Today I want to talk about one thing, and one thing only... PROTEIN BARS! Sometimes they're called "energy bars" or "meal replacement bars" but you know what I'm talking about. Tons of nutrition companies have come out with very similar products that they brand with protein which is obviously synonymous with health (sarcasm). Okay really though, are they actually good for you? Let's take a closer look.

Chocolate Protein

Convenient, fairly cheap and sometimes very tasty, protein bars have flooded the shelves of nutrition stores and are even storming your local grocery store faster than they can restock the Pay Day bars. But after doing some homework on these packaged "health bars," I realized that grabbing that Pay Day may have actually been a better choice.

Chocolate Protein

The Nitty-Gritty

Awhile back, a friend of mine came up to me after my workout and gave me what is called a Titan Bar made by Premier Nutrition. It was their chocolate-peanut butter crunch flavor. I unwrapped its pretty foil wrapper and took a bite. Holy crap! It tasted like a 100 Grand candy bar, if not better. Then I flipped over that pretty foil wrapper and read the nutrition label. Aha! Here are the basic stats: calories: 330, fat: 13g, carbs: 31g, protein: 26g. Broken down into calories, that's 117 from fat, 124 from carbs, and 104 from protein. I'm sorry but when protein is the least thing present, calling this a protein bar is very deceptive by anyone's standards!

We live in a world full of marketing ploys and gimmicks!

It's true. Big-name companies build a golden name for themselves and use that to earn consumer trust, then use that trust to sell products that may claim to be better than they actually are. It's a sad reality, but the moral is that YOU as a person, need to be careful about what you're buying. Read labels, educate yourself, and don't fall for their tricks!

We live in a busy world and lead busy lives. Sometimes cooking a healthy meal in the middle of your 9-5 shift just isn't possible. And the fast food drive-thru down the street isn't such a good choice either. So yes, there are times when a protein bar may your best bet. Most actually do have a good amount of protein, and usually a variety of vitamins and minerals. No, they shouldn't be the foundation of your fat-loss diet, but there are some bars out there that are better for you than others. And they do satisfy that sweet-tooth craving to keep you psychologically sane. Remember, nobody is expected to eat perfect 100% of the time! Just make sure you check the labels and be smart! The reality is, the better it tastes, the more likely it is to have a higher fat and/or carb content. In fact, calling some of these products "fat bars" or "carb bars" would actually be a more accurate title. Or maybe, "slightly-amped-up-glorified candy-bars." Well - you get the point. Yep it's true, fat and carbs definitely make things taste better, but if slimming your waistline or getting that beach-ready body is your goal, you might want to opt for that plate of chicken and veggies instead.

Protein Bars - Are They Really Healthy?

Chocolate Protein