8 Packaged Snacks to Power Your Run

Granola bars are a runner’s best friend, if done right. They’re portable, packed with nutrients, and are perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up, especially if you got in a workout at lunch.

Santa Barbara bars ($24 for a box of 12, amazon.com), packed with flavor and healthy fat, are a favorite at the office, specifically the dark chocolate almond flavor. The bars are stocked with other superfoods like almonds, chia seeds, and sunflower seeds. Let’s just say the picky-when-it-comes-to-bars nutrition editor has a secret stash.

Nutrition Information (dark chocolate and almond)
Calories: 200
Calories from fat: 80
Fat: 9 g 
Sodium: 180 mg
Carbs: 22 g
Fiber: 4 g
Sugar: 8 g
Protein: 8 g 

Based in Massachusetts, 88 Acres was born out of food allergies. So many bars are packed with nuts (a great source of plant protein and healthy fats), but that leaves out a good portion of athletes who are looking for a nut-free snack. We loved the chocolate and sea salt flavor, which touts being nut-free, GMO-free, gluten-free, and vegan while still packing real, whole food flavor. 88 Acres ($21.50 for a box of nine, 88acres.com) also comes in triple berry, and apple and ginger.

Nutrition Information (Chocolate and sea salt)
Calories: 200
Calories from fat: 90
Fat: 10 g
Sodium: 125 mg
Carbs: 22 g
Fiber: 3 g
Sugar: 12 g  
Protein: 6 g 

It’s hard to go wrong with a snack bar when it’s created by runners. Elite runner Lauren Fleshman, who retired earlier this year, created Picky Bars ($27.50 for a box of 10, amazon.com) with her pro triathlete husband, Jesse Thomas, and friend and elite runner, Stephanie Rothstein Bruce. Flavors range from “Lauren’s Mega Nuts” to “Ah, Fudge Nuts!” to “Moroccan Your World.” The bars, designed with that magic 4:1 carbs to protein ratio (ideal for recovery) are mostly organic (81 percent), and the majority of its high sugar count is natural (coming from fruits, nuts, and grains). 

“These are always a good idea. They taste great, they satiate, they work before and after a workout or during a horrible afternoon meeting. The names! Oh my god, the names are hilarious. Snacks with attitude. Bars with brash. Whatever. Lauren is a genius.”
—Christine Fennessy, Multimedia Features Producer

Nutrition Information (Ah, Fudge Nuts!)
Calories: 200
Calories from fat: 75
Fat: 8 g
Sodium: 118 mg  
Carbs: 28 g
Fiber: 4 g
Sugar: 18 g
Protein: 7 g 

Grabbing a bag of chips is a convenient snack, sure, but they are largely lacking in the nutritional department. Hands down, Runner’s World editors can’t get enough of Beanitos White Bean Mac n’ Cheese Crunch ($27 for six 7 oz. bags, amazon.com). Basically, they’re healthy cheese curls (not puffs, curls).

Surprisingly, the Crunch snacks have a short ingredient list, and it’s all good stuff. They are packed with protein and fiber that keeps you feeling full. RW editors tend to have their daily bag at 3 p.m. 

“You know how I feel about the cheesy Beanitos. I have to resist the urge to eat a pack every day. I consider myself something of a cheesy poof connoisseur, and these are by far the cheesiest of any I’ve ever tried. They have eons more cheese flavor than any of the common non-bean varieties. The texture is a little less airy than your Cheeto or Cheeze Doodle, but it’s not offensive. Five stars!”
—Meghan Kita, Senior Editor

“All you need to know is that my 12-year-old devoured these without ever noticing that they weren’t a ‘real’ chip. Done deal.”
—Tish Hamilton, Executive Editor

Nutrition Information
Calories: 130
Calories from fat: 50
Fat: 5 g
Sodium: 195 mg
Potassium: 160 mg
Carbs: 17 g
Fiber: 3 g
Sugar: 1 g
Protein: 4 g 

It is in the pages of Runner’s World all the time: peanut butter and banana is one of the best prerun and postrun snacks. And now Justin’s has made the perfect portable snack: Peanut butter and banana chips (See various packs at justins.com).

Running trails? Leave a pack in the car for a snack right when you need it most: within 30 minutes of your workout. Heading out for an evening run? This gets you out the door without weighing you down (and saves room for dinner). 

“Justin’s found a way to package one of my favorite combos without the worry of a bruised banana. Awesome.”
—Manon Blackman, Intern

Nutrition Information
Calories: 210
Calories from fat: 150
Fat: 16 g
Sodium: 20 mg
Potassium: 220 mg
Carbs: 13 g
Fiber: 3 g
Sugar: 6 g
Protein: 6 g 

Okay, some folks will call peanut butter its own a snack, and we’ve been known to take a spoonful (or two) when the going gets rough. But generally, you want to pair your peanut butter with something with some carbs, like bananas. That being said, we couldn’t pass up an opportunity to rave about Pic’s Peanut Butter from New Zealand ($12, amazon.com).

Two ingredients: peanuts and sea salt (many brands have loads of added sugar). While peanut butter is a great runner snack, go easy—it’s easy to eat extra servings. Yes, peanut butter is high in healthy fat, but it’s still high in fat and calories. Add a scoop to your banana, whole grain toast, or oatmeal.

Nutrition Information
Calories per tablespoon: 120
Fat: 10 g
Protein: 6 g
Carbs: 4 g
Sodium: 40 mg
Fiber: 2 g

Protein! You need quality protein to help your muscles recover and get stronger. Jerky has become a popular runner snack (especially among ultrarunners): It’s portable, filling, tasty, and packed with that coveted protein. (But watch for added sugar, which can be through the roof in flavored jerkys).

We think Meb Keflezighi (a spokesperson) is onto something with KRAVE jerky ($10, amazon.com). It is a snack that’s constantly flying off the shelves at Runner’s World HQ.

“I never connected the words “tender” and “jerky” before eating KRAVE. I always assumed that if you chose to snack on beef jerky, you were willing to undergo a serious chewing workout. Not with KRAVE, which beyond having a wide variety of interesting flavors, is pleasant to eat.”
—Kit Fox, Reporter

“The chili lime beef jerky powered me up and over 11,300-foot Elizabeth Pass in King’s Canyon, California. Yum!”
—Tish Hamilton, Executive Editor

Nutrition Information (Sea Salt Original)
Calories per serving: 100
Calories from fat: 15
Fat: 1.5 g
Sodium: 340 g
Protein: 9 g
Carbs: 11 g
Sugar: 10 g

Dried fruit is a favorite for some runners—especially on their long runs: it’s high in carbs, portable, and naturally sweet. Dried fruit can also be a great snack (barring you don’t eat the entire bag, which is packed with sugar). We’re loving Peeled Snacks Organic Much-Ado-About-Mango ($21.40 for 10 1.4 oz. bags, amazon.com). The ingredient list? Just organic mangoes! Pair these with a handful of nuts for a satiating afternoon snack.

“You can toss the to-go packs in your bag or desk drawer for a quick, sweet snack. My favorites are mango and apple.”
—Renee Keith, Photo Editor

Nutrition Information (Much-Ado-About-Mango)
Calories per serving: 120
Calories from fat: 0 
Protein: 2 g
Carbs: 28 g
Fiber: 2 g
Sugar: 20 g