KIND bars ranked worst to best

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Walking into the breakfast aisle at your local grocer or big box store can be a little daunting. Not only is there a plethora of brands of breakfast bars to choose from — but settle on a brand, and then there are seemingly an endless number of flavors to choose between.

On a recent shopping trip, KIND Bars caught our eye, mostly because of their claim to be made of “simple” ingredients you have actually heard of – nuts, seeds, dried fruit and dark chocolate. There are also multiple versions of the bars for sale – fruit and nut, kid-friendly, breakfast and high protein – that will offer a tasty pick-me-up at any time of the day.

Bonus points for all of the bars we tried being gluten-free, widely available, and easily portable to accompany you to work, school or on your next hike. Those with nut allergies should steer clear.

We found 19 varieties at Walmart and brought them all.

The methodology:

cleveland.com’s Best of Cleveland team independently tasted, and assigned scores of 1 to 5, based on flavor, texture and the sweetness of each flavor, then averaged our scores. In the case of a tie, we battled it out verbally to come up with the following ranking.

Surprising results

After the scores were tallied, it was the sweetest of the bars in the KIND lineup that took the top prize. Check out our thoughts on each of the bars we taste-tested and then head to the store and stock up for your next outing.

The results:

No. 19

KIND Healthy Grains – Oats & Honey with Toasted Coconut

Nutrition per serving:

Calories 150 | Fat 5g | Sodium 95mg | Carbs 23g | Sugar 6g | Protein 3g

First ingredient: Oats

Description: Chewy with a crunch. 100% whole grains

Our thoughts: Let’s address the elephant in the room first — these bars are D-R-Y! Be sure to have your go-to beverage close at hand if indulging in this variety. And if the promise of coconut is what drew you to this more traditional granola bar, look elsewhere. The coconut is barely detectable. The honey is light and the best thing about this version of Kind.

No. 18

KIND– Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate

Nutrition per serving:

Calories 200 | Fat 14g | Sodium 20mg | Carbs 17g | Sugar 9g | Protein 7g

First ingredient: Peanuts

Description: #1 ingredient heart healthy peanuts. It’s not always easy to do things the “kind” way. It takes extra effort to make foods with whole nutrient-dense ingredients that taste good too. But at KIND, we make that extra effort because you can taste the difference. Some things are just worth the work, especially when it comes to snacking!

Our thoughts: This KIND bar is definitely not as silky smooth as some of the others, but what it lacks in pure sweetness it makes up for in pure protein. If you love dark chocolate and peanut butter this bar will score points, though the peanut butter is a bit overwhelmed by the dark chocolate. The other downside: The chocolate can create a mess. Just the warmth of your fingers is enough to cause it to melt. We would hate to see what happens if you leave it in a hot car or in your backpack on a warm day. Napkins are a must.

No. 17

KIND Healthy Grains – Dark Chocolate chunk

Nutrition per serving:

Calories 150 | Fat 5g | Sodium 65mg | Carbs 23g | Sugar 8g | Protein 2g

First ingredient: Oats

Description: N/A

Our thoughts: Apparently, the good folks at KIND haven’t figured out how to make a bar with whole grains that doesn’t crumble apart when you eat it. Another very D-R-Y version, so have a drink close at hand. The chocolate is subtle.

No. 16

KIND Kids – Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip

Nutrition per serving:

Calories 100 | Fat 4g | Sodium 70mg | Carbs 15g | Sugar 5g | Protein 2g

First ingredient: Oats

Description: N/A

Our thoughts: Kids will enjoy the peanut butter — which truly shines in this bar. While it is chewy, you have to work for it. The bars we had were a bit on the hard side for the first bites, but quickly gave way to the promised chewiness. Overall, the kids will love it.

No. 15

KIND – Dark Chocolate Mocha Almond

Nutrition per serving:

Calories 170 | Fat 15g | Sodium 15mg | Carbs 16g | Sugar 5g | Protein 5g

First ingredient: Almonds

Description: #1 ingredient is heart-healthy almonds. What’s not in this bar? Sugar substitutes like saccharin, aspartame, and sucrose, which are many times sweeter than sugar and artificial. We prefer the real thing in moderation. Do the kind thing for your body, your taste buds & your world.

Our thoughts: That morning cup ‘o Joe not enough for ya? You can catch that java buzz just from the aroma that comes when you tear open the packaging. There is plenty of rich dark chocolate coating the crunchy almonds and the smooth mocha drizzle offers up a, slightly bitter, strong coffee flavor. Keep one in your desk drawer for a great afternoon pick-me-up.

