Jane's Blog

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Saddle up to the Bar...... Or not......

So, we are supposed to eat 5-6 meals a day right? Do you? It can be tough, so people are reaching for ‘POWER bars” or protein bars. Are we using these bars correctly? If you work out regularly and are using it as a post workout meal or a meal replacement, then it is not a problem, but I have seen people (And kids) snarfing down these bars as if it was a snack or cereal bar. Let's face it: it's hard enough to find time to cook one meal a day, never mind six. When you're on the go and looking for a quick, healthy snack, a nutrition bar can be a good option.

However, there are so many different brands and types of bars on the market -- meal replacement/diet bars, energy bars, protein bars -- that choosing one that's healthy and suits your goals can be quite tough.

While a bar can be a healthy choice once in a while, you should always read the labels carefully. Many bars are packed with sugar, which can make them just as evil as a regular chocolate bar. You should always choose one that contains little refined sugars and saturated fats.

There are a few calculations that can be used in terms of protein recommendations. You can go by total percentage of calories per day. In other words, it is safe and within normal limits to consume 20 to 30 per cent of your total daily calories from optimal protein sources such as lean meats eggs and dairy products. In other words, if you are a female consuming 1,800 calories per day and 20 per cent of the calories are derived from protein, the calculation would be:

1800 x 0.20 = 360 calories from protein
Since 1 gram of protein = 4 calories, divide protein calories by 4
= 90 grams of protein daily so read labels on the bars you are eating.

Meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, legumes, and nuts all have substantial amounts of protein.

Some pre-packaged food for thought.....

Yours in health,
GI JANE

Jane's Blog

Saddle up to the Bar...... Or not......

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