What Are the Healthiest Food Bars?

Any manufacturer can put "energy" on the label. But any bar will give you energy; food is energy. "Energy is actually the calories in a food," says Dr. Eileen Silva, a naturopath specializing in metabolic health, weight management and detoxification. "So technically speaking, a brownie could be termed an energy bar, too!" So just because "energy" isn't on the label, doesn't mean the bar isn't adequate to take on your all-day hike. But for sustained endurance, low-carb bars are not the ideal choice.

Many low-carb and even some moderate-carb varieties are sweetened with maltitol, a flavoring agent made by the hydrogenation of maltose, which is obtained from starch. Some people report a very unpleasant aftertaste in bars sweetened with maltitol.

Watch out for bars that contain "artificial flavor." At least one brand of organic bars, believe it or not, contains synthetic flavoring agents. This line of bars, which includes a chocolate-mint variety, is sold at a major national health club chain. Read the ingredients list, word for word, to really know what you're getting.

Dr. Silva makes a notable point: "I am always leery of offering an unqualified endorsement of a food loaded with synthetic ingredients and boasting a long shelf life. If it is important to eat your colors--and it is--then does it make sense that an energy bar should be a regular staple in your diet?"

Your diet should be based on natural, whole foods, but at least now you know better how to select the right food bar for those times when one would be a smart choice. Below are some highly recommended bars. None contain artificial flavor, artificial color, artificial sweeteners or maltitol. Calories, carbs, protein and fat content all vary.

1. Company 2. Name of bar 3. Description

1. Peaceworks

2. KIND line

3. Macadamia Nut & Apricot; Banana & Oatbran; Fruits & Nuts. You can actually see the individual whole foods and their colors, packed into these low-calorie bars.

1. PROBAR, Inc.

2. PROBAR

3. Original Blend; Whole Berry Blast. These are high-performance bars for athletes and fitness enthusiasts who require a lot of energy; 50 carbs per bar.

1. CLIFF Bar

2. Nectar line

3. These are organic fruit and nut bars with flavors such as Dark Chocolate & Walnut, and Cinnamon Pecan.

1. Odwalla

2. Odwalla Bar

3. At least seven varieties including Chocolate Chip Peanut, and Berries GoMega.

1. Humm Foods, Inc.

2. Larabar line

3. Free of dairy and gluten, these bars have minimal ingredients, and are uncooked and unprocessed. Flavors include Cashew Cookie and Apple Pie.

1. Organic Food Bar, Inc.

2. Organic Food Bar

3. Gluten-free and 75 percent raw. The Active Greens bar contains barley juice powder.

1. Renew Life

2. Organic Fiber Bar

3. A whopping 14 grams of fiber per bar. Flavors include Cranberry Craze, Lemon Burst, and Awesome Apple.

1. PrimeHealth

2. Think Organic!

3. Numerous varieties including Chocolate Coconut, Fruit & Nut, and Tropical Nut.