EcoFriendly Energy Bars - Best and Worst

by Bev Sklar (Subscribe to Bev Sklar's posts)
Jul 22nd 2009 9:00AM

Photo: lunabar.com

Green products abound, including eco-friendly energy bars. Sierra Club staffers recently blind-tasted 28 green bars to identify the Top 5 -- as well as bottom-of-the-barrel brands to avoid. No sense in forking over a couple greenbacks for an eco-bar that tastes like kitty litter.

This is a taste review only. You're on your nutritional own to find out fat, protein, carbs, fiber and which bars rely on that sinful sugar source -- high fructose corn syrup. Here are the The Top 5:

Luna - White Chocolate Macadamia. Marketed to women, Clif Bar is the genius behind the 70 percent organic Luna Bar. They do taste good and this flavor was top dog over at Sierra Club ($1.39).

Olympic Granola - Almond Chocolate Trail Bar. You won't find any corn syrup in these hearty bars. No chemical sprays or genetically-modified ingredients, either. A true green bar with rave reviews ($2.99).

One Lucky Duck - Chewy Almond Crunch Bar. One taster claimed this Lucky Duck could be served as a fine dining dessert. Handmade in small batches, every ingredient is organic, with a dash of Himalayan crystal salt. But unless this bar magically sets you on the summit of K2, that $6.50 price tag is outrageous.

Clif Bar - Cool Mint Chocolate. Clif consistently pulls off a solid product -- this thin mint explosion comes with a green tea caffeine kick for $1.39. Clif backs sustainable initiatives and 70 percent of their bars are organic.

Honey Stinger - Peanut Butter Honey. Fill your energy sails with a bar made by a 100 percent wind powered company and a community vegetable garden out back. Tasters either loved it or hated it. $1.49.

Although good for the earth sometimes means tastes like the earth, The Bottom Five include 3Bar's Tropical Tri, Amazing Grass/Chocolate Whole Food Energy, You Bar/Custom Flavor (hey, their trailmix is healthy good, but the sample energy bar was sawdust), Goodonya Bar's Peanut Butter Chocolate and Pro Bar's Superfood Slam.

Tell us what your favorite EcoFriendly snack is.

Comments (6)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Al.O. 7-22-2009 @ 11:33AM

That's a cool list. I've always wondered exactly which bar's used the least amount of power to operate.

http://buildyourowntikibar.webs.com/

pat baird 7-24-2009 @ 10:58AM

This is a nice review of the popular bars but, as a registered dietitian, I'm astounded at the comment"...that sinful sugar source - high fructose corn syrup."!

The fact is that sugar, high fructose corn syrup (as well as honey) contain the same (4) amount of calories per gram, and are metabolized by the body in exactly the same way. Bottom line: there is NO difference in these sweeteners. And that's important to keep in mind when reading food labels.

Pat Baird, MA, RD, Greenwich, CT

Matt Chambers 8-09-2009 @ 8:17PM

Fructose is processed in the liver and NO where else.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM&videos=Twjof-UcADo&playnext_from=TL&playnext=1

Jon C 7-26-2009 @ 10:22AM

Where's the LARA BAR? Outstanding taste. NO artificial ingredients. Sustainable energy from real foods. What gives?

Bev Sklar 7-26-2009 @ 10:36AM

Jon,
Yes, where is that one? Those Lara bars do look good ... and have incredibly simple ingredient lists. Thanks.
Bev

Carlytoons 10-17-2009 @ 8:32PM

Clif Bars for kids (ZBars) are delicious (organic too) & come in
delicious flavors & have no high fructose corn syrup in them either.
The honey graham, peanut butter & apple cinnamon are my favorite
flavors & are absolutely delicious. I am in my middle 30's & this is
the only brand I like to buy. :)