Luna Bar review summary: At 48 g per bar, Luna Bar LemonZest provides 190 calories, 8g of protein, 6 g of fat, and 28 g of carbohydrates, of which 9 g are from added sugar. Made with natural, gluten-free ingredients, the energy bar provides dietary fiber and a wide range of essential minerals. It has a tart, refreshing flavor that nicely balances the sweetness. The texture is soft and chewy, making it easy to eat on the go.
I wouldn’t categorize Luna Bar LemonZest energy bar as healthy, and I doubt any serious nutritionist would either. Yet, Luna, a sub-brand of Clif Bar & Company, is one of my favorites when going the distance in the great outdoors.
I consider myself a clean eater. But I also understand that all healthy all the time gets dull. I’m not a professional athlete, and definitely not aiming for single-digit body fat. So while discipline is excellent, I permit myself a little snacky-snack from time to time.
Everyone gets sugar cravings, so a nutrition or energy bar that hits the spot and, on paper, is better than junk food is a reasonable concession.
This is how I would describe Luna Bars:
I know they’re processed foods and can’t be considered healthy, but they do provide some nutritional value when I use them as fuel. Plus, they taste damn good! I don’t feel as guilty as eating junk food even though they’re borderline candy bars.
Luna Bars come in ten flavors, according to the brand’s website. Below is a Luna Bar review based on the LemonZest flavor.
Marketing claims – what are Luna Bars?
- A Luna Bar has around 180-210 calories, with 7-8 g protein and 3-4 g fiber.
- They are gluten-free, contain zero trans fat, and have no high fructose corn syrup.
- Primarily marketed to women, but that’s just marketing. Men can eat them too.
- Luna Bars contain plant-based protein (soy), and most flavors provide a good source of fiber.
- No ingredients are genetically engineered.
Although the company wrote an article explaining why it doesn’t use the word “healthy” in its marketing assets, it’s clear that the brand is attempting to claim that the bars are somewhat healthy without explicitly saying they’re healthy.
What are the ingredients of Luna Bars?
Here are the ingredients list and nutritional facts of Luna Bar LemonZest.
At 48 g per bar, the energy bar provides 190 calories, 8 g of protein, 6 g of fat, and 28 g of carbohydrates, of which 9 g are from added sugar. Other nutrients include 3 g of dietary fiber, iron, potassium, vitamin E, phosphorus, and magnesium.
The list is long but includes many ingredients from organic sources. With so many vegetable oils and syrups, I’m pleasantly surprised that the bar only contains 9 g of total sugar and 3 g of saturated fat, both on par with Larabar, an option with much simpler ingredients.
What are the taste and consistency of Luna Bars?
This area is where I give Luna Bars high marks. In addition to LemonZest, I’ve tried several of their flavors in the past and found them all delicious.
The LemonZest flavor is one of my favorites, offering a refreshing tartness to balance the bar’s sweetness. The texture is soft and chewy, just right for consumption on the move, whether running, hiking, riding, or other outdoor activities.
I do trail ultras, so solid foods that are convenient, easy to consume, and energy-packed are paramount. On these adventures, I’m not so worried about the healthiness of my fuel since I will burn everything I put into my body.
It’s the same reason that you’ll see ultra runners that are super health-conscious slam down an entire bottle of coke while racing in the mountains – anything that hits the spot and whatever it takes to get the legs churning. When going the distance, selecting the right kind of fuel could be the difference between race completion or a DNF.
When should you eat Luna Bar?
Besides long outdoor adventures, as mentioned above, Luna Bars can obviously serve as a daily snack. On paper, they’re not as bad as straight-up junk foods, but eating them daily is definitely not a healthy habit.
As an energy fuel for pre- and mid-exercise or a quick recovery snack post-workout, they’re good options.
Conclusion
At 48 g per bar, Luna Bar LemonZest provides 190 calories, 8 g of protein, 6 g of fat, and 28 g of carbohydrates, of which 9 g are from added sugar. It also provides dietary fiber and a wide range of essential minerals. The bar is made with natural ingredients and is gluten-free.
LemonZest is tart and refreshing and complements the sweetness. The texture is soft and chewy, making it easy to eat on the go.
It is a great snack option for those looking for an energy-packed and flavorful energy fuel for outdoor activities.
