Energy Bars

[El Diablo]

c,

I don't have any hardcore goals, just trying to stay in pretty good shape, get a little more cut, so focusing on reducing total calories a little bit, but nothing extreme. I'm eating smaller, earlier lunches, which makes me need an afternoon snack. I have fruit, string cheese, and nuts as options, but energy bars are a good option to have sometimes, especially when I'm running around between meetings. If I'm eating one as an afternoon snack, what would you prefer, that Clif Z Bar or the PowerBar Performance (Peanut Butter flavor) below (I don't like powerbars, just picked this as a common example for comparison - please suggest better options)?

Nutrition Facts
Serv Size 65g = 1 bar

Calories 240
Calories From Fat 35
*Percent Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Amount/Serving Percent Daily Values
Total Fat 4g 6%
Saturated Fat 0.5g 3%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 200mg 8%
Potassium 105mg 3%

Amount/Serving Percent Daily Values
Total Carb 42g 14%
Dietary Fiber 2g 9%
Sugars 22g
Other Carb 12g
Protein 10g 20%
Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 100% Calcium 30% Iron 40% Vitamin E 100% Thiamin 100% Riboflavin 100% Niacin 100% Vitamin B6 100% Folate 100% Vitamin B12 100% Biotin 100% Pantothenic Acid 100% Phosphorus 35% Magnesium 35% Zinc 35% Copper 40% Chromium 20% Chloride <6%
Ingredients

C2 MAX CARBOHYDRATE BLEND (ORGANIC EVAPORATED CANE JUICE SYRUP, MALTODEXTRIN, FRUCTOSE)*, OAT BRAN*, MILK PROTEIN ISOLATE*, RICE CRISPS (MILLED RICE, RICE BRAN, ROSEMARY EXTRACT)*, SALTED PEANUT BUTTER*, BROWN RICE FLOUR*, PEANUT FLOUR*, VEGETABLE GLYCERIN*, SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, SALT*, ALMOND BUTTER*

CONTAINS ALMOND, MILK, PEANUT AND SOY INGREDIENTS. MADE ON EQUIPMENT THAT ALSO PROCESSES WHEAT. 267882

* NATURAL INGREDIENT.

[PITTM]

tiger's milk bar's ftw.

[kerowo]

I like the Cliff Mojo Peanut Butter and Pretzel bar but can't buy them in bulk or I eat them in bulk.

[govman6767]

Army has a good one called HOOHAH bars !!!!! Apple cinnamon rules !!!

[cbloom]

[ QUOTE ]
c,

I don't have any hardcore goals, just trying to stay in pretty good shape, get a little more cut, so focusing on reducing total calories a little bit, but nothing extreme. I'm eating smaller, earlier lunches, which makes me need an afternoon snack. I have fruit, string cheese, and nuts as options, but energy bars are a good option to have sometimes, especially when I'm running around between meetings. If I'm eating one as an afternoon snack, what would you prefer, that Clif Z Bar or the PowerBar Performance (Peanut Butter flavor) below (I don't like powerbars, just picked this as a common example for comparison - please suggest better options)?



[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I get that you're not hard core, and like if you want to eat a candy bar once in a while that's not a horrible thing, just don't eat it thinking that you're eating something healthy.

It's a pet peeve of mine that there all these things like the Chewy Quaker granola bars that pretend to be healthy & whole grain and all that and they're really just candy bars.

That power bar looks pretty bad too, again the #1 ingredient is sugar. I think consuming anything where such a high % of the calories are from sugar is pretty bad (but again there's nothing wrong with eating some dessert once in a while).

If you want an actually healthy snack, you can get little packets of trail mix which is not too bad; basically nuts & dried fruit; a bit heavy on the fat & sugar bat at least it's not some kind of syrup.

The best snack bars that I've found are the "Zone" bars. For example :

A balance of 40% carbohydrate, 30% each of protein and dietary fat. Your complete satisfaction guaranteed.

