Anyone indulge in Larabars?

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Abrie79
Abrie79 Posts: 15
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Anyone indulge in Larabars and still maintain healthy weight loss? How often to do you eat them? I just discovered these miracles and they've been out since 2003? lol i am concerned about the naturally occurring, yet high fat and sugar content...

Replies

  • sleepytexan
    sleepytexan Posts: 3,138 Member
    I ate my first one today, and . . . yuck. I needed extra calories after my workout and I was hungry shopping for groceries so I bought one.

    I do, however, enjoy Clif Mojo bars, especially the peanut butter pretzel, and some flavors of Balance Bars. I think you can eat these any day that you have the available calories. They certainly have great nutritional value, but because of the high fat sugar, I would eat it 30 min before or within 10 min. after a workout

    I usually eat 1/2 a bar at the mid-way point of a 25 or 30-mile ride, or before or after a workout if it is one of my high-calorie burn days and consequently I have tons of calories that I need to eat.


    I would not eat one on a no-exercise day because I am always desperate for calories on those days and I would prefer to save those cals for a meal.
  • corgifan
    corgifan Posts: 155 Member
    I love larabars! I wouldn't worry too much about the sugar/fat content if you're building it into your daily calorie count. The sugars are from the dates and the fat from nuts, so they're not quite as offensive as the added white sugar that can be found in some other bars. (I'm a big fan of the very short ingredient list!) It's a higher snack calorie wise, so I try to build it in with a lighter lunch or dinner that day (or pick up a pack of the mini bars which are only 90 cal apiece).

    I think my biggest problem is the price, so I try to mix buying ones on the go with making my own at home. If you have a food processor you can easily make them much cheaper, as there are many, many recipes available online. Costco sells pitted dates and plain almonds (the two biggest ingredients in most flavors) for a reasonable price.
  • sarahbeth17
    sarahbeth17 Posts: 100 Member
    I haven't tried them yet but Glenny's makes fruit and nut bars for about half the price, and they are only sweetened with honey and gluten free, I LOVE them. and they are about 140 calories depending instead of 200 like the larabars. The cashew and almond bar is my favorite!
  • amberaz
    amberaz Posts: 328 Member
    I eat them and try to always have some in the pantry. I like to eat half about 30 minutes before a workout if it has been a while since my last meal. I don't see anything at all wrong with them. They are probably one of the best "food bars" you can eat.
  • Abrie79
    Abrie79 Posts: 15
    My main concern about them was that knowing that the body doesn't know the difference between naturally occurring sugars and white sugars, my body will still increase in glucose levels and i am prediabetic , if not fully by now :/ I get dizzy and very tired with processed sugars, processed anything really, so i stay away from that or i will never have the energy to workout. I haven't noticed any of those symptoms when i eat a Larabar.

    Corgifan, already got a box of the mini ones today, before i read this lol I wanted a variety and to lessen the temptation of wanting to inhale the whole bar. They are expensive though. $10 at Target, but i won't be eating them every day, so they should last a while.


    Sleepy Texan, i'm a big fan of the Clif bars as well and they pack a lot more protein, but nothing is better than 2-6 ingredients of natural foods, vegan and gluten free. Larabars are on the top of my list. I think chocolate chip tastes better than your avg brownie and i love the taste of the dates.

    I think i'll stick with them on a semi-regular basis and have them right before or after workouts.

    Sarahbeth, i'll be on the look out for those!

    Thanks for all the replies! :)
  • milaxx
    milaxx Posts: 1,122 Member
    I eat them fairly regularly. I don't see it as an indulgence at all. Most of them have less than 6 ingredients and the main one is dates. Once you figure out how to plan the sugar spike into your calorie goal there is no reason not to eat them every day.
  • arc918
    arc918 Posts: 2,037 Member
    I like them, but only eat them from time to time. The real question is whether or not I choose to spend my calories on them.
  • rachrach66
    rachrach66 Posts: 271 Member
    Yummy Apple Pie and Cherry Pie are my favs! I had to split one up eat half of it cause the whole one was gonna put me over my macros. I also love Think Thin Bars.
  • coolsmartygirl
    coolsmartygirl Posts: 299 Member
    I like the protein and energy that think thin bars give me, but the taste isn't always great to me. I tried the tangerine dreamsicle today and only got through half of the bar before I tossed it. I have seen larabars but none of the flavors seemed that great. I'm a chocolate eater.
  • carolynmittens
    carolynmittens Posts: 344
    holy crap yes, the chocolate chip cookie dough larabar is the most delicious indulgence everrrrr. i try not to buy them too often though cause usually i have no will power at all when it comes to larabars. i know they are so high calorie, but i'll go through phases when i'm eating a ton of them (like 2 for a snack several times a week) and miraculously i never gain weight... i'll just end up broke that week! they are on sale at whole foods right now, $1 off for 2... i need to stay far, far away from that sale.
  • lkm111
    lkm111 Posts: 629 Member
    I've never tried one, I do like Luna bars, though. I will have to look out for them!
  • Abrie79
    Abrie79 Posts: 15
    I like the protein and energy that think thin bars give me, but the taste isn't always great to me. I tried the tangerine dreamsicle today and only got through half of the bar before I tossed it. I have seen larabars but none of the flavors seemed that great. I'm a chocolate eater.

    For those of you who are hesitant about buying any flavors, risk the chocolate chip brownie. You won't be sorry.
  • Abrie79
    Abrie79 Posts: 15
    butter fingers :/ didn't mean to post twice.
  • BethanyCee
    BethanyCee Posts: 70
    I just started eating these! I actually really like them. I've been struggling to up my calorie count in a healthy and controlled way, I think these may help. Plus I find them to be very filling.
  • coolsmartygirl
    coolsmartygirl Posts: 299 Member
    I like the protein and energy that think thin bars give me, but the taste isn't always great to me. I tried the tangerine dreamsicle today and only got through half of the bar before I tossed it. I have seen larabars but none of the flavors seemed that great. I'm a chocolate eater.

    For those of you who are hesitant about buying any flavors, risk the chocolate chip brownie. You won't be sorry.

    Didn't see the chocolate chip brownie, but I did find a chocolate chip cookie dough one so I bought it but haven't tried it yet.
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