Muesli Bars Rated – 2025
15 min reading time
MANDY'S TAKE
“These bars are often promoted as healthy snacks, but when we look a little closer, the nutrition picture tells a different story. While some brands have made strides by reducing additives or including whole food ingredients, many still rely heavily on processed components, added sugars, and low-quality oils. In this review, I’ve rated a variety of Muesli bar products based on their overall nutritional value—highlighting the good, the bad, and the ones to limit. Let’s see how they really stack up!”
BLUE DINOSAUR BANANA BREAD BAR
BEST
“Now we’re talking! Just five ingredients, and I can pronounce them all: coconut, dates, banana, coconut oil, and cinnamon. That’s it! No glucose syrup, no ‘natural flavours’, no preservatives. This is what a real food bar should look like. Yes, it’s high in natural sugars (15.2g per bar) from the dates and banana, and it’s calorie-dense from all that coconut, but at least it’s all from REAL FOOD. Enjoying half a bar in one sitting is an excllent way to navigate the natural sugars. The high fibre content (5.3g per bar) is fantastic – and it actually comes from a wholefood fibre source. This feels like something you could actually make in your kitchen – because you literally could.”
CHIEF NUTRITION COLLAGEN BAR DOUBLE CHOC
GOOD
“This is a protein bar that aims to do it all – and mostly delivers. With 59% cashews, just 3g of sugar, and 14g of protein from a mix of nuts and grass-fed collagen, it’s a nutrient-dense, functional snack. Ingredients like camu camu, MCT oil, and collagen aren’t just buzzwords; they serve real nutritional roles. That said, it lands in our ‘Functional but Not Wholefood’ category due to its use of protein isolates, MCT powder, and fibre additives. It’s a clean, high-performance option for adults. It’s just not an everyday pick for kids. At $5.00, it’s a premium but fair value for what it delivers.”
CARMAN’S PROTEIN BARS PEANUT BUTTER
Good
“Carman’s has gone back to basics with this one – and it works! Just 7 simple ingredients with dates and peanuts doing all the heavy lifting. No glucose syrup in sight! With 30% peanut butter plus extra roasted peanuts, you’re getting real food protein, 6.3g per bar ) and healthy fats. Yes, it’s 12.5g of sugar per bar, but at least it’s natural sugar from the dates with fibre attached. The addition of buckwheat is clever – adds nutrition without the gluten. My only gripe? Those vague ‘natural flavours’. But compared to most protein bars drowning in artificial ingredients, this is refreshingly simple.”
ALL NATURAL BAKERY FRUIT AND NUT OAT SLICES | 100g
GOOD
“This bar is a great example of a homemade-style slice done right — made entirely from wholefood ingredients like organic oats, wholemeal flour, butter, honey, coconut, dried fruit, and almonds, with no additives, emulsifiers, or synthetic sweeteners in sight. It’s a rare find in the commercial snack space and a real win for ingredient integrity. That said, it’s rich and energy-dense, with nearly 17g of sugar and 12g of saturated fat per 100g, making it better suited as a meal replacement bar than a light snack. It’s excellent for athletes or hungry teens who need a satisfying, real food option on the go, but not recommended for adults watching their energy intake.”
KOJA LIGHTLY BAKED OAT BITES
GOOD
“KOJA is one of the few brands genuinely trying to raise the bar – and mostly succeeding. With just 10.9g sugar per 100g, it delivers almost 50% less sugar than most commercial bars, without relying on ultra-processed ingredients or additives. There’s plenty to love: a short, transparent ingredient list, no vegetable oils, no artificial nasties, and real food inclusions like pumpkin seeds (school-friendly), chia seeds, coconut and oats.”
MAYVER'S NATURAL HEALTH BARS SALTED CARAMEL PEANUT BUTTER
GOOD
“This is one of the better bars on supermarket shelves. Unlike most snack bars that rely on refined starches, sweeteners, and additives, this one is built on real, recognisable ingredients that provide fibre, healthy fats, and plant-based protein. It does contain soluble tapioca fibre — a processed ingredient sometimes listed as IMO (isomalto-oligosaccharide), which has been criticised for behaving more like sugar than fibre in the body. “
TASTI MADE SIMPLE FOREST FRUITS
GOOD
“This is exactly the direction I want to see snack foods heading – REAL FOOD! Tasti deserves credit for keeping it simple and wholesome. Yes, it’s sweet and calorie-dense, but it’s from dates, not dodgy syrups. If they could clarify the sulphites situation and perhaps add more nuts for protein, this could be a 5-star product. Brands take note – THIS is how you do better.”
