Nature's Bakery Whole Wheat Fig Bars

If you grew up on Fig Newtons like I did, Nature's Bakery hits that same nostalgic note - but with ingredients I can actually feel good about packing in a lunchbox.

Let's compare what we're dealing with. Traditional Fig Newtons contain high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavor, and partially hydrogenated oils (in some formulations). Nature's Bakery Fig Bars contain: Stone Ground Whole Wheat Flour, Cane Sugar, Fig Paste, Brown Rice Syrup, Oat Fiber, Canola Oil, Glycerin, Sea Salt, Baking Soda, Natural Flavor.

No HFCS. No artificial flavors. No hydrogenated oils. Real figs. The "natural flavor" gives me slight pause, but the company confirms these are derived from actual food sources.

Each twin-pack bar delivers:

• Calories: 200
• Sugar: 10g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 2g
• Whole grains: 8g

That 10g of sugar is my primary concern. It's less than many snacks (some granola bars hit 12-14g), but it's not minimal. The sugar comes from cane sugar, brown rice syrup, and the figs themselves - no HFCS, but still sugar. The 3g fiber from whole wheat and oat fiber provides some balance, helping slow sugar absorption.

These bars are soft, chewy, and genuinely tasty. My kids actually prefer them to name-brand Fig Newtons - the texture is more consistent and the fig filling tastes like actual fruit rather than candy. The individually wrapped twin-packs are lunchbox-perfect: easy to grab, not too big, don't crumble.

Flavor variety is a plus. Beyond original fig, there's Blueberry, Raspberry, Apple Cinnamon, and Strawberry. All use real fruit in the filling. My kids rotate through flavors without getting tired of them.

Durability is excellent. These don't melt in hot lunchboxes, don't get stale quickly, and survive backpack chaos. I've found forgotten bars months later that were still edible (though I don't recommend that timeline).

At $6.99 for a 12-count box (~$0.58 per twin-pack), Nature's Bakery offers solid value. You can find bulk packs at Costco for even better unit pricing. Compare to Once Upon a Farm at $1.75/bar or RXBAR Kids at $1.25/bar - this is everyday-affordable.

For 180 school days, you're looking at $104.40 annually per kid. That's sustainable for most family budgets.

Nature's Bakery bars contain wheat (obviously) and are manufactured in a facility that processes tree nuts, peanuts, soy, and milk. This means they're NOT safe for nut-free schools in most cases, and families managing serious allergies should be cautious about cross-contamination.

For our household without severe allergies, this isn't an issue. But if your school has strict policies, check before packing these.

Nature's Bakery Fig Bars are the everyday workhorse. They're not the cleanest option (that's Once Upon a Farm), not the most protein-packed (RXBAR Kids), and not the most allergen-friendly (MadeGood). But they're affordable, tasty, practical, and significantly cleaner than conventional alternatives.

Think of these as the "good enough daily driver" - not perfect, but genuinely better than what most kids are eating, at a price that doesn't break the bank.

Sugar content (10g): Moderate but not minimal. If sugar is your primary concern, look at Once Upon a Farm (3g) or RXBAR Kids (5g).

Allergen facility: Processed with tree nuts, peanuts, soy, milk. Not for severe allergy households or strict nut-free schools.

Whole wheat texture: Some kids prefer the lighter texture of white flour products. Mine don't mind, but taste preferences vary.

Brown rice syrup: While not HFCS, brown rice syrup is still an added sugar. It's a step up, not perfection.

Families seeking a practical, affordable upgrade from conventional fig bars. Parents who want cleaner ingredients without premium pricing. Kids who enjoy fig-filled soft bars and need reliable lunchbox snacks.

Families at nut-free schools or managing severe allergies. Parents prioritizing minimal sugar above all else. Those seeking high-protein options for after-school sustenance.

Nature's Bakery Fig Bars earn a solid recommendation as the everyday lunchbox staple. They're the practical middle ground: cleaner than conventional, affordable enough for daily use, and genuinely enjoyed by kids. The 10g sugar keeps them from top-tier status, but for a $0.58 snack that upgrades the classic fig newton, these deliver real value.

