Difference Between Luna Bars & Clif Bars

Luna bars and Clif bars are among the many energy bars on the market, and they offer many essential vitamins and minerals. Though both types of energy bar are made by the same manufacturer, there are certain differences between the two you should consider before deciding which bar has a place in your healthy eating plan.

Who the Bars Are Marketed To

Both Luna bars and Clif bars are marketed toward health-conscious people who care about what foods provide them with nourishment. Luna bars, however, are manufactured with women in mind. Created in 1999, Luna bars contain nutrients required for a woman's good health. Clif bars, which were created in 1990, are marketed to men and women who are looking for an energy bar that tastes good but that's also nutritious.

Ingredients and Flavors

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While both Luna and Clif bars contain mostly all-natural, organic ingredients, the exact things included can vary across the two brands. Neither of the bars contain high-fructose corn syrup or trans fats. Luna bars are soft bars in flavors that many women enjoy such as chocolate chunk, chocolate dipped coconut, carrot cake, iced oatmeal raisin, peanut butter cookie and vanilla almond. Clif bars come in soft and crunchy versions in flavors that appeal to a wider audience and include chocolate chip, peanut butter and honey oat. Unlike Luna bars, Clif bars are also available in a mini version in flavors like chocolate brownie and crunchy peanut butter.

Essential Nutrients

Luna and Clif bars supply key nutrients, such as fiber, protein and calcium, but in different amounts. The Luna iced oatmeal raisin or chocolate chunk flavors, for example, each contain 5 grams of fat, 3 grams of fiber and 9 grams of protein, which is 18 percent of the daily value for women. For contrast, the oatmeal raisin walnut or chocolate chip Clif bar each has 5 grams of fat, 5 grams of fiber and 10 grams of protein. Luna bars contain more calcium, folate and vitamin B-12 than Clif bars, but Clif bars contain more vitamins C and E. The Luna brand offers protein and fiber versions of the bars, too, designed for women looking to increase their intake of these two key nutrients. Not to be outdone, the Clif bar offers a Mojo line featuring low-glycemic bars with a good dose of protein.

Sugar and Saturated Fat

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Most Luna bars contain between 11 and 13 grams of sugar per serving, which translates to between 2.75 and 3.25 teaspoons of sugar. Most Clif bars contain between 21 and 25 grams of sugar, which is between 5.25 and 6.25 teaspoons of sugar. This is an important difference because the American Heart Association recommends that women consume no more than 6 teaspoons of sugar per day and that men have no more than 9 teaspoons. In contrast, most Clif bars contain less saturated fat with an average of between 1 and 1.5 grams per serving, while Luna bars average between 2 and 2.5 grams of saturated fat per serving. Luna bars contain an average of 180 calories, and Clif bars and average of 240.