Are KIND breakfast bars a good breakfast option, or just good marketing? Our expert dietitian reviews the nutrition facts and ingredients to help you make an informed choice at the grocery store.
About KIND Breakfast Bars
KIND Breakfast Bars are chewy granola bars made from oats and other whole grains. They are marketed as a “source of sustained energy throughout your day”.
KIND Breakfast Bar Ingredients
| KIND Breakfast Bar Peanut Butter | KIND Breakfast Bars Almond Butter | KIND Breakfast Bars Dark Chocolate Cocoa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ingredients | Gluten Free Oats, Cane Sugar, Peanuts, Canola Oil, Brown Rice Flour, Gluten Free Oat Flour, Peanut Butter (Peanuts, Salt) Gum Acacia, Water, Raisin Paste, Peanut Oil, Peanut Flour, Millet, Sea Salt, Buckwheat, Amaranth, Quinoa, Honey, Tocopherols. | Gluten free oats, Sugars (tapioca syrup, can sugar, raisin paste, honey), Canola oil, Soy protein isolate, Almond butter (almonds), Almonds, Millet, Buckwheat, Amaranth, Natural flavour, Quinoa, Sea salt, Cinnamon, Tocopherols. | Gluten Free Oats, Canola Oil, Cane Sugar, Soy Protein Isolate, Semi- Sweet Dark Chocolate (Sugar, Chocolate liquor, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla Extract), Water, Gum Acacia, Raisin Paste, Cocoa Powder, Gluten Free Oat Flour, Honey, Millet, Molasses, Buckwheat, Amaranth, Quinoa, Cinnamon, Vanilla Extract, Natural Flavour, Sea Salt, Tocopherols. |
The KIND Breakfast Bar Peanut Butter flavor ingredients are listed below. See the table above for the list of ingredients from all flavors.
Gluten-free oats: a type of whole grain and a source of carbohydrates.
Cane sugar: the main source of added sugar in KIND breakfast bars.
Canola oil: an oil from canola seeds that is high in unsaturated fats and low in saturated fats. Check out our post Is Canola Oil Bad for You for everything you need to know about this ingredient.
Brown rice flour: a source of carbohydrates used for adding bulk and texture to the bars.
Gluten-free oat flour: source of carbohydrates used for adding bulk and texture to the bars.
Peanut butter: blended peanuts and salt.
Gum acacia: an emulsifying, stabilizing, and thickening agent.
Raisin paste: a paste made from soaking raisins in water and then pureeing them into a paste.
Peanut oil: an oil high in polyunsaturated fats (omega-6) and monounsaturated fats (omega-9).
Peanut flour: flour made from grinding peanuts and pressing out some of the fat to result in flour.
Millet: a whole grain and source of carbohydrates.
Sea salt: added source of sodium.
Buckwheat: a whole grain and source of carbohydrates.
Amaranth: a whole grain and source of carbohydrates.
Quinoa: a whole grain and source of carbohydrates.
Honey: source of added sugar in KIND Breakfast Bars.
Tocopherols: a commonly used preservative. Read our review: What Are Tocopherols? Ingredient 101 for everything you need to know.
Priority Allergens
Contains soy, peanuts, and/or tree nuts (depending on the flavor). All flavors may contain sesame seeds. Always check the food label for up-to-date ingredient and allergen information before consuming.
KIND Breakfast Bar Nutrition Facts
| KIND Breakfast Bars Peanut Butter | KIND Breakfast Bars Almond Butter | KIND Breakfast Bars Dark Chocolate Cocoa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 220 | 220 | 210 |
| Fat (g) | 11 | 10 | 9 |
| Saturated fat (g) | 1.5 | 1 | 1.5 |
| Sodium (mg) | 135 | 120 | 80 |
| Carbohydrate (g) | 27 | 26 | 26 |
| Fibre (g) | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Sugar (g) | 8 | 10 | 10 |
| Protein (g) | 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Calcium (mg) | 78 | 104 | 104 |
| Iron (mg) | 1.5 | 2 | 2.5 |
Note: the nutrition facts below reflect the peanut butter flavor of KIND Breakfast Bars. The range of nutrition information for all flavors is listed in parentheses. See our Nutrition Facts Comparison Chart above for details,
Calories: 220 (210-220)
Fat: 11g (9-11), from canola oil, peanut butter, and peanut oil.
Saturated fat: 1.5g (1-1.5g), from peanut butter and peanut oil.
Sodium: 135mg (80-120mg), from added salt.
Carbohydrate: 27g (26-27g), from oats, brown rice flour, and sugar.
Fiber: 5g (4-5g), from oats, brown rice flour, and oat flour.
Sugar: 8g (8-10g), from cane sugar, raisin paste, and honey.
Protein: 5g (5-8g), from oats and peanut butter.
Other nutrients: iron 1.5mg (2-2.5mg), calcium 78mg (104mg)
Are KIND Breakfast Bars a Good Breakfast?
We gave KIND Breakfast Bars a nutrition score of 72 out of 100. Overall, these bars have a solid balance of macronutrients and the ingredients used are less processed than other snack bars on the market.
KIND Breakfast Bars Pros and Cons:
On the positive side, KIND Breakfast Bars are a source of fiber, protein, and unsaturated fats. Plus, they’re low in saturated fats, and the main carbohydrate source used to make them is whole grain. However, they do contain added sugar (8-10g per bar depending on the flavor). This amount of sugar is considered moderate compared to other snack bars.
Are KIND Breakfast Bars a good breakfast option?
KIND Breakfast Bars contain a good source of complex carbohydrates and fiber coming from oats, which are important nutrients to include at breakfast. However, they are lower in protein than what most people would be aiming for to start their day. These bars would be most suitable as a snack or paired with something high in protein, such as boiled eggs or Greek yogurt, for a more balanced breakfast.
Read more about our Food Nutrition Score here!
Related Posts
- Are KIND Nut Bars Healthy? Dietitian Review
- Are RXBARs Healthy? Dietitian Review (2024)
- 9 Best low sugar granola bars and snack bars
References:
Acacai, Health Canada, 2023.
Comparison of dietary fats, Canolainfo.org.
