{"id":23428,"date":"2018-12-12T11:24:55","date_gmt":"2018-12-12T19:24:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/?p=23428"},"modified":"2021-07-01T16:28:08","modified_gmt":"2021-07-01T23:28:08","slug":"energy-bars-ones-best","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/all-mfn\/energy-bars-ones-best\/","title":{"rendered":"Energy Bars: Which ones are best?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Athletes have many questions about energy bars:<\/p>\n

Which ones are best?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

That depends on your taste buds. The best energy bars are the ones you enjoy eating, settle well for a pre-exercise energy booster, and fulfill your dietary needs.<\/p>\n

Are they better than Fig Newtons or other traditional foods?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Like Fig Newtons, they are a source of carbohydrate to fuel your body and nutrients to invest in your health. They are pre-wrapped and convenient to toss into a gym bag or backpack without crumbling.<\/p>\n

Are they just glorified cookies?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

For the most part, yes. For athletes, little is wrong with a few (sugar-containing) cookies\/energy bars when balanced into an overall healthy eating pattern. Sugar (carbohydrate) in a sports diet fuels muscles. As a fit person, your muscles take up the sugar and use it to power your workouts. Please focus more on what comes with the sugar: whole grains? protein? fiber?<\/p>\n

\n

Today’s overwhelming assortment of energy bars offers an option for every dietary niche, be it vegan, kosher, low FODMAP, nut-free, etc.. Below is a list that categorizes the bars and might help you find ones that suit your dietary preferences.\u00a0\u00a0The key is to remember that energy bars are not meal replacements, but rather emergency food that comes pre-wrapped. Be sure there are some banana peels and apple cores in your wastebasket, and not just wrappers.<\/p>\n

Additive-free (that is, no added vitamins\u00a0or minerals):\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Clif Mojo & Nectar, Epic, Good Greens, Gnu, Honey Stinger Waffle, Kashi, KIND, Larabar, Optimum, Peak Energy, Perfect 10, PowerBar Nut Naturals, ProBar, Pure, Raw Revolution, Red Square Power-flax, RX, thinkThin, Trail Mix Honey-bar, Zing<\/p>\n

Budget friendly:\u00a0<\/strong>Nutri-Grain, Nature Valley Granola, Kashi Chewy, Quaker Chewy<\/p>\n

Caffeine-containing:\u00a0<\/strong>Better than Coffee, Clif CoolMint Chocolate, Clif Peanut Toffee Razz, Honey Stinger Caffeinated, Peak Energy Plus, Picky Bar Game-Set-Matcha, Verb<\/p>\n

Dairy-free\u00a0(<\/em>see also\u00a0Vegan<\/em>):<\/strong>\u00a0Bonk Breaker, Bumble Bar, Clif Builder\u2019s & Nectar, Enjoy Life, GoMacro, KIND, Larabar, Perfect 10, Picky, RX, thinkThin Crunch, Vega Endurance<\/p>\n

Enriched\/Fortified with added vitamins:<\/strong>\u00a0Balance, ZonePerfect<\/p>\n

Fiber, high\u00a0(grams\u00a0fiber):<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Fiber One Chewy (5-6g), Gnu Flavor & Fiber (12g), NuGo Fiber d’Lish (12 g), Oat-mega (7g), Quest (13-14g), thinkThin Protein and Fiber Bar (5g)<\/p>\n

GUT-Friendly, Low FODMAP<\/strong>: Fody, GoMacro Peanut Butter Protein Replenishment, EnjoyLife Dark Chocolate (and some other flavors), GoodBelly, Happy<\/p>\n

\"energyGluten-free:<\/strong>\u00a0Bonk Breaker, BumbleBar, Elev8Me, Enjoy Life, Enjoy Life, EnviroKidz Rice Cereal, Fody, Good Belly, GoMacro, Hammer, KIND, Lara, Picky, PowerBar Protein Plus, Pure Protein, ProBar, RX, Quest, Raw Revolution, That’s It Fruit, thinkThin, Truwomen, Zing, 88 Acres Seed and Oat.<\/p>\n