No. 14

KIND Nut Butter– Chocolate Peanut Butter

Nutrition per serving:

Calories 170 | Fat 9g | Sodium 140mg | Carbs 19g | Sugar 8g | Protein 4g

First ingredient: Peanuts

Description: N/A

Our thoughts: There is a healthy layer of nut butter in the center of this soft and chewy Brownie-like “bar.” Sadly, it is a bit on the small size, so don’t depend on it to fill you up. More like a snack cake than a bar, it is a bit crumbly, and the nut topping tends to fall off before you get a chance to truly enjoy it. Good flavor though!

No. 13

KIND Thins – Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate

Nutrition per serving:

Calories 100 | Fat 7g | Sodium 65mg | Carbs 10g | Sugar 4g | Protein 3g

First ingredient: Almonds

Description: To make KIND Thins we took your favorite KIND bar flavors and gave them a slimmer shape. In this Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate bar you get the same flavors you love – smooth peanut butter and rich dark chocolate, but it’s proportioned to 100 calories. We call that perfectly sized goodness.

Our thoughts: Everything about the KINDThins bar is smaller than their traditional offerings. The nuts are chopped smaller and give the consistency of a Rice Crispy Treat. And the thinner size will help you justify snacking on all that rich dark chocolate bar. All the flavor you expect is still there in this smaller package.

No. 12

KIND Kids– Chocolate Chip

Nutrition per serving:

Calories 100 | Fat 3.5g | Sodium 65mg | Carbs 16g | Sugar 5g | Protein 1g

First ingredient: Oats

Description: N/A

Our thoughts: If you want to give in to your kids’ demands for a chocolatey treat but still wish for a healthier option, you may have found the solution. These bars are sweet, chewy and have just enough chocolate chips to keep any kid (or adult) satisfied. They are super sticky though, so carry some wet ones to clean up those little hands after snack time.

No. 11

KIND Thins – Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt

Nutrition per serving:

Calories 90 | Fat 7g | Sodium 65mg | Carbs 10g | Sugar 4g | Protein 2g

First ingredient: Almonds

Description: KIND Thins are the oh-so-snackable, slimmer version of KIND Bar flavors. Enjoy the delicious taste of sliced almonds, diced peanuts and rich dark chocolate in every bite. This perfectly portioned 90-calorie bar is a delightfully thin snack that’s perfect to enjoy on the go.

Our thoughts: This thin mix of nuts, dark chocolate, and sea salt, is very crunchy, and decadent. This thin bar has enough chocolate to taste super sweet, but with enough protein to give you that pick-me-up mid-day. Sadly, if you are craving that salty-sweet we all love, the sea salt gets a bit lost in this thin version of this bar.

No. 10

KIND Breakfast – Peanut Butter

Nutrition per serving:

Calories 220 | Fat 10g | Sodium 135mg | Carbs 29g | Sugar 9g | Protein 5g

First ingredient: Oats

Description: Take the stress out of your morning routine with our Peanut Butter Breakfast bar. Made with 100% whole grains and real, creamy peanut butter, this nutrient-dense snack is the perfect way to kick-start your day.

Our thoughts: These could be the perfect “breakfast on the run.” Two to a package, these were more reminiscent of your grandmother’s soft and chewy oatmeal cookies than a breakfast bar, with just the right amount of peanut butter that takes the edge off the sweetness.

No. 9

KIND Minis – Caramel Almond & Sea Salt

Nutrition per serving:

Calories 90 | Fat 8g | Sodium 60mg | Carbs 8g | Sugar 3g | Protein 3g

First ingredient: Almonds

Description: N/A

Our thoughts: For fans of the sweet and salty, this bar is slightly sweeter than most of the others we tried, offering a rich and strong caramel flavor with a hint of an oddly pleasant burnt note. The sea salt was a little overwhelmed by the caramel, but still offered a nice salty bite for your taste buds.

No. 8

KIND Protein – Dark Chocolate Nut

Nutrition per serving:

Calories 240 | Fat 17g | Sodium 125mg | Carbs 18g | Sugar 8g | Protein 12g

First ingredient: Peanuts

Description: KIND protein bars are the perfect pick-me-up to help fuel your day. Take this Dark Chocolate Nut bar for example. What’s not to love; rich dark chocolate, whole peanuts, almonds and 12g of protein. Plus, it’s 25% bigger than an original KIND bar, so there’s even more to enjoy.

Our thoughts: The good folks at KIND didn’t skimp on the nuts in this bar — hence all that tasty protein. Add the nuts to a thick layer of dark chocolate and you’ll forget you are eating something that is good for you. Surprisingly, despite all those large nuts, this bar still delivers a pleasing chewiness.

