Best Breakfast Bars
Looking for a breakfast bar to start your day? They can keep you energized and curb hunger pangs while you work through all your deadlines and Zoom calls. Or take them along when you are going for a hike or a workout. Many breakfast bars are full of healthy nutrients and some can support special diets.
Let’s find out about some of the more popular breakfast bars available today:
Clif Whey Protein – Gluten Free Snack Bars
These breakfast bars will get you through to lunch without a tummy grumble. They contain 14 grams of hunger-fighting protein and five grams of fiber. And each bar has only five grams of sugar and no sugar alcohols, so you won’t get a sugar high and then crash. Carbs are 24 grams.
The bars are mainly made of whey protein concentrate, organic peanuts, and organic peanut butter. They also contain rolled oats for crunch.
They are thin, crispy, and chocolatey. They have a sweet, salty, and nutty flavor. The bars have a nice light texture that goes down easily. They are gluten-free and non-GMO.
Avoid if you are allergic to peanuts, milk, wheat, tree nuts, or soy.
One drawback is, some people find the chocolate crumbles and melts too easily, making it messy to eat.
Pros
- Thin, crispy, chocolatey breakfast bars
- Sweet, salty, and nutty breakfast
- Contains 14 g protein, 5 g fiber, 24 g carbs, and only 5 g sugar
- Made of whey protein concentrate, organic peanuts, organic peanut butter
- Contains rolled oats for crunch
- Gluten-free and non-GMO
Cons
- Avoid if allergic to peanuts, milk, wheat, tree nuts, soy
- Chocolate is crumbly and melts too easily
Keto Krisp Keto Bars – Low-Carb, Low-Sugar (Almond Butter)
This pack of 12 almond butter breakfast bars is a great choice if you are on a keto diet. They make a great meal replacement or snack. Also try crumbling them over your yogurt. They are crispy and delicious. Unlike other keto snacks, they do not have a greasy texture.
They contain 18 grams of healthy fats from MCT oil, coconut, and almonds; 10 grams of fiber; and just two grams of sugar, which makes it perfect for keeping the fat off and staying in ketosis. They also contain 10 grams of protein and only four grams of carbs.
These bars were designed by Adam Bremen, who created them after being diagnosed with cerebral palsy. His focus is on what people can do, not what they can’t. He donates part of the profits to improving quality of life for people with disabilities.
The bars contain 220 calories and are chocked full of almonds, whey crisps, chicory fiber, with some sea salt for taste. There are other flavors, including chocolate mint, chocolate raspberry, and almond butter chocolate chip.
Use them to feed your fuel. They are a great choice before a workout. They are low carb, non-GMO, and gluten-free. They are free of artificial colors or preservatives.
These bars contain egg so avoid if you have an allergy or are vegan.
The only drawback mentioned by users is they are a bit pricey.
Pros
- Pack of 12 almond butter bars
- Great meal replacement or snack choice if on keto diet
- Crispy, delicious, not greasy
- 18 g healthy fat, 10 g fiber, 10 g protein; only 2 g sugar
- Full of almonds, whey crisps, chicory fiber, some sea salt
- Low carb, non-GMO, gluten-free, no artificial colors or preservatives
Cons
- Pricey
Larabar Protein Bar, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup
This set of four breakfast bars taste like a chocolate peanut butter cup! They have a nice short ingredient list: fair trade peanuts, pea protein, peanut oil, semi-sweet chocolate, and some sea salt.
They are not exactly a perfect choice for a diet, with its 18 grams of sugar, but they’re great if you are on the run, with 11 grams of protein and four grams of fiber. The bars provide a quick energy boost that fights hunger and satisfies your taste cravings.
Each bar contains 230 calories and provides 8% of your daily requirement of potassium and iron.
It is vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free. It is Kosher, non-GMO, and soy-free.
Some people find these bars a bit bland and dry, while others think they taste great.
Pros
- Set of four breakfast bars
- Taste like a chocolate peanut butter cup
- Made with peanuts, pea protein, peanut oil, semi-sweet chocolate, and some sea salt
- Great on the run, with 11 g protein and 4 g fiber
- 230 calories and provides 8% of daily potassium and iron requirement
- Vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, kosher, non-GMO, soy-free
Cons
- 18 grams of sugar
- Some people find them a bit bland and dry
RXBAR, Chocolate Sea Salt, Protein Bar
This pack of 12 breakfast bars has the ingredients listed on the wrappers so you can easily see what’s in them. They are made with almonds, cashews, dates, egg whites, sea salt, natural chocolate, and cacao. They do not have any added sugar, artificial ingredients, or preservatives.
The mix of chocolate and sea salt imparts a delicious flavor. The nuts provide texture and the dates bind everything together. The egg whites provide protein.
Each bar has 12 grams of protein and five grams of fiber. It contains 210 calories and fits a Paleo, Keto, or gluten-free diet. There are 13 grams of sugar, due mostly to the chocolate and dates.
These bars are perfect for the car, the office, or just as a fun and wholesome snack.
One drawback is, due to the higher amount of sugar in these bars, they should not be used for diabetic or anti-inflammatory diets. Also, the date flavor is overpowering for some and it can be sticky on your teeth. In addition, the bars get a bit greasy in the heat.
