Wholesome cereal bars are an awesome on-the-go breakfast alternative, however you is likely to be stunned on the quantity of sugar and fats some include…
Cereal bars have develop into a staple in our busy fashionable lives, with many people swapping wholesome cereals for a bite-sized bar as a low-calorie breakfast choice or wholesome snack.
Typically containing elements like oats, nuts and fruit, we’ve been led to consider cereal bars are wholesome and nutritious. And while some actually are, there are some by widespread manufacturers which can be truly excessive in hidden sugar and saturated fats.
“The biggest thing to watch out for when it comes to shop-bought cereal bars (and all kid’s breakfast cereals for that matter) is sugar content,” says Mina Khan, nutritionist and founding father of nutraceutical firm Formulate Well being. “A ‘skinny’ or ‘light’ cereal bar may be filled with oats, high in fibre and low in fat, but the amount of sugar in some of these ‘healthy choices’ is a real shock when you look at the packaging.”
With this in thoughts, we requested Mina to assist us rank the most effective and worst cereal bars to your eating regimen, making an allowance for elements like energy, sugar, fibre and saturated fats.
What are the healthiest cereal bars?
These wanting wholesome cereal bars ought to strive Alpen’s Gentle Bars vary which was ranked as the most effective cereal bar nutrition-wise. They take the trophy for the cereal bar lowest in saturated fats, with solely 0.3g in every bar. Containing simply 66 energy AND obtainable in scrumptious flavours like Cherry Bakewell and Chocolate and Fudge, these bars are an actual winner.
While the least wholesome cereal bars are Rice Krispies Squares Bars, which include large portions of sugar and little or no proof of dietary goodness. A typical bar incorporates 9g of sugar, which in any other case interprets to 4 heaped teaspoons. This quantities to a 3rd of the NHS’s each day allowance on sugar.
Wholesome cereal bars ranked from finest and worst
1. Finest cereal bar total and finest for saturated fats: Alpen Gentle Bars Cherry Bakewell
Per bar –
Cals: 66
Fats: 1.1g
Saturated fats: 0.3g
Sugar: 2.9g
Salt: 0.03g
Value: £2 at Ocado
Verdict: The Alpen Gentle Bars vary have been topped the most effective cereal bars total for his or her low sugar, low fats and low energy content material. This low-calorie snack additionally boasts the most effective saturated fats ranking. “The Cherry Bakewell option contains almost 3g sugar per serving, which is much lower than many of the other options on this list,” says nutritionist Mina Khan. “What’s more, these bars also provide a high amount of fibre, which is great for digestion and for keeping your energy levels up overtime.”
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2. Finest cereal bar for sugar content material: Fibre One Protein Caramel and Nuts Bars
Per bar –
Cals: 87
Fats: 2.4g
Saturated fats: 1.7g
Sugar: 1.0g
Salt: 0.27g
Value: £2.89 at Tesco
Verdict: Fibre One bars additionally ranked extremely in our wholesome cereal bars record. Their Protein Caramel and Nuts bar is the most effective cereal bar for sugar content material with solely 1g in every bar. Mina additionally confirms these are each excessive in fibre and protein – good for these on a high-protein plan. “Sound like a winner to me,” she provides.
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3. Kellogg’s Particular Ok Milk Chocolate Chewy Delight
Per bar –
Cals: 96
Fats: 3.1g
Saturated fats: 1.2g
Sugar: 5.8g
Salt: 0.1g
Value: £1.99 at Tesco
Verdict: “Special K’s Chewy Delight bar is quite high in fat and sugar, as you’d expect given that it contains chocolate,” says Mina. “It is however also high in fibre, which is great to see.” This Particular Ok cereal bar isn’t a nasty choice for these wanting a chocolatey cereal deal with as it can fulfill your cravings and maintain you full.
