Bark Thins are a popular dark chocolate-based snack launched in 2013. Currently, they are owned by a famous chocolate brand, “Hersheyland.”
These snacks are made from dark chocolate with the crunch of various toppings such as fruits, nuts, and seeds.
Bark Thins are known for their distinctive thin and irregular shape, resembling pieces of tree bark, which gives them their name.
And while they come in a range of delicious flavors, are Bark Thins healthy?
Short answer: Bark Thins are healthy as they are good source of iron, low in sodium and contain no artificial additives. However, they are high in sugar and non-gluten and non-vegan.
Read on to find out more about Bark Thins, including their ingredients, sugar, protein, fiber content, and more.
Read also: The Truth About Brownie Brittle: Is It Healthy?
What are the ingredients in Bark Thins?
Bark Thins comes in various flavors, such as Dark chocolate peanut & sea salt, Dark chocolate pumpkin seed & salt, Dark chocolate blueberry & quinoa, etc.
Therefore, the exact ingredients can vary depending on the flavor.
In general, Bark Thins are made from Dark chocolate(55% cocoa) as the base ingredient. This dark chocolate is made with chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, milk fat, soy lecithin, and vanilla.
They also contain other ingredients such as:
- Sea salt
- Sugar
- Seeds
- Dried fruits
- Rice syrup
- Vegetable oils(sunflower, soybean)
The ingredients in Bark Thins are simple, and anyone can go through them. Additionally, the ingredients are Non-GMO and Fair Trade certified.
Moreover, they are free from artificial additives such as flavors, colors, or preservatives.
So ingredients-wise, Bark Thins are healthy for you.
Are Bark Thins high in sugar?
Bark Thins are high in sugar containing 10 to 15g per serving(31g), depending on the flavor. Dark chocolate blueberry & quinoa is the flavor with the highest sugar content.
Almost all of the sugar in Bark Thins is added sugar coming from multiple sources such as sugar from dark chocolate or added sugar.
According to American Heart Association, men should limit their sugar intake to 36g per day while women to 24g per day.
Consuming just a single serving(31g) of Bark Thins provides 27 to 41% of the daily sugar limit for men and 41 to 62% for women.
That’s a significant amount of daily sugar.
The high sugar content in Bark Thins makes them important to consume in moderation.
Here is the table showing the sugar content of all Bark Thins flavors.
| Bark Thins flavor | Added sugar(g) | Total sugar(g) |
|---|---|---|
| Dark Chocolate Peanut & Sea Salt | 11 | 11 |
| Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Seed & Sea Salt | 10 | 10 |
| Dark Chocolate Blueberry & Quinoa | 14 | 15 |
| Dark Chocolate Pretzel & Sea Salt | 11 | 11 |
| Dark Chocolate Mint | 14 | 14 |
| Dark Chocolate Almond & Sea Salt | 11 | 11 |
| Dark Chocolate Coconut & Almond | 11 | 12 |
How much protein is in Bark Thins?
Bark Thins contain 2 to 4g of protein per serving(31g), depending on the flavor.
Dark Chocolate pumpkin seed & sea salt is the flavor with the highest protein content. Thanks to pumpkin seeds.
If I become honest here, that’s not a very good amount of protein.
But, from the snack point of view, flavors with 3 or 4g of protein can be considered decent.
If compared, Bark Thins contain more protein than popular snacks like Oreos, M&Ms, and Brownie Brittle.
Here is the table showing the protein content of all Bark Thins flavors.
| Bark Thins flavor | Protein(g) |
|---|---|
| Dark Chocolate Peanut & Sea Salt | 3 |
| Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Seed & Sea Salt | 4 |
| Dark Chocolate Blueberry & Quinoa | 2 |
| Dark Chocolate Pretzel & Sea Salt | 2 |
| Dark Chocolate Mint | 2 |
| Dark Chocolate Almond & Sea Salt | 3 |
| Dark Chocolate Coconut & Almond | 2 |
How much fiber is in Bark Thins?
Bark Thins contain 2 to 3g of fiber per serving(31g), depending on the flavor. That’s about 8 to 12% of the daily recommended fiber for adults.
That’s not very good, but 3g of fiber can be considered okayish for a snack.
Fiber is an essential part of the diet as it provides satiety and health benefits such as proper digestion, blood sugar control, and a healthy heart.
However, if compared, Bark Thins have more fiber than popular snacks like Oreos, KitKat, Snickers, M&Ms, and Brownie Brittle.
Here is the table showing the fiber content of all Bark Thins flavors.
| Bark Thins flavor | Fiber(g) |
|---|---|
| Dark Chocolate Peanut & Sea Salt | 2 |
| Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Seed & Sea Salt | 2 |
| Dark Chocolate Blueberry & Quinoa | 3 |
| Dark Chocolate Pretzel & Sea Salt | 2 |
| Dark Chocolate Mint | 2 |
| Dark Chocolate Almond & Sea Salt | 3 |
| Dark Chocolate Coconut & Almond | 3 |
How much sodium is in Bark Thins?
