flags.

Processed Ingredients

Earlier, we discussed the benefits of choosing a snack bar with whole food ingredients. Now, it's time to talk about why processed ingredients should be avoided. Many modified ingredients lose their nutritional value during the process. This means that by the time it hits the shelves, what may have started as highly nutritious food, now contains little to no nutrients. If, when checking the ingredient list on your favorite snack bar, you notice a long list of ingredients filled with words you can't pronounce, it's time to put it back on the shelf. Instead, stick to snack bars that contain whole foods like oats and peanut butterboth of which are great for you and easy to read!

Preservatives

Store-bought snack bars are designed to be shelf-stable. Using an ingredient to preserve freshness is often necessary and needed. After all, you want your snack bars to last until you're ready to enjoy them. This being so, you'll want to make sure that the preservatives being used are natural and won't harm your health. Natural preservatives range from organic rosemary extract, organic oregano extract, salt and vinegar. You should avoid unnatural preservatives, including sodium nitrate, potassium bromate and high fructose corn syrup.

High in Sugar

Portrait of a smiling brown haired woman with bright makeup eating chocolate bar isolated over blue background Healthy snack bars are a great way to curb a sweet tooth, and it's only natural that they would contain some sugar. Sugar helps snack bars appeal to one's taste buds and satisfy cravings. However, too much sugar can cause more harm than good. When choosing a snack bar, steer clear of artificial sweeteners like aspartame and select a bar that uses naturally sweet foods to boost its likeability. Fruits like bananas and strawberries are an excellent way to increase a bar's sweetness without the need for added sugar.

Long List of Ingredients

A snack bar doesn't have to have a long list of ingredients to be tasty. In fact, we've found that when whole foods are used, using just a few ingredients will create a bar that tastes just as great as it is for you. When choosing a healthy bar to enjoy, consider the length of the ingredient list. A bar that contains a long list of ingredients often includes a lot more calories, sugar and preservatives.

Bob's Bars

Now that you know how to choose the best protein bar for you, it's time to start searching. While there are many snack bars on shelves, some stand out more than others, and checking for the benefits listed is a great way to sift through the noise. Here at Bob's Red Mill, we care about your health. Which is what motivated us to create a healthy snack bar that you can enjoy guilt-free. If you want to add snack bars to your family's diet and don't know where to start, reach for a Bob's Bar. Low in sugar and high in protein, Bob's Bars contain a short, simple and clean ingredients list. And because they're free from gluten, soy, dairy and egg, they're a non-GMO snack that anyone can enjoy. We love these snack bars so much that we've made them in five unique flavors to appeal to everyone's taste buds. There's sure to be a Bob's Bar that your family will enjoy, from peanut butter and jelly flavored bars to peanut butter and chocolate. We hope that this article has provided you with the information needed to find a healthy and flavorful snack bar that you like. Low-mess, portable and delicious snack bars are an excellent way to remain full and energized throughout the day. Choose to purchase a store-bought snack bar that meets your standards, or make homemade snack bars with one of our many recipes. The snacking possibilities are endless! Have a snack bar recipe that you love making? We can't wait to hear more about it. Share your favorite snack bar ingredients with us in the comments below. From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, happy snacking!  
Bob's Red Mill
February 06 2021

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