2012 Resolution - #14 Be picky and careful - Energy bars

2012 RESOLUTION

#14  Be picky and careful - Energy bars

Do you eat Energy bars? Be very careful what energy bars you eat. Most of them are nothing else than "candy" bars.

What are energy bars?

Energy bars are supplemental bars containing cereals and other high energy foods targeted at people that require quick energy, but do not have time for a meal. They are different from energy drinks, which contain caffeine, whereas bars provide food energy.

It is widely recognised that individuals should seek out low glycemic products that have a slow release of energy over a longer period of time.

Truly effective energy bars need to provide fast-acting carbohydrates to facilitate ultra quick energy delivery. They also need a generous glycemic content to help ensure that a body is properly fuelled when it needs it most.The purpose of a energy bar is to remedy fatique and improve concentration at vital times.

Some energy bars are dressed up to look like they are good for you when in fact they are anything but. When you are trying to eat well, it can be maddening when unhealthful impostors - filled with sugar, fat and sodium - undo your good work. Here is how to spot them.

Just because they come in a tiny package that says they are loaded with vitamin and minerals, energy bars are not necessarily a healthy choice. In fact, a lot of them a nothing more than glorified candy bars.

They can be packed with enriched white flour, high fructose syrup and other sweeteners. Many are high in saturated fat too and low in fiber. And if you eat them in addition to meals, that are an extra calories in your day, which most of us can not afford.

Tips for energy bars

• If you are replacing a meal with an energy bar, choose one with 200 to 300 calories. For snack shoot for 150 calories or fewer.
• Opt for a bas whose ingredient list is short and begins with a whole grain such as brown rice, whole wheat, whole oat flour.
• Make sure your pick meets at least two of these requirements:fewer then 15 grams of sugar, less than 2 grams of saturated fat, at least 3 grams of fiber, and at least 5 grams of protein.
• If you can not find one containing that much protein, add it yourself. Spread a low calorie bar with a thin layer of peanut butter, or enjoy a glass of low fat milk or a piece of low fat string cheese with it. Adding in the protein will help you feel more satisfied longer.