Nature Valley Dark Chocolate Cherry

Nature Valley Dark Chocolate Cherry (6 for $2.99, Publix)
1.2 oz / 35g

Ingredients: whole grain oats, high maltose corn syrup, semisweet chocolate chunks, sugar, almonds, rice flour, chicory root extract, fructose, dried cranberries, canola oil, dried cherries, maltodextrin, vegetable glycerin, soy lecithin, salt, barley malt extract, baking soda, natural flavor, mixed tocopherols. 

Calories: 140
Cals from fat: 35
Total Fat: 4g (6%)
Sat Fat: 1g (5%)
Sodium: 65mg (3%)
Total Carb: 25g (8%)
Fiber: 3g (12%)
Sugar: 13g
Protein: 2g

This is a nice, sweet, very standard chewy granola bar. You can taste the dried cherries and dried cranberries and I like that there's a little chocolate, too. I was worried when I saw four different sweeteners listed in the ingredients there but while this is pretty sweet, it isn't much worse than other bars (about 1/3 sugar). It is a little too sweet but is overall pretty nicely done. 

Luna Carrot Cake

Luna Carrot Cake ($0.99, Target)
1.7 oz / 48g

Ingredients: soy rice crisps, organic toasted oats, organic flaxmeal, organic brown rice syrup, organic dried cane syrup, organic cocoa, palm kernel oil, organic palm kernel solids, organic soy lecithin, organic vanilla, walnuts, inulin, organic raisins, organic soy white chocolate, organic dried carrots, organic oat syrup solids, vegetable glycerin, organic sunflower oil, organic cinnamon, sea salt, natural flavor, organic vitamin e. 

Calories: 180
Calories from fat: 50
Fat: 6g (9%)
Sat. Fat: 2.5g (13%)
Sodium: 130mg (5%)
Total Carb: 28g (9%)
Fiber: 3g (12%)
Sugars: 13g
Protein: 8g 

OK I have to admit I was sort of timid about approaching this one. Sure, the blueberry clif bar has turned out to be a strong member of the team, but carrot cake? For breakfast? Well, I decided to just give it a go. Surprisingly less fake tasting than a lot of other Luna bars - I think the cinnamon (which is strong) helps its case. It has a nice, standard granola bar texture. The icing is still a little much like with all of these bars. This is a lot better than I would have imagined, but still not deserving of first string play. 

NutriGrain Toffee Crunch

NutriGrain Toffee Crunch (5 for $3.49, Harris Teeter)
1.48 oz / 42g

Ingredients: whole grain oats, sugar, vegetable oil, soluble corn fiber, oat fiber, cocoa, natural and artificial flavors, salt, tricalcium phosphate, soy lecithin, whey, corn syrup, butter, baking soda, vitamin e, zinc oxide, peanut flour.

Calories: 190
Calories from fat: 80
Fat: 9g (14%)
Sat. Fat: 5g (25%)
Sodium: 125mg (5%)
Total Carb: 28g (9%)
Fiber: 6g (25%)
Sugars: 10g
Protein: 3g 

This is a sort of small version of a standard nature valley crunchy twin pack but with chocolate icing on the bottom. It is full of fiber, but also way worse than a nature valley bar. It tastes surprisingly fine (though nothing like toffee) but has a hard, dry texture even with the icing. They really remind me of those cookies with icing on the bottom, I wonder if they are hitting up the elves for new ideas now. You can do much worse than these bars but I probably won't go back. 

Luna Chocolate Dipped Coconut

Luna Chocolate Dipped Coconut ($0.99, Target)
1.7 oz / 48g

Ingredients: soy rice crisps, organic toasted oats, organic roasted soybeans, organic soy flour, organic flaxmeal, organic brown rice syrup, organic dried cane syrup, organic cocoa, palm kernel oil, organic palm kernel solids, organic soy lecithin, organic vanilla, inulin, organic soy protein concentrate, organic coconut oil, organic coconut, almond butter, organic almonds, vegetable glycerin, organic oat syrup solids, organic sunflower oil, sea salt, organic natural flavors, natural flavors, soy lecithin. 

