Anything with nuts and chocolate, as far as I’m concerned. Here are my three favorites—but be warned that I use the word “energy” loosely.
Halo ($1.59 per 1.7 oz bar; theprobar.com) is a new offering from the makers of ProBar. Designed more as a between-meal snack than as an exercise bar, the Halo comes in four flavors: Honey Graham, Nutty Marshmallow, Rocky Road, and S’mores. Sound decadent? It is. But the Halo bar is also organic, all-natural, and low in sugar, so you feel a clean burn. My favorite is Rocky Road, with peanut butter, chocolate chips, and, yes, vegan marshmallows.
Kind’s new Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate and Protein bar ($2; kindsnacks.com) is 1.4 ounces of pure energy. With seven grams of protein and anti-oxidant-rich dark chocolate, you get the best of all worlds: a natural, sweet and salty kickstart during the mid-afternoon doldrums.
If you ask me, it’s a good thing Marabou’s Swedish Mjölk Choklad bar ($4 per 100 gram bar; igourmet.com) is hard to find in the U.S. This creamy milk chocolate bar with slight hint of caramel has been a staple in Sweden since the 1950s. It’s the energy bar you want on those days when the anti-oxidant content of your chocolate isn’t so important.