RX BARs are one of the most popular health bars on the market, but are they are healthy as they claim? We’re looking at the nutrition, benefits, and potential cons to answer the question “Are RX Bars healthy?” once and for all!
There are countless protein, snack, and fiber bars on the market, taking up most of a grocery store aisle, and endless more options online. RX Bars have been around for years and have become one of the most popular healthy, whole-food bars.
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Their claim to fame is having as few ingredients as possible and using only natural ingredients like nuts, dates, and egg whites to bulk up the protein and flavor. But, over the years, some people have questioned ingredients like natural flavors and nutrients like sugar on the label.
In this article, we’re looking at the nutrition facts of RX Bars, diving deep into the various ingredients used, learning about the potential health benefits these bars offer, and any considerations you may want to think about before enjoying this protein-rich, whole-food snack bar.
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Nutrition Facts
There are currently 10 flavors of RX Protein Bars, including chocolate chip, chocolate coconut, vanilla almond, strawberry, chocolate sea salt, peanut butter, peanut butter chocolate, blueberry, mixed berry, and mint chocolate.
The nutrient range for RXBAR protein bars is:
- Calories: 180 to 210 calories.
- Protein: 12 grams
- Fat: 6 to 9 grams
- Carbohydrates: 22 to 24 grams
- Fiber: 3 to 6 grams
- Sugars: 13 to 18 grams
- Added sugars: 0 grams.
Ingredients in RX Bars
While the different flavors contain various ingredients like fruit, chocolate, or coconut, these are the primary ingredients you’ll find in RX protein bars.
Egg Whites
Instead of using protein powders, the RXBAR gets its protein from egg whites, aligning with its mission of using whole food ingredients. According to RXBAR, the egg whites are pasteurized, which kills any potential bacteria, and then dried into a powder to be used in the bars.
Egg whites are a good protein source, with the white of one egg providing 4 grams of protein. Most RX Bars say they use 3 egg whites, which would account for the 12 grams of protein in each bar.
Dates
Dates are known as nature’s candy with their sweet taste and chewy texture. RX Bars use dates as a natural sweetener, which adds natural sugars along with plenty of fiber.
Cashews
RX bars often use cashews to add texture, flavor, and a little crunch to their bars. Cashews are also a good source of monounsaturated fats and protein.
Almonds
You’ll see little slivers of almonds in most RX bars as well. Almonds are rich in vitamin E, magnesium, and monounsaturated fats.
Natural Flavors
There have been some questions about the safety of the natural flavors used in RX bars, to which they promptly released and video explaining exactly where they get their natural flavor from. Natural flavors can come from plant or animal products, but RXBAR assures us that the natural flavors they use are all from plant extracts, which help enhance the various flavored bars.
Dried Fruit
Fruit like cranberries, blueberries, and strawberries are dried and added to the various bars to enhance the flavor.
Cocoa, Chocolate, and Peanut Butter
Depending on the flavor, you’ll find cocoa powder, chocolate chunks, or peanut butter added to the bars. These ingredients may add additional fat and calories, but no added sugars.
Rx Bar Health Benefits
To decide if RX Bars are actually healthy, let’s look at some of the potential health benefits these bars offer.
They’re High in Protein
Every RXBAR has 12 grams of protein, which makes it a good snack for keeping you full and helping you reach your protein goals. Many protein bars use powders like whey or soy to increase the protein, which could cause digestive upset in people who are sensitive. Since RX bars use egg whites as their protein source and skip the powders, they may be better tolerated by some.
They Have No Added Sugars
While the bars do have between 13 and 18 grams of sugar, none of it is added. Some may argue that that’s too much sugar, but as a registered dietitian, I disagree. Using dates as the natural sweetener also adds a good amount of fiber and nutrients, making it a good addition to these bars. Sure, the nuts and fruit also add some fiber, but a good portion of the 3 to 6 grams of fiber comes from the dates.
They’re High in Fiber
RXBAR makes the high fiber bar list with at least 3 grams of fiber in every bar. With ingredients like dates, almonds, and dried fruit, each bar has at least 10 percent of your daily fiber needs.
They’re Made with Whole Foods
While RXBAR is packaged, it’s made with whole food ingredients, which is a major selling point for many people. There are no artificial flavors or sweeteners, which may not agree with some people, and you won’t find any preservatives either.
They’re Gluten-Free
While there’s nothing wrong with eating gluten for most people, those who have celiac disease or who are sensitive to gluten will love that all RX Bars are gluten-free.
Potential Cons of Rx Bars
Some Are High in Sodium
While most flavors have less than 10 percent of the daily value (DV) for sodium, the peanut butter chocolate bar has 14% DV of sodium and the peanut butter bar has 13% DV of sodium. If you’re monitoring your sodium intake, remember that these flavors can contribute to a significant portion of your daily needs.
They’re A Little Pricey
If you’re on a tighter food budget, RXBAR could be a little steep in price. On Amazon, a variety pack of 10 bars costs $23.49, or $2.35 per bar. I typically see them for around $2.50 per bar when buying in-store individually. This isn't the most expensive protein bar on the market, but it’s not cheap either.
This may mean that eating them every day isn’t possible, but stashing some in your purse or office for when you need an occasional quick snack is better on the budget.
They’re Very Chewy
Ok, this one is a personal preference, but for me, I have to be in the right mood to eat an RXBAR. I love the flavor, especially the coconut chocolate and vanilla almond, but they have a very chewy, stick-to-your-teeth texture. If you have dental concerns or wear braces, these may not be the best choice for you.
How to Choose a Healthy Snack Bar
If you want a bar to keep you full and satisfied and help you reach your health goals, here are a few things I like to look for:
- Around 200 calories. If you’re eating this bar as a snack with the intention of keeping you full between meals, I like to see a range of 160-220 calories. For most people, this is enough to give you the energy you need until your next meal and will help you stay satisfied for at least a couple of hours.
- At least 3 grams of fiber. To reach your daily fiber goal of 14 grams per 1,000 calories eaten, your snack bar should have at least 10% of your needs.
- At least 10 grams of protein. Protein is another nutrient some of us consistently fall short on. Eating protein regularly throughout the day helps with stabilizing energy, muscle growth, and can help you feel full longer after you’ve eaten.
- Low in added sugars. Added sugars bring nothing to the table except sugar and calories. While this isn’t the worst thing when eaten in moderation, I like to save my added sugars for sweet treats I can really enjoy. For a snack bar, I’d rather see the sweetness come from whole food ingredients like dried fruit, which have the added benefit of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
For another snack bar option, read my review of KIND Bars, Clif Bars, or GoMacro Bars.
The Bottom Line: Are RX Bars Healthy?
RXBAR is an overall healthy snack bar that can be a good addition to your stash of snacks at home, in your car, in your bag, or at work. Each bar has 12 grams of protein, at least 3 grams of fiber and is made from whole-food ingredients. Whether RXBAR is a good choice for you depends on your unique health goals and preferences.
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