SANS Meal Bars: Just the Good Stuff

compose Miles Arbour
time Nov 17, 2020
comment 6

Recently, it seems like there’s been an influx of ‘real’ trailside snacks and bars available. Conscious eating is no longer a fad, and although not everyone is interested in making their own energy bars or foraging for the best mushrooms, it’s nice to know we have options. SANS is one of those.

The California-based food company has made it their mission to produce real food with no added or artificial sugars, chemicals, or ingredients you can’t pronounce, while also addressing the issue of global hunger. The SANS Buy Meals, Give Meals program provides a meal for someone in need every time a pack of their meal bars is sold, an initiative that’s easy to get behind. All of their meal bars are added sugar free, dairy free, soy free, gluten free, and still pack a healthy punch of calories, protein, fat, and carbs. Compared to other bars available, SANS Meal Bars are higher in calories and have more natural fats for a longer burning fuel—perfect for riding bikes all day.

Overall, I’ve been pretty impressed with the SANS Meal Bars. I’ve brought one or two along on nearly every ride in the last couple of weeks and on multiple occasions Emily and I have opted to split a single bar between us. Knowing the ingredients are all real food and there are nearly 400 calories in each bar is satisfying, too.

In terms of taste, they fall somewhere in between a Larabar and a Cliff Bar. They aren’t overly sweet, due to their lack of added sugars, and are softer and less chewy than a Larabar. Although the different flavours have their own unique profile, they have a consistent taste to the point that if you like one type, you’ll probably like all of them—which could be a good or a bad thing. Some people will prefer to mix it up with different trailside nutrition, while others may prefer consistency. They do smell quite delicious and have a fairly moist composition immediately after opening the wrapper, which in my opinion feels more natural than other bars I’ve tried.

Find a breakdown, and photos, of the PB & J, Peanut Butter Cacao, and Coconut Almond Butter SANS Meal Bars below.

SANS Meal Bars PB & J

Ingredients: Peanuts, Dates, Egg Whites, Strawberries, Oats, Flax Seed, Sea Salt, Spinach.

• Calories: 390
• Protein: 15 grams
• Fat: 23 grams
• Carbs: 36 grams
• Place of Manufacture: Los Angeles, USA
• Price: $3.29 – $4.00 USD
• Manufacturer’s Details: SansMealBar.com

SANS Meal Bars Peanut Butter Cacao

Ingredients: Peanuts, Dates, Cacao, Egg Whites, Oats, Cocoa Powder, Flax Seed, Sea Salt, Spinach.

• Calories: 390
• Protein: 15 grams
• Fat: 24 grams
• Carbs: 36 grams
• Place of Manufacture: Los Angeles, USA
• Price: $3.29 – $4.00 USD
• Manufacturer’s Details: SansMealBar.com

SANS Meal Bars Coconut Almond Butter

Ingredients: Almonds, Dates, Coconut, Egg Whites, Oats, Sea Salt, Cinnamon, Spinach, Flax Seed.

• Calories: 380
• Protein: 14 grams
• Fat: 24 grams
• Carbs: 36 grams
• Place of Manufacture: Los Angeles, USA
• Price: $3.29 – $4.00 USD
• Manufacturer’s Details: SansMealBar.com

The bars have a shelf life of five months from the date of production, which is shorter than most of the other bars out there. To offer a comparison, Larabar has a nine-month shelf life and the Patagonia Provision Energy Bars have an eight-month shelf life. Some people claim the ever-popular Cliff bar is still edible after two years, although Cliff does not condone this. The SANS Meal Bars are available as a six-pack for $24, 12-pack for $45, and 24-pack for $79. You can save an additional 10% and get free shipping for subscribing for a delivery every 30 days. Right now, SANS is sending out their two top flavours for free (just cover $3 for shipping / handling) for you to try. Learn more about that here.