Stock Up On These Great Energy Bars

Staying physically fit is important for a healthy lifestyle and munching down on the correct foods to supplement it is key.

According to Harvard Medical School, the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein is a modest 0.8 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight. For example, a very active 6-foot-tall, 175-pound male is recommended to take 64 grams of protein a day. Further, some studies “suggest that protein is more effective if you space it out over the day’s meals and snacks, rather than loading it up at dinner like many Americans do.” To not only keep up with that active lifestyle, but to spread the protein intake throughout the day, energy bars like the Quest Nutrition protein bar, Clif Bar energy bar, Clif Kid ZBar, Larabar, RXbar, and Kind bars keep up with that active lifestyle and will help keep you energized for your ride, workout, or run.

Wait, cookie dough? Yes, cookie dough. This protein bar is packed with a whopping 21 grams of protein, 4 grams of net carbs, 1 gram of sugar, and 14 grams of fiber per bar. No additional sugar added, plus this is certified to be gluten free. With 12 morsels to go around, the whole family and some friends will have their sweet tooth satisfied and their snack craving filled.

With an extreme rock climber on the packaging you can expect who Clif Bar’s target audience is: those who love extreme sports. Each bar has 9–11 grams of protein and is made with organic rolled oats. Now in this particular pack you get a wide range of different flavors to make anyone happy: Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Brownie, Sierra Trail Mix, Crunchy Peanut Butter, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut, Cool Mint Chocolate, Peanut Butter Banana with Dark Chocolate, and Blueberry Crisp.

Your little ones need snacks too and a Clif Kid ZBar is a good snack option to keep their energy up through playtime. Parents will feel good about adding one of these 18 bars to their child’s lunch since the bars are made of organic, non-GMO ingredients like 8–11 grams of whole grain and is free from high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, and synthetic preservatives.

Less can be more. With the peanut butter chocolate chip Larabar there are only four ingredients that pack this bar full of flavor: dates, peanuts, chocolate chips, and sea salt. For those who are lactose or gluten intolerant, these are dairy- and gluten-free. This bar has 15 percent daily value of fiber and the peanuts lend to these also having 5 grams of protein.

Another snack with limited, but flavorful ingredients is the RXBar. The wrapper plainly states what is in the bar: three egg whites, eight hazelnuts, two cashews, and two dates. Oh and don’t forget about the No BS. The company chooses an ingredient like egg whites because it is cholesterol-free and its protein is easily absorbed. Dates are high in fiber and other nutrients, and hold the bar together. Antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals are included thanks to the nuts. Finally spices, depending on the bar, these provide a variety of flavors with the other natural ingredients.

Claimed to be the best selling Kind bar, the dark chocolate and sea salt snack packs in heart-healthy almonds, drizzled with dark chocolate and a sprinkle of sea salt to give you a dash of salty and sweet flavors. This snack is gluten-free with no genetically engineered ingredients. No more than 5 grams of sugars are in the Nuts & Spices bars.