
Granola bars are one of the easiest grab-and-go snacks you can buy, but if you're not careful, you can end up consuming a ton of carbs and sugar by eating them. You can expect to have at least some carbs in these snacks—oats are a carb, after all—but some of them have a considerable amount of added sugar, which also makes the carb count increase.
However, granola bars aren't all bad! Many of them are made with nuts and seeds, which are a great source of good fats, protein, and fiber. When you're grocery shopping for granola bars, try looking for ones that have at least a few grams of both protein and fiber. Not only does this make for a healthier snack that will keep you fuller longer, but it will balance out a higher calorie or carb count.
Ahead, check out some of the best—and worst—granola bars you can find on grocery store shelves right now, so you can decide for yourself which ones you want to pick up! For more nutrition advice, check out the 100 Unhealthiest Foods on the Planet.
Amazon Brand – Happy Belly Sweet & Salty Almond Granola Bars
While these granola bars may taste good, they're not much better than just picking up a candy bar. They're high in calories, sodium, and fat, not to mention sugar, and don't offer much in the way of fiber or protein.
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Nature Valley Granola Bars, Sweet And Salty Nut, Chocolate Pretzel Nut
Considering the fact that you can look at this granola bar and pretty much see the sweetener, it should be no surprise that it has quite a bit of sugar. There's not a whole lot of health value to these (though they are tasty).
Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars Oats 'N Honey
If you want to be more careful with your calories, you can eat just one of the granola bars in this pack of two, but eating both is a fairly hearty snack. They're a little high in sodium and carbs, but also offer a small amount of protein.
Related: What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Granola
Cascadian Farm Organic Vanilla Chip Chewy Granola Bars
Though this granola bar is made with organic ingredients, it's quite heavy on carbs and sugar without the balance of fiber or protein.
Quaker Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
The classic chocolate chip granola bar from Quaker isn't the best snack you can pick, but it's also not the worst. It's low in calories, which is good, but it's also low in protein and fiber, which isn't awesome.
Related: The Best & Worst Chocolate in America in 2021—Ranked!
Kashi Chewy Granola Bars
What we do like about these is they're packed with fiber and responsibly sourced cocoa. If an eco-friendly snack is your jam, you'll love this one.
Cascadian Farm Cinnamon Apple Bars
These granola bars, despite seeming deliciously sweet, don't have any added sugars, which we love. They're also low in sodium, so they're a decent option.
Related: 14 Sneaky Sources of Added Sugar
Sunbelt Bakery Oats and Honey Chewy Granola Bars
The soft, chewy texture of these granola bars makes them feel a little on the indulgent side, but they're still relatively low in calories and fat. Plus, they're very low in sodium!
MadeGood Cookies and Creme Granola Bars

These granola bars are great for those who have food allergies because they're made from vegetables and don't contain nuts. They're also gluten-free and don't have a ton of sodium or sugar.
Related: The Alarming Reason So Many People Have Food Allergies
KIND Almond & Coconut
KIND bills its bars as a nutbar rather than a granola bar, which makes sense when you look at the nutrition label. Because these have a nut base, they're high in (good) fat and very low in sodium. Not a bad deal!
Annie's Organic Chewy Granola Bars, Chocolate Chip
Annie's granola bars are pretty low in calories and fat, so if you're watching those in your diet, this isn't a bad snack. However, these don't have much in the way of fiber or protein, so they won't do much to satiate your hunger. Still, they're about the best we could find on grocery store shelves right now!
For more rankings, check out the Top 20 Peanut Butters—Ranked!
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