Finding the Right Breakfast Bars
We’ve already filled you in on the best choices for snack bars and energy bars. Now we’ve scoped out the most popular breakfast bar brands to find out which are the healthiest breakfast choice.
What Is a Breakfast Bar?
These types of food bars are often referred to as “cereal bars.” Instead of being packed with nuts, granola, or oodles of protein like snack or energy bars, they typically have a softer texture and may try to replicate some common American breakfast foods like pastries and cereal. Some varieties have fruit fillings or icing on top, which might be a sign of high amounts of sugar.
Any kind of food bar provides grab-and-go convenience and portion control; this definitely makes them handy for a fast breakfast or a between-meal snack. Just walk through your grocery store, and you’ll see that there’s an astounding range of choices — some healthy and some not so much!
What to Look For
Most breakfast bars range from 90 to 150 calories. This isn’t really enough calories for breakfast, so if you do choose a bar like this, eat it with some fresh fruit, non-fat or low-fat yogurt or a glass of milk to complete the meal.
When it comes to the ingredients, look for products that include items you can pronounce. I found a lot of these packaged bars are loaded with sweeteners and preservatives.
- What you DO want:
- Whole grains for nutrients and fiber
- Real fruit
- What you DON’T want:
- Sweeteners like high-fructose corn syrup or corn syrup
- Saturated fat from palm oil
I did some research to find the highest quality bars out there; here are a few that I like:
- Kashi TLC Baked Apple Spice Cereal Bar – 100 calories, 3 grams fiber
- Health Valley Organic Blueberry Cobbler Bar – 140 calories, 1 gram fiber
- Trader Joe’s “This Fig Walks into a Bar” Cereal Bar – 120 calories, 0.5 gram fiber
- Barbara’s Fruit & Yogurt Bar: Cherry Apple – 150 calories, 1 gram fiber
- Nature’s Choice Cereal Bar: Triple Berry – 150 calories, 3 grams fiber
Make Your Own
When you do make them yourself, you get to control the quality of the ingredients (no high fructose corn syrup in these recipes!) and pick and choose your favorite flavors. You probably don’t have time to whip up a batch of these in the morning before you head out to work, so cook them ahead of time. Wrap them individually and store in the pantry, fridge or freezer. Or pop a few in a plastic baggie and keep them in your desk at work.
Breakfast is hard to skip. Paradoxically, it is also the meal that needs to be done quickly as you rush off to work. So a new need arises – something healthy and quick to prepare. Breakfast bars answer these needs by providing such meals. The precaution is however present – “What you DO want” and “What you DON’T want”. TLC Cereal Bars are extremely useful especially with the fruit flavors like apple.
Thanks for the suggestions! I’ve been eating these FiberOne granola bars recently…what do you think of those?
Hi Jennifer – The best way to check out any bar is to read through the nutrition facts and ingredients. Many companies have the info online so you can do your research before you head to the store.
Does anyone have a comment on the South Beach Breakfast Bars. I like them because they're 140 cal and have 10 gr of protein.
Thank's for your suggestions. I like Luna Toasted Nuts'n Cranberry 10g protein 3g fiber, low glycemic, calcium 35%. Calories 180, 35 from fat. I will try some of your suggestions like this fig walks into a bar…
180 calories – A bit too high. I guess no one buys the South Beach breakfast bars.
Dude! Great post!!! Trader Joe Bars are my absolute FAVORITE!!! I'm completely hooked on them. I tend to buy 4 boxes (one in each flavor) at a time to last me the entire month! They are a perfect on the go snack, energy booster when the day is dragging, quick nutrients after Yoga or a good workout. They're whole grain & all natural organic ingredients – they can't be beat in my opinion! I'm glad to see someone else out there agrees!
I like the Kashi bars. The Fiber One bars have quite a bit of fiber, but they also contain high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and the South Beach bars have artifical sweeteners. I purchase items with as few ingredients as possible and I completely avoid HFCS, partially hydrogenated oils, and artificial anything. This gets crazy…but is doable.
l also like the Luna bars. My current favorite is the vanilla almond (used to be the Toasted Nuts'n Cranberry). I have tried many breakfast bars and the Luna bars are the only ones that satisfy me until lunch and do not cause a spike and fall in my sugar. I actually have a monthly reoccurring order from Amazon.
I love the Enjoy Life caramel apple cereal bar. It's allergen free(no gluten, soy or nuts) and tastes great.
We love the oats and choc especially my 19 year old son! They are filling and hig in fiber.
I have found chocolate peanut nougat bars from adkins. They have about 5 g. of fiber, 10 g. of protein, and 170 calories each. Great for on the go!!
All of you!! Please try Lara Bars!!! They only have 4 or 5 ingredients, are organic, and absolutely fabulous!! They come in Banana Nut, Pistachio, Chocolate, Apple, and several others. Oh yea, the Lime Coconut is my absolute fave!!!
