Energy Bars - Candy Bar or Good Diet Snack?

Energy bars are everywhere these days - all with corresponding claims that they'll replace your meals and help you see weight loss faster than ever before.

Just how accurate are these claims though?

If you flip the protein bar or energy bar over and read the label, you'll find that you have an endless amount of chemicals, sugars, processed trans fat (the really bad ones), and other ingredients that are not going to do anything for your weight loss efforts.

Unfortunately though, many people fall for these claims and devour these bars as if they're the perfect diet food - when in fact, they're eating little more than a regular candy bar.

Common sense says chocolate bars are definitely not going to help you lose weight, so what makes you think an protein and energy bar will?

For the most part, the vast majority of these bars are just junk food in disguise, so it's essential that you are able to separate which ones will help with weight loss, and which ones won't.

For example, just a while ago I didn't have any food on hand and needed a meal - fast.

The only thing around was a convenience stores, so I decided going with a Slim Fast bar would be a better option than my other favorite bar, Oh Henry (obviously tasty, but not a great option for the waistline).

Slim fast bars are, after all, marketed as being the healthy alternative for those looking to lose weight, so it seemed like a good option.

Wrong.

Very wrong.

After quickly eating up the bar, I flipped over the wrapper to see what the ingredient listing was - and it was then that I saw the damage that had been done.

First things first. The initial ingredient (and most concentrated) that I saw was - you guess it - corn syrup.

If you're new to nutrition and fitness, corn syrup is essentially one of the biggest contributors of the obesity problem we're facing today.

Next up on the ingredient listing of doom was sugar. Great. Two for two (and not in a good way).

After that, I found hydrogenated oils, which as you likely know, is just a fancy, sophisticated name for trans fats. How perfect.

Essentially I would have been better off with that Oh Henry bar and I'm sure it would have tasted a whole heck of a lot better.

The point I'm trying to get at here is that you must not let the word 'energy' or 'protein' food you when associated with bar. Far too often, it will provide energy - but it's not the kind of energy you want.

If you're looking to do your body a favor and promote healthy weight loss at the same time, there are far better options out there.

Now, this does not mean all bars are junk - some are great sources of nutrition.

The important things you'll want to watch for is that listed in the ingredients is some sort of whole grain or rice, along with nuts in some shape or form (for healthy fats and protein), and any type of whey (which is also a good source of protein).

Ideally your bar should be in the neighborhood of 200-300 calories (some of the more massive ones weigh in at around 400 - that's a SUPERSIZE chocolate bar right there!), have at least 15 grams of protein, have no more than 10 grams of sugar (preferably less), and then have at least 3 grams of fiber.

If you can find a bar that provides that, you're set to go.

If not, I'd recommend either making your own, or opting for an alternative snack.

Remember too, when looking at the nutritional label, generally speaking, the fewer ingredients, the better. Unless these ingredients just happen to be sugar, fat, and more sugar.