As I waited in the longest line at the grocery store, which meant standing in the snack aisle, there was plenty of time to check out the well-stocked area full of various bars. Naturally, I picked up some new products that looked interesting and began reading the list of ingredients. While my interest was piqued by a new Quaker bar that has 35 percent of my daily recommended fiber intake and contains healthy omega-3s, what I saw in the list of ingredients caused me to put the box back where I found it. To find out what I saw, read more.
There was partially hydrogenated oil near the beginning of the ingredient list, as with several of the other products I skimmed over. This means there's trans fat in these seemingly healthy snacks — you know, the stuff that can cause colon cancer, raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, and decrease HDL (good) cholesterol levels. It's tricky that products can claim to have zero trans fat, when the inclusion of partially hydrogenated oil indicates that's not the case.
When you're shopping, don't assume that something is healthy simply because it says so on the front of the box. Get the whole story by turning the product over and giving the ingredient list a quick scan. Choose bars that have short ingredient lists with recognizable components. Check your cabinets — is there trans fat lurking in your snack bars?
Sofa Workshop
I don't eat granola bars, so no.. But I always avoid products with those nasty ingredients. It's good for people to know what they are putting into their bodies.
1Good to know. Thanks Fit.
2I've always looked at nutrition labels but only recently started looking at ingredients lists more carefully.
I was looking forward to trying these bars but now probably won't. They are a little high in Weight Watcher points to begin with so thats why I hadn't tried them yet.
What shocks me is the high fructose corn syrup in Fiber One yogurt, right at the beginning (2nd or 3rd ingredient) of the ingredients list! And once I tasted it wow, it was way too sweet. Won't be buying that again.
3I used to buy quaker products for my daughter and then like you thought I should see what's in there, sure enough almost all their products are full of crap, I make my own now.
4I don't eat granola bars either. I prefer to eat just plain oatmeal for breakfast, but if I did want a granola bar I'd probably make them myself. They're not that tough to make on your own and they are a LOT cheaper than the ones you can buy at the store. Alton Brown had a good recipe for some homemade granola bars on "Good Eats" once...I think it was fairly low calorie and it didn't have partially hydrogenated oil in it.
5The only granola bars I have found by Quaker that do not have trans fats or high fructose corn syrup are the Quaker Simple Harvest All natural chewy granola bars. They come in dark chocolate chunk and trail mix. They are sooo good and healthy! All natural ingredients! Look for those.
6I eat granola bars pretty much every day (I'm a college student!) but I definitely prefer South Beach. A little pricy, but they're worth it
7NOOOO! I love these granola bars! Urgh!
8they make you fart
9i recently noticed this too, that's why when i do eat granola bars, i only eat kashi bars or luna bars.
10The only reason why brands are allowed to put stuff like "OMG THIS IS SO GOOD FOR YOU WITH 500% VITAMINS A-Z" is because they struck a deal with congress when they were ordered to put nutritional info on the back. I've learned to not even pay attention to the packaging and instantly examine the back. Yeah, I get funny looks from lazy people at the store, but I sort of enjoy stickin it to the companies who think consumers are too stupid and lazy to check out what crappy ingredients are really inside.
11You know what they say... rat poison is 99% good food.
12I've unfortunately had to stop looking for this stuff after I became very anemic. I try to get most of my iron from meat, certain vegetables, and iron supplements, but I also buy some high-iron snacks... one of them being granola bars with partially hydrogenated oil. Eh, you can't win them all, I guess!
13Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.