The Protein Bar Dilemma
"What's the best protein bar available?”
Ha, everyone wants to know this … as a registered dietitian here in the St. Louis area, I’m asked all the time.
But it’s not a simple answer.
First, what defines a protein bar?
Many times people refer to any supplement bar as a "protein bar", even if it contains very little protein.
In my professional opinion, a protein bar should contain at least 15g (preferably more) of protein. This alone eliminates quite a few bars on the market.
In general, I'm not a huge fan. No doubt, there are a few out there that have a good amount of protein (20-30g) and taste great.
Will they fill your protein needs? Of course.
Are they the cleanest, healthiest things to choose? The answer is no.
Does this mean we should avoid them at all cost?
That answer is also no. It's really just a personal preference.
Heck, we at Functional Elements Training & Nutrition carry 1st Phorm Level One bars.
Are they the best of the best? Not necessarily. But they are a good source of protein with an ingredient list I personally feel is, for the most part, tolerable (they are very tasty too!). If a personal training client needs a quick post-workout protein source because access to a post-workout meal is scarce, we can use this as a gap filler.
Since I don't consume protein bars on a daily basis, I'm more focused on the totality of my diet as a whole, rather than the quality of bar I may have occasionally.
The net benefit of that protein intake post-workout, or to fill in a gap because of a missed meal, is of greater importance to me.
Now, if the quality and health aspect of all these bars are concerning to you, there are other quick options that can feed your need.
Check out the 1st Phorm Beef Sticks … good ingredient list and contains 20g of protein per stick. (We also carry these at Functional Elements for our fitness clients.)
Or maybe give an Epic Bar a try. However, if you're wanting to reach a 20g+ serving of protein, then you may need two. The Epic bars typically contain 8-12g per bar, depending on the flavor.
Finally, stop calling a bar that contains little to NO protein, a protein bar!
Remember …
GIVE YOUR BODY WHAT IT NEEDS, WHEN IT NEEDS IT!
Jaime Rothermich, RD, CSSD, LD, PPSCxKB, CSCS
Functional Elements Training and Nutrition
TRAIN FOR LIFE
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