FitSugar

You Asked: Energy Bar For a Meal?

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:00:48 -0800

Dear Fit,
I just got off the phone with a friend and I need some advice. She says for breakfast, she eats one Balance Bar. I know some bars are fortified with vitamins, but this doesn't seem like enough to me - calorie- or nutrition-wise. What do you think? Is it OK to eat an energy bar for a meal?
-Concerned Friend

This is an excellent question because I think many people grab a bar for a quick meal because it's quick, easy, and fairly inexpensive. Is it enough, though? To find out what I think read more.

Replacing a meal with an energy bar is not a good idea. For one, most bars contain only about 200 calories. That calorie amount is suitable for a snack, not a meal. Another reason is that those bars were designed to give someone energy before or after a workout, so they tend to be high in carbs and low in fiber. That translates to quick energy at first, but your friend probably feels tired and hungry soon after. The low fiber issue may also affect regularity. The bottom line is that energy bars are not designed to replace a well-balanced meal, since they won't offer the same kind of nutrition. Even the ones that are fortified with vitamins and minerals only offer about 25 percent of your RDI, which isn't very much.

I think it's best to ask your friend why she's only eating an energy bar for breakfast. Is she short on time? Is she trying to lose weight? Does she think it's healthy? Once you find out her reasoning, you can suggest healthy breakfast ideas that suit her needs. There are plenty of tasty options that are high in protein and fiber to offer sustained energy, are easy to make, and won't break the calorie bank.

Snickers Energy Bars?

FitSugar — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:30:06 -0700

Clif, Balance, and Luna are a few of my favorite brands when choosing energy bars, but the popular packed-with-peanuts candy bar company wants to get in on the action too with their Snickers Marathon bars. I know what you're thinking. Snickers? Making energy bars? Yep. They were designed to give good tasting energy to active, healthy people, and they come in three varieties - Energy, Nutrition, and Protein.

I find it ironic that the ingredients couldn't be found anywhere on the entire website. Wouldn't health-minded people want to know what they're eating? Seems a little sneaky. Then when I did some research, I discovered these bars contain corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup - just what I expected from a food that has Snickers on the label. The website did include the nutritional labels, so to see how these bars measure up, read more.

	Calories	Sat. Fat (g)	Chol. (mg)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Sugars (g)	Protein (g)
Energy: Multigrain Crunch	220	2.5	5	210	31	3	17	10
Energy: Chewy Chocolate Peanut	210	3	5	200	26	5	15	13
Energy: Chewy Peanut Butter	210	3	5	240	25	4	15	14
Nutrition: Dark Chocolate Crunch	150	2.5	5	140	22	7	9	11
Nutrition: Honey & Toasted Almond	150	2	5	125	22	7	10	10
Protein: Caramel Nut Rush	290	5	5	190	40	10	22	20
Protein: Chocolate Nut Burst	280	3	5	340	37	11	18	21

I was wondering, have any of you tried these Snickers Energy bars?

Sports Energy Products Explained: Drinks, Powders, and Tablets

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:47:52 -0700

In order to sustain your energy for long workouts, you need to refuel with some kind of sporty energy product. Sport nutrition products are manufactured in so many forms these days - sport drinks, powders, energy bars, goos, and chews - so how do you know which one is right for you? Hopefully I can ease your confusion starting with sport drinks, powders, and tablets.

Popular brands of sport drinks include Gatorade, Accelerade, and Powerade. These pre-made, often neon-colored drinks contain carbs that you need for quick energy, and sodium and water that you need for hydration. A proper sport drink contains about 15 grams of carbs and 110 mg of sodium per eight-ounce serving. You can also buy powders you mix with water to make sport drinks. You only really need these drinks if you are working out for an hour or longer or are sweating profusely during your workout. I wouldn't sip these while running on the treadmill for 30 minutes. The sugar isn't necessary for short workouts, and as long as you hydrate with water before and after exercising, you're good to go.

What about Smartwater? To find out read more.

There are also beverages that contain electrolytes and no sugars, such as Smartwater or Function Water. Or if you want a little flavor but not a ton of sugar, NUUN tablets can be dissolved in your water. Electrolyte-enhanced water will help prevent dehydration but help your energy levels by providing glucose (aka sugar, which is turned into fuel for your muscles).

So here's the bottom line. If your workout is under an hour, drink plain water before and after. If you're working out and sweating a lot, sip electrolyte-enhanced water every 10 to 15 minutes while working out. If you're working out for an extended period of time, and are also sweating out fluids, sip a sports drink every 10 to 15 minutes.

How Often Do You Eat Energy Bars?

FitSugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:30:00 -0700

I like to have a few energy bars on hand, tucked away in my desk drawer or the glove box in my car, in case hunger hits unexpectedly. They tend to be about 200 calories, so they make a perfect snack and are much better for you than candy bars, but I don't eat them regularly.

