The 9 best meal spare bars to buy

These bars have the perfect macronutrient composition to replace this meal you need to jump.


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In a perfect world, everyone would have time and head space to make abalanced breakfast, a nourishing lunch, and ahealthy dinner. All would be in the calorie requirements that a person must respect their health goals, made with fresh, of course, it would be absolutely delicious. But because we can not live in a perfect world all the time, we often have to rely on the meal spare bars.

Most people are busy and do not have time to do all their meals. Others do not have nutritional knowledge to find out what is considered "healthy" or what foods fall into their specific nutrition needs.

To solve the two problems at the same time, we asked the dietary nutritionists registered for their choices of the top 9 meal spare bars.

Why do people choose meal spare bars?

"The meal spare bars have become popular over the years because of their convenience," saidMelissa Rifkin, MS, RD, CDN, owner of Melissa Rifkin Nutrition, LLC. "For those who are on a tight schedule, eat on the road or maybe may not be confident in the kitchen, a bar of Grab-and-Go that covers many nutrient needs is an easy option. In Outside the convenience, the meal spare bars can provide a good combination of protein, carbohydrates and grease and additional essential nutrients, such asfiberVitamins and minerals. "

Most dietitians do not promote the use of meal replacement bars on the regular. However, they can integrate with a healthy diet in a pinch.

"Some days, a bar is the best that some of us can do, and it's good," saysBrittany Scanniello, Rd. "Sometimes we need this bar so we can eat it while we drink our coffee in the school removal line or at a conference call."

Most dietitians recommend balancing a meal spare bar with another healthy food option to ensure the consumption of adequate nutrients, because some bars may not have enough calories, proteins or grease to keep you .

How to choose the best meal replacement bars.

A "Best" meal spare bar for a person can be a "worst" bar for another, as individuals have different nutrition needs and objectives. The same bar would not meet the needs of a 300-pound body of body building than for a sedentary woman of 100 pounds.

CARLY FENIMORE OFFertility-rd In Charlotte, NC provides specific guidelines that it uses in its practice when assessing the best bar:

  • A combination of adequate macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein and grease).
  • healthy fats Should come from poly and monounsaturated sources such as nuts, seeds, nut butters and oils such as olive trees and flax seeds.
  • contain a source of fiber To help you win longer for a longer period
  • List of food-based ingredients Maximize nutritional benefits.
  • 300 or more calories Respond to meal requirements

Some lower meal spare bars in sugar and calories are made with artificial sweeteners. If you try to avoid these ingredients, you must carefully evaluate the list of ingredients to make sure you do not charge your body with these additions.

How to make meal spare bars more than a balanced meal.

"All bars are different, be sure to read the labels and especially, listen to your body," says Kayla Fitzgerald, RDN, LD ofNutrition rites In Charleston, SC.

If a bar contains less than 300 calories and it is supposed to be a meal replacement, it should be paired with other foods. "If you eat a bar that is supposed to be a" meal replacement "but you find yourselfalways hungry When you're done, it means your body needs more fuel! "

She suggests pairing the bar with someGreek yogurtAnd a fruit if hunger tends to hit shortly after enjoying your bar of choice.

What are the best meal spare bars to buy according to dietitians?

When dietitians have been asked what the best meal replacement bars are, they tended to stay away from most bars that have marketed like real meal replacements and blocked with more versatile bars.

The 9 best meal spare bars can be used as a small meal, a copious snack or a greater meal component.

1. The best minimum bar processed: Make sudden black chocolate protein bars

go raw dark chocolate

Go sudden dark chocolate protein bars are made with only 7 ingredients, including a single seed:germ Melon seeds of water. The seeds are carefully sprouted to mimic the natural germination process and "activate them". This makes the seeds easy to digest, gives them a delicious crunchy texture and allows your body to enjoy their many nutritional benefits.

The ingredients of these bars are nearly 100% organic and there is nothing artificial on the list of ingredients. As the watermelon seeds are naturaliron sourceThese bars provide 15% of the estimated daily value of this important mineral.