Calories: 190
Calories from fat: 60
Fat: 7g (11%)
Sat. Fat: 4g (20%)
Sodium: 210mg (9%)
Total Carb: 25g (8%)
Fiber: 3g (12%)
Sugars: 11g
Protein: 9g 

Tastes a little fake, but overall pretty good. The coconut is helpful, the chocolate coating is not. 

Luna Caramel Nut Brownie

Luna Caramel Nut Brownie ($0.99, Target)
1.69 oz / 48g

Ingredients: soy rice crisps, organic brown rice syrup, organic dried cane syrup, organic cane syrup, cocoa butter, water, soy protein concentrate, organic cocoa, palm kernel oil, organic palm kernel oil, organic soy lecithin, organic vanilla, organic chocolate chips, walnuts, inulin, vegetable glycerin, organic unsweetened chocolate, organic cocoa, organic alkalized cocoa, organic chocolate flavor, organic sunflower oil, sea salt, natural flavor.

Calories: 180
Calories from fat: 60
Fat: 6g (9%)
Sat. Fat: 3g (15%)
Sodium: 160mg (7%)
Total Carb: 26g (9%)
Fiber: 3g (12%)
Sugars: 13g
Protein: 8g 

A really chocolatey, slightly crispy thing inbetween two (!) coatings of icing - caramel on top, chocolate on bottom. I caught a chemical sort of smell when opening this one and it tastes a little fake - almost too chocolatey. Tastes way more sugary than it  is; if you grew up on count chocula and fruity pebbles I think we may have found your huckleberry. I'd eat this one again but only for dessert. 

Luna Peanut Honey Pretzel

Luna Peanut Honey Pretzel ($0.99, Target)
1.69 oz / 48g

Ingredients: soy rice crisps, organic roasted soybeans, organic soy flour, organic flaxmeal, organic brown rice syrup, organic dried cane syrup, palm kernel oil, organic palm kernel oil, organic soy flour, organic soy lecithin, organic vanilla, inulin, organic peanuts, organic peanut butter, organic pretzel sticks, inulin, organic peanut butter chips, organic honey, natural flavors, vegetable glycerin, organic oat syrup solids, organic sunflower seed oil, sea salt, organic peanut flour.

Calories: 190
Calories from fat: 70
Fat: 8g (12%)
Sat. Fat: 2.5g (13%)
Sodium: 210mg (9%)
Total Carb: 22g (7%)
Fiber: 3g (12%)
Sugars: 11g
Protein: 9g 

This is a very traditional granola bar sitting in a bed of icing. I don't really care that much for the icing (there is something sort of unnatural tasting about it) but your mileage may vary. It is a quite passable bar, peanutty, salty and sweet just like it says on the tin. 

Clif Sierra Trail Mix

Clif Sierra Trail Mix (6 for $4.99, Target)
2.4 oz / 68g

Ingredients: organic brown rice syrup, soy rice crisps, organic roasted soybeans, organic soy flour, organic rolled oats, organic peanuts, chocolate chips, organic raisins, organic cane syrup, organic peanut butter, organic oat fiber, inulin, organic psyllium, roasted pumpkin seeds, roasted sunflower seeds, organic date paste, sea salt, natural flavors, natural vitamin e. 

Calories: 250
Calories from fat: 70
Fat: 8g (12%)
Sat. Fat: 2g (10%)
Sodium: 230mg (10%)
Total Carb: 40g (13%)
Fiber: 5g (20%)
Sugars: 22g
Protein: 10g 

New flavor from Clif. Has the same "spage aged goop" look as the rest of them. Tasty - sort of a salty/sweet thing going on, very "standard granola bar" ish tastes, really. I like this a lot better than some of the sweeter varieties, I think. An added dimension over something like the standard chocolate chip which I'll admit I've become a bit tired of. Not as ambitious as the blueberry one but totally going on my regular shopping list. 

Clif Coconut Chocolate Chip

Clif Coconut Chocolate Chip ($0.99, Harris Teeter)
2.4 oz / 68g

Ingredients: organic brown rice syrup, soy rice crisps, organic roasted soybeans, organic soy flour, organic rolled oats, organic toasted oats, organic cane syrup, chocolate chips, organic oat fiber, inulin, organic milled flaxseed, psyllium, organic coconut, organic date paste, organic sunflower oil, natural flavors, sea salt, natural vitamin e. 

