Top Snack Bars and Bites: Good Housekeeping's 2025 Picks

Tosi’s snack bar brings the crunch factor alongside satiating plant-based protein and fiber. Made from eight simple ingredients including cashews, chia seeds and sesame seeds, and naturally sweetened with coconut blossom nectar and cassava syrup, the bars are a gluten-free and vegan on-the-go choice.

LAB RESULTS: Our dietitians praised the wholesome ingredient list, and the taste and crisp texture won over testers. One person commented, "Not your typical granola bar – much lighter and airy, felt refreshing to eat!"

Imagine your favorite oatmeal chocolate chip cookie but in protein bar form. Packed with 14 g of plant-based protein and only 5 g of sugar, this vegan and gluten-free bar from Aloha delivers on taste, texture and a stellar ingredient list.

LAB RESULTS: We love that Aloha keeps sugar counts low in this bar without adding sugar alcohols. Taste testers loved it, saying that it was a truly filling and delightfully chewy snack. "Best protein bar I have tasted! It didn’t taste chalky or have an unpleasant texture like many others," one person said.

Premium Medjool dates are filled with creamy almond butter and a pinch of sea salt in this simple on-the-go snack from realsy. Grab one or a few and then throw the convenient resealable pouch back in your bag.

LAB RESULTS: GH’s food experts point out that these gems are packed at the date farm, ensuring freshness and quality. “These have totally won me over,” raved dietitian Valerie Agyeman. “They taste like naturally sweet, nutty caramel bars and are packed with good stuff like antioxidants, magnesium, and potassium with no added sugars.”

Blueprint’s macadamia bar caters to those who seek a convenient, nutritious option to propel their active lifestyle — it offers a blend of heart-healthy fats, plant-based protein and other nutrients that support muscle repair and digestion.

LAB RESULTS: This was one of the best-tasting protein bars in our tests; judges and testers alike enjoyed the unique flavor and liked the 9 g of pea protein that made it surprisingly filling. Influencer Kevin Curry of Fit Men Cook called it “innovative," and our nutrition pros appreciated that the bar would fit into a variety of eating styles, from low-carb to keto and gluten-free.

Junkless chewy granola bars are made with real, simple ingredients like 100% whole-grain oats and have less sugar than the leading kids’ granola bar. They’re free from artificial flavors, colors and preservatives, and there’s no high-fructose corn syrup or hydrogenated oil either.

LAB RESULTS: Kid testers devoured the tasty bars, and parents felt good about adding them to school lunchboxes. Real cocoa and dark chocolate chips give the Double Chocolate flavor chocolatey goodness, and testers loved the actual pieces of dried fruit in the Strawberry variety.

Dietitian Valerie Agyeman loves Mush’s overnight oat cups, and now the brand has made its first protein bar. The treat blends whole grains, fruits, nuts, cocoa and milk protein into a deliciously chewy refrigerated bar that delivers 15 g of protein.

LAB RESULTS: Testers said it was a convenient breakfast option they felt good about eating, calling the flavor “decadent” and delicious enough to even be a better-for-you dessert. And GH’s nutrition director appreciates that the bar provides an ultra-nutritious blend of ingredients at a lower cost than most competitors.

Savor the iconic pairing of peanut butter and jelly in a reimagined way with Perfect Bar’s PB&J Mini—it melds flavor (it is sweetened with organic honey and real fruit), and function, packing in more than 20 superfoods and 5 g of protein per each yummy nostalgic serving.

LAB RESULTS: “They nailed the flavor and creamy texture that I love,” noted food influencer Kevin Curry, and our taste testers agreed, calling this bar fresh, fun, and satisfying to eat. It even earned the approval of one tester’s teenage son!

Defi starts with high-quality dark chocolate and adds sprouted buckwheat for fiber and antioxidants, casein powder and whey crisps for protein and a hint of pink Himalayan sea salt to create a functional, elevated bite.

LAB RESULTS: The gluten-free snack manages to pack in a variety of nutrient-dense ingredients, which impressed our nutrition pros. “A good choice for dark-chocolate lovers,” one staffer said. We also appreciated the use of real sugar instead of artificial sweeteners, and testers felt that the size was “just right.”

These bars from Step One Foods are absolutely delicious and made with simple whole-food ingredients. And they are actually good for you, as they are clinically formulated to block cholesterol absorption and reabsorption in the digestive system to promote heart health.

LAB RESULTS: Dark Chocolate Walnut and Lemon Almond were both tester favorites and hit the just-right level of sweetness. And our nutrition pros love that the bars have true health benefits. “The bar is actually good. I love that the dark chocolate is just enough to make it a have a hint of sweetness so it feels like a treat,” one person said.

Created by a registered dietitian, the Be Free Bar features a careful balance of protein, fiber-rich carbs and healthy fats that provides sustainable energy to keep you full between meals or fuel you after a workout, along with ingredients that support brain and gut health.

LAB RESULTS: Not only is the bar itself hearty and satisfying, but the ingredients are something you can feel good about eating. The Blueberry Burst flavor tastes like the real thing because, well, it’s made with real berries, and Blondie Coffee is a java-forward bite that delivers caffeine that testers found gave them the perfect midmorning energy boost.