If I am running after work and have no late afternoon snack, I will crack open an energy bar. I'd say I eat two a month. I have a friend who munches them almost daily to power her before-breakfast workouts. What about you?

Food Review: thinkGreen Peanut Butter Chocolate Bar

FitSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 05:50:40 -0700

When it comes to meeting my daily nutritional requirements, I like to eat my vitamins and minerals in whole foods. Occasionally, I fall short on this. I also often need a quick, easily digestible pre-workout snack. I thought I would attempt to satisfy these two needs with the thinkGreen bar, since the label reads "over one tablespoon of power greens."

The ingredient list contains some very green things: spirulina (green algae), spinach and broccoli powder, green tea powder, as well as powders from other veggies and fruits like beets, carrots, and apples.

To see how all these powders mix with chocolate and peanut butter and nutritional details for the bar, read more.

Here is the list of ingredients: Date paste, coating (evaporated cane juice, cocoa butter, chocolate liquor, whole milk powder, soy lecithin, pure natural vanilla), brown rice syrup, peanut butter chips (evaporated cane juice, palm kernel oil, whey powder, partially defatted peanut flour, peanut butter, whole milk solids, soya lecithin, salt), raisins, thinkgreen Superfood (apple pectin, lecithin, organic alfalfa grass juice powder, organic spirulina, chlorella (cracked cell), brown rice germ, spinach leaf powder, broccoli powder, carrot powder, acerola berry juice powder, beet juice powder, green tea extract, grape seed and skin extract, parsley leaf powder, pea powder), raisin paste, peanuts, soy protein isolate, ground peanuts, cocoa soy crisps (soy protein isolate, calcium carbonate, cocoa powder), peanut flour, cocoa powder, honey, chocolate liquor, natural flavors. Contains soy, peanuts and milk.

Serving Size	One bar (50 g)
Calories	200
Total Fat	8 g
Saturated Fat	3 g
Cholesterol	0 mg
Sodium	65 mg
Carbs	28 g
Fiber	2 g
Sugar	21 g
Protein	6 g
Potassium	170 mg
Calcium	10% RDI

The list of ingredients is super long, but similar to the simple Larabar, the base of the thinkGreen Bar is dates. The bar certainly tasted of chocolate and peanut butter, but it was very dry. I definitely needed water to get it down. The dryness factor would keep me from taking this bar on a long bike ride. I ate the bar in the late afternoon while carpooling children about town, and then ran an hour later. The thinkGreen bar kept me energized for a 50-minute pre-dinner run. In the end though, I think I will continue to work on eating my greens, actual spinach and broccoli rather than powdered versions of them. This bar will not become my mainstay energy bar, but I certainly won't avoid it either.

Have you tried this?

Food Review: Dr. Melina Protein Bars

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 06:00:00 -0700

When it comes to pre-workout snacks, I like to mix things up, so when I spotted a new-to-me brand, Dr. Melina Protein Bars, at my corner store the other day, I snapped one up.

I was excited to learn that the brand was created by a female doctor who resides in Sugar's fair city of San Francisco, an internist and nutritionist named Dr. Melina Jampolis. To find out how they taste, read more.

These protein-packed bars come in four flavors: chocolate peanut, double chocolate acai, lemon raspberry, and cinnamon almond, which I tried. Fans of Luna Bars will love Dr. Melina bars too; they're pretty comparable in terms of flavor, sweetness (note the hint of icing), texture, and nutrition.

The bar I tried had a bit more crunch than Luna, sort of like a Rice Krispie treat, which was a nice touch. The cinnamon and almond flavors tasted very natural and not overly sugary, and with 14 grams of protein, the bar left me feeling very satisfied. Check out the chart below to see how it compares with a similarly flavored Chai Tea Luna Bar.

	Dr. Melina Cinnamon Almond	Luna Bar Chai Tea
Serving Size	One bar (45g)	One bar (48g)
Calories	180	190
Total Fat	6 g	5 g
Saturated Fat	2 g	2.5 g
Cholesterol	5 mg	0 mg
Sodium	80 mg	95 mg
Carbs	21 g	26 g
Fiber	5 g	3 g
Sugars	11 g	12 g
Protein	14 g	9 g

Aside from a few key differences, these bars are pretty comparable. Interested? You can buy Dr. Melina bars by the box here. If you've tried this or any other flavors, let me know what you think.

New Tastes Coming in Energy Bars: Luna and Lara

FitSugar — Fri, 08 May 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Both my favorite brands of energy bars are coming out with new tastes this Spring. Luna Bar has updated its recipe, and Larabar will be debuting three new flavors soon. For me, and the stash of energy bars I keep in my purse and gym bag, this is exciting news.

The Luna Bar recipe revamp includes a new vitamin blend to better address women's nutritional needs. One addition is vitamin D to support calcium absorption. The flavor and texture have both been tweaked, and I feel these changes are for the better. Look for the blue leaf tag that says "new recipe" to try Lara Bar's updated flavor. You should be able to find the "new recipe" bars everywhere by mid-June. Also check out the brand new bar, White Chocolate Macadamia - I found it tasty.