Ingredients
Isolated Soy Protein (Soy Protein Nuggets), Rice Flour (Soy Protein Nuggets), Malt (Soy Protein Nuggets), Salt (Soy Protein Nuggets), Corn Syrup, Sugar (Chocolate Coating), Palm Kernel Oils (Chocolate Coating), Cocoa (Chocolate Coating (Cocoa)), Potassium Carbonate (Chocolate Coating (Cocoa)), Nonfat Milk (Chocolate Coating), Sorbitan Monostearate (Chocolate Coating), Lecithin (emulsifiers) (Chocolate Coating), Vanilla (Chocolate Coating), Milk Protein Isolate, Cocoa Butter, Sunflower Oil (Less Than 2%), Xanthan Gum (Less Than 2%), Natural Flavor (Less Than 2%), Soy Lecithin (Less Than 2%), Ascorbic Acid (Less Than 2%), Magnesium Oxide (Less Than 2%), Ascorbyl Palmitate (Less Than 2%), dl-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate (Less Than 2%), Niacinamide (Less Than 2%), Zinc Oxide (Less Than 2%), Fish Oil (Less Than 2%), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Less Than 2%), Calcium Pantothenate (Less Than 2%), Riboflavin (Less Than 2%), Vitamin A Palmitate (Less Than 2%), Thiamine Mononitrate (Less Than 2%), Chromium Chloride (Less Than 2%), Folic Acid (Less Than 2%), Sodium Selenite (Less Than 2%), Sodium Molybdate (Less Than 2%), Biotin (Less Than 2%), Cyanobalamin (Less Than 2%), Traces of Peanuts

Warnings
Anyone who is pregnant, nursing, has a health problem, or is seeking to lose more than 20% of their starting weight should consult a physician before starting this or any other nutritional program. For maximum shelf life, keep the ZonePerfect Nutrition Bar below 75°.

. Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 bar (50g); Servings per container: 12
Calories: 210; Calories from fat: 60

(Amount per serving is followed by % of daily value)
Total fat: 7g, 11%
Saturated fat: 4.5g, 23%
Cholesterol: 0mg, 0%
Total carbohydrate: 22g, 7%
Dietary fiber: 1g, 2%
Sugars: 13g
Protein: 16g

Still full of bad stuff but at least they have more protein so the sugar is a smaller % of the calories. Definitely shouldn't be a staple food but okay for once in a while when you can't manage a meal.

[cbloom]

You know how everything has to put "Calories from Fat" on the label now? It would be cool if they put "Calories from Sugar" on too (where sugar = any simple carb).

ps. I just noticed "CalorieKing" does this but they don't have most of these bars in the database.

For example, this is a Quaker granola bar :

Calorie Breakdown

This table shows you where the calories in this food come from.
Calories from Fat 27 (26%)
Calories from Carbohydrate 72 (70%)
Calories from Protein 4 (4%)
Calories from Alcohol 0 (0%)

This is real trail mix :

Calorie Breakdown

This table shows you where the calories in this food come from.
Calories from Fat 419 (55%)
Calories from Carbohydrate 262 (34%)
Calories from Protein 83 (11%)
Calories from Alcohol - (0%)

[Mat Sklansky]

Lara Bar.

It's an acquired taste, certainly. I have to sayn that the effects are worthwhile, however. a review

[Rootabager]

Screw energy bars. You guys need to get some brad booth sponsored poker water. It will give you everything you need. It contains the goja berry. Known for it's mystical properties.

[AZK]

[ QUOTE ]
Lara Bar.

It's an acquired taste, certainly. I have to sayn that the effects are worthwhile, however. a review

[/ QUOTE ]

Cannot recommend these enough. Stop eating all the processed junk and eat these. They taste good and are actually good for you. Somewhat lacking in protein so you might want to throw some in, but otherwise these things are amazing.

[Troll_Inc]

Kashi GoLean

http://www.epinions.com/content_75351101060

Tastes pretty good.

A couple of added bonuses:

1. It sits in your stomach like a huge meal would and you aren't hungry for at least several hours thereafter.

2. High fiber, so if you drink lots of water you will feel better due to faster colon evacuation, lowered colon cancer risk, and your poops will float. There is nothing cooler than floaters.