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4. Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Oats & Honey bar
Per packet (two bars) –
Cals: 196
Fats: 7.6g
Saturated fats: 0.9g
Sugar: 11.3g
Salt: 0.36g
Value: £2.39 at Tesco
Verdict: Don’t be postpone by the calorie content material of this bar, because it’s pure elements will maintain you extra happy than different low-cal cereal bars in the marketplace. “Nature Valley’s Crunchy Granola Oats & Honey bar is made with 100% wholegrain oats, making it a great, filling option for those looking for slow release energy that will keep you satisfied,” says Mina. “However, this bar is also fairly high in sugar, containing 11.3g altogether. In saying this, the bars have relatively low saturated fat contents, so may be an ideal choice for those on low fat diets.”
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5. Kellogg’s Frosties Cereal Bars
Per bar –
Cals: 100
Fats: 2.3g
Saturated fats: 1.6g
Sugar: 6.5g
Salt: 0.14g
Value: 99p at Tesco
Verdict: “Just like Frosties cereal, Frosties Snack Bars contain a lot of sugar which helps keep them tasting grreat, but unfortunately does not make them very nutritious,” says Mina. While the sugar content material is alarming, their saturated fats content material and energy are higher than different cereal bars in the marketplace.
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6. BelVita Breakfast Biscuits Yogurt Crunch
Per bar –
Cals: 114
Fats: 4g
Saturated fats: 1.3g
Sugar: 6.8g
Salt: 0.14g
Value: £2.25 at Tesco
Verdict: These BelVita Yoghurt Crunch bars are in the course of the spectrum. “It’s definitely not packed full of fibre, the sugar content is quite moderate and it is more like a biscuit rather than a cereal bar,” says Mina on their dietary worth.
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7. Tesco Free From 5 Oaty Crunch Granola Bars
Per bar –
Cals: 199
Fats: 8g
Saturated fats: 0.9g
Sugar: 11.6g
Salt: 0.1g
Value: £1.80 at Tesco
Verdict: Although these cereal bars are gluten free, don’t be fooled into considering they’re higher for you. Mina tells us: “This option is fairly high in sugar and again, has very little fibre so is unlikely to keep you feeling satisfied for long. Don’t be misled by the mention of 5 oats in the title of this one, it actually contains less fibre than a Rice Krispies bar.”
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8. Alpen Strawberry and Yoghurt Bars
Per bar –
Cals: 199
Fats: 8g
Saturated fats: 0.9g
Sugar: 11.6g
Salt: 0.1g
Value: £1.99 at Tesco
Verdict: Mina charges these Alpen yoghurt bars due to their good fibre ranking which rivals many of the different choices on the market. She provides: “The sugar content in these is moderate, but some of this comes from real dried fruit.”
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9. Coco Pops Snack Bars
Per bar –
Cals: 84
Fats: 2.6g
Saturated fats: 1.9g
Sugar: 5.4g
Salt: 0.08g
Value: 99p at Tesco
Verdict: Coco Pops – liked by youngsters and adults – is offered as a bar, however how does it rank in our wholesome cereal bars record? “Just like with the Rice Krispie bars, Coco Pops Snack Bars provide very little nutritional benefits and contain a high amount of sugar,” says Mina. “Again, the fibre content in these bars is also quite low, meaning it’s more than likely that you’ll end up feeling peckish, reaching for another one 10 minutes later.”
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10. Rice Krispies Snack Bars
Per bar –
Cals: 83
Fats: 2.2g
Saturated fats: 1.7g
Sugar: 5.8g
Salt: 0.11g
Value: 99p at Tesco
Verdict: Sadly Rice Krispies bars rank extra in the direction of the unhealthy finish of the cereal bar spectrum. Based on Mina they include little or no fibre and are excessive in fats and sugar. “They may give you a short spike of energy (think sugar rush) but are unlikely to keep you feeling full and satisfied for very long,” she tells us.
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11. Cadbury’s Raisin Brunch Bar
Per bar –
Cals: 133
Fats: 4.8g
Saturated fats: 2.4g
Sugar: 10g
Salt: 0.15g
Value: £1.00 at Tesco
Verdict: Cadbury Brunch Bars, containing raisins and chocolate, unsurprisingly include actually excessive quantities of sugar. Mina notes that while they do style nice and have some fibre (albeit small) they’re one of many least wholesome cereal bars on the market.
