6 OF THE BEST

Fruit and nut snack bars

There’s a new breed of bar on supermarket shelves, replacing the Nutri-Grain and Alpen bars popular in the 2000s. The latest launches are marketed as wholesome, dense with fruit, seeds, nuts and oats and free from artificial nasties. But although some promise to provide dietary fibre, protein and an energy boost with “no added sugar” (and it’s true that nuts are a noted source of Vitamin E, healthy unsaturated fats and minerals), dried fruits such as raisins are high in calories and sugar. And that natural-sounding “organic brown rice syrup” is still sugar, and can cause weight gain, blood sugar spikes and tooth decay.

Meanwhile, Kind – which is gluten-free and uses only “ingredients you can see and pronounce” – was called out recently for its non-organic ingredients. Could that innocent snack lurking in the bottom of your handbag be less virtuous than it seems? Does it even matter, as long as it hits the spot? We put them to the taste test…

WILD TRAIL CARROT CAKE FRUIT, VEG AND NUT BAR 4X30G (£2, OCADO)

These contain just five ingredients: raisins (52 per cent), cashews (37 per cent), gluten-free oats, dried carrot and ground cinnamon. So far, so clean – but per 100g, they contain a significant 37g of natural sugars (thanks to the high raisin content), 2.4g of saturated fat and 0.06g salt. A tasty, fruity boost, nonetheless. 7/10

KIND CARAMEL ALMOND AND SEA SALT 3X40G (£3, SAINSBURY’S)

With 64 per cent almonds, and a caramel coating made of chicory root and carob powder. Drizzled with honey and a touch of salt, they’re moreish, without too many scary-sounding additives. They taste too good not to be naughty, but per 100g, they contain only 13g sugar (not bad), 7g of saturated fat and 0.78g salt. 10/10

EAT NATURAL APPLE, GINGER AND DARK CHOCOLATE 3X45G (£2.05, WAITROSE)

Mostly dark chocolate, with shredded coconut, juicy cranberries and dried apricots as well as cashews, crisped rice, linseed, dried apple (they could do with a touch more ginger), and billed as a “chocolate bar with benefits”. They taste great but, per 100g, contain a slightly excessive 32.5g sugar, 14.7g saturated fat and 0.07g salt. 7/10

DELICIOUSLY ELLA APPLE, RAISIN AND CINNAMON OAT BARS 3X50G (£2.49, TESCO)

A high oat content (52 per cent) for slow-release energy makes these chewy but slightly bland bars a good bet for breakfast. Sweetened with brown rice syrup, raisins (8 per cent), coconut blossom nectar and dried apple (5 per cent), there are no unrecognisable ingredients and per 100g they contain 6.2g saturated fat, 26g sugar and 0.26g salt. 8/10

NINE SEED BARS 4X40G (£1.90 AT MORRISONS)

Like nuts, seeds are sources of fibre, vitamins, minerals and healthy unsaturated fats (an essential macronutrient). These carob-coated, seedy bars contain a satisfying mix of sunflower, pumpkin, sesame and hemp – but they also contain both added sugar and rice syrup. Per 100g, they contain 21.1g sugar, 7.8g saturated fat and 0.25g salt. 8/10

NAKD LEMON DRIZZLE RAW FRUIT AND NUT WHOLEFOOD BARS 4X35G (£2.49, OCADO)

Made up of dates (53 per cent) and raisins (19 per cent), with almonds, coconut and cashews, these soft-textured bars with a pleasing citrus kick may contain only natural ingredients, but they also contain a hell of a lot of natural sugar. Per 100g, they contain 50.6g sugar (crikey), 6.5g saturated fat and less than 0.1g salt. 6/10