KIND Whole Fruit Bars
KIND Whole Fruit Bars Review
TLDR
KIND Whole Fruit Bars are a convenient, decent tasting, relatively healthy "on the go" alternative to other snacks since they're mostly made from whole foods.
Pros
- One of KIND Snacks' slogans is "ingredients that you can see and pronounce" and this is generally true. Most ingredients are simple, whole foods.
- They're very convenient when you don't have time to prepare a real meal.
- They're very convenient during a workout or hike when your hands are dirty.
Are KIND Whole Fruit Bars healthy? Are they good for you?
We believe KIND Whole Fruit Bars are healthier than many other types of snacks because they're made from quality ingredients and don't contain large amounts of sweeteners, excessive calories/salt, or other additives.
However, we believe they're slightly less healthy than eating the core whole foods (nuts, grains, or fruit) without extra ingredients.
How Our Ratings Work
Our ratings are based on ingredients and nutrition facts. In particular, we look for:
- Limited Sodium: Some sodium is required for a healthy diet. However, excess salt can increase blood pressure, which can lead to cardiovascular issues.
- Limited Stimulants: Stimulants are okay in moderation and most food has way less caffeine than a cup of tea or cup of coffee. Caffeine also might have some health benefits. With that said, caffeine can cause nutrient depletion of important nutrients, like vitamin B6, and interfere with nutrient absorption of essential minerals, including calcium, iron, magnesium and B vitamins.
- Limited Sweeteners: Sweeteners improve taste and are also okay in moderation. However, per Harvard Medical School, refined, concentrated sugar consumed in large amounts rapidly increases blood glucose and insulin levels, increases triglycerides, inflammatory mediators and oxygen radicals, and with them, the risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses.
- No Artificial Flavors: An artificial flavor is a chemical mixture that imitates a natural flavor in some way. We believe in eating natural instead of artificial whenever possible.
- No Sugar Alcohols: Sugar alcohols are known to cause digestive issues and might actually contribute to weight gain despite having fewer calories than natural sweeteners.
- Simple, Whole Food Ingredients: We believe in eating whole foods vs. highly processed foods with synthetically derived ingredients.
Disclaimer About Our Ratings
- We haven't rated every possible product. Our system favors products with accessible nutrition information and product details.
- Nutrition data is limited. For example, we can't always tell whether carbohydrates are derived from sugar or whole grains. We also can't tell if ingredients are from quality sources.
- "Healthiness" is subjective, personalized, and opinionated. There's still a lot of unknowns about nutrition and an ideal diet is often different for different people.
Healthiest KIND Whole Fruit Bars
|
| Calories |
Fat |
Sodium |
Carbs |
Protein |
| 110 |
0g |
45mg |
27g |
1g |
- Fruits: apples, bananas, pineapples
- Vegetables: kale, spinach
|
|
|
| Calories |
Fat |
Sodium |
Carbs |
Protein |
| 110 |
1g |
0mg |
25g |
1g |
- Fruits: apples, cherries, strawberries
- Seeds: chia seeds
|
|
|
| Calories |
Fat |
Sodium |
Carbs |
Protein |
| 130 |
3g |
10mg |
26g |
1g |
- Fibers: chicory root fiber
- Fat: palm kernel oil
- Fruits: apples, cherries, strawberries
- Legumes: soy lecithin
- Other: natural flavors
- Seeds: chia seeds
- Spices: sea salt
- Stimulants: cocoa butter, cocoa powder, unsweetened chocolate
- Sweeteners: sugar
|
|
|
| Calories |
Fat |
Sodium |
Carbs |
Protein |
| 130 |
1g |
65mg |
29g |
1g |
- Fruits: apples, cherries
- Seeds: chia seeds
|
|
|
| Calories |
Fat |
Sodium |
Carbs |
Protein |
| 130 |
1g |
70mg |
31g |
1g |
- Fruits: apples, mangoes
- Seeds: chia seeds
|
|
|
| Calories |
Fat |
Sodium |
Carbs |
Protein |
| 130 |
2g |
15mg |
29g |
1g |
- Fibers: chicory root fiber
- Fat: palm kernel oil
- Fruits: apples, bananas
- Legumes: soy lecithin
- Other: natural flavors
- Spices: sea salt
- Stimulants: cocoa butter, cocoa powder, unsweetened chocolate
- Sweeteners: sugar
|
Questions & Answers
Are they non-GMO?
Yes. KIND Whole Fruit Bars do not contain genetically modified ingredients. From KIND's Ingredients FAQ: "All KIND® snacks do not contain genetically engineered ingredients. The Non-GMO Project seal appears on the majority of our KIND Healthy Grains® and Pressed by KIND® products. Some of our other snacks are pending Non-GMO Project certification."
Are they organic?
No. KIND Whole Fruit Bars are not organic. From KIND's Ingredients FAQ: "We are not currently pursuing organic certification for our snacks. Our top priority is to invest in high quality, premium ingredients, while keeping our products accessible. We work closely with our suppliers to ensure that their standards are in line with KIND’s brand values."
About KIND Snacks
KIND Whole Fruit Bars are made by KIND Snacks.
