The Best Bars Out There (The Non Drinking Kind)

So you’re on your way to the beach to have the greatest spring break ever. You’ve worked hard to get that body bikini-ready all semester long, and now you’re ready to show it off.

By Brithny

You could pack chips, sandwiches and candy to get you through those grueling hours of sunbathing, but why not bring along some yummy nutrition bars that help your figure and make your taste buds happy?

Here are my recommended top 5:

Gnu Flavor and Fiber Bars

Does your mouth water every time you smell the cinnabons at the mall? Do you have a hard time not finishing the whole bag of raisins once you start? If either of those apply to you, then you’ll love the Cinnamon Raisin bar. It’s only 130 calories and gives you 12g of fiber, already half of what you need per day! It is definitely my favorite, with Chocolate Brownie coming in second. The Banana Walnut is good for all you nut-lovers out there, and the Peanut Butter is a great substitute for everyone’s favorite (and surprisingly high calorie) PB&J sandwich. Plus, your heart will be thanking you for the lack of added sugar and artificial ingredients. All-natural, all the way.

Pros: flavor, fiber, and filling!

Cons: The price. And the Orange Cranberry bar. It was very… citrusy.

YouBar

If you like taking the lead and doing things yourself, this bar is perfect for you because you get to be the bar-creator! Just go to their website and pick out the ingredients you want, and voila! A pack of your very own specially-designed bars (or protein shakes too) will arrive on your doorstep. It seems to be the latest new trend in Hollywood, with celebrities like Fergie, AnnaLynne McCord, and even a G.W.W.E. spotted with ‘TheirBars’. Be careful, though, because the wrong mix of ingredients could be disastrous.

Pros: Customized to your own dietary needs, and you are able to pretend you’re a real chef for a few minutes.

Cons: Personalized anything gets pretty expensive. (But, with this CC Exclusive, for the entire month of March you can get 10% off when you enter “collegecandy” during checkout!)

Zone Perfect Bars

Getting your protein has never been easier with these bars, since one of them gives you 15 grams. That’s 30% of your RDI right there! Plus, they are chock full of other antioxidants and vitamins that I didn’t find as much in the other bars, and with more than a dozen different flavors, you’re sure to love at least one of them (I know I’ve found my match: Fudge Graham- mmm…). They’re all-natural too, and actually guarantee that you’ll love their bars; if you don’t, you can ask for a refund! They wouldn’t make that big of a promise if they weren’t really that good. And they are (the Dark Chocolate Strawberry speaks for itself).

Pros: Protein-packed, 19 vitamins & minerals, lots of yummy flavors.

Cons: Not the best choice for the calorie/carb-conscious.

Kashi TLC Bars

We love our friends over at Kashi. They’ve given us all sorts of must-have packaged foods, like their cereal (GoLean!) and dinner entrees. What I didn’t know was they’ve also given us a slew of snack bars! And just like their other products, these were both affordable AND amazingly-good (Pumpkin Pie = heaven). Too bad the bars on the small side; they are so tasty you will want to eat 10. The Crunchy! line (no, I didn’t add that ! there) is a little bigger and the calorie count it a little higher, but the Cinnamon Coffee Cake is so worth it.

Pros: Big in taste, small in price

Cons: Also small in size

Luna Bars

There’s a reason why almost every girl has eaten a Luna Bar at some point in her life. And why it’s sad if you haven’t yet. Because they are so…freaking…good…(*Ellipses required to simulate drooling effect.) These bars are made especially for us women and are tailored to our specificneeds. 35% calcium, 30% iron, and 100% vitamins C, E, AND B in my favorite Iced Oatmeal Raisin? What more could you ask for? Actually, I would ask for a more reduced calorie count, since some flavors are almost 200 calories. I do give them props for coming out with the Mini line, so we can at least try to limit ourselves (because trust me, once I let loose on those Lunas, there’s no turning back).

Pros: Every flavor is yummy plus calcium for stronger bones!

Cons: The calories.