Bark Thins are low in sodium containing 25 to 100mg per serving, depending on the flavor.
In fact, Bark Thins comes with a zero-sodium flavor(Dark chocolate mint).
This is good news for individuals seeking a delicious low-sodium snack.
Sodium is an essential part of the diet, but too much of it can result in heart-related issues.
Fortunately, with Bark Thins, you don’t need to worry about excess sodium.
Here is the table showing the sodium content of all Bark Thins flavors.
| Bark Thins flavor | Sodium(mg) |
|---|---|
| Dark Chocolate Peanut & Sea Salt | 25 |
| Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Seed & Sea Salt | 65 |
| Dark Chocolate Blueberry & Quinoa | 35 |
| Dark Chocolate Pretzel & Sea Salt | 100 |
| Dark Chocolate Mint | 0 |
| Dark Chocolate Almond & Sea Salt | 25 |
| Dark Chocolate Coconut & Almond | 55 |
Are Bark Thins high in saturated fat?
Bark Thins are high in saturated fat containing 5 to 7g per serving, depending on the flavor.
That’s about 50% of the daily saturated fat limit(13g) set by the American Heart Association.
Saturated fat has been deemed bad for health for decades due to its potential link to heart disease.
However, with Bark Thins, you don’t need to be overly concerned about the saturated fat content.
That’s because most of the saturated fat in Bark Thins comes from cocoa butter.
Cocoa butter contains a specific type of saturated fat known as stearic acid. When consumed, stearic acid is converted by your liver into a monounsaturated fat called oleic acid.
Monounsaturated fat is considered good for the heart and has been associated with potential cardiovascular benefits.
Simply put, the saturated fat in Bark Thins does not pose the same level of health risk as saturated fats found in other processed foods like chips, biscuits, cakes, and other snacks.
Are Bark Thins a good source of iron?
Bark Thins are a good source of iron containing 2.4 to 2.9mg per serving, depending on the flavor.
On average, that’s 29% of the daily needed iron for men and 18% for women.
Iron is an essential part of the diet as it helps produce red blood cells and supports oxygen transportation throughout the body.
Here is the table showing the iron content of all Bark Thins flavors.
| Bark Thins flavor | Iron(mg) |
|---|---|
| Dark Chocolate Peanut & Sea Salt | 2.7 |
| Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Seed & Sea Salt | 2.5 |
| Dark Chocolate Blueberry & Quinoa | 2.5 |
| Dark Chocolate Pretzel & Sea Salt | 2.9 |
| Dark Chocolate Mint | 2.4 |
| Dark Chocolate Almond & Sea Salt | 2.8 |
| Dark Chocolate Coconut & Almond | 2.6 |
Are Bark Thins Good for weight loss?
Bark Thins are not ideal for weight loss as they are high in added sugar. However, you can still consume them in moderation on a weight-loss diet.
That’s because they contain okay amount of protein and fiber and are low in calories (140 to 160 per serving).
Note that weight loss depends not only on one food but overall diet and lifestyle.
Are Bark Thins gluten-free?
Ingredients-wise, the majority of Bark Thins flavors are gluten-free.
Only the Dark chocolate pretzel & sea salt is not gluten-free as it contains wheat flour.
However, it’s important to note that Bark Thins are manufactured with the same equipment that processes wheat.
This increases the risk of cross-contamination or traces of gluten being present in the Bark Thins.
Are Bark Thins keto?
Bark Thins are not keto as they are high in net carbs, with 12 to 17g per serving.
Additionally, they contain vegetable oils and sugar, which are prohibited in the keto diet.
Are Bark Thins vegan?
Bark Thins are not vegan as they include milk fat as one of the ingredients.
Yes, they were vegan previously. But to improve the overall quality and appearance they includes milk fat now.
Moreover, Bark Thins also contain sugar which is not labeled as organic.
Non-organic sugar is processed with bone char in industries to achieve a white appearance. This bone char is derived from animal bones, making sugar non-vegan.
What’s more?
Bark Thins are not marketed as vegan and have a warning “contains milk.”
Final words
Bark Thins may not be a nutritional powerhouse, but they are healthy snacking option for you. There are many reasons for this, such as:
- They are made with Non-GMO ingredients.
- They are a good source of iron.
- They are low in sodium.
- They are free from artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
However, Bark Thins are high in added sugar and should be consumed in moderation.
Moreover, they are not suitable for everyone as they are not entirely gluten-free and vegan.
So, go ahead and indulge in the tempting allure of Bark Thins with keeping the sugar content in mind.
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