These granola bars have been a consumer favorite for years but are Quaker Chewy Bars Healthy? Our expert dietitian provides an unbiased, transparent review of the nutrition facts and ingredient list to help you make an informed choice at the grocery store.
About Quaker Chewy Bars
Quaker Chewy bars are granola bars described by Quaker as being “100% whole grains and other delicious ingredients”, free of artificial preservatives, artificial colors and flavors.
Taste & Texture
Chewy bars are soft and chewy in texture and have a sweet flavor.
Quaker Chewy Bar Ingredients
The Canadian and American versions of Quaker Chewy bars have different formulations. See the chart below for the ingredients of each bar.
| Quaker Chocolate Chip Chewy Bar (American) | Quaker Chocolate Chip Chewy Bar (Canadian) | |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients | Granola (whole grain oats, brown sugar, brown rice crisp [whole grain brown rice flour, sugar, salt], whole grain wheat, soybean oil, dried coconut, whole wheat flour, baking soda, soy lecithin, nonfat dry milk), corn syrup, semisweet chocolate chips (sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), brown rice crisp (whole grain brown rice flour, sugar, salt), sunflower oil, corn syrup solids, inulin, polydextrose, glycerin. Contains 2% or less of: calcium carbonate, invert sugar, salt, molasses, diacetyl tartaric acid ester of monodiglycerides, tocopherols (to preserve freshness), natural flavor, soybean oil. | Granola (whole Grain Rolled Oats, Brown Sugar, Whole Grain Brown Rice Flour, Rolled Whole Wheat, Vegetable Oil, Dried Coconut, Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Sugar, Baking Soda, Soy Lecithin, Salt, Milk Ingredients, Mixed Tocopherols), Glucose, Chocolate Chips (sugar, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavour), Whole Grain Brown Rice Crisps (whole Grain Brown Rice Flour, Sugar, Barley Malt, Salt, Mixed Tocopherols), Shortening (canola Oil, Palm And Palm Kernel Oil), Glycerin, Sugar, Brown Sugar, Sorbitol, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Mixed Tocopherols, Natural Flavour. |
Oats: a whole grain and the main ingredient by weight in Quaker Chewy bars.
Brown sugar: added as a sweetener.
Brown Rice flour: flour made from brown rice that provides a source of starch and adds texture to granola bars.
Whole wheat flour: a source of starch and fiber.
Vegetable oil (Canadian product only): vegetable oil is generally a source of unsaturated fats, though the specific type of oil is not specified in the Canadian version of Chewy bars.
Soybean oil (American product only): an oil rich in polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acids.
Dried coconut: a dried form of coconut meat added for flavor and texture.
Baking soda: leavening agent.
Soy lecithin: used as an emulsifier to help fats blend with other ingredients. Read more about lecithins in our Lecithin Ingredient Review here.
Milk: nonfat milk is used in the American version and fat-containing milk is used in the Canadian version.
Chocolate chips: made from sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, and vanilla extract.
Brown rice crisps: made from brown rice flour, sugar, and salt.
Sunflower oil (American product only): source of monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acids.
Shortening (Canadian product only): made from canola, palm oil and palm kernel oil. You can read more about canola oil here and palm oil here.
Corn syrup solids (American only): dehydrated corn syrup.
Inulin (American only): soluble fibre added to this product to boost the fibre content. As a fibre supplement, inulin is flavourless and blends well into food products. You’ll often find inulin in granola bars, fibre supplements, and cereal on the market.
Polydextrose (American only): a prebiotic fiber made from dextrose (sugar). Unlike sugar, polydextrose is not sweet tasting and has low digestibility. It is used to add bulk to foods without adding to the calorie count.
Glycerin: produced by hydrolysis of fats and oils. Glycerin has many uses as a food ingredient, including sweetener, bulking agent or filler, hydrating agent, and solvent.
Calcium carbonate: emulsifier, stabilizer, thickening agent.
Sugar: added for flavoring.
Sorbitol (Canadian only): a type of sugar alcohol that adds a sweet flavor.
Salt: added for flavoring.
Molasses: a thick, dark syrup and source of sugar.
Monodiglycerides (American only): source of fatty acids used as an emulsifier, stabilizer, and thickening agent.
Tocopherols: a commonly used preservative. Read our review: What Are Tocopherols? Ingredient 101 for everything you need to know.
Natural flavor: this is a blanket term for any combination of extracts from plant or animal products. Check out our blog post, What are Natural Flavours and Should you Avoid them, for more information on natural flavors.
Soy lecithin: used as an emulsifier to stabilize ingredients and a flavor protector. Read more about lecithin in our Lecithin Ingredient Review here.
