8 Healthier Store-Bought Snack Bars

You guys know I struggle at times with calling myself an “expert”. I don’t claim to know it all, or really anything, but I do find joy in sharing my experiences. But if there’s anything in this world that I mayyyy be an expert in, it’s one of two things, protein powders and snack bars.

By nature of what I do, I get sent a lot of free products and for whatever reason, a different kind of snack bar or protein powder ends up on my door step each week. This means that I’ve tried and tested what must be over 50 of each and in some regard I might be able to call myself an expert.

Last year I gave you guys a list of the best plant-based protein powders and ranked them to help you in finding a new favorite and this year I wanted to do the same with snack bars.

It’s hard to really rank these as they aren’t a perfect comparison. Not all of them are protein bars, some can be a meal replacement (though I wouldn’t advocate for that) and others are a nice in-between meal snack. But I did want to sort through the hundreds of flavors out there to differentiate the ones that are actually healthier options vs. the ones that are pretty much glorified candy bars. Let’s jump in…

8 Healthier Store-Bought Snack Bars:

RXBARS – by far my favorite snack bar! The ingredients are as clean as they come and I love that there’s 12 grams of protein from egg whites. My go-tos are the dark chocolate sea salt and pumpkin spice.

LARABARS – because of their accessibility, I always give Larabars two thumbs up. They’re consistently good, filling and easy to find. I know people knock them for their sugar, but most of the sugar comes from a natural source like dates and honestly, when my blood sugar is crashing and I need something that will bring me up fast, I can always count on Larabars.

PICKY BARS– In terms of taste, I’d say the Cookie Dough Picky Bars are my favorite on the market. They’re difficult to find, which can be frustrating, but the ingredients are clean and simple and I love the community feel of the brand.

VEGA SPORT PROTEIN BARS – You know I love me some Vega. Though I would never tout them as a meal replacement, for days on the run, Vega Protein Bars can serve as a temporary meal until you can get your hands on some other grub. I prefer the sport version to the greens version.

GOMACRO BARS– Another awesome vegan protein bar. I’ve seen these pop up a lot more in the past few years and I get pretty excited when I find them. I’ve heard mixed reviews from some people who don’t like them, but personally I’m a fan and I love that they use plant-based protein sources.

THIS BAR SAVES LIVES– more than anything, I love the social mission behind these bars. They also taste awesome too! For every bar purchased, a food packet is donated to a malnourished child. The ingredients are pretty legit (slightly higher in sugar than desired but still pretty clean) and I love the crunchiness from the puffed rice.

HEALTH WARRIOR CHIA BAR-These bars are pretty new to me, but they taste totally different than any other bars on the market. The chia seeds add an awesome addition of protein, and healthy fats and a nice crunch. They’re low in sugar and have a great variety of flavors too.

GREEN SUPERFOOD BAR – a little high on the sugar content but it’s packed full of superfoods and healthy ingredients like wheatgrass, spirulina and greens so a much better alternative and a great way to get in some added nutrients.

Personally, I’m a fan of making my own snack bars, but I also know it isn’t an option to make all your own food. These 8 options are great for those days, but if you’re interested in making your own, here are some of my favorite recipes:

1. Cinnamon Roll Protein Bars | 2. Peanut Butter Granola Bars | 3. Vegan Almond Joy Protein Bars | 4. No-Bake Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola Bars