Snack, BALANCE, original bar
Whole food · Snacks
Photo: Wikipedia
The BALANCE original bar is a dense, chewy protein bar with a satisfying, slightly sweet flavor profile, often described as a soft, cake-like texture. It's engineered for high protein content, packing 28g per 100g, making it a substantial snack for muscle recovery or meal replacement. With a notable 48.73g of carbohydrates, it provides quick energy, though the sugar content is significant at nearly 35g per 100g.
Calorie split: 27% protein · 47% carbs · 26% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its convenient, no-prep nature and its ability to curb hunger between meals, especially for those with busy lifestyles or fitness goals. Its sweet, dessert-like taste makes it feel like an indulgent treat rather than a strict health food.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The high sugar content (34.89g/100g) can cause blood-sugar spikes, particularly for those with insulin sensitivity or diabetes, and it may not be suitable for low-sugar diets. To mitigate this, pair it with a source of fat or fiber (like nuts or a small salad) to slow sugar absorption, or consume a smaller portion (half a bar) and follow it with a protein-rich meal.
Key benefits
- High protein content (28g/100g) supports muscle repair and satiety.
- Provides a quick energy boost from its carbohydrate-rich formula.
- Convenient, portable format for on-the-go nutrition.
- Contains some dietary fiber (3.1g/100g) for digestive support.
- Offers a balanced macronutrient profile for active individuals.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The BALANCE bar was originally developed in the 1990s as a 'nutritional meal replacement' for athletes and busy professionals, reflecting the era's growing obsession with high-protein, low-fat convenience foods.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 7.8 g |
| Energy | 415 kcal |
| Energy | 1736 kj |
| Protein | 28.0 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 12.0 g |
| Ash | 3.5 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 48.7 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 3.1 g |
| Total Sugars | 34.9 g |
| Starch | 0.85 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 543 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 10.9 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 119 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 465 mg |
| Potassium, K | 678 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 253 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 3.5 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.77 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.71 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 23.3 ug |
| Fluoride, F | 0.10 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 11.2 mg |
| Thiamin | 1.6 mg |
| Riboflavin | 1.7 mg |
| Niacin | 9.0 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.70 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.89 mg |
| Folate, total | 126 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 126 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 126 ug |
| Choline, total | 91.2 mg |
| Betaine | 0.50 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 1.2 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.90 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 1496 ug |
| Retinol | 1495 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 10.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 5000 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 5.8 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 2.4 mg |
| Tocopherol, beta | 0.01 mg |
| Tocopherol, gamma | 0.98 mg |
| Tocopherol, delta | 0.43 mg |
| Tocotrienol, alpha | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, beta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, gamma | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, delta | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 65.0 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 1.6 ug |
| Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) | 1.6 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 1.3 ug |
| Vitamin K (Dihydrophylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 4.0 mg |
| Theobromine | 47.0 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 1.1 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 13:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.03 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.63 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.42 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.05 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 8.1 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 8.0 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.07 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 24:1 c | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 2.0 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 1.8 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.14 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 21:5 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 1.0 mg |
| Phytosterols | 19.0 mg |
| Campesterol | 0.00 mg |
| Beta-sitosterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Snacks, corn-based, extruded, chips, plain — USDA does not publish this profile for Snack.
| Tryptophan | 0.05 g |
| Threonine | 0.25 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.23 g |
| Leucine | 0.80 g |
| Lysine | 0.18 g |
| Methionine | 0.14 g |
| Cystine | 0.12 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.32 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.27 g |
| Valine | 0.33 g |
| Arginine | 0.33 g |
| Histidine | 0.20 g |
| Alanine | 0.49 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.46 g |
| Glutamic acid | 1.2 g |
| Glycine | 0.27 g |
| Proline | 0.57 g |
| Serine | 0.31 g |
FAQ
Is the BALANCE original bar suitable for a low-carb diet?
No, with 48.73g of carbohydrates per 100g, it is high in carbs and not ideal for strict low-carb or ketogenic diets.
How does the sugar content affect its nutritional value?
The 34.89g of sugar per 100g is quite high, which can lead to energy crashes and may not be suitable for those monitoring blood sugar levels.
Can it be used as a meal replacement?
While it provides protein and calories, it lacks the fiber, vitamins, and minerals of a balanced meal, so it's better as a snack or supplement.
What are common allergens in this bar?
It may contain common allergens like soy, nuts, or dairy, depending on the specific formulation; always check the label for allergen information.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 4.15 kcal/g · 27% calories from protein · 3.1 g fiber · 34.9 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.37 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.