The market for bars is super saturated now, with so many claiming to be a healthy choice. It’s no wonder that people turn to them to replace their breakfast, while thinking they’re “being good”.

Is it the best snack choice? Absolutely not.
Are they okay in a pinch? Sure, every once in a while.

• Don’t make this a daily habit, if you can help it. Energy and protein bars are not a replacement for a meal, even if it claims to have as much as 20g of protein in a bar.
• If you find yourself reaching for one when you want something sweet, then it’s basically a glorified candy bar. Make sure you read the ingredient list (it should be short), and pay attention to how much sugar is in it.
• No matter how healthy the bar claims to be, it’s still processed and meant to be hyper-palatable. You’re much better off making your own snacks at home [or better yet, increasing the size/changing the balance of your meals if you’re not feeling satisfied.]

Consider packing a bar if:

• you know you’re going to be on-the-move, and have a long break between meals. This shouldn’t be an everyday occurrence, but life happens, and sometimes you need to rely on convenience. 
• a particular workout in your training requires quick/simple carbohydrates to fuel you.
• you feel yourself crashing between meals, and need a quick fix. [If this is true, then it’s time to take a closer look at what your meals look like!]

I always have bars on hand, in case I need them (see blog photo above), but I rarely need them. The focus should always be on your meals/whole food first, and then supplement as necessary.

Additional questions? Ask away!