Calories: 240
Calories from fat: 50
Fat: 6g (9%)
Sat. Fat: 2.5g (13%)
Sodium: 180mg (8%)
Total Carb: 42g (14%)
Fiber: 5g (20%)
Sugars: 22g
Protein: 10g 

This is a pretty standard clif bar - soft texture, terrible looks, good taste. Aptly named, this really is very similar to the regular chocolate chip clif bar plus a subtle addition of coconut. This reminds me a lot less of a girl scout cookie than the clif mojo and in fact the coconut tastes a little hollow without the almonds. This is personally telling, I clearly 'feel like a nut.' In any event I think the clif mojo is better - if you're eating full-sized clif bars you should add this to the rotation but if you're trying to make up for the fact that girl scout cookies only come once a year you should get the mojo bar. 

Luna Lemon Zest

Luna Lemon Zest ($0.99, Harris Teeter)
1.69 oz / 48g

Ingredients: soy rice crisps, organic toasted oats, organic roasted soybeans, organic soy flour, organic oatmeal, organic brown rice syrup, organic dried cane syrup, palm kernel oil, organic palm kernel oil, organic soy lecithin, organic vanilla, inulin, lemon fruit pieces, organic soy butter, organic oat syrup solids, vegetable glycerin, organic sunflower oil, natural flavor, organic natural flavors, citric acid, sea salt.

Calories: 180
Calories from fat: 45
Fat: 5g (8%)
Sat. Fat: 2.5g (13%)
Sodium: 115mg (5%)
Total Carb: 27g (9%)
Fiber: 3g (12%)
Sugars: 13g
Protein: 9g 

Man, I am feeling lucky today. I have taken my lemons and made both natural flavor and organic natural flavors. This is a granola bar sitting in a bed of icing. It immediately smells like those lemon cookies you might have had as a kid - like an oreo but with lemon icing in the middle of two vanilla cookies. I could only wish it tasted that good - in fact it is waaaaay more lemony and less vanilla-y. This isn't a bad bar but whoa, nellie is it ever lemony! I think the icing is really a bridge too far; I think it might be better if it were a little less sweet. Can't recommend it. 

Larabar Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip

Larabar Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip ($1.50, Harris Teeter)
1.6 oz / 45g

Ingredients: dates, peanuts, chocolate chips, sea salt.

Calories: 220
Calories from fat: 110
Fat: 11g (17%)
Sat. Fat: 3g (15%)
Sodium: 60mg (3%)
Total Carb: 26g (9%)
Fiber: 3g (12%)
Sugars: 19g
Protein: 6g 

Another day another date. These continue to be good, well above average and without scary ingredients but pricey, super ugly looking and loaded down with sugar. I'm pretty sure you can apply this reasoning to all of the Larabars now. 

Larabar Banana Bread

Larabar Banana Bread ($1.50, Harris Teeter)
1.8 oz / 51g

Ingredients: almonds, dates, unsweetened bananas. 

Calories: 230
Calories from fat: 100
Fat: 11g (17%)
Sat. Fat: 1g (4%)
Sodium: 0mg (0%)
Total Carb: 30g (10%)
Fiber: 5g (20%)
Sugars: 20g
Protein: 6g 

Not surprisingly a compressed date bar but instead of cocoa this one has bananas in it. It looks terrible, a blotchy mess. I think I've mentioned before that these mostly look like bars of fancy soap. Anyway, it tastes good - the almonds provide some texture and it tastes like, well, banana bread. I feel like that can't really be possible; like they must be controlling my mind somehow. This is just pulverized bananas, dates, and almonds - not even any spices or anything, according to the wrapper - but it really does evoke a "banana bread" taste. And yes, it is over half fat & sugar but presumably they are the good kinds that come from fruits and nuts. So maybe there is some supernatural (see what I did there?) force at work but I suppose at the end of the day you have to throw your lot in with someone, might as well be the magical banana bread people. 