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12. Particular Ok Biscuit Moments Strawberry
Per bar –
Cals: 98
Fats: 1.9g
Saturated fats: 0.7g
Sugar: 7.8g
Salt: 0.19g
Value: £1.99 at Ocado
Verdict: “Calories definitely aren’t everything when it comes to checking labels on shop-bought snacks,” says Mina. She reveals that these Biscuit Moments Strawberry bars are literally full of sugar, containing greater than Coco Pops and Rice Krispies bars.
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13. Jordans Frusli Raisin and Hazelnut Bar
Per bar –
Cals: 120
Fats: 3.7g
Saturated fats: 0.5g
Sugar: 9.6g
Salt: 0.01g
Value: £2 at Tesco
Verdict: Vitamin-wise Jordans Granola and Frusli bars fall on the dangerous finish of the desk. They’re extraordinarily excessive in sugar with one bar containing over two teaspoons of sugar. That’s a 3rd of your each day free sugar allowance.
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14. Nutri-Grain Strawberry Bars
Per bar –
Cals: 130
Fats: 3.1g
Saturated fats: 1.1g
Sugar: 12g
Salt: 0.20g
Value: £1.99 at Tesco
Verdict: Only one Nutri-Grain Strawberry Bar incorporates 12g of sugar and never quite a lot of fibre. “They’re another product that has been marketed as being healthy, yet is packed with sugar,” provides Mina.
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15. Worst cereal bar for sugar and saturated fats content material: Eat Pure Cranberries, Macadamias and Darkish Chocolate Bars
Per bar –
Cals: 215
Fats: 11.7g
Saturated fats: 8g
Sugar: 15.9g
Salt: 0.01g
Value: £2 at Tesco
Verdict: These Eat Pure Cranberries, Macadamias and Darkish Chocolate Bar should not really useful by Mina, with every bar containing greater than 4 teaspoons of sugar. “This is definitely the kind of thing you’d see on the shelf and presume to be healthy, but unfortunately they contain a similar amount of sugar and calories to a typical chocolate bar,” she says. “They are definitely something you should enjoy as a one-off treat as opposed to a regular snack.”
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16. Worst cereal bar total: Rice Krispies Squares
Per bar –
Cals: 119
Fats: 3.4g
Saturated fats: 2g
Sugar: 9g
Salt: 0.21g
Value: £1.99 at Tesco
Verdict: As tasty as they could be, Mina charges Rice Krispies Squares because the least wholesome cereal bar: “Rice Krispies squares bars are extremely high in sugar and very low in fibre, providing very little nutritional value.”
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Why can cereal bars be dangerous for you?
Nutritionist Mina Khan tells us that some cereal bars may be dangerous for you due to their high-sugar content material:
“Cereal bars can be a quick, substantial snack that will keep you full and give you energy throughout the day. However, not all cereal bars are healthy, with some popular branded bars containing sugar and refined carbs which are calorific and will contribute to a ‘sugar rush’.”
Healthspan Nutritionist Rob Hobson agrees, including that on the entire, ‘any shop bought cereal bar I would treat as a sweet snack’.
‘They typically include fairly a little bit of sugar, which is often within the type of honey,” he says. “However this is normally less sugar than a chocolate bar. The plus side of a cereal bar compared to other sweet treats is that they usually contain healthy ingredients such as nuts, seeds, oats and dried fruits. These offer healthy fats and minerals such as magnesium and iron.”
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Rob provides that when in search of wholesome cereal bars, search out these with elements like oats and dried fruits and forego chocolate.
“To keep it as healthy as possible, I would steer clear of chocolate or any bar that has a coating of some sort – the yogurt ones can be very high in sugar,” he says. “Check the sugar content by looking at both the front of pack labelling and the nutrition label on the back of the packet.”
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