CARMAN'S NUT BARS ALMOND, HAZELNUT & VANILLA
Okay
“This is one of my favourite Carman’s bars! By prioritising nuts over sugar, they’ve created something actually nutritious. The 6g of protein per bar and good fats make this a proper snack, not just empty calories. Yes, I’d prefer dates to glucose, and the 4.9g of sugar per bar could be lower but in the commercial bar world, this is an okay option (and the HSR is actually right on this one). Proof that established brands like Carman’s CAN reformulate and offer okay options.”
CARMAN’S MUESLI BARS CLASSIC FRUIT AND NUT
Okay
“This bar is built on a base of whole grains, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit (making up around 67%), a welcome shift from the syrup-laden, ultra-processed bars that dominate supermarket shelves. While it contains a solid amount of real food, it still relies on added sweetness from golden syrup and glucose, and contains vegetable and sunflower oil – refined industrial seed oils. “
NICE AND NATURAL PROTEIN NUT BARS SALTED CARAMEL WITH SUPERSEEDS 5 PACK
Okay
“This bar is built on a strong wholefood foundation — with 80% of the ingredients coming from nuts and seeds. It delivers protein and fibre, with relatively low sugar per serve. However, the addition of soy protein isolate,inulin, glucose syrup, maltodextrin, sunflower oil and glycerine push it into the processed protein bar category. It’s a better option than most high-protein snacks on shelf, but still not a wholefood product. An Okay (if you must) on-the-go choice for active adults, but not ideal for kids or daily use without cleaner formulation.”
FRUIT-FREE PREMIUM MUESLI BARS – ALDI
Okay
“With 50% oats, some added nuts and seeds, and a 4.5 Health Star Rating, this bar may seem like a smart, budget-friendly choice — and in many ways, it is a step up from the highly artificial bars on supermarket shelves. It doesn’t contain the usual list of synthetic additives and preservatives,which is a welcome change.”
FRUIT AND NUT PREMIUM MUESLI BARS
Okay
“With 46% oats, some nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and a 4 Health Star Rating, this bar may seem like a smart choice. But don’t let the rating mislead you.The second and third ingredeint are glucose syrup and refined vegetable oil, and invert sugar syrup is also listed high on the ingredients panel.”
NOSHU LOW CARB CHERRY & COCONUT INDULGENCE BARS
LIMIT
“This bar positions itself as a functional food; low-carb, high-fibre, sugar-free, but it doesn’t live up to the promise. It has 34g of fibre per 100g, which comes from four isolated sources: isomalto-oligosaccharides, polydextrose, chicory root fibre, and soluble corn fibre — a combination that may cause bloating and digestive upset, particularly in children.”
NOSHU LOW CARB CHOC MINT INDULGENCE BARS 5 PACK
LIMIT
“This bar is a highly engineered product designed to achieve low-sugar claims by substituting real sugar with a cocktail of synthetic fibres and sugar alcohols. The protein content is artificially inflated with soy protein isolate, while fibre is boosted with multiple synthetic bulking agents like polydextrose, inulin and resistant maltodextrin. Despite its glossy coating and high-fibre claims, this is not a real food bar — it belongs firmly in the ultra-processed snack category and is best limited, especially for children.”
COLES MUESLI BARS STRAWBERRY YOGHURT TOP
LIMIT
“Coles’ budget-friendly bar follows a predictable pattern: decent wholegrain content (46%) overshadowed by ultra-processing. The 17% ‘yoghurt compound’ coating reveals the real story; it’s mostly sugar and palm oil dressed up as dairy. With glucose listed as the second ingredient, followed by sugar in the coating, invert syrup, and more added sugars, this is classic sugar-stacking, adding up to a hefty 24g per 100g.”