Pros
- Pack of 12 breakfast bars with delicious mix of chocolate and sea salt
- Made with almonds, cashews, dates, egg whites, sea salt, natural chocolate, and cacao
- Ingredients listed on label
- 12 g protein, 5 g fiber, 210 calories
- Suits Paleo, Keto, gluten-free diets
- No added sugar, artificial ingredients, or preservatives
Cons
- 13 g of sugar means the bars are not suitable for diabetic or anti-inflammatory diets
- Date flavor can be overpowering
- Bars can get greasy in the heat
Special K Protein Meal Bars, Blueberry
This is a pack of six tasty breakfast bars. They are a delicious blend of blueberry pieces and creamy goodness.
Each bar contains 12 grams of soy protein, five grams of fiber, and five grams of fat. They will curb your hunger all through your morning of Zoom calls. Each bar offers 25% of your daily required calcium, and 20% of your daily vitamin B6, B12, C, and E, iron, niacin, and riboflavin. They provide 15% of your daily vitamin A and zinc.
On the other hand, each bar contains 14 grams of sugar, which is rather high. Some of this comes from the dried cranberries but sugar is also the second ingredient listed on the label. Although these bars might not suit every diet, they are handy to have around if you are in a rush and need something quick and tasty to eat.
The bars contain almonds, milk, peanuts, soy, tree nuts, and wheat, so watch out if you have allergies.
Pros
- Pack of six tasty breakfast bars
- Delicious blend of blueberry pieces and creamy goodness
- Contains 12 g protein, 5 g fiber, 5 g fat
- Provides 25% of daily calcium, 15% vitamin A and zinc
- Provides 20% of daily vitamins B6, B12, C, and E, and iron, niacin, riboflavin
Cons
- 14 g of sugar which is rather high
- Allergy alert for almonds, milk, peanuts, soy, tree nuts, wheat
This Bar Saves Lives Chewy Granola Bars, Madagascar Vanilla Almond and Honey
This set of 12 delicious breakfast bars is made with almonds, flaxseed, oats, honey, and vanilla extract. It contains real Madagascar vanilla, which is an adventure compared to classic vanilla.
The bars are low in calories (170 cal per bar) and have six grams of sugar – this is not low enough for a Keto or diabetic diet but it is still lower than a lot of other breakfast bars on the market. Each bar contains eight grams of fiber but only four grams of protein. They contain 14 essential vitamins and minerals.
Founded by Kristen Bell, these breakfast bars are unique in that each time you buy one of these bars, a child in need receives a nutritious meal.
The bars are gluten-free, Kosher, and non-GMO. They are fair trade, dairy-free, nut-free, and bee-friendly.
In addition to the Madagascar Vanilla Almond version mentioned here, these bars are also available in a variety of other flavors.
One drawback is, the bars may be too sweet for some people.
Pros
- Set of 12 delicious breakfast bars
- Each time you buy a bar, a child in need receives a nutritious meal
- Made with almonds, flaxseed, oats, honey, and real Madagascar vanilla
- Contains 8 g fiber, 4 g protein, 170 calories per bar
- Contains 14 essential vitamins and minerals
- Gluten-free, Kosher, non-GMO, fair trade, dairy-free, nut-free, and bee-friendly
Cons
- Some find the bars too sweet
Choosing breakfast bars
There are lots of breakfast bars to choose from. How do you know which ones to buy? Here are a few tips.
Ingredients
When purchasing a breakfast bar, take a look at the ingredients list first. The nutrition facts are very helpful. Check how much protein, fat, carbohydrates, sugar, vitamins and minerals are in each bar. Keep an eye on sugar levels as they can vary vastly from bar to bar.
Consider why you are buying the breakfast bar
Are you purchasing this bar as a meal replacement, a small snack, or a diet supplement? This makes a difference. If it will be a meal replacement, look for a bar that provides more than 300 calories and 10 grams of protein. This should give you enough calories, carbs, and protein to keep your energy and blood sugar levels up until your next meal.
Sugar and fat
A bar eaten as a meal replacement should not contain more than four grams of added sugar and four grams of saturated fat. If you are buying the bar as a snack, look for one with no more than two grams of sugar and two grams of saturated fat.
Remember that sugar and fat can increase inflammation and lead to heart disease, diabetes, or arthritis. Also watch out for sugar alcohols like sorbitol, xylitol, or mannitol, which can sometimes cause cramping and bloating if you are not used to them. Do not exceed more than six grams of sugar alcohol if you have not had this before and you are planning to exercise soon after.
Fiber
Breakfast bars can be a good source of fiber. Look for one that has at least two grams of fiber per bar, especially if it is from fruit, vegetable, or nut sources. Be careful if your breakfast bar includes chicory root as a source of fiber because it can cause flatulence. Also try not to eat a bar that is high in fiber right before exercising as it can cause stomach pain.
Protein
If you are purchasing the breakfast bar as a meal replacement, try to aim for about 10 grams of protein. If just a snack, five grams of protein should be sufficient.
Enjoy searching for your new breakfast bars. They are sure to add some flavor and fun to your morning.
Photo credit: YuliiaHolovchenko/Shutterstock