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In a world where convenience is king, finding quick, healthy snacks can be difficult. This frustration led Daniel Lubetzky to found KIND in 2004. KIND bars aim to bridge the gap between nutrition and taste, offering snacks made with ingredients that are easy to recognize, pronounce and enjoy.
KIND minimizes sugar use by avoiding high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols, instead focusing on healthy ingredients like nuts, whole grains and fruit. But is this bar really healthy? In this article, we’ll discuss the nutritional profile of KIND bars and their potential health benefits and drawbacks to help you decide whether to include them in your snacking routine.
Read on, and for even more, don’t miss 16 of the Healthiest Low-Carb Protein Bars.
What is a KIND bar?
KIND was founded in 2004 by Daniel Lubetzky, who was frustrated with the lack of healthy snacking options available.
KIND Bars is committed to providing healthy, delicious snacks. The company uses as little sugar as possible in their products and creates snacks with ingredients that are “recognizable, pronounceable and enjoyable.” Additionally, KIND avoids high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols. The most common ingredients in their snacks are nuts, whole grains and fruit.
KIND offers a variety of products to cater to different tastes and dietary preferences, including:
- Granola Cluster is a new addition to the lineup
- Classic bars like Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt and Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate
- A roasted nutty bar with rosemary and sea salt
- Seed, Fruit & Nut Bars
- Mini and slim versions of the classic bar
- High Protein Bar
- Healthy Grain Bars (5 Whole Grain)
- Karika River
- Breakfast protein bars
- Nut butter bars
With so many options available, there’s a KIND bar to suit every taste and preference.
Related: Ranking of America’s Best Granola Bars and Best Granola Bars
KIND Bar Nutrition Facts
The nutritional content of KIND bars varies greatly depending on the variety you choose. To make it easier to understand, here is the nutritional information for our Classic Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt Bar.
Nutrition Facts (per Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt Bar):
calorie: 180
fat: 15 g (Saturated fatty acids: 3 g)
sodium: 140mg
carbohydrates: 16 g (dietary fiber: 7 g, carbohydrates: 5 g)
protein: 6g
The ingredients list for KIND bars is pretty simple: Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt Bar contains almonds, peanuts, chicory root fiber, honey, palm kernel oil, sugar, glucose syrup, rice flour, unsweetened chocolate, alkalized cocoa, sea salt, soy lecithin, natural flavors, and cocoa butter.
Health Benefits of KIND Bars
KIND bars offer a variety of health benefits, primarily due to their high fiber content. Each bar contains 7 grams of fiber, which contributes significantly to the recommended daily fiber intake of 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men. The fiber in KIND bars comes from almonds, peanuts and chicory root fiber. Chicory root fiber is a prebiotic fiber that promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, making these bars good for overall gut health.
Additionally, KIND Bars are a source of heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are associated with lower rates of heart disease and all-cause mortality. Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats may help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.
Most of their bars are low in sugar, with less than 6 grams per bar (about 1.5 teaspoons), making them a great option for those watching their added sugar intake. They also offer a sugar-free bar that’s perfect for those looking to cut back even further, such as those on a keto diet. While the sugar content per bar is relatively low — just 10% of the recommended daily limit of added sugars set by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans — keep in mind that the added sugars can add up if you eat more than one bar per day.
Finally, most bars contain at least 6 grams of protein. Protein contributes to satiety (i.e. feeling full), so these snacks may be more satisfying than those with lower protein content. If you prefer a bar with more protein, choose one of our Protein Max bars, which contain 20 grams of protein.
Potential drawbacks of KIND bars
In addition to healthy fats, KIND bars also contain palm kernel oil. Approximately 50% of the fat in palm kernel oil is saturated fat. According to the American Heart Association, consuming too much saturated fat increases the risk of heart disease. However, it’s important to note that the type of saturated fat found in palm kernel oil (palmitic acid) may not raise LDL cholesterol levels as much as other types of saturated fat.
Overall, there is still a lot to be learned about saturated fat and its impact on heart disease. But for now, we believe it’s best to follow the AHA and minimize your saturated fat intake as much as possible. That said, many KIND bars only contain 15% of the recommended daily intake of this nutrient, so as long as you’re mindful of the rest of your daily intake, KIND bars are not a significant source of saturated fat.
Finally, while we listed the fiber content of KIND bars as a positive feature, this can be problematic for people with certain digestive issues. Chicory root fiber is a high FODMAP ingredient. FODMAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. Gut bacteria ferment FODMAPs, causing gas. For most people, this isn’t a problem, but for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), high FODMAP ingredients like chicory root fiber can cause a variety of unpleasant intestinal symptoms.
Are KIND bars healthy?
KIND bars are a convenient, nutritious snack that offers many health benefits, including high fiber content, primarily heart-healthy fats, and relatively low sugar content. However, those concerned about heart health should consider the saturated fats present in palm kernel oil. And while the sugar content per bar is relatively low, eating multiple bars in a day can significantly increase your sugar intake.
Want to know which bar you should choose? Here are three nutritionist favorites.
- Sweet and Salted Caramel Peanut Crisp: With 20 grams of protein, 10 grams of fiber and 1 gram of sugar, this bar is a satisfying snack that will keep you full for hours without overdoing on the sugar.
- Rosemary Nuts & Sea Salt: If you’re looking for a flavorful bar, try our Rosemary Nut & Sea Salt Bar. Made with simple ingredients like cashews, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and almonds, this bar is high in fiber (5 grams per bar) and low in sugar (4 grams per bar), making it a healthy option.
- Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy BarIf you’re looking to increase your whole grain intake, our Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bar is a great choice. Made with oats, quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth and millet, it’s packed with peanuts and dark chocolate chunks. This bar is great if you’re looking for a high-carb option to support your workout.
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KIND bars are a delicious option for anyone looking for a healthy on-the-go snack. They feature simple and straightforward ingredients, high fiber content and relatively low sugar content. Although they are a more nutritious option than many other snacks, it is important to eat them as part of a varied diet that includes a variety of nutritious foods.
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