Thanks for your comment Leanne – one of the newest Lara Bar flavors -Peanut Butter Cookie- is pretty awesome too!
Personally, I enjoy Lara Bars, they're not exactly breakfast bars, however they are scrumptious. Cherry Pie and Apple pie is a must-try! Sink your teeth into it and I guarantee, you'll never go back to the sugar-laden breakfast bars.
How good are th special k bars?
where do you purchase these bars? Your favorite grocery?
What is the sugar content? Thanks
Hi Ginny,
Your local Trader Joe's have these bars (check http://www.traderjoes.com to find one near you). They contains 13 grams of sugar per bar.
I definitely plan to try the Lara Bars. I looked them up and they sound phenomenal! Thanks!
Hi Nancy,
The Special K Bars contain 90 calories per bar (which is decent)–but as Dana mentioned should be supplemented with a fruit if you plan on having them for breakfast. Problem I find is the tremendous amount of processed ingredients, many of them different types of sugars and the "Partially Hydrogenated Oils" which is a source of trans fats. These bars also contain 1 grams of fiber, which is not significant. Some of the bars Dana mentioned contain more fiber, more wholesome ingredients, and no trans fat. Let us know if you try any.
I really enjoy Think Thin bars. One bar has 20 grams of protein and little sugar. I also enjoyed the Atkins Advantage bar which was Peanut Butter Granola bar with 17 grams of protein, 1 gram of sugar and low fat, but I think they have stopped making them. I bought both types of bars at Trader Joe's, but you can buy the Think Thin bars on line. Atkins Advantage has two other bars, but they have more fat than I like.
where do you buy the Lara bars?? they sound great!!!
My grocery store has them – Kroger – in with all their other bars like Clif & Power Bars etc.
Hi Alyson,
My local Trader Joe's and Whole Foods have them too. Like Cecelia mentioned, they're next to all the bars like Clif, Luna, Power, etc..
LARA Bars can also be found at large grocery store chains like Stop & Shop. Go to their website (http://www.larabar.com) to purchase bars or to look for a store that sells them near you.
Guaranteed everyone on this site reads the nutritional facts.
I like the Fiber Plus Dark Choclate Almond or Fiber One Peanut Butter Bars. They are quite satisfying and not really sweet. If you have a sweet tooth these will stop the craving.
Does Walmart carry these LARA Bars
Hi Nancy –
I haven't seen LARA Bars at my local Walmart, but I have been able to pick them up at Stop & Shop, Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. If you visit their website (http://www.larabar.com) you can search for a store that sells them near you.
Hi Nancy –
I haven't seen LARA Bars at my local Walmart, but I have been able to pick them up at Stop & Shop, Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. If you visit their website http://www.larabar.com you can find a store that sells them near you.
would nature valley oat and honey (the green wrapper) be considered a breakfast bar or no? i have been wanting to try the kashi bars.
hey carol ya the fiber one bars choc. ones are awesome! i love those
Hi pebbles06
You could certainly have a Nature Valley for breakfast – we classified granola bars like that as "snack bars." Here’s the link to our Finding The Right Snack Barspost.
Hi pebbles06
You could certainly have a Nature Valley for breakfast – we classified granola bars like that as "snack bars." Here’s the link to our Finding The Right Snack Bars post.
i ve been eating Odwalla super protein (14 grams) bars..good or not?
I love them and really like the new flavors – Strawberry and almond in particular. For me they fit the bill – they are filling, high fiber, low fat and when I have them with a piece of fruit I feel satisfied until lunch time.
I love Shaklee's Meal-in-a-Bar, and my husband has one every morning.
What bars are best for diabetics? I need low Carbs, and or sugar….most have a lot of sugar in them.
My 2 year old and I would not be able to love without the Kashi TLC bars! They are our absolute favorite snack.
Dana,
What kept the Fiber Plus bar from making your list?
Hi Macmkaz –
Thanks for your question. We checked out the ingredient list on the Fiber Plus bars and found they contained processed ingredients including sweeteners and hydrogenated oils (the bars that made our top picks did not). Stay tuned for an upcoming article on fiber and fiber products coming soon!
Lara Bars are high in fat, sugar and carbs. Not good for diabetics. Also have some saturated fats.
Also, you can get them at the Vitamin Shoppe!
Gnu bars http://www.gnufoods.com have 12g of fiber, 140 calories, and are all-natural. Lots of flavors (espresso chip, brownie, peanut butter, etc.). I eat one every morning. You can find them at Vitamin Shoppe, some GNCs, and other health food stores.
I love the Odawalla Banana nut bar..I haven't tried the super protein..
Protein is what’s needed especially for breakfast. Zone bars or cliff ba
Protein is what’s needed and most cereal type bars have only 2 grams. Zone Bars and Cliff/Luna Bars are some of the best and not too hard to eat. Add a yogart and your set.
My spouse is pre-diabetes and my 8 year old has high cholesterol. The dietician suggested Luna/Cliff bars. As with any product, even organic, you have to look at the grams of sugar.