Nature Valley Sweet & Salty Nut, Peanut

Nature Valley Sweet & Salty Nut, Peanut (6 for $3.49, Harris Teeter)
1.2 oz / 35g

Ingredients: roasted peanuts, high maltose corn syrup, sugar, whole grain oats, tapioca syrup, palm kernel oil, rice flour, fructose, whole grain wheat, peanut butter, canola oil, maltodextrin, salt, partially defatted peanut flour, soy lecithin, reduced minerals whey, nonfat milk, barley malt extract, honey, roasted almond butter, baking soda, natural flavor, mixed tocopherols. 

Calories: 170
Calories from fat: 80
Fat: 9g (13%)
Sat. Fat: 2.5g (13%)
Sodium: 140mg (6%)
Total Carb: 20g (7%)
Fiber: 2g (7%)
Sugars: 12g
Protein: 4g 

It was brought to my attention that I hadn't reviewed this bar, so here I go. I like it. It is a sort of sticky, peanutty granola bar sitting in a bed of icing. It tastes like a candy bar. In fact, my friend who asked if I reviewed it told me that she eats these instead of candy bars. I will eat at least 6 of them instead of a proper breakfast! 

Kashi Dark Mocha Almond

Kashi Dark Mocha Almond ($2.50 for 6  on sale, Publix)
1.2 oz / 35g

Ingredients: rolled whole grain blend, brown rice syrup, roasted salted whole almonds, soy protein isolate, dark chocolate, soy grits, evaporated cane juice syrup, cocoa, corn flour, honey, rice starch, expeller pressed canola oil, natural coffee extract, vegetable glycerin, natural flavors, oat fiber, nonfat milk, kashi seven whole grains & sesame flour, evaporated salt, soy lecithin, peanut flour.

Calories: 130
Calories from fat: 35
Fat: 3.5g (5%)
Sat. Fat: 0.5g (3%)
Sodium: 90mg (4%)
Total Carb: 21g (7%)
Fiber: 4g (15%)
Sugars: 6g
Protein: 6g (9%)

This sort of bar: a standard chewy granola bar with no icing or other foolishness, is what kashi is best at. The coffee flavor is good but not my favorite flavor. No real chemical taste. The texture is great; light and easy to eat without being crumbly. Overall if you're buying Kashi you should stick to this sort of thing, they are pretty good. 

Kashi Roasted Almond Crunch

Kashi Roasted Almond Crunch ($2.50 for 6  on sale, Publix)
1.4 oz / 40g

Ingredients: whole grain oats, evaporated cane juice crystals, rolled whole grain blend, expeller pressed canola oil, natural roasted almond butter, soy protein isolate, almonds, kashi seven whole grains & sesame flour, chicory root fiber, honey, rice starch, wheat germ, evaporated salt, gum arabic, soy lecithin, sodium bicarbonate, natural flavor, mixed tocopherols. 

Calories: 170
Calories from fat: 50
Fat: 6g (9%)
Sat. Fat: 0.5g (3%)
Sodium: 150mg (6%)
Total Carb: 26g (9%)
Fiber: 4g (19%)
Sugars: 8g
Protein: 6g (8%)

Another upstart takes on the classic Nature Valley 2-to-a-pack crunchy granola bar and ultimately fails. I tried to take a bite of this and didn't make it; I couldn't actually bite through it on my first try. It is denser than the Nature Valley. It also tastes a little chalky. I appreciate that adding whole grain flour adds some nutritional value but it also kills the texture and taste. It isn't that the flavor is bad, it is just that it reminds me of and pales in comparison to the much better Nature Valley bar. 

Kashi Peanutty Dark Chocolate

Kashi Peanutty Dark Chocolate ($3.43 for 6, Publix)
1.1 oz / 32g

Ingredients: rolled whole grain blend, dates, roasted peanuts, chicory root fiber, brown rice syrup, vegetable glycerin, evaporated cane juice, soy protein isolate, chocolate liquor, expeller pressed canola oil, natural peanut butter, soy grits, semisweet chocolate chips, evaporated cane juice crystals, unmodified cornstarch, evaporated cane juice invert syrup, honey, yellow corn flour, rice starch, cocoa, soy lecithin, natural flavors, evaporated salt, oat fiber, kashi seven whole grains and sesame flour, almond flour, nonfat milk. 