Priority Allergens
American Chewy bar: contains coconut, milk, soy and wheat. May contain traces of peanut and other tree nuts.
Canadian Chewy bar: contains oats, wheat, soy, milk, and barley Ingredients.
Quaker Chewy Bar Nutrition Facts
| Quaker Chocolate Chip Chewy Bar (American) | Quaker Chocolate Chip Chewy Bar (Canadian) | |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 100 | 100 |
| Fat (g) | 4 | 3.5 |
| Saturated fat (g) | 1 | 1.5 |
| Carbohydrate (g) | 17 | 17 |
| Fiber (g) | 3 | 1 |
| Sugar (g) | 5 | 6 |
| Protein (g) | 1 | 1 |
| Sodium (mg) | 75 | 70 |
| Potassium (mg) | 50 | 50 |
| Calcium (mg) | 110 | 104 |
| Iron (mg) | 0.6 | 0.7 |
Calories: 100
Fat:
4g (American), primarily from soybean oil
3.5g (Canadian), primarily from vegetable oil,
Saturated fat:
1g (American), from soybean oil, coconut, and chocolate chips.
1.5g (Canadian), from milk, shortening, coconut, and chocolate chips.
Carbohydrate: 17g, from oats, whole wheat flour, brown rice flour, and sugars.
Fiber:
3g (American), from oats, whole wheat flour, inulin, and polydextrose.
1g (Canadian), from oats and whole wheat flour.
Sugar:
5g (American), from brown sugar, corn syrup, sugar, and molasses.
6g (Canadian), from brown sugar, sugar, and molasses.
Protein: 1g, from oats.
Sodium: 70-75mg, from added salt.
Potassium: 50mg, from oats, flours, and trace amounts found in other ingredients.
Calcium: 104-110mg, from calcium carbonate.
Iron: 0.6-0.7mg, from oats.
Are Quaker Chewy Bars Healthy? Bottomline
We gave the American version of Quaker Chewy bars a score of 61 out of 100, meaning it is a suitable option to have occasionally in your routine. On the positive side, Chewy bars are low in sugar and a source of fiber, with 5g and 3g of each nutrient, respectively. However, Chewy bars are small, so although they are technically low in sugar, this is partially due to their size. Chewy bars are made with whole grains such as oats, whole wheat flour, and brown rice flour, and they are low in sodium. If you choose to include Chewy bars as part of your routine, note that they are not a source of protein, so be sure to pair your Chewy bar with a source of protein, such as nuts or yogurt, for a balanced and more satiating snack.
The Canadian Quaker Chewy bar scored 47 out of 100. The main reason for the lower scoring compared to the American version is that the Canadian version is not a source of fiber and is higher in sugar. On the positive side, these Chewy bars are made with whole grains, however, I recommend considering an alternative granola bar that is higher in fiber for a more satiating option. Check out our list of the 9 Best low sugar granola bars and snack bars for alternative options. If you’re looking for alternative nut-free options, check out our roundup of the Best Nut-Free Granola Bars (School Safe) here.
Read more about our Food Nutrition Score here!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Chewy bars vegan?
Chewy bars contain dairy and are not vegan.
How many calories are in a Chewy bar?
There are 100 calories in a Quaker Chewy bar.
Are Quaker Chewy bars gluten-free?
No, Chewy bars contain wheat and are not gluten-free.
Are Quaker Chewy bars nut-free?
American Quaker Chewy bars may contain traces of peanuts and tree nuts. The Canadian Quaker Chewy bar is peanut-free. Always check the product label for the most up-to-date ingredient and allergen information.
How much sugar is in Chewy bars?
There are 5g of sugar in the American Chewy bar and 6g of sugar in the Canadian version.
Are Chewy bars a source of fiber?
American Chewy bars have added inulin and contain 3g of fiber per serving. The Canadian Chewy bars are not considered a source of fiber.
Do Chewy bars contain dairy?
Yes, chewy bars contain dairy.
Related Posts:
- Are Fiber One Bars Healthy? Dietitian Review
- Are Nature Valley Bars Healthy? Dietitian Review
- Are Nutri-Grain Bars Healthy? Dietitian Review
- 9 Best low sugar granola bars and snack bars
- Granola Bar Nutrition Facts Comparison
Sources:
- Glycerin, Technical Evaluation Report, USDA (2013).
- List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents, Health Canada (accessed June 26, 2023).
- Sugar Alcohols and Polydextrose Used as Sweeteners in Foods. Health Canada (2005). Accessed September 25, 2023.
- Inulin, Health Canada (2023)
