Healthy Food Guideby KarbCoach

Balance Bar

Is Balance Bar Nutrition Energy Bar, Dark Chocolate healthy?

Nutrition Energy Bar, Dark Chocolate

Snacks · Updated 2026-10-17

Longevity Score

58/100

Food Integrity Score

38/100

Consider Avoiding

At least one major score is weak enough that many people will want a clearer alternative for regular use.

Quick answer

Consider Avoiding

Balance Bar nutrition energy bar, dark chocolate is rated consider avoiding overall, with a Longevity Score of 58 out of 100 and a Food Integrity Score of 38 out of 100. Protein-forward bar with fiber, but built on multiple sugars, refined starches, palm kernel and sunflower oils, and several additives. Strengths include 13g protein per bar, about 4g fiber from chicory root and cocoa, and fortified with calcium and vitamins, while main considerations include sugar-led formula: sugar, syrups, and maltodextrin, palm kernel and sunflower oils; saturated fat 4g, and protein isolates and multiple additives indicate processing.

Longevity Score 58/100Food Integrity Score 38/100

What helped the score?

  • 13g protein per bar
  • About 4g fiber from chicory root and cocoa
  • Fortified with calcium and vitamins

What held the score back?

  • Sugar-led formula: sugar, syrups, and maltodextrin
  • Palm kernel and sunflower oils; saturated fat 4g
  • Protein isolates and multiple additives indicate processing

Ingredients

Ingredient list

SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, INVERT EVAPORATED CANE SYRUP, SUGAR, TAPIOCA SYRUP, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), FRACTIONATED PALM KERNEL OIL, CHICORY ROOT FIBER, UNSWEETENED CHOCOLATE, SUNFLOWER OIL, WATER, CASEIN, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE, TAPIOCA STARCH, CALCIUM CASEINATE, NATURAL FLAVOR, SOY LECITHIN, SALT, MALTODEXTRIN, WHEY., VITAMINS AND MINERALS: CALCIUM CARBONATE, CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, ASCORBIC ACID, ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL ACETATE, VITAMIN A ACETATE, CHOLECALCIFEROL.

Formulations can vary — check the package label for the final word.

Key nutrition

Per serving: 45 g (1 bar)

  • Calories1809% DV
  • Protein13g26% DV
  • Total Carbs20g7% DV
  • Fiber4g14% DV
  • Total Fat6g8% DV
  • Saturated Fat4g20% DV
Source data, GTIN, and Healthy Food Guide analysis details

Product facts

Product
Balance Bar Nutrition Energy Bar, Dark Chocolate
Category
Snacks (source: Snack, Energy & Granola Bars)
GTIN / UPC
00750049180163
Serving size
45 g (1 bar)
Source data — ingredients
Ingredient list from product label data (see Sources)
Healthy Food Guide analysis
Independent Longevity and Food Integrity scorecards. See methodology under Sources.
Data last verified

How this product may fit different goals

The same food can look different depending on what matters most to you. Here is a general preview of how this product may align with several common goals.

  • Low-Spike Stability

    Mixed

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing Low-Spike Stability, the same nutrition and ingredient data show both supportive signals and tradeoffs.

    A tradeoff: Higher sugar (12g)

    This product has 3 additional signals for this goal.

    See more for this goal

  • Heart-Healthy Eating

    Mixed

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing Heart-Healthy Eating, the same nutrition and ingredient data show both supportive signals and tradeoffs.

    A tradeoff: Higher saturated fat (4g)

    This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.

    See more for this goal

  • GLP-1 Eating Support

    Mixed

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing GLP-1 Eating Support, the same nutrition and ingredient data show both supportive signals and tradeoffs.

    A tradeoff: Higher sugar (12g)

    This product has 2 additional signals for this goal.

    See more for this goal

  • Low Sugar Lifestyle

    Mixed

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing Low Sugar Lifestyle, the same nutrition and ingredient data show both supportive signals and tradeoffs.

    A tradeoff: Higher sugar (12g)

    This product has 3 additional signals for this goal.

    See more for this goal

  • Appetite & Portion Awareness

    Mixed

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing Appetite & Portion Awareness, the same nutrition and ingredient data show both supportive signals and tradeoffs.

    A tradeoff: Higher sugar (12g)

    This product has 2 additional signals for this goal.

    See more for this goal

  • Athletic Fueling

    Watch-outs

    Athletic Performance

    For someone prioritizing Athletic Fueling, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Carbohydrate is almost entirely sugar (12g of 20g carbs)

    See more for this goal

See how this product fits your goals

Choose what matters most to you and explore a more detailed interpretation of this product's nutrition, ingredients, and tradeoffs.

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Common questions about this product

Is Balance Bar Nutrition Energy Bar, Dark Chocolate highly processed?

Food Integrity lists processing level as Ultra-processed. That reflects formulation and processing signals from the ingredient analysis — not a medical or regulatory classification.

Why are the Longevity and Food Integrity scores different?

Longevity emphasizes nutrition per serving and longer-term dietary alignment. Food Integrity emphasizes ingredients, additives, processing, and label transparency. The same product can score differently on those lenses.

How much fiber is in one serving?

Balance Bar Nutrition Energy Bar, Dark Chocolate shows about 4.01g of fiber per labeled serving in the Longevity nutrition facts.

Does it contain added sugar?

Balance Bar Nutrition Energy Bar, Dark Chocolate: 12g added sugar per serving; sweetener signals include Invert evaporated cane syrup, Sugar. Confirm the current package Nutrition Facts and ingredient list.

What helped the Longevity Score?

Key positives called out in the analysis include: 13g protein per bar; About 4g fiber from chicory root and cocoa; Fortified with calcium and vitamins.

What prevented a perfect Longevity Score?

Key concerns noted include: Sugar-led formula: sugar, syrups, and maltodextrin; Palm kernel and sunflower oils; saturated fat 4g; Protein isolates and multiple additives indicate processing.

Who might evaluate this product differently?

People prioritizing different goals (for example lower carbs, higher protein, or minimally processed eating) may weigh the same snacks differently. Use the goal preview on this page, then personalize in KarbCoach for your priorities.

Other published analyses in Snacks, selected from the same Healthy Food Guide catalog.

Source data and Healthy Food Guide analysis

  1. Public label databases (including USDA FoodData Central and Open Food Facts) — Possible sources for package ingredients and nutrition.
  2. Healthy Food Guide analysis (Longevity and Food Integrity) — Independent Longevity and Food Integrity scorecards.
  3. How the Longevity Score is calculated
  4. How the Food Integrity Score is calculated
  5. Scoring models: KarbCoach Longevity and Food Integrity.
  6. Independent analysis. No manufacturer affiliation.
  7. Formulations can vary by region, size, and packaging. Check the package label for ingredients, allergens, and nutrition. Not medical advice — do not use this site or the KarbCoach mobile app for allergy or health decisions. Full sources and safety details.
Label accuracy and safety information

Formulations can vary by region, size, and packaging. Check the package label for ingredients, allergens, and nutrition. Not medical advice — do not use this site or the KarbCoach mobile app for allergy or health decisions.

Sources, citations & safety

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