Kind Bar Review

Overview:

I think I first heard of KIND bars from a YouTube video of someone showing their monthly Birchbox, where the "lifestyle" bonus was one of the many varieties of bars that the KIND snacks company creates. This was a few years back when KIND bars were still relatively unheard-of, and during this time I wasn't much of a nut fan. That has changed. A lot.

One day, I decided to try a KIND bar finally after seeing a display in one of the on-campus markets here at UCSD. I can't recall exactly what flavor I tried first, but I can say that I quickly fell in love with the taste of these bars.

About:

What really attracted me to these bars was the fact that they included ingredients that I could pronounce. In other words, these bars may be considered "all-natural"(however, this is an unregulated term.) I like how these bars derive their fiber and protein from nuts rather than something like "Soy Protein Isolate" as I've seen other health bars include to puff up their products. These bars are also non-GMO. Nonetheless, the ingredients list was also short and simple so I knew exactly what I would be putting into my body. 

However, these bars are not vegan because they use honey as a sweetener. Some of their other snacks are vegan though. These bars are not paleo either because part of their nut blend includes peanuts, which is a legume and not allowed on the paleo diet. Again, just check the simple ingredient list if you have a special diet.

I am a fan of the company's KIND movement. The movement advocates for people to perform more "kind" acts in their daily lives through the company's social entrepreneurship. Plus, their brand philosophy states that snacks should both be healthy AND delicious--something I can definitely vouch for!

Nutrition:

Do not let the calories scare you! These are not your measly "100 calories bars." I'd say most bars I've had range from 180-210 calories. That being said, I don't think these bars constitute a meal on their own, but definitely work great as a midday snack or part of your breakfast. I usually have one with a banana in the morning.

You will find also with most of these bars that many of the calories are from fat. In my favorite bar for example, there are 190 calories and 100 of these calories are fat calories. Again, do not be alarmed. Fat is NOT your foe! We need fat in our bodies, and consuming healthy fats from foods such as avocados or nuts actually help us lose/maintain weight. Read more about the importance of fat here.

Many bars have good amounts of dietary fiber and protein, averaging around 7 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein. Different subcategories of these bars also have different focuses, so definitely choose the bar(s) that best suits your needs and desires! 

TL; DR:

• These bars are gluten-free and vegetarian.
• I would definitely recommend these bars to anyone who enjoys nuts and is looking for a clean snack throughout the day. I suggest trying out many flavors to get a sense of the line and be able to find a favorite. 
• The company itself promotes a good message, definitely one to support. 
• The bars may be considered calorie-heavy to some, but consider the fact that these calories are natural and the bars provide a good amount of fiber and protein.