Dietitian Answers: Are Made Good Bars Healthy?
Are Made Good bars healthy? We’re breaking down the ingredients, nutrition, pros, and cons in this dietitian and mom review.
Made Good granola bars check a lot of boxes: vegan, organic, allergen-free, and fortified with vitamins from vegetable extracts.
As a dietitian and mom, I’m always on the lookout for easy, healthy snack bars I can enjoy and send with my kids to their allergy-friendly classrooms, and on the surface, they sound like the perfect snack for both kids and adults.
But there’s more to the story you may want to learn before including them in your regular snack rotation. In this review, I break down the nutrition, ingredients, and what you need to know about Made Good bars.
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Table of Contents
What are Made Good granola bars?
Made Good granola bars are vegan, organic, dairy-free, non-GMO, and made without the top 9 major allergens.
You can currently find Made Good granola bars in these flavors, including five traditional flavors and three flavors that include a chocolate drizzle:
- Chocolate banana
- Chocolate chip
- Cookies and creme
- Mixed berry
- Strawberry
- Birthday cake drizzle
- Cookie crumble drizzle
- Vanilla drizzle
As for potential controversy, Made Good bars have a pretty clean slate, aside from a few nutrition opinions and a voluntary recall. They receive some criticism online, as they include several sources of added sugars for a bar that “looks” healthy with organic and non-GMO certifications.
Then, in December of 2024, Made Good voluntarily recalled 2.4 million cases of granola bars after 7 complaints were made that a piece of metal from a flat-bristle brush used in manufacturing was found in the bars. No injuries were reported and customers were able ot receive full refunds for purchased bars.
A closer look at Made Good bar nutrition
In one Chocolate Chip granola bar (24 grams), you’ll find:
- Calories: 100
- Total fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Fiber: 1g
- Added sugars: 6g
- Protein: 2g
You’ll also find 20% DV of vitamins A, C, D, E, B6, and thiamin.
In one Birthday Cake Drizzle granola bar (24 grams), you’ll find:
- Calories: 110
- Total fat: 3.5g
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Fiber: 1g
- Added sugars: 6g
- Protein: 2g
You’ll also find 20% DV of vitamins A, C, D, E, B6, and thiamin.
Made Good bar ingredient breakdown
Gluten-free oats
The primary ingredient found in Made Good granola bars is pure, organic gluten-free oats. This is an important distinction for people with celiac disease. While oats are naturally gluten-free, they’re highly prone to cross-contamination, so knowing these oats are free from gluten provides extra reassurance.
Oats are a good source of beta-glucans, a soluble fiber that supports a healthy gut microbiome. However, the amount of oats found in each bar is likely quite small, as there is only 1 gram of fiber provided.
Sweeteners
Made Good granola bars use three types of primary sweeteners in their bars, including agave syrup, brown rice syrup, and invert cane syrup. While agave syrup induces a much lower glycemic response than table sugar, brown rice syrup and invert cane syrup are the same or higher on the Glycemic Index scale.
The three sweeteners combined add up to around 6 grams of added sugars, or 12% of the recommended daily limit.
Sunflower oil
Sunflower oil and many other seed oils have a lot of controversy surrounding them, mostly because consuming too much and eating too many processed foods that contain them increases the risk of inflammation and numerous chronic diseases.
However, for a fat source, sunflower oil has several potential benefits when eaten in moderate amounts, thanks to the presence of unsaturated fatty acids and its high vitamin E content.
Brown rice crisps
These whole-grain and gluten-free crisps add a light and crunchy texture to Made Good bars.
Vegetable extracts
Instead of relying on synthetic vitamins, Made Good bars boost the nutrition of each bar with the addition of vegetable extracts, including spinach, broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, beets, and shiitake mushrooms.
Natural flavor
Each bar has natural flavoring added to it. Natural flavors can be any flavor compound that’s been extracted from a “natural source,” including plant and animal sources. While we don’t know the exact sources, Made Good bars are vegan, so we can assume they come from plant products.
Agar
Instead of gelatin, which is an animal product, you’ll find agar used in Made Good granola bars as a plant-based thickening agent. While it is a fiber-rich ingredient that’s derived from red algae, there’s such a small amount used in these granola bars that it is not likely to contribute much nutritionally.