Learn what is happening on the flavor front at Larabar when you read more.

You should expect to see these three new Larabar flavors in stores soon:

Peanut Butter and Jelly - tastes just like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, minus the crust, so my daughters love this flavor.
Tropical Fruit Tart - reminds me of a piña colada, but chewy with a bright refreshing flavor.
German Chocolate Cake Jocalat bar - tastes a bit like a brownie, but not as sweet.

Out of the three new flavors, the Tropical Fruit Tart is my favorite. Unfortunately the Jocalat bar did not remind me at all of German chocolate cake, but is was certainly chocolaty. Are you looking forward to trying these new tastes from Luna and Larabar?

Build Your Own Energy Bar With YouBar.com

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:00:00 -0800

I'm a fan of energy bars for pre- or post-workout snacks, but with this whole peanut butter salmonella scare, it worries me that some of my favorite bars have been recalled. If you've been a little nervous too, then you'll love YouBar.com. You choose the ingredients to build your own energy bar, so you know it's safe and a mix of all your favorite ingredients. You choose a base, such as almond or cashew butter. Then you choose a protein if you want, such as soy. Then you get to choose up to two kinds of seeds or nuts, like hempseed, flaxseed, or sunflower seeds. Then choose up to two fruits, including goji berries, dried apricots, or dried cherries. Then pick a sweetener, such as clover honey, and up to four seasonings such as cocoa, cinnamon, peppermint oil, or ginger. Then finish by choosing up to two grains, such as rice cereal or granola.

After your have created your perfect bar, the site supplies the nutritional info on your YouBar. Plus, you can name your bar anything you want, and when you receive them in the mail, the wrapper has the name you've chosen. Cute, huh? They cost about $3 a bar, so a case of 13 costs $39. Not only is it a brilliant snack idea, but would also make a great gift or wedding favor.

Reminds me of Me & Goji customized cereal.

Healthy Recipe: Easy Whole Grain, Fruit, and Nut Energy Bars

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:00:00 -0800

The ongoing peanut butter recall has claimed some of my go-to snack bars, but the good news is I've been inspired to get more creative in my kitchen. This recipe for homemade energy bars is truly a cinch and allows you to be as flexible as possible with whatever you have in your cabinets. I used almond butter, chopped dried apricots, and cashews in my batch, but the possibilities are endless.

Next time, I will use a little more nut butter because the honey seemed to overpower its taste, and the bars didn't hold together as well as I would have liked. Other than that, they were delicious and a great pre-workout snack. Eat them straight from the fridge or warm them up before eating for a gooier treat.

To see the recipe, read more.

Easy Whole Grain, Fruit, and Nut Energy Bars
Wellsphere

Ingredients

3 cups puffed whole-grain cereal (e.g., puffed wheat or Kashi)
1/2 cup chopped nuts or seeds (or a combination)
1/2 (or up to 3/4) cup chopped dried fruit (one fruit, or a combination)
3 tablespoons ground flaxseed
1/3 cup creamy nut or seed butter (e.g. peanut, cashew, almond, soy; natural style is fine)
1/2 cup honey (or brown rice syrup, light molasses, sorghum, or maple syrup)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x9-inch square metal baking pan foil; spray with nonstick cooking spray.
In a large bowl mix the cereal, nuts, dried fruit and (optional) flaxseed; set aside.
Place the nut butter and honey in small heavy saucepan. Bring to boil over medium-high heat, whisking constantly for about 1 minute until bubbly and smooth.
Pour hot mixture over cereal mixture in bowl, stirring to blend (mix well to coat all of the cereal).
Transfer mixture to prepared pan. Using a large square of wax paper or foil, firmly press mixture down into pan to firmly compact.
Bake until just golden around edges, about 10 minutes.

Cool completely. Remove bars using foil liner and cut into 16 bars or squares.

Makes 16 servings.

Print recipe with images | without images

Some Peanut Butter-Based Bars Are Safe, Others Are Not

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:30:00 -0800

When it comes to pre-workout snacking, energy bars are up there on my list of favorite quick fixes that get me through my workout. After hearing that some bars have been recalled because they could be tainted with salmonella, I was paranoid to touch any of the bars I had previously purchased. Ignoring the products isn't getting me anywhere, so I've been looking into which ones are safe for me to eat and which should go in the trash, once and for all. Now I can feel OK snacking on certain bars without any sense of salmonella doom.

The FDA developed a handy widget that allows you to scan by product group, and in my case I was interested in snack bars. I was bummed when I first saw LaraBar on the list, but after clicking on the brand name I saw that only one of its products has been affected (Peanut Butter Blisscrisp snack bars). Check out the widget for the items that you should avoid; you'll see familiar names like Clif, Luna, and Zone on the list. See the rundown when you read more.

Source