This post and giveaway are sponsored by Nature’s Path; however, the nutritional tips, editorial comments and enthusiasm are all my own.
Not all snack bars are created equal. And, with an entire grocery store aisle devoted to these popular between-meal munchies, it can be a confusing, tongue-clucking task deciding which bars to buy and which to avoid – some can contain more fat, sugar and calories than a candy bar! Not to mention concerning chemicals, additives and fillers.
So, whether for a gym bag, lunch box or office drawer, read on to find out how to make healthier choices when it comes to snack or nutritional bars. Also, don’t miss my giveaway at the end of this post for a 2-month supply of Superfood Bars from Nature’s Path.
Pick whole foods. Pick bars that have clean-label ingredients like dried fruits, seeds, nuts, oats, and whole grains. If you’ve heard of the ingredient, can pronounce it, and your great-grandparents ate it, it’s likely a smart choice.
Limit sugars. Look for bars that have no more than around 8 grams of added sugar. Stay away from processed sugars like white table sugar or high fructose corn syrup, which is now sometimes sneakily being marketed as “a natural sweetener”. Natural sweeteners considered healthy like honey, agave, fruit purees and so on, are better choices, but should be limited.
Monitor fat. Look for bars with less than half the total fat content being saturated fat. The remainder should be heart-healthy fats that are needed to help keep the body humming along, don’t fear these. However, do give a big “NO” to bars with partially hydrogenated oil, a trans-fat, that is linked to cardiovascular disease.
Look for fiber & protein: Look for bars with at least 4 to 5 grams dietary fiber to help make you feel fuller longer and provide support to the digestive system. A good rule of thumb is to get at 1.5 grams fiber per every 100 calories. As for protein, needs will depend on whether you are using the snack bar for energy, meal replacement or post-workout recovery. When having a snack for an simple energy boost, aim for at least 5 grams protein. A bar used for meal replacement or post workout should have around 18 to 25 grams. 
One of my go-to snack bars that meet my suggestions above are the Superfood Bars from Nature’s Path, North America’s largest organic cereal brand. In fact, you may already be familiar with them as they were previously called Qi’a Bars. However, nothing about the wholesome goodness of this bar has changed; all the original, delicious, nutritious ingredients are exactly the same. Only the name and packaging have been updated to reflect the heroic role they can play in your daily “snackification.”
Ingredients are “super” in so many ways, they are gluten-free, vegan, USDA Certified Organic, and Non-GMO Project Verified, not to mention free of artificial preservatives, additives and synthetic pesticides. Plus, the nutritional profile offered by the superfoods found within (including chia, hemp, coconut, seeds, nuts, dried fruits and more) is a smart snacking choice that helps your body and brain perform optimally. Depending on the flavor, bars offer 4-7 grams of protein, 4-6 grams of fiber and lower sugar than most energy bars at 6 – 9 grams.
Oh, and did I mention five insanely yummy flavors of the Superfood Bars? You probably look right past the new see-through packaging and figure out the real foods in these Superfoods Bars – Dark Chocolate Cranberry Almond, Roasted Peanut Dark Chocolate, Mocha Cocoa Hazelnut, Blueberry Cashew Pumpkin Seed and Nuts & Seeds & Sea Salt. Try them all!
The bars are perfect for my snack before hot yoga, just the right portion size of complex carbohydrate energy and protein!
And, my kids love them to eat them before sports practice, as an after-school snack or as brain fuel during a long test. In fact, one loves them so much, I had to arm wrestle him for the last one in the box (and I tragically lost)!
If you’d like a chance to win a 2-month supply of Superfood bars (one 12-count box each of 5 flavors = 60 bars!) ENTER BELOW via Rafflecopter:
The Blueberry Cashew Pumpkin Seed Superfood bar sounds the best!
The nuts, seeds and sea salt bar sounds the best to me.
The Nuts & Seeds & Sea Salt bar is my kind of snack!
The Mocha Cocoa Hazelnut sounds good. But they all sound good.
Dark Chocolate Cranberry Almond
I’ll take any of them that have chocolate!
I’d try mocha cocoa hazelnut. I love anything with chocolate.
Hazelnut
Their Dark Chocolate Peanut variety sounds best to me!
I’d love to try the dark chocolate cranberry almond.
The Dark Chocolate Peanut sounds great as well as the Mocha Hazelnut!
I always try to look for whole foods in the ingredients and to watch out for added sugars.
They all sound great to me. I would say the cashew pumpkin seed would be my favorite as I love pumpkin flavors and cashew nuts.
Love these tips! It amazes me how many people think that just because the packaging “looks” healthy or because it has oats or something in it, it’s a healthy bar. notsomuch
My Dream bar flavor: Hawaiian Malt : Toasted coconut, chocolate chips with Malt powder . I think the combination would harmonize well.
Roasted peanut dark chocolate sounds good
The Mocha Cocoa Hazelnut is one that know must taste so good!
Dark Chocolate Cranberry Almond sounds the best to me
The Blueberry Cashew sounds amazing to me!
The Mocha Cocoa Hazelnut sounds delicious.
The Mocha Cocoa Hazelnut sounds so yummy!
Mmm!!! The blueberry cashew sounds delightful
Blueberries are one of my favorite fruits and cashews are my favorite nut, so Blueberry Cashew sounds like the perfect bar for me! Thanks for the delicious chance!!
I want to try the Mocha Cocoa Hazelnut!!!
the roasted peanut dark chocolate sounds really good!
