Functional Nutrition Bars

Consumers care about the function of the bar as well as the ingredients used. Whether the bar is purchased for weight management or an after school snack for their kids, the bar serves a purpose. According to Kerry Ingredients’ online survey, dietary fiber was “extremely” or “very important” to almost six of 10 (57 percent) respondents as an ingredient of a perfect snack, and two of three respondents (68 percent) expected the perfect snack to provide 20 percent or more of the daily value (DV) of dietary fiber per serving. In addition, more than two of three respondents (70 percent) expect the perfect snack to provide 20 percent or more of their DV of protein per serving.

“Kardeas Nutrition enables individuals to meet the therapeutic nutritional guidelines for cholesterol management issued by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) of the National Institutes of Health,” said Rob Leighton, CEO and founder of Kardeas Nutrition. “The recommended nutrition includes 2 g of plant sterols per day, at least 10 g of selected soluble fibers, such as those available from oats, barley, psyllium, beans and high-pectin fruits, and monounsaturated fats instead of saturated fats.”

SoLo Bar, manufactured and marketed by Solo GI Nutrition Inc., functions as an energy bar while offering a reliable source of sustained energy and low glycemic nutrition (glycemic index (GI) 23 to 29). “SoLo is currently being used by a growing number of professional sports teams, collegiate and world class athletes as their preferred fuel source for long-term energy and prolonged endurance,” Saul Katz, president and CEO of SoLo GI Nutrition, said. “The fiber blend combines inulin and oat bran concentrate, providing a range of protective benefits for the body.”

Inulin is a prebiotic fiber that aids digestion and serves as a soluble fiber in the digestive tract. It has also been shown to lower cholesterol levels associated with cardiovascular disease.(1) SoLo bars contain 11 to 13 g of protein, 3 to 4 grams of fiber and 20 percent of the daily recommended value of calcium. Katz also noted SoLo has been acknowledged for its all-natural ingredients and its nutritional profile free of sugar alcohols, artificial sweeteners, HFCS, and artificial flavors and colors.

Attune Foods, a San Francisco-based company, adds probiotics, live, beneficial bacteria, and the prebiotic inulin to its bars. “Attune bars are packed with probiotics to support digestive health and boost immunity, as well as promoting optimal health and wellness,” Rob Hurlbut, CEO, Attune Foods, said. “Attune bars have more than five times the beneficial cultures found in yogurt with less sugar than most sweetened yogurts.” Hurlbut noted probiotics and prebiotics work together to promote a healthy digestive system. Attune offers two lines of bars, granola and chocolate, which, in addition to pre- and probiotics, offer calcium, protein and fiber.

Greens + carries energy, protein and chia bars that contain live enzymes as well as green tea extract, Siberian ginseng and grape seed extract. “Each bar provides 1 to 2 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables,” Diane Kingsley, office manager at Greens + said. “They are made up of ingredients that help to not only give you natural energy but also help to support your immune system, help to increase your mental acuity, help to cleanse and detoxify the body and also help to provide an alkaline pH state.”

“I especially choose ingredients high in antioxidants and high in omega-3’s. The antioxidants found in the fruits and nuts protect our cells from environmental and internal toxins, therefore decreasing our risk for disease,” Veronica Bosgraaf, founder of PureBar, said. “The omega-3’s from the nuts provide essential brain building fatty acids that are so important in our diet, especially children whose brains are growing and changing daily. The heart-healthy fat from nuts and noticeable absence of cholesterol and saturated/trans fat helps keep our ticker running strong.”

Nutritional bars are a positive way for consumers to eat a quick and healthy snack tailored toward specific needs, while providing protein, fiber, probiotics or many other beneficial ingredients. With so many choices offered in the marketplace, it should be easy for consumers to find a bar that fits their needs. And, as the market grows, new opportunities will open up for new consumer needs.