Salt
A small amount of salt is added to the granola bars, likely as a flavor enhancer. As there’s only 35mg of sodium in each bar, it’s likely a very small amount.
Additional ingredients
Depending on the flavor you choose, you may also find any of these extra ingredients in Made Good bars: chocolate chips, dried banana pieces, vanilla chips, chia seeds, baking soda, inulin, palm fruit oil, tapioca starch, cocoa powder, dried cranberries, freeze-dried raspberries, currants, strawberry-flavored pieces, beet root powder, sweet potato powder, and sprinkles
Pros of Made Good organic chewy granola bars
Here are some of the reasons Made Good granola bars may work well for you or your family:
They’re safe for food allergies
Made Good bars are made in a facility that’s dedicated to allergen-free manufacturing, so you can feel assured that there is no cross-contamination of these snack bars out of the package. They’re free from the top 9 major allergens, including peanuts, tree nuts, soy, dairy, wheat and gluten, egg, sesame, fish, and shellfish.
This makes them a great option for a school or day-care birthday treat that’s safe for the kiddos with food allergies and restrictions.
They’re made with organic ingredients
While using organic ingredients doesn’t change the nutrition profile of these bars, it may be a better option for the ecosystem and potentially decrease the amount of pesticides you’re exposed to.
Some research suggests that diets higher in organic foods may be associated with reduced incidences of infertility, birth defects, allergies, pre-eclampsia, metabolic syndrome, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but the evidence is not definitive or clear at this point.
They’re an excellent source of several vitamins
In one granola bar, you’ll find 20% or more of six vitamins, including vitamins A, C, D, E, B6, and thiamin. To get these vitamins and minerals in each bar, Made Good relies on vegetable extracts, not synthetic sources.
They’re a portioned sweet snack
Each package has a 100-calorie bar that can absolutely satisfy a sweet tooth without going overboard. It’s small enough for kids to enjoy, and big enough to feel like a treat for anyone at any age, without an excessive amount of added sugars or calories.
Potential cons
While there are plenty of reasons you may want to give these bars a try, you’ll want to consider these potential drawbacks before adding them to your regular rotation:
They’re low in protein
One granola bar won’t be satisfying enough for a snack on its own, with just 2 grams of protein in each bar. I like to see at least 10 grams of protein in a snack, to help slow down the digestion of carbs and provide longer-lasting energy and satisfaction.
They’re high in added sugars
While there are plenty of granola bars that have more added sugars per bar (like Nutrigrain bars or Belvita bars), you’ll still get over 10% of the recommended daily limit in each bar. And as it’s low in calories, protein, and fiber, it’s unlikely to be very filling or satisfying on its own.
They’re low in fiber
While you’ll find high fiber ingredients like oats, brown rice crisps, and agar, the bars themselves have just 1 gram of fiber, or 4% of the recommended daily value. Fiber helps slow down the release of glucose into your blood for energy and supports digestion and heart health, so I generally look for at least 3 grams of fiber in a healthy snack bar.
How do Made Good bars taste?
As far as flavor goes, Made Good bars aren’t too shabby. I tried the Birthday Cake Drizzle flavor and enjoyed the flavor and sweetness. I expected it to have more of a “birthday cake” flavor, but even without the cake-y essence, it tasted good enough for an enjoyable snack.
How to enjoy Made Good bars as a balanced snack
While I wouldn’t recommend enjoying this granola bar on its own for a balanced snack, thanks to the low protein and fiber and high added sugars, you can easily include it with any of these foods for a healthier snack that will stick with you:
- With a low-fat, sugar-free yogurt
- With a cheese stick
- With a handful of nuts and seeds
- With a glass of soy or dairy milk
- With an apple and peanut butter
- With sliced turkey
Made Good bar alternatives
If you’re looking for a healthy snack bar and don’t think Made Good bars are the ones for you, check out my reviews for these popular options:
Bottom line: Are Made Good bars good for you?
Made Good bars are a decent choice if you need an allergy-friendly, portion-controlled sweet snack. They’re organic, an excellent source of several vitamins, extracted from vegetables, and safe for school lunches or shared treats.
That said, they’re low in protein and fiber and contain added sugars, so they won’t keep you full for long. Think of them more as a fun, safe snack than a nutrient-dense energy bar, and pair them with something higher in protein or fiber if you want staying power.
