Remember the good old days when your choice in energy bars was between Clif and Powerbar? Yeah, well, those days are gone. Stroll through the energy-bar aisle in any Whole Foods today, and you'll be optically assaulted by a panoply of colorful, candy bar-like treats, vying for your attention with claims like "high in fiber," "high in protein," "raw," "gluten-free," "made from real food," "low in sugar," "detoxing," …Yep, we're already over it. But which shiny packages are actually good for you and made from real-food ingredients—and don't taste like month-old, dried grossness? Here, we round up the seven best-tasting energy bars for those who like to eat real food (not lab-rat ingredients).
1. Oatmega
Made from pasture-raised whey with sustainably-sourced fish oil and 14 g protein, Oatmega is basically the Rolls-Royce of energy bars. (Though fortunately, not quite as expensive.)
Nutrition: 190 cal, 14 g pro, 7 g fiber, 5 g sugars, 7 g fat, 21 g carbs, plus 300 mg omega-3s
Complete protein? Yes, from grass-fed whey.
Taste and texture: Sweet, crispy, and chewy—like a grown-up version of the marshmallow treats your mom used to make
Flavor highlights: Vanilla Almond Crisp, Chocolate Coconut Crisp, Lemon Chia Crisp
Great for: Gluten-free, soy-free
Get them: $23.88 for 12, givebar.com
2. Niibar
These vegan bars are packed with nutrition that you can see in the form of walnuts, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, and quinoa.
Nutrition: 230 cal, 10 g pro, 3 g fiber, 14 g sugars, 13 g fat, 22 g carbs
Complete protein? Yes, thanks to hemp seeds and quinoa—two of the few complete plant-based proteins.
Taste and texture: Fudgy and chewy, sort of like a raw-foods brownie or cookie
Flavor highlights: Almond Chocolate, Berry Cashew, Peanut Butter
Great for: Organic, gluten-free, vegan, soy-free
Get them: $2.99 each, niibar.com
MORE: This Gluten-Free Breakfast has More Protein than Oatmeal
3. Perfect Bar
They're a little lower in protein and fiber than some other bars, but they've got a diverse blend of 20 healthy whole foods like kale, alfalfa, dulse, and tomato that make up for what they lack in macronutrients.
Nutrition: 200 cal, 9 g pro, 2 g fiber, 13 g sugars, 10 g fat, 19 g carbs
Complete protein? Yes, from whole egg powder and milk powder.
Taste and texture: Chewy and fruity, with a hit of crunch from puffed brown rice flakes
Flavor highlights: Cranberry Crunch and Almond Acai, which are lower in sugar than some of the other varieties
Great for: Gluten-free, soy-free. Some of the bars are vegan, but they tend to be higher in sugar.
Get them: $24 for 8, perfectbar.com
4. 22 Days Nutrition
If you can't stand the thought of another chocolate-, nut-, or coconut-flavored bar, try these. They get an unexpected kick from ingredients like dried pineapple, yerba mate, and dried mango.
Nutrition: 230 cal, 6 g pro, 4 g fiber, 14 g sugars, 12 g fat, 26 g carbs
Complete protein? No, as the protein comes mostly from nuts.
Taste and texture: They're date-based, so chewy, dense, and supersweet, with a hint of crunch from puffed brown rice.
Flavor highlights: Goji Maté Firecracker, Pineapple Chocolate Chip Wonder
Great for: Vegan, gluten-free, soy-free
Get them: $35.88 for 12, 22daysnutrition.com
MORE: The Truth About Pea Protein
5. Simple Squares
Square-shaped snacks made with a blend of nuts and honey might seem boring, but these ones are kicked up with unusual herbs and spices like sage and cloves.
Nutrition: 230 cal, 6 g pro, 3 g fiber, 9 g sugars, 17 g fat, 16 g carbs
Complete protein? No, as the protein mostly comes from nuts.
Taste and texture: Moist, chewy, and not overly sweet. You know the spices are there, but they aren't overwhelming.
Flavor highlights: Cinna-Clove, Chili Pep, Sage
Great for: Paleo, organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan
Get them: $23.99 for 12, simplesquares.com
6. D's Naturals No Cow Bar
These soy-free vegan bars are loaded with protein and fiber and are surprisingly low in sugar since they're sweetened with monk fruit extract, stevia, and erythritol. And a fun fact to share during your bike ride or group hike: They're the brainchild of an 18-year old.
Nutrition: 170 cal, 20 g pro, 19 g fiber, 1 g sugars, 6 g fat, 25 g carbs
Complete protein? Yes, thanks to a combo of pea and rice proteins.
Taste and texture: Pros for being soft and chewy. Cons for slight chalkiness that comes from the protein powder, but the nutritional stats are so impressive that you might not care.
Flavor highlights: Peanut Butter Cookie Dough, Blueberry Cobbler, Mint Chocolate Chip
Great for: Soy-free, vegan, gluten-free
Get them: $29.99 for 12, dnaturals.com
MORE: We Tried It: A Liver-Based Protein Bar
7. Sheffa Savory Bar
Sugar-free and made from a blend of whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, amaranth, and millet, these savory bars are lower in calories and protein than other options, so dunk 'em in some hummus or wrap in a slice of turkey or cheese to make it more complete.
Nutrition: 150 cal, 4 g pro, 7 g fiber, 0 g sugars, 6 g fat, 23 g carbs
Complete protein? Yes, from a mixture of whole grains, chickpeas, and seeds.
Taste and texture: Crunchy like a cracker, with plenty of savory flavor from ingredients like roasted onion and toasted garlic.
Flavor highlights: Everything (as in an Everything Bagel), Sesame, Spicy
Great for: Vegan, gluten-free
Details: $1.49 each, sheffafoods.com
The article The Seven Best Energy Bars Made from Real Food originally ran on EatClean.com.