Whole foods, such as a bag of nuts and raisins or an apple, make a great, healthy snack when you are on the go. However, in preparation for those times when you forget to grab a snack on your way out the door, the nutrition bar is an easy solution for a quick meal replacement or snack. Bars taste great, pack a lot of nutrients, and are non-perishable, and very convenient. With a nutrition bar on hand in your car, purse, backpack or coat pocket, you can empower yourself with a healthier snack alternative; to whatever “fast foods” might be lurking around the corner.
Here are a few things to consider when choosing a nutrition bar: Whole foods: Bars such as Larabar and Nectar by Cliff Bar have only three to six total ingredients.These ingredients are very unprocessed and may even be in the raw, natural state. They are the closest to providing the benefits of whole food, while still offering the conveniences of a non-perishable product. Fiber: A nutrition bar should have at least 4 grams of fiber. Extra nutrients: Some nutrition bars provide nutrients that you may have trouble getting in your diet. They can be a convenient means of consuming green vegetable concentrate, omega-3 fatty acids, or probiotics. Sugar: If sugar is the first item in the ingredient list, it may be more candy bar than nutrition bar. It is important to remember that high fructose corn syrup, brown rice syrup, honey, and evaporated cane juice are all essentially sugar.
Life gets busy and things come up, so plan ahead with a healthy nutrition bar choice. However, keep in mind that nutrition bars are no substitute for the nutrients youll receive from whole grains, fruits, veggies, and protein sources.