Boasting of natural ingredients, they may seem like a more nutritious alternative to sweet treats when you’re feeling a bit peckish.
But if you’re looking to watch your weight, it might be worth thinking twice before reaching for a so-called ‘healthy’ snack bar – as many have more sugar in them than chocolate.
Research by the Daily Mail found some fruit and nut bars have more calories than a Crunchie chocolate bar. And products such as Nakd fruit and nut nibbles contain more sugar than a bag of Maltesers.
While you might think you are opting for a healthy option by choosing a Love Raw almond and coconut bar, it contains 18.5g of sugar – almost as much as a Cadbury’s Flake.
Comparison: How chocolate treats and ‘healthy’ snacks compare with each other
Nutritionist Jenny Rosborough, of campaign group Action on Sugar, said: ‘These figures are a reminder that the marketing of food products can be misleading or confusing.
‘When it comes to sugar, remember that honey, syrups and fruit juice concentrates are classified as “free sugars”, which we should aim to consume less of.
‘All manufacturers should include clear, colour-coded front of pack nutrition labelling and should produce and promote healthier options that are lower in sugar, salt and saturated fat and higher in fibre.’
A survey by YouGov for snack brand The Food Doctor found that nearly half of the 1,113 women questioned had been confused by conflicting messages about healthy eating.
Healthy? Nakd fruit and nut nibbles contain more sugar than a bag of Maltesers
Chocolate sweets: Maltesers contain 19.1g of sugar and 186 calories
Fiona Hunter, an independent nutritionist from London, said: ‘The worst offenders are power balls and cereal bars, which contain what people believe are healthy alternatives to sugar – for example, honey maple syrup. The truth is that these ingredients are no healthier than regular sugar.’
Miss Hunter, who was nutrition editor of Good Housekeeping Magazine, said the best snacking alternatives are almonds, oatcakes with hummus and apple slices with peanut butter. She said other options are fresh fruit, a boiled egg or a pot of yoghurt.
Action on Sugar says the maximum recommended sugar consumption is 5 per cent of your daily energy intake – 30g, or seven teaspoons, for adults.
Natural Balance, which makes Nakd bars, said: ‘We take a wholefood approach with our products which means using natural ingredients with minimal processing.’