Whether you’re rushing out the door in the morning or scrounging for lunch at an airport, a protein bar may be the most convenient, filling food you can find. But are protein bars actually good for you?
We all need to eat a hefty amount of protein every single day, Caroline Susie, a registered dietitian based in Dallas, Texas, and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, tells TODAY.com.
The base recommendation is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, she says, but each person’s individual protein needs will differ. Someone older or more active may need 1 gram or even 1.5 grams of protein per kilogram, she says. But that doesn’t mean you should automatically resort to supplements, like protein bars or shakes, to meet those needs.
“When you look at how much added sugar and saturated fat is in there,” Susie says, “some of them (are) essentially glorified candy bars.”
While there are times when protein bars may be your best option for a quick, satisfying snack, dietitians tell TODAY.com that they should probably not be your first choice. And, when you’re choosing a protein bar, there are some very important factors to take into account.
How healthy are protein bars?
Protein bars, like other protein supplements, can be a helpful way to get some filling nutrients when you have no other options. But it’s usually a better idea to meet your protein needs through foods first.
“I think about protein bars as a hangry hero,” Whitney Linsenmeyer, Ph.D., assistant professor at Saint Louis University and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, tells TODAY.com.
“I’ll use them if I really need something to eat and I have no other options, but they’re not meant to be a meal replacement,” she says. “So we’re not using them to replace whole foods.”
Overall, protein bars can be a lifesaver when you’re in a pinch. But it’s important to resist the urge to rely on them too frequently, the experts agree. And if you do need to…
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