What difference is there, if any, between a candy bar and your average "energy" bar?
OneHundredToLose
Posts: 8,523 Member
I was just looking at the nutrition info for an "energy" bar I ate as a snack today, and was surprised to find that for its size it had an awful lot in common with your average candy bar. 230 calories, 20g of sugar, 3g saturated fat, etc. The only real difference is that it seemed to have a lot more protein than a candy bar (8g). Protein, however, isn't really a concern for me right now.
Would I be better off just eating the Butterfinger bar I'd rather have anyway, or is there something about energy bars that I'm missing or not thinking of?
Would I be better off just eating the Butterfinger bar I'd rather have anyway, or is there something about energy bars that I'm missing or not thinking of?
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Micronutrients. If your energy bar is made out of ingredients that are less processed, it will give your body better quality tools to repair and grow new tissue. If I had to choose between a Clif bar and a Milky Way, I'd choose the Clif bar, but I'm totally with you on the Butterfinger!0
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Packed with sugar. Energy drinks/bars never helped. Coffee, caffeine pills, pre workouts, nicotine these things never helped me nor have they given me the jitters/buzz. It takes a lot to give me a buzz. I mean a lot. .0
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Not much. Some "energy" bars, like Cliff bars also have caffeine. The biggest difference is the $$$.
Protein bars, like Quest, are a bit different. They are all about fiber and protein.0 -
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Price.0
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Most energy bars have more vitamins, protein, fiber, and less sugar and fat. So they'll be more filling for the calories.
But if you really crave a butterfinger, have a butterfinger.0 -
I love my quest bars..oreo and double chocolate chunk are great, especially if microwaved for like 10 seconds. The macros are great..I'd suggest quest bars instead!0
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I eat as a snack a Kellogg granola bar that BTW I don't know if it constitute an energy bar (is there an special requirements to be that?) 180 cals/ 10g protein / 18 g of carbs (8 are fiber) .. it is gloriously made out of dark chocolate, peanut, and oat ... So I eat a granola bar with the purpose of energy and to get up my protein and yes to eat something sweet in the afternoon
My advice when eating any of those bars, check first: how many protein, how many calories and how much fiber. .. at least that's how I know if it worth it or not.0 -
Oh and in my personal book with those numbers yikesss, yes, I would def. Go for the butterfinger
Good luck0 -
You really have to be choosy with these "energy" bars, I agree, some are so full of sugar and crap that they are glorified candy bars, others have the consistency of horse feed, super dry, crunchy and gross. I got a gatorade bar and it had whey and left this horrid film in my mouth, great on protein but high on sugar. I like the fiber one products for taste and a quick snack or hold me over till I can make something good.0
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Are you all out of your minds never take candy which is mostly sugar over any type of protein bar. Sugar is just a quick fix and will leave you hungary in 30 min and does nothing to satisfy your bodies need for fuel. Part of this diet process is to retrain our bodies and our minds to not feed our bodies junk like sugar which turns to carb's once consumed. Think of food as fuel0
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Bolibadale wrote: »Are you all out of your minds never take candy which is mostly sugar over any type of protein bar. Sugar is just a quick fix and will leave you hungary in 30 min and does nothing to satisfy your bodies need for fuel. Part of this diet process is to retrain our bodies and our minds to not feed our bodies junk like sugar which turns to carb's once consumed. Think of food as fuel
What?0 -
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Bolibadale wrote: »Are you all out of your minds never take candy which is mostly sugar over any type of protein bar. Sugar is just a quick fix and will leave you hungary in 30 min and does nothing to satisfy your bodies need for fuel. Part of this diet process is to retrain our bodies and our minds to not feed our bodies junk like sugar which turns to carb's once consumed. Think of food as fuel
"Think of food as fuel, except sugar." I'm glad you've found a diet that is only meat.
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Bolibadale wrote: »Are you all out of your minds never take candy which is mostly sugar over any type of protein bar. Sugar is just a quick fix and will leave you hungary in 30 min and does nothing to satisfy your bodies need for fuel. Part of this diet process is to retrain our bodies and our minds to not feed our bodies junk like sugar which turns to carb's once consumed. Think of food as fuel
Sugar it's not evil, sugar doesn't make me hungry, doesn't make want to eat more or crave more, or crazy high , sugar def. Didn't make me fat , and if you really compare some candy with some of those "energy bar" you'll see that there is in many cases no much difference , that is actually what all of us wanted to share with the op.
You have your personal issues with sugar, fine that's on you, don't throw that on us.
