Granola bars, Energy bars, and Protein bars
We might easily succumb to a’snack and go’ mentality, especially when trying to keep up with our hectic schedules and looking for a ‘quick fix’ for hunger.
On the surface, these little pocket-sized bars look to be harmless, but they are typically heavy in calories, fat, and carbohydrates. Cereal bars are marginally better, but they are still much too high in sugar and carbs to be considered a healthy snack. Instead, make a bowl of high-fibre or whole-grain cereal with fat-free milk. Instead of fast snacks, keep this in your cupboard as a backup.
Many protein and energy bars offer a good combination of carbohydrate, protein, and fat, making them a great snack or post-workout recovery boost. However, some protein bars include more sugar than others and use sugar alcohols, so if you want a quick snack, choose protein bars with 200 calories or less.
Granola, protein, and energy bars are often flavored in unexpected ways. These tastes serve as a red flag for extra sugar and additives. Non-protein ingredients are commonly included in these bars, as are high quantities of vegetable oils such as maize and sunflower. These are damaging to one’s health and well-being, and the vast range of flavors derives from the inclusion of various dubious and odd ingredients in the components.
