Protein bar rant.

Advanced Health Products Protein Bars, AKA...or AKA...

This is a somewhat confusing product review, because this line of bars is found under many different names at many different sites and stores.  They are all made by one manufacturer:   "Robard."  (Before I go further, let me state that this company also makes bariatric foods as well for a "very low calorie diet," and the *bars in this category are sold alongside the bars in THIS review.  *also contain sugar*  HAVE I CONFUSED YOU YET?!)

What is even more confusing to the typical weight loss surgery patient, is that these bars are marketed at the sites and shops as bariatric-friendly eats.  Some sites are WLS SITES.  So you really MUST PAY ATTENTION - do not assume that all products touted are appropriate and know YOUR PERSONAL LIMITS.

These are Diet Candy Bars.  I had a variety pack of the 'protein supplements-bars' which contain 10 grams of protein each.  I nearly wigged out because I could not find the nutrition stats on the individually wrapped bars, then I realized it was printed on the inside of the box.  I opened the box up and got quite a unpleasant surprise.

"This is weight loss surgery friendly?!" 

Perhaps I was misinformed or confused - but - seeing as these bars are resold in so many WLS-targeted locations - they had to be "pouch-worthy."

Did you catch that?

Yeah.  Not so Bariatric Friendly.  Look at these ingredients that your surgeon and nutritionist surely asked you to eat:   "Sugar, Invert Sugar, Corn Syrup, Fractionated and Partially Hydrogenated Oils..."

If you are very freshly post op roux en y - they will make you puke.  Someone like me - about five years out - I can eat nearly all of most of the varieties - just have to be aware of the likelihood of dumping and reactive hypoglycemia if I ate the little bar in one shot.  It would be difficult NOT to, they are very small.

Now, that said, I tasted several to be fair because I have readers who are not WLS'ers.  If you are in the market for a diet candy bar - the Chocolate Mint was tasty and I ate the whole thing.  Texturally, they are very dry and pasty, but this had a nice minty deep chocolate flavor full of real sugar.  LOL. 

• The Double Chocolate - edible, dry, pasty, sweet. 
• The Cookie Dough - INEDIBLE.

That's where I stopped.  I have a couple more in my 'review' drawer in the kitchen.

"Advanced Health Systems (AHS) is designed as a clinician, dietitian-directed Low Calorie Diet (1000-1200 kcal/day) with a primary emphasis on nutrition and low-fat eating. It’s designed for individuals with over 15 lbs to lose (BMI >20)."

• Product - AHS Protein Supplement Bars.
• Price - $8-9.99 a box
• Via - Samples via distributor, privately labeled.
• Pros - Diet Candy!  Sugar High!  150 calories.  10 grams of protein.
• Cons - Not tasty enough to pawn off on kids.  12-14+ grams of sugar and corn syrup in every bar.   Not filling.  Causes serious blood sugar spike and crash.  What's the point?
• Rating - NON POUCH-WORTHY.  ^MM

Thanks for all your helpful posts!!! I have never seen "TOTAL CHO" and "AVAIL CHO" on nutritional labels before. What are they? And... why aren't the sugars shown on the nutritional label? hummmmm.....

Martha

CHO is carbohydrate.

These bars are meant for low cal diets - not necessarily WLS diets - which is why I was so irrritated.