KIND built their adult bar empire on the premise that you should be able to see and recognize the ingredients in your food. The kids version brings that same philosophy in a smaller, softer package.
The KIND Philosophy Applied to Kids
KIND's signature feature is visible, recognizable ingredients. Crack open a KIND Kids bar and you see actual oats, actual nuts, actual chocolate chips - not a uniform processed mass. This transparency is both aesthetic and philosophical: if you can see the ingredients, you know what you're eating.
The kids formulation adapts this for younger palates:
- Softer texture: Adult KIND bars are crunchy and dense. Kids versions are chewy-soft.
- Smaller size: 20g bars versus 40g adult bars.
- Sweeter profiles: Flavors like Chewy Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip appeal to kids.
Breaking Down the Ingredients
Let's examine the Chewy Chocolate Chip variety:
Oats, Tapioca Syrup, Almonds, Chocolate Chips (Sugar, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla Extract), Honey, Soy Protein Isolate, Brown Rice Syrup, Sunflower Oil, Rice Starch, Molasses, Natural Flavor, Sea Salt, Soy Lecithin.
This is a more complex ingredient list than Larabar Kid (5 ingredients) or That's It (2 ingredients). But compare to conventional kids bars:
- No corn syrup or HFCS
- No artificial colors
- No artificial flavors (natural flavor is present)
- No preservatives like BHT
- Whole oats and whole almonds visible
It's a "better processed" bar - acknowledging it's processed while keeping ingredients relatively clean.
Sugar Analysis
KIND Kids contains 5g sugar per bar from tapioca syrup, honey, chocolate chips, brown rice syrup, and molasses. This is moderate - better than many competitors:
- Once Upon a Farm: 3g (exceptional)
- MadeGood: 5g (tied)
- KIND Kids: 5g (tied)
- Larabar Kid: 6g
- Annie's Bunny Grahams: 8g
- Quaker Chewy: 7g
The sugar sources include tapioca syrup and brown rice syrup - which are added sweeteners, not whole fruit sugars. This is different from Larabar or That's It where sugar comes entirely from dates or fruit. KIND is honest about using sweeteners but keeps the total moderate.
The Protein Advantage
At 3g protein per bar (from almonds and soy protein isolate), KIND Kids offers more protein than most competitors in this analysis:
- RXBAR Kids: 7g (highest)
- KIND Kids: 3g
- Once Upon a Farm: 2g
- Larabar Kid: 2g
- MadeGood: 1g
- That's It: 0g
- GoGo squeeZ: 0g
For after-school snacking when kids need something to sustain them until dinner, that protein matters. It's not as impressive as RXBAR Kids but substantially better than fruit-only options.
The Tree Nut Reality
KIND Kids contains almonds. Some varieties also contain peanuts. This is core to the brand identity - whole nuts are a defining characteristic.
This creates the same limitation as RXBAR Kids and Larabar Kid: these cannot go to most schools with nut-free policies. They're after-school and home snacks only.
For families not dealing with nut allergies or nut-free schools, this is a non-issue and the nuts provide nutritional benefits (protein, healthy fats). For families who need school-safe options, KIND Kids is off the table.
Taste and Texture
I've tested these extensively with my kids and their friends. Observations:
Texture: Chewy and soft - much softer than adult KIND bars. Easy for kids to bite through. Not sticky like Larabar.
Flavor Appeal: Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip are universally liked. The visible chocolate chips are a major selling point for kids.
Portion: 20g bars are appropriate for kids' snack portions. Some adults find them too small (they're not meant for adults).
Satisfaction: The combination of oats, nuts, and protein keeps kids satisfied longer than fruit-only options.
Value Assessment
At $5.99 for an 8-pack (~$0.75/bar), KIND Kids is competitively priced:
- Once Upon a Farm: $1.75/bar
- RXBAR Kids: $1.25/bar
- That's It: $1.25/bar
- Larabar Kid: $1.00/bar
- KIND Kids: $0.75/bar
- MadeGood: $0.72/bar
For the nutrition delivered (3g protein, visible whole ingredients), $0.75/bar represents good value.
What KIND Gets Right
- Visible ingredients: You can see the oats and nuts - transparent eating.
- Moderate sugar: 5g is competitive in this category.
- Decent protein: 3g from real nuts beats most competitors.
- Kid-appropriate: Softer, smaller, sweeter than adult bars.
- No artificial junk: No fake colors, fake flavors, or synthetic preservatives.
What Could Be Better
- Multiple sweetener sources: Tapioca syrup + brown rice syrup + honey + molasses is complex. Larabar does it with just dates.
- Natural flavor: Present in the ingredient list. I prefer products without it.
- Nut limitation: Can't use for school. This eliminates a major snack occasion.
- Soy protein isolate: A processed protein source. Whole nuts would be cleaner.
Comparing to RXBAR Kids
These compete for the same after-school niche:
| Factor | KIND Kids | RXBAR Kids |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 3g | 7g |
| Sugar | 5g | 5g |
| Price | $0.75 | $1.25 |
| Ingredients | More complex | Simpler (5-6) |
| Texture | Soft-chewy | Dense-chewy |
RXBAR Kids wins on protein and ingredient simplicity. KIND Kids wins on price and softer texture. Both contain tree nuts (no school use). For protein-focused families, RXBAR wins. For budget and texture preference, KIND wins.
Who Should Buy This
- Families wanting visible whole-ingredient bars at a moderate price
- After-school snacking where nut restrictions don't apply
- Kids who respond to being able to "see" their food ingredients
- Parents seeking better-than-conventional bars without premium pricing
Who Should Skip This
- Families needing nut-free school snacks (try MadeGood or That's It)
- Those seeking maximum ingredient simplicity (try Larabar Kid)
- High-protein priorities (try RXBAR Kids for 7g vs 3g)
- Families strictly avoiding soy
The Verdict
KIND Kids brings the adult KIND philosophy - visible, recognizable ingredients - to a kid-friendly format. With 5g sugar, 3g protein, and no artificial ingredients, these are solid after-school bars. The tree nut content limits school use, and the ingredient list is more complex than some alternatives, but for families who value the "see what you eat" approach at a reasonable price, KIND Kids delivers.
