recommend the best food bar for the buck

June 5, 2006 2:20 PM

NutritionFilter: Can you recommend the best bar for the buck?

I'm going on a jam-packed weekend trip and will need some handy, portable snacks that won't get destroyed in my bag. The vast array of bars overwhelms me and I don't have time to look at EVERY label!

Please send recommendations for the best nutrition bar that comes as close as possible to the following requirements:

Calories- 180 or less
High fiber
High protein
Low sugar (preferably <10g per bar)

posted by I_Love_Bananas to food & drink (23 comments total)

You sound female. Chicks and broads I've known have always gone for Luna bars - the lemon and orange ones are great. I prefer Clif Builder's Bars myself.
posted by kcm at 2:26 PM on June 5, 2006 [1 favorite]

Don't know how many grams of protein you're looking for, but Larabars generally fit your other criteria.
posted by scody at 2:30 PM on June 5, 2006

I am a boy and have eaten many Luna bars without growing breasts. Hate the fruit ones love the chocolaty ones.

Currently I prefer the Cliff bars, though.

You can't go wrong with either. Much better taste, texture, and ingredients than anything Powerbar related.
posted by zonkout at 2:30 PM on June 5, 2006

Anecdotal evidence - I've heard from a bunch of people that since nutrition bars are not considered food by the Gov't - they are suppliments - that thay are not regulated and can lie on the packaging and do. I've also heard that Detour Bars (I get mine at Trader Joe's) do not lie. All rumor, but from some pretty reliable sources (a nutritionist, 2 trainers and a health nut friend)

Do with my rumor-mongering and slander what you will.
posted by gregariousrecluse at 2:48 PM on June 5, 2006

I cannot specifically recommend any bars but would like to ask if people would include where you can buy such bars (maybe in bulk?).
posted by jimmy0x52 at 3:01 PM on June 5, 2006

Check out Pure Protein bars by Worldwide. The small size (there are two sizes) has 190 calories, 20 grams of protein, and something around 3 grams of sugar. And they taste 80% as good as your average candy bar.

Cliff bars are pretty high in sugar (20+ grams, says the Cliff website).
posted by the jam at 3:11 PM on June 5, 2006

Leave the power bars behind. They are overpriced, hard to digest, and aren't that great. Skip the marketing hype, the obsession with having the right balance, and just eat food. My favorites: Fig Newtons, Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies, Beef Jerky, Summer Sausage, Cheese, Pilot Biscuits, hard candy, dark chocolate, and peanut butter on pita bread, a big bag of unsalted almonds, and dried cherries. I always stash a couple of Snickers bars in the bottom of my pack too. They are worth their weight in gold.

Eat real food! Trust me, it's worth it.
posted by tumble at 3:13 PM on June 5, 2006

The protein values for Luna bars aren't fantastic, but they are very tasty. And quite sweet despite their low sugar value (often 5-6g). You can buy boxes of them for about $1/bar on Amazon, and they qualify for free shipping. I personally like Nutz over Chocolate, Peanut Butter Cookie, and Chocolate Peppermint Stick.
posted by synapse at 3:28 PM on June 5, 2006

My personal favorite is Gnu Bars--130 calories, 12 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein, and 8 grams of sugar.
posted by Emera Gratia at 3:32 PM on June 5, 2006

Gnu Foods Flavor & Fiber bars are pretty good (Banana Walnut in particular), and, as you'd expect, they have a lot of fiber. Not much protein, but you could alternate them with something else. Frankly, you'll probably want to do that in any event just so you won't get sick of one type of bar.
posted by staggernation at 3:46 PM on June 5, 2006

I eat a Luna bar for breakfast every morning and it keeps me going until lunchtime. You can get them at Trader Joe's for about a buck each but Target sells boxes of six for around five dollars and sometimes you can get them on sale for $4/box.
posted by sugarfish at 4:05 PM on June 5, 2006

Luna Bars/Clif Bars thirded; most of the Luna Bars have 10g of protein. More nutritional information here.

How are Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies and candy real food?
posted by youarenothere at 5:02 PM on June 5, 2006

Gnu bars look like they will be a good one to try. I hope they have them at my Trader Joe's.
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 5:35 PM on June 5, 2006

My personal favorite are the Kashi TLC Bars in Almond Flax - 140 calories, 4g of fiber, 7g of protein, 5g of sugar, and yummy.
posted by geeky at 6:04 PM on June 5, 2006

One more MeFite for Clif Bars. I actually have one here in my handy messenger bag. I'll list some nutrition information:

Flavor: Chocolate Brownie (my second favorite behind Chocolate Almond Crunch)

Serving Size: 1 bar

Calories 240
Calories from fat 40
Total fat, 4.5g. saturated fat, 1.5g. sodium, 150mg. potassium 260mg. Total Carb 45g fiber 9g. sugars, 20g. Protien 10g. As well as a good source of Vitamins A, C, E and K (I did't know they had a vitamin K) as well as a raft of B vitamins.

I've found that you can get a limited selection at major grocery chains, but I get mine at a local co-op as they have a better selection.
posted by fantastic at 7:41 PM on June 5, 2006

Second the Kashi TLCs. They are the least junk-foody of any bar I've tried.
posted by Miko at 8:13 PM on June 5, 2006

(Also, I think Vitamin K is another word for potassium)
posted by Miko at 8:14 PM on June 5, 2006

Sorry, Miko, I believe you're mistaken. K is the chemical symbol for potassium, which leads to the popular misconception that Vitamin K is the same thing. It is not; they are two distinct chemicals with different nutritive properties.
posted by SuperNova at 10:22 PM on June 5, 2006

and please don't confuse Vitamin K with Special K.
posted by tumble at 12:16 AM on June 6, 2006

Not a protein bar, but a very very good deal: Primal Strips.
posted by ewkpates at 4:03 AM on June 6, 2006

I'm a Zone Bar fan. For your purposes, eat half a bar and save the other half for later. Only downside I see is that the chocolate flavors use a real chocolate coating and tend to get rather messy in warm weather.
posted by La Cieca at 9:03 AM on June 6, 2006

Never tried it myself, but you might want to try making some homemade pemmican.
posted by mrkohrea at 9:33 PM on June 6, 2006

(Also, I was wrong)
posted by Miko at 4:12 PM on June 7, 2006