The Scoop on Protein Bars
The Good & the Bad about Protein Bars and the BEST ones’ to eat!
We live in a world of quick and easy eating. Protein bars have started to be a staple in lots of our diets and the questions are “are they good for you?”, “should you eat one everyday?”, “what are the best kinds to eat?”….all of these questions and more answered below!
Protein bars can be a very beneficial healthy and quick option when you are on the go but not all protein bars are created equal and so we have a few tips below to help you navigate your choice…
Pay attention to serving size – If you are eating this bar as a “snack” in between meals then it should be around 30g of carbs, 7g of protein and 5g of fiber. Maybe if you are eating a bar that is higher in these things you cut it in half!
Watch for HIGH fiber – Of course fiber is good for us and it helps to keep us regular but be careful of high fiber protein bars because they can cause GI distress, you are better off getting your fiber through real whole foods.
What is the fat source? – You want to make sure the fat source in your protein bar is recognizable. A few great examples of GOOD fat sources are almonds, cashews and pumpkin seeds to name a few.
The fewer the ingredients the Better! – If your go to protein bar has a long list of ingredients that you can’t read…you may want to peak at our list below and try something new!
Consider the kind of protein listed – You want to make sure the protein in the bar aligns with your dietary needs a few that are common but can very from person to person based on sensitivities – whey, collagen, chickpeas, pea protein. This doesn’t mean one is better than the other but be aware of WHAT the protein is within your bar.
Low amount of sugar – Look for labels with LOW sugar!
Now that you have a few of our tips lets give you a few ideas on some REALLY great bars we love!
- Healthy Warrior Superfood Bars
- Go Macro Bars
- KIND Bars
- RX Bars
- Perfect Food Bars
In regards to eating protein bars everyday we strongly believe that you want to get as much of your nutrients from real whole food, but the above bars are great a few times a week when you are on the go and need a quick snack.
Below are a few options of real whole foods with higher protein that can give you a boost in your day without as many calories:
- 1 Cup of Plain Greek Yogurt
- 5 Hard Boiled Egg Whites
- 2 ounces of Grass Fed Jerky
- 3 ounces of Grilled Chicken and 2 tablespoons of hummus
- 1 Cup of Edamame
