Nutri-Grain bars have been a popular snack option since 1989, the same year Taylor Swift was born. Marketed as a healthy choice, these bars are known for their soft, chewy texture and fruit-flavored fillings encased in a whole-grain crust. As a dietitian with nearly 10 years of experience, I'm Jamie, and I'm here to provide a comprehensive look at the nutrition facts, ingredients, and overall healthfulness of Nutri-Grain bars, especially in relation to weight loss. This post may contain affiliate links.
Decoding the Nutrition Facts Panel
To understand the true nature of Nutri-Grain bars, let's examine the nutrition facts panel, using the Apple Cinnamon flavor as an example.
Ingredient Analysis
A quick peek at the ingredient list for the Apple Cinnamon Nutri-Grain bar reveals the following:
- Whole grains: The crust is made with whole grains.
- Added sugars: While Nutri-Grain bars do contain some natural sugars from the fruit filling, they also have added sugars listed as one of the top ingredients.
- Refined grains: The whole-grain crust is made with a combination of enriched wheat flour and whole-wheat flour.
The ingredients include whole wheat flour, invert sugar, corn syrup, whole grain oats, soybean oil, sugar, vegetable glycerin, soluble corn fiber, enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, vitamin B1 [thiamin mononitrate], vitamin B2 [riboflavin], folic acid), dextrose, and fructose. The product contains wheat, milk, and soy ingredients.
Nutritional Pros and Cons
Like many snack foods, Nutri-Grain bars have some benefits, but they’re not perfect.
Read also: Your guide to keto-friendly bars
Pros
- Whole grains: The crust is made with whole grains and provides 3 grams of fiber, which can help keep you feeling full and satisfied. Each bar contains 14g of whole grains, helping empower the whole family to win the day.
- Affordable: With the cost of groceries on everyone’s minds lately, these bars are relatively inexpensive.
- Each breakfast bar contains 8 vitamins and minerals per serving, including a good source of calcium and iron, and has no high fructose corn syrup.
Cons
- Added sugars: While Nutri-Grain bars do contain some natural sugars from the fruit filling, they also have added sugars listed as one of the top ingredients. If you prefer your added sugars to come from your favorite sweet treats, it may be worth checking out some alternative options.
- Refined grains: The whole-grain crust is made with a combination of enriched wheat flour and whole-wheat flour.
- Carb heavy: While carbohydrates are an important source of energy, Nutri-Grain bars are relatively high in carbohydrates and added sugar compared to other snack options. Bars with a better balance of protein, fat and fiber will have more staying power and keep you feeling satisfied for longer.
Nutri-Grain Bars and Weight Loss: A Balanced View
The thing is, no single food is going to make or break your current weight. One way to turn Nutri-Grain bars into a healthy snack option is to pair them with a source of protein.
Alternative Snack Bar Options
If you’d like to consider another kind of snack bar, there are so many options these days!
- Kodiak Soft-Baked Sandwich Breakfast Bars: These bars have 10 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber each, love!
- Dinobars: These have a nice mix of carbs, protein and fats for more lasting energy.
Practical Tips and Recipes
Trust me: I totally get it that we don’t always have time to make snacks from scratch.
Making Informed Choices
Rather than vilify a single food or put a health halo on another, it’s important to consider the big picture of what you’re eating on a regular basis. Nutri-Grain bars are often marketed as a kid-friendly option. With that said, some kids are picky! Maybe!
The bottom line? If you really like Nutri-GrainⓇ bars - enjoy ‘em! If you’re not ultra-picky, I think it’s fair to explore other options with less added sugar.
Read also: Guilt-Free Chocolate Treat
Read also: Looking for a healthy dessert? Check out this keto Tagalong bars recipe.