to bar, or not to bar

Just a musing I've been tossing over the past month or so: What are your thoughts about using protein bars (low sugar, of course)? Some say they're too close to candy bars psychologically, others say they don't sit well.

...discuss.

I make one particular the South Beach bar a fixture in my diet the  Chocolate Crisp version. I eat one at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm as my mid-day meals. There is only one that I use it has 19g of protein, and 210 calories, its the chocolate crisp flavor, sort of like a rice crispy bar texture and the choc flavor is mid and not too sweet.  http://www0.epinions.com/content_234973531780 The other bars I have tried have too much sugar, are low in protein, or do not sit well with me. I try to keep my meals at the 200 - 250 calorie range so this fits in well for me as a meal replacement. one plus, I find that this bar is large, so I tend to eat only a portion of it and finsh the rest a 1/2 hour later so it stays filling. It is not a quick snack, which would tend to induce too much additional snacking needs in me. Hope this helps. herb

I have only had one bar since surgery.  It was not memorable.   I stay away from them, and try to get my protein and vitamins from food.  There are some good bars out there.  But the calories on the label scare me to death. Food for thought. Kent 357/284/189

Carrtje: I used protein bars to break my dependance on shakes and other assorted protein drinks/liquids. They are now very much a staple of my daily routine and I depend on them to get me the 120+gms a day I need to work and exercise and not be wasted.  I did find that a certain amount of protein needs to come from natural /real foods (fish, beans, eggs, etc.) to make me feel as well as I can. The protein bars I like best  (due to portein grams and low sugar) include: BRAND                      FLAVOR Pure Protein              Chocolate Deluxe 1.76 oz bar, 170 calories, 40 from fat, 20g protein, 0g sugar, 7g sugar alcohol Pure Protein              Smores 1.76 oz bar, 190 calories, 45 from fat, 20g protein, 1g sugar, 9g sugar alcohol BALANCE GOLD       Triple Chocloate Chaos 1.76 oz bar, 210 Calories, 60 from fat, 13g protein, 16g sugar, lots of vitamins and minerals I get mine from Walmart. As far as the candy bar replacement concept,..I might use a bar and a bottle water to replace a craving for something naughty, because I know it isn't and it is quite satisfying.  I find the PP CD are good refrigerated, the others get too hard to eat refrigerated. I usually eat them as a mid morning snack with water ( 2) and an afternoon snack (1 or 2) and an evening snack (1) and sometimes as a meal replacement if I'm busy or traveling (2 and water).  So 5 bars a day @13-20 gms a pop = approx 100 gms from bars plus whatever I get naturally from good food choices. Its working for me,....as they say on the boards, .. your mileage may vary. At 7.5 months/32 weeks, I'm down 127 since surgery, 161 total, and still working on 67 more to goal of 180 (228 total lose goal) and very happy with my progress and new life.  Judging from your posts, you seem to be doing really well too and hope this helps you along. Joe

Jake, I’m not a fan of ‘the bars.’ The sweet tasting things have always been a little yucky tasting to me since WLS. Same with the shakes. I did do some slimfastlowcarb in De-Caf coffee, And got to where I preferred it to coffee creamer. That, I still use occasionally (3 days a week maybe) I’ve only tried about a dozen or so protein Bars since my surgery nearly 4 years ago. I am a huge fan of Ostrim Meat snacks. Yummmmm- Filling and high protein vs low cal. Perfect pouch-filler food. http://www.netrition.com/ostrim_page.html There is some research that "sweet taste" sensations trigger an increase in hunger. Why they say Diet Sodas tend to cause people to over eat rather than curb appetites. Some also stand by the notion of "Trigger foods" and reinforcing poor eating habits. I’m thankful that early dumping seems to have hardwired an aversion to sweets into my sub-conscious. It makes it far easier longterm. Best Wishes- Dx

I have a bar at lunch and sometimes early afternoon and after dinner snack. I buy the ones from walmart that have 20g of protien, 0g of sugar and 7g of sugar alcohol. They are great, like a brownie covered in chocolate and it handles my need for sweets.

I'm glad you posted this question because I have the same questions. I am at work now and am going to the movies to see Spider-manand the boys are going to this great burger joint beforehand. I am not going because 1)no time really and 2) I have been having a hard time with food in general, but that is a different thread.  I was gonna pick up something along the lines of these for a dinner. Being only 4 months out I am a little wary about having one right now. I may just end up buying a GNC big slam shake (200 cals and 50g protein) and call it a night. Or I may attempt a soft beef snack.

I have been eating Quaker Q-Bars and Atkins Breakfast Bars at least once a day for some time now.  The Q-Bars have no sugar and 10 grams of protein.  The Atkins have either 11 or 12 g of protein depending on the flavor.  Atkins have either 0g of sugar or 1 gram of sugar alcohol.  I have had no problems with these at all. Atkins also offers other protein bars ranging from 19-22grams.  I have had these on occasion with no problem.  And although they have almost no sugar, they do remind me of candy bars. There is another brand that I get once in awhile called Doctor's Carb Rite Protein Bars.  These have a lot of sugar alcohols though.  So I don't eat them as much now that I found Atkins and Q-Bars. They are very convenient for travel because they pack easily.

I eat the atkins advantage barw which have 19 grams protein, 1 gm sugar, which is what the nutritionist recommended i eat. The Pure Protein had too much sugar alcohol which can cause cramping or loose bowels. I am considering others based upon protein, sugar gms, flavor and taste, without the sugar alcohols. Staying focussed, al