12 Best Grab-and-Go Paleo Bars for Busy Days

Paleolithic diets are all about returning to a “pure” diet similar to that of our ancestral hunters and gatherers, so it may be a bit confusing to figure out how meals in the form of processed bars fit into that diet. 

In reality, paleo bars are an efficient way to follow a paleo diet when you don’t have the time to make a full meal for yourself. Paleo bars pack the best of paleo foods like lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds into a snack-size bar to grab and take with you during your day. 

The problem is, a lot of traditional snack bars are packed with sugar and other artificial or ultra-processed ingredients, making them far from paleo-friendly.

Our top choices for 12 of the best grab-and-go paleo bars — ranked by nutritional content — and our list of tips on how to choose them will set you up with a collection of nutrient-dense and delicious snack options to fuel your day the paleo way.

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How to choose paleo bars

When searching for the perfect paleo bars for you, here are a couple of things to consider:

• Added sugars. As with most processed goods, snack bars are a culprit for extra high amounts of added sugar. While naturally occurring sugars from whole food sources are both delicious and necessary for proper bodily function, added sugars provide empty calories that, when consumed too frequently, can develop health problems like obesity. The American Heart Association recommends no more than around 6-9 teaspoons of added sugar daily (2).
• Percent daily value of protein and saturated fat. Paleolithic diets focusing on heavy meat consumption can lead to an excess of protein and saturated fat far above recommended levels. Too much protein isn’t good for your health, and too much saturated fat in your diet may increase your risk for health complications like heart disease, high blood pressure, and other health problems, so it’s important to not over-consume either nutrient. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends consuming less than 10% of calories per day from saturated fat, and the daily value for protein is 50 grams from both animal and plant sources (3, 4, 5). 
• Calcium. Paleolithic diets make it hard to meet your daily needs for essential vitamins and minerals like calcium due to the exclusion of dairy food products. While it is possible to consume enough calcium from non-dairy sources like leafy greens and salmon, you would need to eat 5x typical servings or consume additional supplements to provide you with an adequate amount of daily calcium. The recommended daily value for those 19-50 is around 1,000-1,200 mg (6, 7, 8).

GreenChoice Picks

1. Rxbar Blueberry Whole Food Protein Bars Gluten Free

This gluten-free bar is an excellent source of protein with 12g of protein content. It offers 4g of fiber which equals 14% of the daily value. Also, it’s sweetened with dates and free from added sugars.

2. Rxbar Lemon Whole Food Protein Bar

This bar is made with only 5 ingredients: egg whites, almonds, lemon, and natural flavors. It provides 3g of fiber – 11% of DV – and 12g of protein per serving. Additionally, it’s free from gluten or added sugar.

3. Larabar Cherry Pie

Larabar’s vegan cherry pie bar is made with dates, almonds, and unsweetened cherries. One bar provides 4g of fiber – 15% of DV – and 4g of protein. Also, it’s free from gluten or added sugar.

4. That’s It Fruit Bar Apple + Cherry

This fruit bar has only two ingredients: one apple and ten cherries. One bar offers 1g of protein and 3g of fiber which equals 11% of the daily value. Also, this bar is free from the top 12 common allergens, artificial flavors, or preservatives.

More Paleo Bars

5. Skout Protein Bar Chocolate Cherry

This highly nutritious bar is packed with 10g of plant-based protein, and 6g of fiber which equals 21% of the daily value. It’s made with organic dates, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, cocoa, and cherries. In addition, it’s vegan and gluten-free.

6. Betty Lou’s – Cacao Acai With Goji Berries Cashews Organic Antioxidant Bars

This gluten-free bar is filled with organic cacao nibs, acai powder, goji berries, and cashews. One bar provides 3g of fiber – 11% of DV -, 5g of protein, and 3g of added sugar.

7. Larabar Chocolate Chip Brownie

This chocolate chip brownie is made with cocoa, dates, almonds, walnuts, and Fair Trade chocolate chips. It’s a good source of fiber with its 4g of fiber content per serving. Also, one bar contains 4g of protein and 4g of added sugar.

8. Larabar Organic The Original Fruit And Nut Food Superfoods Bar

This vegan bar is packed with dates, almonds, coconut, cacao nibs, kale, and cocoa powder. One bar contains 5g of fiber – 20% of DV -, 3g of protein, and 0g of added sugar. Additionally, it’s free from gluten, soy, or dairy.

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9. Good & Gather – Cashew Cookie Date Nut Bars

Good & Gather’s cashew cookie bar is made with only two ingredients: cashews and dates. It offers 4g of protein and 2g of fiber per serving.

10. Van’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Snack Bars Cranberry Almond

This gluten-free bar provides 10g of whole grains, 3g of protein, and 4g of fiber which equals 16% of the daily value. It’s made with oats, cranberries, almonds, and flax seeds.

11. Kind Pressed Mango Apple Chia Bar

This fruit bar has only three ingredients: mango, apple, and chia seeds. It’s a good source of fiber with 3g of fiber content which provides 11% of the daily value. Also, it’s free from gluten, artificial sweeteners, or added sugars.

Key takeaways for choosing paleo bars

Paleolithic diets signify a return to nature and a diet similar to our ancestral origins, but that shouldn’t mean giving up the convenience of the 21st century. 

Paleo bars are a perfect way to keep focused and full all through the day without the pressure of making a full meal. 

When choosing paleo bars, be on the lookout for added sugars that often creep up on you in packed foods and snacks.  

The paleo diet can also lead to the overconsumption of protein and saturated fat and the underconsumption of essential vitamins and minerals like calcium. When choosing which paleo bar to snack on, consider your protein and saturated fat intake for the day and make smart nutritional choices to ensure your body receives enough calcium and other nutrients. 

Paleo bars can be a bit tricky to find, but with our suggestions for how to choose and our round-up of 12 of the best grab-and-go paleo bars on the market, paleolithic eating will come naturally.

There are 1,000s of food products that won’t be right for you

Let GreenChoice find the ones that are

Tell us your dietary needs & values and we’ll show you foods that match!

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GreenChoice, PBC has evaluated and rated more than 340,000 food & beverage products across hundreds of attributes related to diet, health, and sustainability. Easily find the best products for you, the planet, & your budget. Sign up to access the GreenChoice marketplace, the first carbon-neutral online grocery marketplace for healthy, climate-friendly shopping.

Katherine

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