Nature’s Path Superfood Snack Bar -Dark Chocolate, Cranberry & Almond sounds best to me. Thanks for the opportunity.
Dark chocolate peanut sounds the best to me, but they all sound great!
I would love to try the Mocha Cocoa Hazelnut. Oh yum
Dark Chocolate Cranberry Almond, I love both ingredients. I imagine this is super yummy
The blueberry cashew sounds best to me and i would make a cream soda bar
The dark chocolate peanut flavored bar sounds delicious to me. These look like wonderful and super healthy bats.
blueberry cashew pumpkin seed sounds interesting
Dark Chocolate, Cashew & Coconut
The Dark Chocolate Cranberry Almond sounds deeee-lish!
U;d love to have one made with avocado.
I’d like to try mocha cocoa hazelnut.
My dream bar would include pineapple and dark chocolate.
Roasted Peanut Dark Chocolate sounds best to me!
The dark chocolate raspberry Almond sounds delicious.
Dark Chocolate, Cranberry, Almond sounds fantastic!
The Dark Chocolate Peanut flavor sounds good to me.
Any thing with Almonds in it !!!!!!!
Chocolate Hazelnut or Dark Chocolate Peanut sound delicious!
Dark chocolate almond satisfies your sweet craving
Dark Chocolate Cranberry Almond
I’d love to try them all but I think my favorite would be the Roasted Peanut Dark Chocolate Bar. It sounds amazing!
I love cashews and wish more things used them !
The Mocha Cocoa Hazelnut would be my choice
Blueberry Cashew Pumpkin Seed sounds best to me.
Blueberry cashew sounds delicious!!
They all sound wonderful, but I think my favorite would be the Roasted Peanut Dark Chocolate!
My dream bar would be full
Of
Goji berries
Nuts & Seeds & Sea Salt!
Blueberry cashew
I want to try the roasted peanut dark chocolate.
Dark chocolate cranberry almond sounds great.
The Blueberry Cashew sounds really good! The Dark chocolate peanut does too. Yum!!
dark chocolate peanut sounds really good!
Mocha Cocoa Hazelnut sounds best to me
dark chocolate almond
The mocha sounds great!
Dark Chocolate Cranberry Almond, my dream bar would be anything with pineapple
I would like to try the blueberry cashew bar. It has antioxidant rich blueberries and crunchy, creamy cashews and pumpkin seeds, all of wish I love to snack on.
.
Mocha Cocoa Hazelnut seems like the healthier version of nutella! love it
The Blueberry Cashew Pumpkin Seed sounds best to me.
Mocha Hazelnut sounds the best to me!
Dark chocolate cranberry almond sounds best.
the blueberry cashew has got my mouth drooling
I would like the roasted peanut dark chocolate.
Thanks for the giveaway. All the flavors sound delicious.
The Nuts & Seeds & Sea Bar is my favorite.
BLUEBERRY sounds like the yummiest to me
the blueberry cashew pumpkin seed flavor would be my pick
Dark chocolate cranberry almond sounds good!
Blueberry Cashew sounds amazing!!!
dark chocolate cashew coconut sounds wonderful!
The Nature’s Path Superfood Snack Bar – Mocha Hazelnut sounds amazing
The Roasted Peanut Dark Chocolate sounds good to me.
I would like the roasted peanut dark chocolate it sounds really good.
Oats, rice crispies, cranberries, macadamias, almonds and dark chocolate.
The Nuts, Seeds, and Sea Salt sounds the best to me. I really love salted almonds and cashews.
The Nature’s Path Superfood Snack Bar – Mocha Hazelnut sounds great to me.
I want to try the Blueberry Cashew Pumpkin Seed.
I’d love one with almonds, cashews, nibs, and cranberry.
My dream bar? Something with chocolate and almonds that tastes really good!
I would like either the Blueberry & Cashew, or the Nuts, Seeds, & Sea Salt.
I would love the Nature’s Path Superfood Snack Bar – Blueberry Cashew
I like blueberry cashew
Roasted Peanut Dark Chocolate would be my choice!
The Blueberry Cashew Pumpkin Seed Superfood bar sounds yummy
Mocha Cocoa Hazelnut!! Yummm!!
My dream bar would included dried blueberries, almonds, dark chocolate, coconut, and oats. Yum!
I would love to try the Nuts & Seeds & Sea Salt!
The Dark Chocolate Peanut sounds awesome!
MOcha Cocoa hazelnut!
Would love to try the Nuts & Seeds & Sea Salt Bar!!! YUM~~
dream bar would have chocolate (light) , coconut , blueberries, chia and oatmeal…
They all sound good. I’d love to try the Mocha Cocoa Hazelnut bars.
Roasted Peanut Dark Chocolate sounds heavenly.
I really like peanuts and chocolate, so it’s a win win for me!
Plus, it’s healthy for me!!!
Mocha Cocoa Hazelnut would be my favorite.
the dark choolate crainberry almond
All. They all sound amazing!
These ones sound tasty —> Nature’s Path Superfood Snack Bar -Dark Chocolate, Cranberry & Almond !!!
I’d love to try the blueberry cashew
I would like to try Roasted Peanut Dark Chocolate.
I would like to try the Nuts & Seeds & Sea Salt!
I would love to try them all. Love healthy food!
The Mocha Cocoa Hazelnut sounds great.
The Mocha Cocoa Hazelnut looks so delicious, and I would welcome it to be my favorite.
My dream bar would have apricots, chocolate, and almonds.