Calories: 130
Calories from fat: 40
Fat: 4.5g (7%)
Sat. Fat: 1g (5%)
Sodium: 80mg (3%)
Total Carb: 20g (7%)
Fiber: 4g (16%)
Sugars: 7g
Protein: 4g (5%)

I'm struck by the idea that "natural" foods may now be firmly ensconced in the mainstream - 6 small granola bars for under $3.50, with a lot of what a few years ago would have been considered fancy ingredients. Of course, I'm not sure anything with three different types of evaporated cane (sugar! just call it sugar!) is allowed to be considered "natural." Anyway, let's get on to more practical matters. This is sort of two bars in one - a granola bar laying with a pressed date "chocolate" bar on top - thick icing really. It is certainly decent - the granola is good, the chocolate stuff is good, but there's a faint smell and taste of something fake - what is it? Hard to say. This is good bar for the price but woe to the natural food movement; get yourself a handful of peanuts from the ground and gnaw on them in memoriam. 

Nature Valley Protein Chewy Bar Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate

Nature Valley Protein Chewy Bar Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate ($5.99 for 10, Publix)
1.42 oz / 40g

Ingredients: roasted peanuts, soy protein isolate, chicory root extract, sugar, vegetable oils, whey protein concentrate, high maltose corn syrup, cocoa, fructose, peanut butter, vegetable glycerin, rice starch, honey, rice maltodextrin, salt, soy lecithin, natural flavor. 

Calories: 190
Calories from fat: 110
Fat: 12g (18%)
Sat. Fat: 3.5g (18%)
Sodium: 170mg (7%)
Total Carb: 14g (8%)
Fiber: 5g (20%)
Sugars: 6g
Protein: 10g (18%)

It should be worth mentioning that this bar is over half fat. Nuts are also typically over half fat so I suppose at some level we can rationalize this, but when you look at this bar and see the gooey sugar coated top and the chocolate coated bottom it is hard to say "well, this is just like nuts!" - you're much more likely to say "well, this is nuts!" 

This is in many ways similar to the luna bar previously reviewed, but a lot cheaper and not nearly as good for you. Tastes like a candy bar, no chemical aftertaste. Good bar. 

Update: I had another one of these today and it smelled terrible! I don't know if it is a fluke or if I just didn't notice the other day but it is distracting. It doesn't smell like it has turned, it just has a strange fake smell that is really killing the experience. 

Luna Nutz over Chocolate

Luna Nutz over Chocolate (6 for $5.79, Publix)
1.7 oz / 48g

Ingredients: soy rice crisps, organic toasted oats, organic soy flour, organic brown rice syrup, organic dried cane syrup, organic cocoa, palm kernel oil, organic palm kernel solids, organic soy lecithin, organic vanilla, inulin, organic peanut butter, organic peanuts, organic peanut flour, natural flavors, organic oat syrup solids, vegetable glycerin, sea salt, natural vitamin e. 

Calories: 180
Calories from fat: 60
Fat: 6g (9%)
Sat. Fat: 2.5g (13%)
Sodium: 190mg (8%)
Total Carb: 25g (8%)
Fiber: 4g (16%)
Sugars: 10g
Protein: 9g (18%)

Thiz iz good. Granola and peanutz in a bed of chocolate icing. Full of vitaminz. Tastez like a candy bar. Deliciouz. 

Nature's Path Mmmaple Pecan

Nature's Path Mmmaple Pecan (5 for $4.79, The Turnip Truck)
1.2 oz / 35g

Ingredients: rolled oats, evaporated cane juice, soy oil, tapioca syrup, pecans, brown rice flour, palm kernel oil, cocoa butter, cultured buttermilk powder, flavor, non-fat dried milk, citric acid, caramel color, natural maple flavor, sea salt, soy lecithin, annatto extract, tapioca starch, invert cane syrup, dried coconut, flaxseeds, acacia gum, maple syrup, molasses. 

