Are protein bars good for weight loss?

Are protein bars good for weight loss?

There are mixed reviews on where protein bars should fit in a diet for weight loss. Does the protein bar section overwhelm you at the grocery store? I understand. Navigating the hundreds of options from various brands can be super overwhelming, but I can help! Today, I’m going to give you my top three FAVORITE protein bars in the grocery store that I recommend to my weight loss clients. 

What you should know about any food is a calorie is a calorie is a calorie. We want to choose foods with the most nutrition and at times, a quick and easy way to get in nutrition is a protein bar. It is very common I will suggest protein bars as a snack for weight loss clients. I believe in snacks to keep the metabolism up and bars help busy clients get some nutrition in over skipping snacks altogether.

THE BEST

1.      RX Bars

 Take one look at the packaging of these bars, and you’ll immediately understand why these come in first place. The ingredients are as good and clean as they get. Consisting of solely whole foods like egg whites, almonds, cashews, and dates, these are delicious and filling without a side of a stomach ache. They come in so many flavors, mini sizes, and they even make a more kid-friendly line. Providing a well-rounded source of clean carbohydrates, healthy fats, and protein, you can't go wrong with these.

2. Perfect Bars

 Just listen to the name! Don't let the higher fat and calorie count scare you away from these. This bar is on the denser side, but it will also keep you full for so long. The higher fat content is especially great for my women, as this will support your hormones leading up to the week of your menstrual cycle. Because of their refrigeration requirement, the flavor is unmatched! Just like with RX bars, they also make a mini line and a kids line, as well as peanut butter cups. Yum!

3. Built Bars

   These take the cake when it comes to the macronutrient split. This means they are balanced with protein, carbs and fat to my personal preference. If you flip over one of these bars, you’ll see it’s one of the lowest calorie, highest protein options on the market. There is virtually no fat and the carbohydrate count also rings in on the lower end when comparing this bar to others on the shelf. With flavors like pistachio, peanut butter brownie, and raspberry, there’s guaranteed to be one that satisfies your sweet tooth, too. These are a tad bit harder to find, but they are so worth it.

And bars I could pass on for weight loss…

1. Cliff Bars

   Let’s get something straight, nothing is “wrong” with Cliff Bars. They are super delicious. However, calling them a protein bar is a little misleading. With only 10 grams of protein and around 45 grams of carbohydrates, these bars are probably best suited as a carb fuel for a distance run or strenuous hike.

2. Luna Bars

 Again, they have under 10 grams of protein a bar, which means you’ll probably be reaching for the family sized bag of chips in less than an hour. With cane sugar and brown rice syrup in the mix, your blood sugar levels post-snack might not be the most ideal.

3. Gatorade Protein Bars

  This might be my least favorite of all. Inside the 360 calorie bar, the sugar content rings in at about 25 grams. Not only is this a lot of sugar for an afternoon snack, but it’s also 5 grams higher than the protein count. A good rule of thumb is to check the sugar grams vs. the protein grams. If sugar is higher, you might want to leave this on the shelf.

Can protein bars be good for weight loss? Absolutely. Focus on choosing high protein snacks as first pick but for someone busy and on the run, a bar is an easy way to get in some nutrition. Want more help navigating food choices? Click the link in my bio! Let’s do this together.

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