No. 7

KIND Minis – Dark Chocolate Almond Coconut

Nutrition per serving:

Calories 90 | Fat 7g | Sodium 10mg | Carbs 10g | Sugar 5g | Protein 2g

First ingredient: Almonds

Description: N/A

Our thoughts: Almond and dark chocolate are strong and overshadow the coconut flavor but you get the coconut texture in the bite.

If you love KIND’s Almond Coconut bar but think, “Man, I wish this had some chocolate,” then you’re in luck. The Dark Chocolate Almond Coconut is basically the same exact bar, but with dark chocolate drizzles to top it all off. On the downside, the almonds and chocolate tend to overshadow the coconut. We guess it all comes down to personal preference. Same great texture.

No. 6

KIND Protein – Crunchy Peanut Butter

Nutrition per serving:

Calories 250 | Fat 18g | Sodium 135mg | Carbs 17g | Sugar 7g | Protein 12g

First ingredient: Peanuts

Description: You shouldn’t have to choose between health and taste when it comes to your protein bar. That’s why these Crunchy Peanut Butter bars pack 12g of protein, whole peanuts and smooth peanut butter into one delicious package. Happy Snacking!

Our thoughts: Truth in advertising! This bar is definitely crunchy — because it is so packed with nuts, hence, the protein. Bonus points for the added layer of smooth peanut butter on the bottom of the bar. Just a slight hint of salt.

No. 5

KIND – Cranberry Almond

Nutrition per serving:

Calories 160 | Fat 12g | Sodium 20mg | Carbs 19g | Sugar 8g | Protein 5g

First ingredient: Almonds

Description: #1 ingredient is heart-healthy almonds. Not all fats are created equal, and sometimes, fats get a bad rap. We think that’s a bit unfair. Nuts inherently contain unsaturated fats (a.k.a. the “good” kind). That’s why we use nuts like almonds, peanuts, and cashews in our bars. Well, that plus they taste delicious.

Our thoughts: Peanut butter and chocolate may be the de facto culinary combination when it comes to candy and snack bars, but cranberry almond is a pretty close second. Sweet, tangy, and definitely sticky, it’s a great mix of tart and crunchy.

No. 4

KIND – Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew

Nutrition per serving:

Calories 170 | Fat 10g | Sodium 20mg | Carbs 22g | Sugar 10g | Protein 4g

First ingredient: Cashews

Description: At KIND we are committed to crafting snacks with premium ingredients. Take this bar, for example: packed with nutrient-dense cashews, chewy cherries, and drizzled with dark chocolate, it’s a wholesome treat that will satisfy your indulgent cravings.

Our thoughts: Definitely more on the sweeter — and chewier side — the Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew bar is a mix of tart petite cherries, almonds, cashews, and dark chocolate. It might be our imagination, but the chocolate does seem to be a bit creamier here than on the other bars we tried, which gives it that indulgent edge. It’s tangy, it’s gooey, and it’s downright delicious.

No. 3

KIND Minis – Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt

Nutrition per serving:

Calories 90 | Fat 7g | Sodium 70mg | Carbs 8g | Sugar 3g | Protein 3g

First ingredient: Almonds

Description: N/A

Our thoughts: Packed with cocoa nibs, almonds, and the perfect amount of sea salt (let’s face it: ANY amount of sea salt is the perfect amount), this is one deliciously dark mini chocolate bar. Just enough to satisfy that need for chocolate mid-day.

No. 2

KIND Minis – Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate

Nutrition per serving:

Calories 100 | Fat 7g | Sodium 55mg | Carbs 8g | Sugar 3g | Protein 3g

First ingredient: Peanuts

Description: N/A

Our thoughts: Dark, decadent, and delish, in a compact size. This bar is made with a cornucopia of great flavors, including dark chocolate, peanuts, caramel, and the perfect amount of sea salt. This tiny vehicle delivers on that perfect combination of sweet and salty.

No. 1

KIND – Almond & Coconut

Nutrition per serving:

Calories 190 | Fat 14g | Sodium 20mg | Carbs 19g | Sugar 9g | Protein 3g

First ingredient: Almonds

Description: Low glycemic index

Our thoughts: Definitely the sweetest of all the KIND Bars we sampled, but then again, is that really a bad thing? The lack of chocolate in this bar does nothing to detract from the flavor. Neither Almond lovers or coconut lovers will be disappointed with this bar — perfectly packed with toasted coconut and crunchy almonds, that have been fused together with a light honey glaze. The coconut flavor takes center stage here, while the almonds provide that crunch. If you hate coconut, keep moving.