UNCLE TOBYS PROTEIN CARAMEL AND DARK CHOCOLATE MUESLI BARS SCHOOL LUNCHBOX
LIMIT
“With a 4.5 Health Star Rating and claims of high protein and fibre, this Uncle Tobys bar appears to be a nutritious, high-performance snack. But when we examine the ingredient list — not just the macros — a very different picture emerges.With a 4.5 Health Star Rating and claims of high protein and fibre, this Uncle Tobys bar appears to be a nutritious, high-performance snack. But when we examine the ingredient list, not just the macros, a very different picture emerges.The second ingredient is glucose syrup, followed by soy protein isolate, an ultra-processed ingredient commonly used to artificially boost protein claims.“
MOTHER EARTH CHOCOLATE CHIP OATY SLICE
LIMIT
“At first glance, this bar looks more promising than most. It’s refreshing to see real butter instead of vegetable oils, and it contains some wholegrains. These choices suggest a more thoughtful formulation, and that’s something we don’t see often. But things quickly take a turn. Nearly one-third of this bar is sugar — with both invert syrup and brown sugar appearing early in the ingredient list. Combine that with low protein (just 8.4g per 100g) and the presence of a high-concern additive (sodium metabisulphite), and the initial wholefood impression fades fast. Not one I’d recommend as an everyday snack for children or anyone trying to stabilise blood sugar and avoid unnecessary additives.”
UNCLE TOBYS MUESLI BARS YOGHURT & STRAWBERRY
LIMIT
“This bar’s 4-star health rating is a textbook example of how the current system misleads families. Yes, it contains 34% oats and 10.5g fibre (per 100g) — but look closer: just 1% real strawberry, ultra-processed yoghurt compound, and six different sweeteners (sugar, glucose, invert sugar, honey, glycerine, and berry juice concentrate). Add in vegetable oil, food acid, and multiple emulsifiers, and it’s clear this is no real food snack.”
UNCLE TOBYS MUESLI BARS CHEWY APRICOT
LIMIT
“At 8% apricot, this bar contains more real fruit than most in its category. But there are four added sweeteners, glucose, invert sugar, honey, and sugar (mentioned twice). Add to that processed wheat, vegetable oil, modified starch, glycerine, emulsifier, and sulphites in the apricots, and you’re left with a bar designed more for shelf life than wholefood nutrition.Despite earning a 4.5 Health Star Rating, this is still firmly in ultra-processed territory — a good example of how the HSR system ignores overall food processing and ingredient quality. I would not recommend this bar as an everyday option for kids or anyone with asthma or respiratory issues and gut sensitivities.”
WOOLWORTHS MUESLI BARS YOGHURT AND STRAWBERRY 8 PACK
LIMIT
“This bar carries a 4-star Health Star Rating, which gives the impression it’s a smart, wholesome snack, especially for kids. But a closer look tells a different story. The “strawberry yoghurt” branding is misleading: the yoghurt coating is a processed mix of sugar, hydrogenated palm oil, whey powder, and emulsifiers, and the actual strawberry content is a mere 0.8%, made up of concentrated apple and strawberry purées plus added sugars, flavourings, and humectants.“
COLES MUESLI BARS CHOCOLATE CHIPS 8 PACK
LIMIT
“This bar earns a 4-star Health Star Rating, which is frankly disappointing given what it’s made from. While the branding is relatively honest; it doesn’t pretend to be a high-protein health food or a fruit-filled snack — the formulation is built on glucose, invert syrup, palm oil, and compound chocolate, with multiple added sugars and ultra-processed additives.“
COLES JOYFUL BERRY AND WHITE CHOC BAKED BARS 5 PACK | 150g
LIMIT
“At first glance, this bar might seem like a better option — it’s low in sugar, high in fibre, and features coconut and seeds upfront. But the “no added sugar” claim is misleading, with sweetness coming from maltitol and isomalt — synthetic sweeteners known to cause digestive discomfort, especially in children. It also contains sulphur dioxide, a preservative, alongside a long list of refined flours, isolated fibres, thickeners, humectants, and emulsifiers.“
BLUEY FANCY FRUIT
LIMIT
“Bluey’s Fancy Fruit Bar might seem like a healthier choice thanks to its cute branding and a 4-star Health Star Rating (HSR). But don’t be fooled. Behind the cheerful packaging is a bar built on ultra-processed sugars, refined oils, additives, and fibre fillers. While it does contain whole grains and a small amount of fruit, the reality is it’s much closer to a confectionery snack than a real food option. It’s a classic example of how the HSR system can mislead parents.“
NATURE VALLEY Protein SalteD Caramel Nut
LIMIT
This product highlights the disconnect between marketing and ingredient quality. It contains some fibre and whole oats, but that’s overshadowed by multiple added sweeteners, synthetic fibres, and ultra-processed components. The 2-star rating reflects these concerns. It’s not the worst on shelves, but it’s far from real food.
