If you’ve grabbed an energy bar for a quick snack lately, you might be surprised to learn that the convenient snack might not deliver the boost you expect.Consumer Reports has found that many popular energy bars contain high levels of sugar and may not be as healthy as consumers believe.”Many aren’t as healthy as you might expect. And some have as much sugar as a candy bar,” said Amy Keating, a Consumer Reports nutritionist.Keating oversaw the testing of 31 popular energy bars, evaluating their nutrition and taste.>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
If you’ve grabbed an energy bar for a quick snack lately, you might be surprised to learn that the convenient snack might not deliver the boost you expect.
Consumer Reports has found that many popular energy bars contain high levels of sugar and may not be as healthy as consumers believe.
“Many aren’t as healthy as you might expect. And some have as much sugar as a candy bar,” said Amy Keating, a Consumer Reports nutritionist.
Keating oversaw the testing of 31 popular energy bars, evaluating their nutrition and taste.
>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
“The key to choosing a healthy bar isn’t just looking at the calories. It’s looking at what’s actually inside, like the added sugars and ingredients,” Keating said. “The best options contain whole foods like nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and grains.”
In its testing, Consumer Reports found winners and duds in every category.
For fruit and nut bars, the Patterbar stood out with its complex flavor and chewy texture, containing more fruits and nuts than the Nature Valley Bar, which testers described as having a dry, tough consistency.
Kind’s whole-grain bar received high marks for its moderate sweetness with hints of coconut and honey.
However, Bobo’s Oat Bar Original received low marks due to having more than twice the added sugars of the Kind Bar and tasting mild and slightly underbaked.
In the protein category, the 88 Acres Bar impressed testers with its sweet and slightly salty mix featuring real pumpkin seeds that provide protein, unlike the Think Bar, which uses more highly processed isolates.
Testers found the Think Bar bland with a slightly bitter aftertaste.
Consumer Reports advises shoppers to look for bars with no more than 7 grams of added sugar, real sources of protein like nuts and seeds rather than soy or pea powders, and fiber from whole grains rather than added fiber.
So, read the label before you grab that energy bar for your afternoon pick-me-up. What looks like a healthy snack might be closer to dessert.
The American Heart Association recommends women limit added sugars to 25 grams per day and men to 36 grams.