BTW ironically I don't eat much 'sugar' not before not now , but your post I find it a bit extreme0 -
Bolibadale wrote: »Are you all out of your minds never take candy which is mostly sugar over any type of protein bar. Sugar is just a quick fix and will leave you hungary in 30 min and does nothing to satisfy your bodies need for fuel. Part of this diet process is to retrain our bodies and our minds to not feed our bodies junk like sugar which turns to carb's once consumed. Think of food as fuel
When I mentioned the Butterfinger bar, I was alluding to the fact that the energy bar I ate had nearly the same amount of calories and sugar. If that's the case, I'd rather just go for the candy, as it tastes better.
Regarding sugar, you'd be hard pressed to avoid it in any type of diet. Sugar is a naturally occurring substance and is a necessary component of the human diet. Like any other type of food, though, it has to be eaten in moderation and with attention. You could lose weight eating a candy bar every day, if it fit your caloric deficit.0 -
For a fair comparison it would be better you posted the nutritional data rather than just cherry picking.
i'd go for the just look at them as fuel and focus on calorie counting.
Its hard to see what you are calling an energy bar.
From time to time I will eat a so called energy bar, but that contains complex carbs and other stuff that will give me the mix of slow and long energy supply i need rather than the quick burst you get from a candy bar.
Od be mpre dunipis about some of the breakfast bars, but cnat say unless you look at the label.0 -
Bolibadale wrote: »Are you all out of your minds never take candy which is mostly sugar over any type of protein bar. Sugar is just a quick fix and will leave you hungary in 30 min and does nothing to satisfy your bodies need for fuel. Part of this diet process is to retrain our bodies and our minds to not feed our bodies junk like sugar which turns to carb's once consumed. Think of food as fuel
Sugar it's not evil, sugar doesn't make me hungry, doesn't make want to eat more or crave more, or crazy high , sugar def. Didn't make me fat , and if you really compare some candy with some of those "energy bar" you'll see that there is in many cases no much difference , that is actually want all of us wanted to share with the op.
You have your personal issues with sugar, fine that's on you, don't throw that on us.
BTW ironically I don't eat much 'sugar' not before not now , but your post I find it a bit extreme
Foods ending in "ose" have a direct effect on blood sugar and ensuing insulin spikes, which is why many folks who are sensitive experience a quick surge of energy followed by head-hitting-desk fatigue. If the high-sugar food also has a bunch of fat, protein and fiber it takes longer for the "ose" ingredients to be digested so the rush/crash doesn't seem as drastic. I find the sugar rush to be helpful when I think I might have trouble sleeping but otherwise it is annoying and I avoid food that will produce it.0 -
Quest bars are JUST like candy, except they have a ton of fiber and protein.0
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For a fair comparison it would be better you posted the nutritional data rather than just cherry picking.
i'd go for the just look at them as fuel and focus on calorie counting.
Its hard to see what you are calling an energy bar.
From time to time I will eat a so called energy bar, but that contains complex carbs and other stuff that will give me the mix of slow and long energy supply i need rather than the quick burst you get from a candy bar.
Od be mpre dunipis about some of the breakfast bars, but cnat say unless you look at the label.
I wasn't cherry picking, I was just listing the things that stood out to me. Here is the specific energy bar I ate today:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/calories/simple-truth-energy-bar-chocolate-fudge-brownie-29909945
I'm not calling it an energy bar, I'm reading the package and seeing what the company who makes it calls it. The amount of sugar in the bar is why I am expressing my incredulity at the health of energy bars via this thread.
Also, did you have a stroke while typing that last sentence?0 -
Liftng4Lis wrote: »Quest bars are JUST like candy, except they have a ton of fiber and protein.
LOL0 -
Bolibadale wrote: »Are you all out of your minds never take candy which is mostly sugar over any type of protein bar. Sugar is just a quick fix and will leave you hungary in 30 min and does nothing to satisfy your bodies need for fuel. Part of this diet process is to retrain our bodies and our minds to not feed our bodies junk like sugar which turns to carb's once consumed. Think of food as fuel
Sugar it's not evil, sugar doesn't make me hungry, doesn't make want to eat more or crave more, or crazy high , sugar def. Didn't make me fat , and if you really compare some candy with some of those "energy bar" you'll see that there is in many cases no much difference , that is actually want all of us wanted to share with the op.
You have your personal issues with sugar, fine that's on you, don't throw that on us.
BTW ironically I don't eat much 'sugar' not before not now , but your post I find it a bit extreme
Foods ending in "ose" have a direct effect on blood sugar and ensuing insulin spikes, which is why many folks who are sensitive experience a quick surge of energy followed by head-hitting-desk fatigue. If the high-sugar food also has a bunch of fat, protein and fiber it takes longer for the "ose" ingredients to be digested so the rush/crash doesn't seem as drastic. I find the sugar rush to be helpful when I think I might have trouble sleeping but otherwise it is annoying and I avoid food that will produce it.
