This review originally appeared on Surviving College and has been republished here with permission.
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I am constantly on the lookout for granola bars that aren’t drizzled in chocolate or stuffed with fake-tasting fruit that are also yummy and filling (a hard find, I have discovered) and I now have a new favorite. I found Nature’s Path Organic chewy granola bars in the organic section of my local Stop & Shop and was immediately drawn to them by the bold, fun flavors on the boxes. “Mmmaple Pecan,” “Lotta’ Apricotta,” and “Peanut Buddy,” for example – tell me that doesn’t sound delicious – and I figured I’d give them a shot. They are now my new favorite and I can’t wait to try other Nature’s Path foods (yes, they do make more than granola!) In fact, they make a whole host of other products like organic cereals, oatmeal, pancake mixes, and some things every 90s kid will love – toaster pastries (no I am not kidding. They seriously make organic Pop Tarts!), frozen waffles, and more.
I’ve tried all 4 of the chewy granola bar flavors I was able to find: Mmmaple Pecan, Peanut Buddy, Lotta’ Apriocotta, and Pumpkin-N-Spice. Here’s what I thought of them:
Taste: A+
The flavors are just as bold as their fun names and will leave you wanting more. My personal favorite flavor was Mmmaple Pecan because it has a really bold maple flavor and it smells amazingly like pancakes when you open the package. My least favorite were the Peanut Buddy bars, not because they were bad by any means, but for me, they were too peanut-y (but if you love peanuts, you will be very happy with them!) Lotta’ Apricotta was delicious and full of apricot pieces that tasted really fresh, and the Pumpkin-N-Spice are amazing as well and taste exactly like what you’d imagine they taste like. Other flavors I did not get to try: “Trail Mixer,” “Choconut,” “Chunky Chocolate Peanut,” “Sunny Hemp,” “Dark Chocolate Chip,” and “Berry Strawberry” (but hey, sign me up to try those ASAP!)
Texture: A+
Texture is a big issue that I have with granola bars because many “chewy” bars are either still too crunchy, or have the texture of Rice Krispies Treats. These granola bars are perfect on the texture front – crisp when you bite into them with evenly distributed flavors, but chewy enough that you can pull them apart without too much effort.
The “Pumpkin-N-Spice” flavor unwrapped.
Nutrition: A-
First off, Nature’s Path foods are USDA certified organic, fairtrade, non-GMO verified and vegetarian. They have many food products that are vegan, low sodium, low sugar, and wheat and gluten free (so great for those with food allergies or dietary restrictions!) The chewy granola bars vary in nutritional information depending on the flavor, but they are all around the 140 calorie mark for a 35 gram serving with around 10-13 grams of whole grains, 2 grams of fiber, and 3 grams of protein, 10 grams of sugar or less, and between 3-6 grams of fat. Many of the bars contain quinoa and flax seed (as opposed to other granola bar brands that use puffed rice.) Other granola bar brands that are comparable in flavor often have fewer organic ingredients as well as more calories, whereas bars that have fewer calories are also often much less filling. Overall, I was really happy with these.
Price: A
I really can’t complain about the price! They come in a box of 5 bars and sell for around $4 – definitely affordable for a broke college student/recent grad like myself who likes to stock up on healthier snacks.
Overall: A
Basically, it would take a lot of force to get me to not buy these granola bars again. They are amazing, and I can’t wait to try other foods from Nature’s Path! They are definitely worth trying, even if you’re not a big fan of granola bars (these make change your mind!)
Nature’s Path did not sponsor this review nor are they affiliated with this post in any way. All opinions belong to the author. All images via Surviving College
