Protein Bars and Energy Bars: Overrated or Worth the Hype?

Lately it seems as if the grocery stores have a whole aisle dedicated to protein bars and energy bars. This new phase in healthy eating isn’t always what it seems however. Anytime you change your diet, it is extremely important that you understand exactly what it is that you are putting in your body.Not all protein bars and energy bars are created equally. Judging by the front labels, one might think that they are all healthy and high quality nutrition bars that make a great snack. Unfortunately this would be a great overgeneralization. As with any food, it is important that you examine the nutrition label to really understand what it is that you are getting.
 
It may come as a surprise that many energy bars and protein bars alike are designed as “meal replacement” bars. Meal replacement can be translated into “more calories”. If you choose a protein bar that is designed to be a meal replacement bar, it is important that you either replace a meal with it or analyze the calorie content so you can fit it into your daily diet without jeopardizing your weight loss efforts.

Even bars that are not touted as “meal replacements” have calorie counts that could rival a full sized meal. Be certain that the protein bar or energy bar you choose does not break the calorie bank for the day. A 300 calorie protein bar is hardly worth its weight when you consider you could have a turkey sandwich and apple for the same or even less calories.

Particularly with energy bars but also in some protein bars, there is an extremely high sugar content. While sugar does give you energy, it is not the best addition to a healthy diet. Look for bars that have limited sugar while still maintaining good taste. Because we know not all carbohydrates are bad, pay attention to what percentage of carbohydrates are coming from fiber and how many from sugar. Bonus points if you can find a high fiber energy bar that limits the sugar and still tastes great.

Being conscious of the foods you are buying is vital when trying to live a healthy lifestyle. Not all packaging really represents the true content of what you are getting. You must look past the shiny wrapper and healthy image to see if what you are getting will truly help your fitness goals. The right protein bars and energy bars can be great additions to your eating plan when used correctly.

For more info on our protein bars / energy bars see the following links: 

P90X Peak Performance Bars (Berry)

P90X Peak Performance Bars (Cafe Mocha)