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When you’re looking for a healthy snack, granola bars might come to mind as an obvious choice. But not all granola bars are created equal. They fall all over the spectrum, in terms of both flavor and nutritional value. Ideally, you want one that achieves that perfect blend of tasty and healthy—but that can often be tough to find.

Christina Badaracco, MPH, RD, LDN, says the best options are made with whole grains such as oats, quinoa or buckwheat (this may include whole grain flours), along with nuts, seeds or nut/seed butters. Dried fruits or vegetables, as well as herbs and spices, are also good signs. As far as not-so-great things, she recommends checking the ingredients list and watching for mention of preservatives, refined oils, or artificial sweeteners like sorbitol or xylitol.

“While a little bit of added sweetener can be OK, most bars have far too much,” says Badaracco. “Avoid bars with processed sweeteners such as corn syrup, fructose, or tapioca syrup, and choose bars with sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, date syrup, or cane sugar that are found as close to the end of the ingredients list as possible. Essentially, the ingredients in the bars you eat should be foods you recognize and are willing to eat and cook with on their own!”

Of course, it doesn’t do much good for a granola bar to be packed with healthy ingredients if the flavor is so unappealing that eating that particular bar seems more like a punishment than a treat. So you’ll also want to look for flavors that tempt your taste buds (it can be helpful to browse reviews to get feedback on the taste—people generally aren’t shy about mentioning a less-than-satisfying taste).

Here are some healthy granola bars you’ll actually enjoy eating.

Bursting with the tempting taste of cinnamon, this bar from 88 Acres has a short list of ingredients and a reasonable 7g of total sugars. The company’s products are plant-based and free of the most common allergens. Try their Seed + Oat Bar Sample Pack, which includes six delicious varieties for $11.99.

Who says peanut butter and jelly can’t be good for you? Then again, this bar from Bobo’s isn’t your typical PB&J snack. Made with 100% whole grain oats, it’s also dairy-free and gluten-free. Best of all, it’s sweet and delicious!

Related: 20 Filling, High-Protein Snacks to Help You Lose Weight

These flavor-packed Kashi bars will leave you feeling satisfied—and smart, because you are making a wise choice. Each bar has just 130 calories and 7g of sugar. As a bonus, it features responsibly-sourced cocoa.

Every IQBAR is packed with 6 brain nutrients and is keto-friendly, with 2g of sugar or less. This tasty banana chip variety is a limited-edition flavor so grab it while you can! If you miss it, don’t worry – there are lots of other great options, like Peanut Butter Chip, Lemon Blueberry, or Matcha Chai. If you’re having trouble choosing, try their 7-bar sampler box.

The makers of the well-known CLIF Bar have created this thin, crispy snack bar, available in three flavors. Each package includes two Thins, which contain healthy, natural ingredients like organic rolled oats. At just 100 calories and 5g of sugar, it’s a snack you can feel good about.

Related: 15 Protein Bars for Weight Loss

This CORE bar has 7g of fiber and 6g of protein and 9g of sugar. Badaracco like the CORE bars because “they contain no added/refined sugar and are less sweet than other bars. Plus, they contain added vitamins and minerals and plenty of nuts to provide fat and protein.”

The perfect blend of tangy and sweet, this KIND bar has just 160 calories and 8g of total sugars. Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, creator of BetterThanDieting.com and author of Read It Before You Eat It – Taking You from Label to Table, loves the KIND granola bar offerings, which she says are the perfect healthy snack for on the go. Be sure to also check out the brand’s KIND PRIDE bars that are available all year long.

These vegan and gluten-free bars from Purely Elizabeth offer that perfect combination of salty and sweet that so many of us often crave. Each bar is just 130 calories with just 6g of sugar. “These contain a mix of ancient grains and minimal added sweeteners,” Badaracco says, noting that most ingredients are organic.

This Gratisfied Oat Bar is made with simple, easy-to-understand ingredients that you will recognize. It’s free from common allergens, making it a great choice for people with food sensitivities. Each bar has 210 calories and 5g of total sugars.

These protein bars from Barebells give you that crunchy, chocolatey goodness you crave without any added sugar and 20g of protein. Available in nine flavors, including two new plant-based varieties.

Related: 12 After-School Snacks So Yummy Kids Won’t Notice They’re Low-Carb 

These protein bars from Justin’s are certified gluten-free, non-GMO, kosher, and plant-based. They offer 10g of protein at 230 calories and 6g of total sugars.

Another offering from 88 Acres, this bar will make you envision crisp autumn weather, with its great flavor combination of crystalized ginger and dried apples. Each bar has 200 calories and 9g of total sugars. Badaracco is a fan of this company’s snack bars because “they are made of whole grains and seeds, and also contain all-natural ingredients.”

These gluten-free bars are made from whole grain oats, peanut butter, organic chocolate chips, and organic honey. Each bar has 220 calories and 10g of total sugars. Badaracco notes that they “contain whole grains and abundant nuts, making them high in healthy fats and protein; they also contain all-natural ingredients, many of which are organic.”

When you discover the real cookie bits packed inside this granola bar, you might be skeptical that it could be a healthy treat – but each bar has just 110 calories and 7g of total sugars.

These granola bars from Nature Valley have no artificial flavors or colors and no high fructose corn syrup. Each bar has just 150 calories and 8g of total sugars.

Packed with scrumptious chocolate chips, these Quaker chewy granola bars seem too decadent to be healthy – but each bar has just 100 calories and 7g of total sugars.

Another offering from KIND, these Oats & Honey Bars deliver the high-quality, healthy ingredients you expect from the company. They’re gluten-free and made from 100% whole grains. Each bar has 150 calories and 6g of total sugars.

Next up, check out the 12 best Keto snacks on Amazon.

Christina Badaracco, MPH, RD, LDN

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Your use of this website constitutes and manifests your acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy, Cookie Notification, and awareness of the California Privacy Rights. Pursuant to U.S. Copyright law, as well as other applicable federal and state laws, the content on this website may not be reproduced, distributed, displayed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, without the prior, express, and written permission of Athlon Media Group. Ad Choices

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