Calories: 150
Calories from fat: 60
Fat: 6g (9%)
Sat. Fat: 1.5g (8%)
Sodium: 105mg (4%)
Total Carb: 22g (7%)
Fiber: 2g (8%)
Sugars: 10g
Protein: 2g 

Did you see that? This might be the first granola bar ever with "flavor" as an ingredient! I am glad that this has flavor, this must be what I've been missing all these years! This is a sort of loosely compiled, chewy granola bar. This thing is the poster child for chewy granola bars - totally plain. Tasty, but in the most generic way. I don't want to shortchange it, so many of these bars taste like a bunch of chemicals that I'm really impressed that they avoid this but it is really a very plain, granola taste. It claims to have some maple icing but I don't really see any. Overall, it is fine but unless you're crazy for the organic foolishness you'd be just as well off with basically any chewy granola bar. 

Nature's Path Peanut Choco

Nature's Path Peanut Choco (5 for $4.79, The Turnip Truck)
1.2 oz / 35g

Ingredients: rolled oats, evaporated cane juice, soy oil, tapioca syrup, roasted peanuts, palm kernel oil, cocoa butter, cocoa, natural flavor, soy lecithin, sea salt, tapioca starch, brown rice flour, invert cane syrup, peanut butter, acacia gum, molasses, tocopherols. 

Calories: 150
Calories from fat: 50
Fat: 6g (9%)
Sat. Fat: 1.5g (8%)
Sodium: 125mg (5%)
Total Carb: 22g (7%)
Fiber: 2g (8%)
Sugars: 11g
Protein: 3g 

These are fancy organic bars that cost a buck apiece, that are really a lot like your normal chewy granola bar. They don't really look like what is on the box, you're sort of like "is this really worth more than twice the price of a kashi?"  and then you taste it and you're like "hmm, no chemical taste at all, nice!" and that's about it. a totally decent bar, good flavor and texture, but you'll pay dearly for the quality. 

Larabar Chocolate Chip Brownie

Larabar Chocolate Chip Brownie ($1.00, Kroger)
1.6 oz / 45g

Ingredients: dates, chocolate chips, almonds, walnuts, cocoa powder, sea salt.

Calories: 200
Calories from fat: 80
Fat: 9g (13%)
Sat. Fat: 2g (11%)
Sodium: 30mg (1%)
Total Carb: 31g (10%)
Fiber: 4g (17%)
Sugars: 23g
Protein: 4g (9%)

Look at that ingredient list! I mean that is something to be proud of in this day and age. Not a hint of vegetable glycerin or sunscreen in this one! Just a whole bunch of sugar. Seriously, it is over half sugar. 45g bar, 23g of sugar. Sorry to bring that up. Anyway, how's it taste? It is delicious! It is cocoa and sugar and almonds, dates, and walnuts! This is a compressed date bar but isn't as dry or chalky as some. It is quite good. And sugary.

Larabar blueberry muffin

Larabar blueberry muffin ($1.00, Kroger)
1.6 oz / 45g

Ingredients: dates, cashews, unsweetened blueberries, blueberry juice concentrate, lemon juice concentrate, vanilla extract

Calories: 190

Cals from fat: 70

Total Fat: 8g (12%) 

Sat Fat: 1.5g (7%) 

Sodium: 5mg (0%) 

Total Carb: 26g (9%) 

Fiber: 3g (12%) 

Sugar: 17g 

Protein: 4g

Wow, I have to admit I wasn't expecting this to be another bar of soap compressed date bar. The ingredient list gave it away, but so (unfortunately) did the bar's soap like appearance. Despite the looks this bar tastes pretty great - it has a soft, fruity texture and tastes like the ingredients - blueberries, dates, and cashews. Not really granola-y but tasty nonetheless. 

Belvita blueberry

Belvita blueberry ($1.00, Kroger) 

1.76 oz / 50g  

Ingredients: rolled oats, rye flakes, enriched flour, high oleic canola oil, sugar, whole grain wheat flour, evaporated cane sugar, dried blueberries, malt syrup, invert sugar, baking soda, salt, soy lecithin, dispdium pyrophosphate, natural flavor, datem, blueberry juice concentrate, ferric orthophosphate, niacinamide, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, thiamin mononitrate.

