Most of the snackers out there know that, just like some muffins are pretty much cupcakes in disguise, some power bars are pretty much candy bars in unassuming wrappers. Ain’t nobody got time for that, we say. Busy fall days call for no-nonsense afternoon snacks you can grab and go that won’t weigh you down, but fuel you up so you can stay alert on the move. These six power bars will do just that without filling your mouth with the taste of sawdust.
Kashi Bars
For their convenience and higher-than-average protein and much lower-than average sugar content for a granola bar, Kashis are a great daily one to stash in your bag. You can find chewy or crunchy (and savory, if you’re a salty kind of person) types in any major grocery store or Shoppers Drug Mart in flavours like tasty pumpkin spice flax, dark chocolate cherry and chocolate chip and chia. With five grams of protein and four grams of fibre, these babies pack more nutritional punch than the average cheapie grocery store bar.
BOUNCE Energy Balls
With nine to 14 grams of protein from real ingredients with no artificial additives (think: agave, nuts, seeds, whey protein crisps), these truly tasty morsels will make short work of hunger distractions at the office and keep you focused until dinner. Get Bounce balls in nut-rolled apple cinnamon, coconut macademia, almond, peanut and other flavours that aren’t trying to be anything they’re not. And for the date-averse: they don’t contain any, FYI.
VEGA Sport or One bars
If you’re planning to hit the gym before dinner, VEGA sport is a smart choice for a pre-workout or a post-workout bar. With 15 grams of plant protein, they’re great for vegans who mean business at the gym. They’re made with organic, minimally-refined ingredients (dates, whole grain brown rice protein and nuts), and low-GI sweeteners, they won’t spike your energy levels and leave you to crash when you’re on the elliptical. They also contain BCAAs, a type of amino acid that can help your muscles to recover.
The Pure Bar
For the hippies out there, the Pure Bar hits all the right points: it’s organic, gluten-free, raw, vegan and soy and refined sugar free, flavourful and not overly sweet. They contain only a handful of ingredients per bar, each with a healthy dose of good fats, fibre and protein. If you don’t mind a date-based bar (if you like Lara bars), you’ll like these.
Simply Protein bars
Simply bars aren’t like the super-dense, chewy protein bars you’ll find in most power bar wrappers. These are light and crispy and slightly chewy like a rice krispie square. With 15 grams of protein in every 150 calorie bar, they won’t fill you up per se, but they’ll give you a protein kick to sustain your energy long-term. They’re also vegan and gluten-free. Try them in lemon coconut, chocolate peanut butter or cinnamon pecan.
