Are Nutrition Bars Nutritional?

Posted 8/02/2009

Are nutrition bars nutritional? Well, they have "nutrition" in the name, so it would lead us to believe the answer is "yes." However, they may not always be the right answer.

Walk into any health food store, or vitamin store, or grocery store, and you'll find aisles worth healthy nutritional bars somewhere in the store. They claim to pack a nutritional punch and give you the necessary nutrients you need. But how accurate is that really? The answer lies in their actual ingredients, which are on their labels.

Let's take one of the more popular bars, which is aimed mainly at women who are trying to eat healthy and trying to lose weight. The Slim Fast Bar. The first ingredient listed is High Fructose Corn Syrup, which is not nutritional at all. The next thing listed is a special syrup, which is just a way to cover up that they put more sugar in it. Add in some partially hydrogenated oils which adds Trans Fats, and then just a bunch of artificial flavoring and sweeteners... Wow! Why not just eat a candy bar while you're at it? (No, don't do that either).

And what does Slim Fast say about their bar. 'The Slim Fast Plan cuts your calories and helps provide the nutrition you need to stay healthy while you lose weight and keep it off...' No. Simply put, no one needs High Fructose Corn Syrup, Trans Fats, and Artificial Sweeteners in their diet.

That's just one company. Do yourself a huge favor when thinking about buying a nutrition bar. Read the label. Examine the ingredients.

So how do you answer the question "Are nutrition bars nutritional?" Well, here are some general guidelines to follow:

- It needs to have at least 175 calories. Anything less won't be enough calories to get you to your next meal.

- It should offer four grams of protein or more. Protein mixed with carbs and fat are better at filling you up and giving you a fuller feeling. Plus protein should be eaten every 2-4 hours anyway.

- It should have a minimum of three grams of fiber. Fiber also has the tendency to make you feel satisfied longer. You should be shooting for 24-36 grams daily.

- It should limit saturated fats. No more than four grams per bar.

And remember, organic ingredients are also a big plus in a bar. Health food stores like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods offer some excellent choices. Some good bars out there are Lara bars, Prograde Cravers, Perfect 10, and Organic Food Bars.

Click are nutrition bars nutritional for much more info at our healthy eating page.