Low-carb:<\/strong>\u00a0OhYeah! One, Pure Protein, Quest, Keto<\/p>\n

Kosher:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>GoMacro, Extend, Larabar, Pure Fit, ReNew Life Organic Energy, thinkThin, Truwomen<\/p>\n

Nut-free:<\/strong>\u00a0Don’t Go Nuts, Enjoy Life, Freeyumm, Go Raw, Honey Stinger Waffle, Jumpstarter Bodyfuel, Luna Bar Lemon Zest, That’s It, 88 Acres Seed & Oat<\/p>\n

Organic:<\/strong>\u00a0Cascadian Farm, Clif, Pure, GoMacro, Red Square Powerflax<\/p>\n

Peanut-free:\u00a0<\/strong>Clif, Truwomen (some flavors), Enjoy Life<\/p>\n

Protein Bar\u00a0(Your choice of soy, whey, egg, or blended<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>protein source<\/em>)\u00a0(grams\u00a0protein)<\/strong>:\u00a0Clif Builder (20g), Gatorade Whey Protein Bar (20g), GoMacro Protein Replenishment (10-12g) Honey Stinger Protein (10g), Lenny & Larry\u2019s Muscle Brownie (20g), NuGo (10-12g), Oatmega (14g), PowerBar ProteinPlus (30g), PowerCrunch (13g), Pure Protein (20g), Quest (21g), RX (12g), thinkThin Protein (20g)<\/p>\n

Raw:<\/strong>\u00a0Good Greens, Pure, Raw Revolution, Vega Whole Food Raw Energy Bar<\/p>\n

Recovery bar\u00a0(<\/em>3-4 g\u00a0<\/em>carb<\/em>\u00a0to 1 g\u00a0<\/em>protein ratio):<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Clif, KIND Breakfast Protein, PowerBar Performance, Picky, RX<\/p>\n

Soy free:<\/strong>\u00a0BumbleBar, Clif Nectar, Enjoy Life Chewy, GoRaw, KIND, Larabar, NuGo Fiber d’Lish, Oat-mega, Picky, ProBar, Pure, Quest, Raw Revolution, Vega Endurance, Zing<\/p>\n

Vegan:\u00a0(grams protein):<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Clif (most flavors; 11g), Clif Builder\u2019s (20g), Go Macro (11g), Good Greens (10g), Hammer Vegan (15g), Larabar (5g)\u00a0\u00a0Picky (7g), Pure Organic (4g), ProBar (8-11g), thinkThin High Protein (some flavors are vegan; 13g), Truwomen (12g), Vega (10g), 88 Acres Seed & Oat (6g)<\/p>\n

Women’s bars (fewer calories;\u00a0<\/em>added\u00a0<\/em>calcium, iron, and<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>folic acid)<\/em>:<\/strong>\u00a0Healthwarrior Chia, Iron Girl Energy, Larabar, Luna, PowerBar Pria. Truwomen<\/p>\n

40-30-30 Bars:\u00a0<\/strong>Balance, ZonePerfect<\/p>\n

My suggestion for the best bars<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Google\u00a0homemade energy bars<\/em>\u00a0and you will see many yummy, healthy, cook-free and simple-to-make options. These are likely the best bars, in terms of taste, positive ingredients, and lack of litter. Enjoy!<\/p>\n

Recipe for Homemade Energy Bar from\u00a0Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Sweet and Crispy Nut Bars<\/strong><\/p>\n

These bars can be made with almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, or other chopped nut or seed of your choice. Whether eating them for breakfast on the run, a preexercise snack, or an afternoon treat, you\u2019ll enjoy these crispy bars.<\/p>\n

When measuring the honey, add a little more than the 1\/2 cup, so the mixture sticks together better. You\u2019ll need to pack the ingredients firmly into the pan; otherwise the bars will fall apart (but the crumbs are tasty\u2014especially in yogurt or sprinkled on top of your morning bowl of cereal).<\/p>\n