I'm not the granola type, but when the ingredient list looks like a chemistry lab experiment, you begin to wonder. These natural energy bars have simple ingredient lists you can understand -- fruits, nuts and seeds. This results in bars without weird off-tastes from the additives and attempts to make palm oil taste like chocolate. These snacks will all provide you energy during a long walk. For endurance events such as a half marathon or marathon, try them on training walks first to be sure you tolerate the ingredients.
1. Larabar
Wendy Bumgardner ©
Larabar has good things going for it in both what it has (a short ingredient list of raw whole foods) and what it doesn't have (gluten, dairy, soy.) It also doesn't have a coating that will melt when you carry it in your pack. I like the texture because it doesn't crumble yet it is easy to break into chunks and to chew. As for the taste, I find it excellent. And I love to try their different varieties which come named after pies.
2. CLIF MOJO Bars
Courtesy of Pricegrabber
The CLIF MOJO is a trail mix bar. They come in several flavors, but each combines sweet and salty like you find in trail mix. They have nuts, chocolate, pretzel pieces, raisins and other understandable ingredients shaped into a bar for convenience. They are 70% organic ingredients. Each of the varieties has 8-9 grams of protein, but also 9-11 grams of fat. But they still come in at 200 calories or less. That can help with portion control if you find yourself eating a whole bag of trail mix rather than stopping at 200 calories. However, I do find these bars to be dangerous because they just taste so darned good. If I have more than 1 available, it's hard to stop, even though they are very satisfying. There are versions that are dipped in chocolate or other tasty coatings. I wouldn't recommend those for taking along walking as the coatings are liable to melt on warmer days.
3. SoLo Low Glycemic Nutrition Bar
Wendy Bumgardner © 2008
4. ProBar
Wendy Bumgardner ©
5. Gorge Delights JustFruit Bar
Wendy Bumgardner ©
6. PaleyBar
Wendy Bumgardner ©
7. BG Bar
A whole-food nutrition snack bar with natural ingredients, no chemical additives, dairy or gluten. Quite tasty, with a balance of protein, carbohydrate, 7 grams of fiber, and fats. For a convenience snack bar for longer walks, it very much fits the nutrition guidelines for most diet programs.8. SOYJOY Nutrition Bars
Wendy Bumgardner ©
9. Wings of Nature Snack Bars
Wendy Bumgardner © 2010
Wings of Nature has tasty snack bars that make good take-along trail snacks, especially for people who appreciate whole foods such as nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. They are more convenient than a bag of trail mix because the bars hold together well. I found them to be an enjoyable snack for during or after a walk. They are gluten free, trans fat free, and use no refined sugars. They are sweetened with agave syrup and organic brown rice syrup.