And I believe you 100% on that, but you share your case and your experience and the reason why YOU choose to avoid them and that is just fine , but the person I quote post a very general statement and share with us that we were 'out of our mind' for saying what we said . I was pointing out that I don't get absolutely none of those effects after eating 'sugar' or having sugar in my diet.0 -
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OneHundredToLose wrote: »I was just looking at the nutrition info for an "energy" bar I ate as a snack today, and was surprised to find that for its size it had an awful lot in common with your average candy bar. 230 calories, 20g of sugar, 3g saturated fat, etc. The only real difference is that it seemed to have a lot more protein than a candy bar (8g). Protein, however, isn't really a concern for me right now.
Would I be better off just eating the Butterfinger bar I'd rather have anyway, or is there something about energy bars that I'm missing or not thinking of?
How bout half a butter finger and a couple spoonfuls of protein?
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I pick and choose which protein bars I eat based on nutritional facts. I don't eat candy bars, but if I did, I'd go for a Snickers or Reese's Peanut Butter Cups over things like Starburst or Skittles based on the nutritional facts. Since protein isn't a priority for you, you should just eat what you're craving instead of what you think you're supposed to eat. Certain foods may have similar nutrition profiles in certain aspects but that doesn't mean that they're equivalent.0
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I pick and choose which protein bars I eat based on nutritional facts. I don't eat candy bars, but if I did, I'd go for a Snickers or Reese's Peanut Butter Cups over things like Starburst or Skittles based on the nutritional facts. Since protein isn't a priority for you, you should just eat what you're craving instead of what you think you're supposed to eat. Certain foods may have similar nutrition profiles in certain aspects but that doesn't mean that they're equivalent.
Right, I agree. I didn't eat an energy bar because I thought it was good for me, I ate it because it was on hand. I've already lost 8lbs eating hot pockets for lunch every day for the last month, so I definitely get the "eat what you want" thing.
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Depends what you mean by better off. The energy bar you listed is marginally better, but its not great for nutritional purposes. It gives you more protein and fibre. Read the label and choose what you eat, but as long as its not all you are eating then a butterfingers is just fine.
What maxit said is correct.0 -
OneHundredToLose wrote: »I pick and choose which protein bars I eat based on nutritional facts. I don't eat candy bars, but if I did, I'd go for a Snickers or Reese's Peanut Butter Cups over things like Starburst or Skittles based on the nutritional facts. Since protein isn't a priority for you, you should just eat what you're craving instead of what you think you're supposed to eat. Certain foods may have similar nutrition profiles in certain aspects but that doesn't mean that they're equivalent.
Right, I agree. I didn't eat an energy bar because I thought it was good for me, I ate it because it was on hand. I've already lost 8lbs eating hot pockets for lunch every day for the last month, so I definitely get the "eat what you want" thing.
Oh, sorry! I know that when I got into fitness and nutrition that I used to read a lot of stuff online and I'd read about how x, y, or z was bad for you and avoid this food or that food. Before I knew better, I used to believe the hype. I assumed that you were in a similar situation so I apologize. Out of curiosity, do you remember the brand of energy bar you ate? There are certain brands I love, but I'm not a fan of Clif, Luna, Builder's, or Zone Perfect.
Also, I haven't had Hot Pockets in forever, but I know they're branded as bad for you and "college kid food" by so many people. I'm pretty sure I ate a BBQ Chicken Hot Pocket every day in college and I stayed 111 pounds hahaha. Good luck on your weight loss journey!0 -
HappyCampr1 wrote: »Not all candy bars are created equal and not all nutrition bars are either. You have to check them out individually. I frequently eat Larabars before heading to the gym. Yes, there's sugar, but there's also protein, fiber, and what I like most about them...calcium and iron. If I'm running low on those nutrients, I'd rather include them in my afternoon snack than take a pill. I also like Kind bars. My favorite is the macadamia, almond, peanut one with protein. Usually when I eat Kind, I'm needing more fats in my diet. What type of bar/snack I have varies daily depending on my nutritional needs on that particular day. I just discovered Lenny & Larry protein cookies. Each cookie is two servings, so I cut it in half, but they're yummy! I don't kid myself that they're healthy, but if I'm going to have a cookie snack, I might as well get protein and fiber in my cookie.
I don't know why but out of all the bars out there, the kind one , I so don't like them, it's not the taste, they are good, but why are they so hard ugh
I want to try the Lara bars too , have heard great things about them but I haven't found them0
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