Calories: 230

Cals from fat: 70

Total Fat: 8g (12%) 

Sat Fat: 0.5g (3%) 

Sodium: 220mg (9%) 

Total Carb: 36g (12%) 

Fiber: 3g (12%) 

Sugar: 13g 

Protein: 4g

More cookies for breakfast. These look like real cookies - a little fruit and some oat pieces showing through a natural golden brown color. Certainly better looking than the chocolate variety. They taste great, too - certainly not like the fruit is genuine or anything crazy like that. They have a taste reminiscent of blueberry muffins or pancakes but are more portable and crunchy. This is ever so much more convenient to have in my bag than all that butter and syrup floating around, so I stand by these being a good choice. 

Clif Mojo Chocolate Almond Coconut

Clif Mojo Chocolate Almond Coconut ($0.99, Kroger)
1.59 oz / 45g

Ingredients: organic brown rice syrup, organic almonds, soy rice crisps, organic coconut, almond butter, organic roasted soybeans, organic oat syrup solids, vegetable glycerin, organic coconut oil, sea salt, organic gum arabic, natural flavor, natural vitamin e.

Calories: 200

Cals from fat: 110

Total Fat: 12g (18%) 

Sat Fat: 6g (30%) 

Sodium: 180mg (8%) 

Total Carb: 20g (7%) 

Fiber: 3g (12%) 

Sugar: 10g 

Protein: 8g

I've become very fond of the Clif Mojo bars overall - they are more like a "normal" bar than the clif bars and they are tasty and often borderline bad for you, all attractive qualities I think you'll agree. This bar is no exception - it tastes like one of those chocolate/coconut girl scout cookies. I have to dock some points for the coconut bits which rained like confetti around my work area.

KIND Dark Chocolate Nuts and Sea Salt

KIND Dark Chocolate Nuts and Sea Salt ($1.69, Kroger)
1.4 oz / 40g

Ingredients: Mixed nuts, chicory root fiber, honey, palm kernel oil, sugar, crisp rice, cocoa powder, non GMO glucose, sea salt, soy lecithin, milk powder, vanilla extract.

Calories: 200

Cals from fat: 140

Total Fat: 15g (22%) 

Sat Fat: 3.5g (18%) 

Sodium: 125mg (5%) 

Total Carb: 16g (6%) 

Fiber: 7g (28%) 

Sugar: 5g 

Protein: 6g

Now this isn't really a granola bar, it is really a candy bar that is sold on the granola aisle at the grocery. It is a brilliant coup that they were able to pull this off. The bar is a bunch of nuts sitting in a bed of chocolate. But oh boy is it good - crunchy, chocolatey, salty, amazing. I immediately went to amazon and put a big box of them in my cart. They are delicious. Delicious candy bars masquerading as health food.

Belvita chocolate

Belvita chocolate ($2.99 for 5, Target) 

1.76 oz / 50g  

Ingredients: whole grain wheat flour, sugar, high oleic canola oil, whole grain rolled oats, semisweet chocolate, whole grain rye flour, cocoa processed with alkali, baking soda, disodium pyrophosphate, salt, soy lecithin, natural flavor, datem, ferric orthophosphate, niacinamide, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, thiamin mononitrate. 

Calories: 230

Cals from fat: 70

Total Fat: 8g (12%) 

Sat Fat: 1.5g (8%) 

Sodium: 180mg (8%) 

Total Carb: 35g (12%) 

Fiber: 3g (12%) 

Sugar: 11g 

Protein: 4g

Cookies for breakfast! I haven't been this happy since I took an early morning flight and had some biscoff cookies with my coffee. These are sort of ugly, spotty brown cookies but since I'm typing this to you, dear reader I can focus on shoving them into my open maw without considering their looks a great deal. They have a sort of dry, chalky texture which is really decent with a cup of coffee but might not be great if you like having breakfast in the desert. I just ate one without having a sip of coffee and thought I might succumb to a dusty, parched demise; scratching white lines on my ashen skin as I quietly contemplated the miracle of full coffee service. Then I remembered there was a lovely cup of coffee close at hand. Coffee and cookies within arms' reach, such is the great pleasure of the first world. Suck it, desert.