January 21 is National Granola Bar Day. We know granola bars are an easy and quick way to provide kids with a nutritious snack (or sometimes even breakfast), but it’s important to know that not all granola bars offer the same nutritional value.
What to Look For
The common basic ingredients of a granola bar sound healthy enough: granola, nuts, and sometimes berries, but it’s the added sugar and fat content that can change how nutritious the snack is. When shopping for granola bars for your family, we recommend looking for the following:
- Whole grains (oats, quinoa, etc.)
- Nuts and seeds
- Fruit (berries, apples, etc.)
- 4+ grams of protein
- 3+ grams of fiber
- Short ingredient lists with easily recognizable ingredients
What to Avoid
Keep an eye out for these sneaky ingredients showing up on granola bar nutrition labels (especially if they’re showing up first on the ingredient list!).
- Added sugar and syrups
- Refined grains (white flour, de-germed cornmeal, etc.)
- Artificial sweeteners
- Long ingredient lists with ingredients you don’t recognize
More Information
For more insight into choosing healthy granola bars, check out these resources: