Are protein bars even good for you?

puggleperson
puggleperson Posts: 740 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I'm headed to the store. I wanna pick up some protein bars for breakfast..... OR SHOULD I EVEN BOTHER???

All the protein bars are so high in Sugar, Crabs and calories...

I tried Promax lower sugar but it still 9 grams of sugar..

Help! What should I get..if any???
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Replies

  • terrie_k
    terrie_k Posts: 406 Member
    I personally don't believe in them.. like you said, look at all the sugar! I would rather eat some cottage cheese, less calories, so you can eat more, and tons of protein!
  • cavewoman15
    cavewoman15 Posts: 278 Member
    i take CLIFF bars with me on the road. i know when i travel i always eat bad, and airports have pretty terrible food options. seems to be a good alternative to those bad options, but i'm not sure i would endorse them over regular food in a regular schedule.
  • Fit_Canuck
    Fit_Canuck Posts: 788 Member
    I personally don't believe in them.. like you said, look at all the sugar! I would rather eat some cottage cheese, less calories, so you can eat more, and tons of protein!

    *HUG*
  • SinkTheBismarck
    SinkTheBismarck Posts: 133
    Watch out for those rich in crabs.
  • andreacord
    andreacord Posts: 928
    i take CLIFF bars with me on the road. i know when i travel i always eat bad, and airports have pretty terrible food options. seems to be a good alternative to those bad options, but i'm not sure i would endorse them over regular food in a regular schedule.

    This. If I'm too busy to stop for an actual meal I take clif or luna bars, but if I can plan I come up with some way better options.
  • chicago_dad
    chicago_dad Posts: 357
    ANSI Flurry Bars. But ONLY consume in a pinch, when real food is unavailable.
  • laurajordana
    laurajordana Posts: 48 Member
    I made my own this weekend. they're awesome!! recipe from here: http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=541619

    (don't freak out about the nutrition facts, those are for the entire batch)

    P.S. the nutrition facts per serving for mine came out to:

    Calories 197
    Carbs 28
    Fat 6
    Protein 10
    Sodium 52
    Sugar 7
  • Carri1
    Carri1 Posts: 82 Member
    High in Crabs? Ewww...j/k I can read typonese! I wouldn't bother with the bars...to me they are a glorified candy bar. Try to eat what your grandmother would eat. Fruit, cheese, nuts...Just my opinion.
  • Fit_Canuck
    Fit_Canuck Posts: 788 Member
    Watch out for those rich in crabs.

    And carbs are bad why? :)
  • Darlingir
    Darlingir Posts: 437
    I know they have saved me from binges when I needed food and was on the go
  • taunto
    taunto Posts: 6,420 Member
    Try a trail mix (not one with crapton of salt) or make a quick protein shake at home. It takes literally like 30 seconds to pour a scoop into a glass, some milk (or water) and stir it. Much healthier and cheaper.
  • jamie1888
    jamie1888 Posts: 1,704 Member
    Almost every bar out there is full of crap as you suspect! THE best bar out there nutritionally (IMO) is Quest Protein Bars. They can be found at some health stores or bought online.

    No other bar compares to it nutritionally!
    Low carb
    Low sugar
    High fiber
    High protein
    Gluten Free
    minimal ingredients

    Oh, and they taste AMAZING!

    Buy them from questproteinbar.com or bodybuilding.com..or you might be lucky enough to find them at a local store.
  • dsjohndrow
    dsjohndrow Posts: 1,820 Member
    They can have a place, but if they are a a diet, eventually they will be part of the failure. There are a lot of foods that are supposed to be healthy, but they are not.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/dsjohndrow/view/foods-that-are-not-as-healthy-as-you-might-think-207984
  • SinkTheBismarck
    SinkTheBismarck Posts: 133
    Watch out for those rich in crabs.

    And carbs are bad why? :)

    Read what I said. Read what she said. I was just making fun of a typo. ;)
  • chachita7
    chachita7 Posts: 996 Member
    Those are a no else is sight kinda thing - perhaps to keep in your purse in case of a hunger emergency --- but when you weight the protein vs carbs in them they are not the best choice for anything else.
  • lauralizzy829
    lauralizzy829 Posts: 215 Member
    I honestly eat them for bkfast bc I have 0 time in the morning. And I am not hungry in the am so I'd rather have a 180 Luna Bar that fills me up to lunch. Its convenient. That's the thing. If I'd have time I'd have ezekial bread with pb or oatmeal with berries. But I do not have that time.
  • MMAQueen
    MMAQueen Posts: 279 Member
    There are some good protien bars out there. costco sells 2 kinds around here that have more protien then carbs. they are good in a pinch when you don't have time for a proper breakfast, but will never be better then real food.

    Detour has some really tasty bars, and some of them have more protien then carbs.

    A lot of bars hide the sugar as sugar alcohol, i have no idea if that has the same effect as regular sugar., but it seams suspicious to me.
  • Fit_Canuck
    Fit_Canuck Posts: 788 Member
    There are some good protien bars out there. costco sells 2 kinds around here that have more protien then carbs. they are good in a pinch when you don't have time for a proper breakfast, but will never be better then real food.

    Detour has some really tasty bars, and some of them have more protien then carbs.

    A lot of bars hide the sugar as sugar alcohol, i have no idea if that has the same effect as regular sugar., but it seams suspicious to me.

    Sugar alcohol can be a very strong....sorry to say it...laxative
  • aproc
    aproc Posts: 1,033 Member
    They are basically candy bars. Just with more protein. Not saying I don't eat them a lot, but just making that point to not be fooled into thinking it's a healthy alternative.

    Quest bars are the only good ones I've come across but they can get a bit expensive unfortunately.
  • medaglia_06
    medaglia_06 Posts: 282 Member
    Watch out for those rich in crabs.

    And carbs are bad why? :)

    Good question, I usually have a hard time getting all of my carbs in for the day...
  • Brunner26_2
    Brunner26_2 Posts: 1,152
    Don't listen to anyone who says to shave your protein bar get rid of the crabs.
  • finz96
    finz96 Posts: 102
    I love Pure Protein bars. 19-20 grams of protein and only 2 grams of sugar. :)
  • ready2tryagain42
    ready2tryagain42 Posts: 202
    I only eat them when I am traveling. Haven't in fact eaten any in probably 2-3 months.
  • Kerri_is_so_very
    Kerri_is_so_very Posts: 999 Member
    I made my own :)
  • Picola1984
    Picola1984 Posts: 1,133
    I love Pure Protein bars. 19-20 grams of protein and only 2 grams of sugar. :)

    I love the coconut vanilla one mmmmm

    Balls, I've just realised I'm thinking of Protein Pow
  • izzydino
    izzydino Posts: 254 Member
    Quest bars.... i have a hard time swallowing them.... i bought a box and now have to eat them... i really dread these :(
  • rdy2lose
    rdy2lose Posts: 106
    I spent a lot of time in the aisle with the protein bars, they had so many calories and such a variation in the amount of protein. Then I went over to the aisle with the vitamins and they had reduced sugar Detour protien bars. The calories are still higher than I would like @170, but the protein content is 15 grams. The carbs are 17gr, 1 from sugar, 2 gr fiber and 14 from sugar alcohol...

    They aren't bad and I use them at 2:30 or 3:00 to get me through to dinner. I might try cottage cheese to see if that works.
  • arykh24
    arykh24 Posts: 64
    I love the Atkins bars!!! Yum!
  • Esme_32
    Esme_32 Posts: 14
    Luna bars if any for me
  • slc78
    slc78 Posts: 1
    it depends on your goals. if you are trying to build muscle, you need to increase your protein intake, sometimes beyond what a turkey sandwich for lunch and chicken breast for supper can provide. if used to "supplement" your nutrition, they can be very useful. but they should never replace your "regular food" intake.

    as others have noted, there are a lot of choices, just choose the one (or none) that help you achieve your fitness goals.

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