RAFFERTY’S GARDEN BABY FOOD BLUEBERRY, BANANA AND APPLE SNACK BARS
Avoid
“This bar is clearly marketed to parents of toddlers, with its fruity name and soft texture — but it’s far from toddler-appropriate. It contains over 30% sugar, multiple forms of added sweeteners (glucose, dextrose, sugar, caramelised sugar), refined wheat flour, and a range of ultra-processed additives. There’s minimal protein, low fibre, and almost none of the wholefood integrity that’s essential for children in their early developmental years.”
MILO ORIGINAL BARS SCHOOL LUNCHBOX SNACKS
Avoid
“Despite its sporty branding and familiar name, the original MILO Bar is far from a real food snack. It receives a 4-star Health Star Rating, yet it’s built on glucose, invert sugar, maltodextrin, refined oils, and synthetic additives like sorbitol (420) and added flavour — all red flags for ultra-processing. While it contains some fibre and protein, these benefits are overshadowed by a long list of industrial ingredients and sweeteners.”
ALDI – MUESLI BARS CHEWY CHOC CHIP
Avoid
“With a 4-star Health Star Rating and over 50% wholegrains, this bar appears to be a healthy everyday option. And yes, it does contain oats and a decent fibre content (12.7g per 100g). But a closer look reveals a highly engineered product wrapped in a health halo.”
ALDI – YOGHURT HILLCREST MUESLI BARS
Avoid
“This muesli bar might look wholesome with its “wholegrains” and “fruit” claims, and even carries a 4-star Health Star Rating, but a closer look reveals an ultra-processed product loaded with sweeteners, synthetic additives including emulsifiers and preservatives, and other industrial ingredients. The yoghurt drizzle isn’t real yoghurt — it’s mostly sugar and hydrogenated palm oil. The so-called “strawberry pieces” are made from fruit concentrates and flavourings.”
NESTLÉ MILO DIPPED SNACK BARS WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE
Avoid
“This bar highlights how both food brands and the Health Star Rating system are failing families. Despite its 3.5-star rating, it lists sugar nine times, including sugar, glucose, invert sugar, maltodextrin, and a choc malt blend. This is deliberate sugar-stacking designed to prevent sugar from appearing as the first ingredient. This can be viewed as a misleading marketing tactic designed to fool consumers. I recommend avoiding it as a healthy on-the-go or post-sport snack bar, especially for children and health-conscious families seeking real food options from the supermarket.”
KELLOGG'S NUTRI GRAIN BARS ORIGINAL
AVOID
“At first glance, Nutri-Grain Bars might appear to be a convenient, protein-rich snack, especially with a name like “Nutri.” But a closer look reveals that over a third of this bar is made up of sugar, with six different added sugars contributing to a total of 37.6g per 100g. That puts it closer to a chocolate bar than the “sports fuel” the marketing suggests. This is a highly ultra-processed product, and a clear example of health-washing: sounding nutritious while delivering very little real nourishment. It’s not a bar I’d recommend for children — or for anyone trying to fuel their day with balanced, sustaining whole foods.”
KELLOGG'S LCMS KALEIDOS RICE BUBBLES SNACK BARS
AVOID
“With nearly 40% sugar, ultra-processed ingredients, and virtually no nutritional benefit, this product earns one of our lowest possible ratings. While it may look colourful and convenient, it’s essentially a sugary cereal bar disguised as a child-friendly snack. The only redeeming feature is the use of natural colours, but that doesn’t outweigh the potential harm of marketing this kind of product as a lunchbox option for kids. In fact, it contains less protein and fibre than even high-sugar breakfast cereals like Coco Pops or Froot Loops.”
KELLOGG’S K-TIME BAKED TWISTS RASPBERRY AND APPLE FLAVOUR FILLED SNACK BARS
