# Oat Butter Protein Snacks Perfect Snacks Oaties Showcase Oats Instead of Nut Butter By Michael Hemsworth | Published 2026-06-19 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/perfect-snacks-oaties References: [refrigeratedfrozenfood](https://www.refrigeratedfrozenfood.com/articles/104414-perfect-snacks-debuts-oaties) & [perfectsnacks](https://perfectsnacks.com)  The [Perfect Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/prebiotic-protein-bars) Oaties protein bars are the brand's latest addition to its portfolio that extends it beyond its original fridge-fresh lineup to a new category. The bars are positioned as having real food ingredients with nothing artificial that includes eight-grams of whole-grain oats in place of nut butter along with more than 20 superfoods. The bars get their sweetness from 100% organic honey and maple syrup and have no artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, sweeteners or sugar alcohols. The products are sized optimally to work well for both kids and adults for a family-friendly profile, and have a low glycemic index (GI) rating to offer more steady energy. CEO Cara Liebrock spoke on the Perfect Snacks Oaties protein bars saying, "As our first leap beyond the nut-butter base [Perfect Bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/perfect-bar-protein-prebiotics) are known and loved for, Oaties combine the benefits of whole-grain oats with the craveable taste and real ingredients our consumers expect from us. With Oaties, we’ve created a lunch-box-friendly snack that delivers 8g of protein and a completely new, approachable flavor profile the whole family can enjoy. They’re made to hit the sweet spot for both kids and adults.” Image Credit: Perfect Snacks ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 8.8/10 - Popularity: 91% | Activity: 92% | Freshness: 81% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Oat-based Protein:** Whole-grain oats are emerging as an inclusive protein bar base, creating room for snacks that avoid nut allergens while retaining a real-food nutrition profile. - **Family-friendly Functionality:** Snack formats sized for both children and adults point to new product opportunities that merge lunch-box convenience with functional ingredients and mainstream taste appeal. - **Low-glycemic Sweetness:** Honey, maple syrup and low-GI positioning reflect growing demand for cleaner energy snacks that deliver sweetness without artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols. ### Where This Applies - **Snack Foods:** The snack sector is shifting toward bars with recognizable ingredients and broader household appeal, opening space for brands that bridge indulgence, nutrition and convenience. - **Natural Foods:** Ingredient-led formulations with no artificial additives strengthen the natural foods market by making functional nutrition feel more accessible and less niche. - **Children's Nutrition:** Lunch-box-friendly protein snacks with steady-energy claims introduce new possibilities for kid-focused nutrition products that also satisfy parent expectations for cleaner labels. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Protein-Packed Fiber Snack Bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/protein-one-protein-bars.md) - [Prebiotic Protein-Rich Snack Bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/perfect-bar-protein-prebiotics.md) - [Functional Kids Snacking](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/functional-kids-snacking.md) - [Balanced Bakery-Inspired Snack Bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pure-protein-soft-baked-bars.md) - [Creamy Fruit Protein Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zbar-protein-strawberries-n-creme.md) - [Gut-Healthy Snack Bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/prebiotic-protein-bars.md) - [Peanut Brownie Protein Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/peanut-butter-brownie-protein-bar.md) - [From-Scratch-Inspired Bakery Bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oatmeal-bars.md) - [Clean Ingredient Protein Bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/clean-protein-bars.md)