If you grew up on Fig Newtons like I did, Nature's Bakery hits that same nostalgic note - but with ingredients I can actually feel good about packing in a lunchbox.

Let's compare what we're dealing with. Traditional Fig Newtons contain high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavor, and partially hydrogenated oils (in some formulations). Nature's Bakery Fig Bars contain: Stone Ground Whole Wheat Flour, Cane Sugar, Fig Paste, Brown Rice Syrup, Oat Fiber, Canola Oil, Glycerin, Sea Salt, Baking Soda, Natural Flavor.

No HFCS. No artificial flavors. No hydrogenated oils. Real figs. The "natural flavor" gives me slight pause, but the company confirms these are derived from actual food sources.

Each twin-pack bar delivers:

• Calories: 200
• Sugar: 10g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 2g
• Whole grains: 8g

That 10g of sugar is my primary concern. It's less than many snacks (some granola bars hit 12-14g), but it's not minimal. The sugar comes from cane sugar, brown rice syrup, and the figs themselves - no HFCS, but still sugar. The 3g fiber from whole wheat and oat fiber provides some balance, helping slow sugar absorption.

These bars are soft, chewy, and genuinely tasty. My kids actually prefer them to name-brand Fig Newtons - the texture is more consistent and the fig filling tastes like actual fruit rather than candy. The individually wrapped twin-packs are lunchbox-perfect: easy to grab, not too big, don't crumble.

Flavor variety is a plus. Beyond original fig, there's Blueberry, Raspberry, Apple Cinnamon, and Strawberry. All use real fruit in the filling. My kids rotate through flavors without getting tired of them.

Durability is excellent. These don't melt in hot lunchboxes, don't get stale quickly, and survive backpack chaos. I've found forgotten bars months later that were still edible (though I don't recommend that timeline).

At $6.99 for a 12-count box (~$0.58 per twin-pack), Nature's Bakery offers solid value. You can find bulk packs at Costco for even better unit pricing. Compare to Once Upon a Farm at $1.75/bar or RXBAR Kids at $1.25/bar - this is everyday-affordable.

For 180 school days, you're looking at $104.40 annually per kid. That's sustainable for most family budgets.

Nature's Bakery bars contain wheat (obviously) and are manufactured in a facility that processes tree nuts, peanuts, soy, and milk. This means they're NOT safe for nut-free schools in most cases, and families managing serious allergies should be cautious about cross-contamination.

For our household without severe allergies, this isn't an issue. But if your school has strict policies, check before packing these.

Nature's Bakery Fig Bars are the everyday workhorse. They're not the cleanest option (that's Once Upon a Farm), not the most protein-packed (RXBAR Kids), and not the most allergen-friendly (MadeGood). But they're affordable, tasty, practical, and significantly cleaner than conventional alternatives.

Think of these as the "good enough daily driver" - not perfect, but genuinely better than what most kids are eating, at a price that doesn't break the bank.

Sugar content (10g): Moderate but not minimal. If sugar is your primary concern, look at Once Upon a Farm (3g) or RXBAR Kids (5g).

Allergen facility: Processed with tree nuts, peanuts, soy, milk. Not for severe allergy households or strict nut-free schools.

Whole wheat texture: Some kids prefer the lighter texture of white flour products. Mine don't mind, but taste preferences vary.

Brown rice syrup: While not HFCS, brown rice syrup is still an added sugar. It's a step up, not perfection.

Families seeking a practical, affordable upgrade from conventional fig bars. Parents who want cleaner ingredients without premium pricing. Kids who enjoy fig-filled soft bars and need reliable lunchbox snacks.

Families at nut-free schools or managing severe allergies. Parents prioritizing minimal sugar above all else. Those seeking high-protein options for after-school sustenance.

Nature's Bakery Fig Bars earn a solid recommendation as the everyday lunchbox staple. They're the practical middle ground: cleaner than conventional, affordable enough for daily use, and genuinely enjoyed by kids. The 10g sugar keeps them from top-tier status, but for a $0.58 snack that upgrades the classic fig newton, these deliver real value.