2. Best bar at La Paleole: Paleo Pro Primal Protein Bars

primal protein bars

The primary protein bars PAL PAL PRO are a dream come true if you follow the Paleo diet and depend on the bars when you are in progress. Each variety is loaded with quality protein with grass, healthy nuts, non-GMO prebiotic fibers and dairy, soy and lactose-free. They are made with "paleole" quality ingredients such as chia and cocoa seeds (depending on the variety) and awesome taste!

At 250 calories, it does not provide enough energy to count as a full meal for most active people, but it's an excellent addition to a quick lunch or easy-portable breakfast.

3. Best bar for brain health: Qi bars

iq bar

Qi bars are an excellent choice for people trying to take care of their cerebral health through the food (which should be honestly everyone). With nutrients such as omega-3, choline, flavonoids and other brain-booster nutrients, these bars are a great addition to a meal for those who are trying to support their cerebral health.

These bars are lower on the range of calories and protein, thus combines a piece of fruit and a Greek yogurt would do more than one meal.

4. Best equilibrium bar: Macro

go macro bar
Graceful of Go Marco

"One of my favorite bars is Gomacro," says Rifkin. "Although they contain added sugar, I appreciate the taste, the other nutrient's balance works well for me and I am ready to limit sugar elsewhere in my diet to report the reasonable amount from these bars. The Life is about equilibrium! I also appreciate that these bars are vegan, organic, a good source of protein and are low Fodmap. "

5. Best plant-based protein bar: Zing bars

zing bars chocolate coconut

"Zing bars are an excellent option," says Meghan McMillin MS, RDN, CSP, IBCLC ofMom and sweet nutrition pea. "Available in a wide variety of flavors, Zing bars also offer herbal proteins. In addition, they contain prebiotics and healthy fat."

6. Best bar-breakfast: Main bars

core bar

For people who love the idea of ​​oats overnight, but can not get their agency together to do so, the main bars are a perfect solution for occupied mornings. These bars are night oat bars and are made with similar ingredients such as traditional oats of the night. Many varieties contain preponderants and probiotics to support intestinal health and are sold in the refrigerator to maintain fresh living bacteria.

7. Best bar for nursing moms:Barr RX peanut butter

rx peanut butter

"The RX bars make a good meal replacement bar that I often recommend to my allaidif moms without dairy products," says McMillin. "With most flavors with less than 5 ingredients, these are some of the" cleaner "bars on the market."

8. Best probiotic bar: Close to chocolate chocolate in Bélophe belope Probes problem

pro bar live peanut butter chocolate chip

Fenimore describes the pro-bar bars like "plants bar with high quality ingredients".

This live probotic nutrition bar with 10g plant-based protein and no added sugar is a simple way to get healthy living bacteria without production. This bar is a delicious mix of peanut butter and chocolate chips. With 4 grams of fiber, more than 300 calories and 10 grams of protein, this bar can be a solution to restrain you if you simply can not push a meal at your day.

9. Best bar that tastes homemade: Big SpoE Roaster Bars

big spoon roasters bars

Handmade oil nut butter bars are made to order with ingredients directly from local producers. Made with healthy ingredients such as quinoa and honey wildflowers, these bars are also close to the house you can get. Top Your Bar with a tablespoon of great spoon roast walnut butter, a piece of fruit on the side and maybe a glass of milk to complete the bar for a satisfying light meal that you can feel good.

The worst meal replacement bars

Dietitians have different criteria for what they consider as a "worse" bar, but they all seem suitable that the high sugar content is a common culprit.

In addition, if a meal replacement bar is marketed as such, it should provide adequate calories and proteins to maintain an average person.

If a meal replacement bar provides less than 300 calories, it often causes the bar of the bar on a worst list of dietitians. Poor ingredients tend to contribute to a landing bar on the worst list.

1. CLIF BARS

clif bar

"Many bars are advertised as healthy options for traveling, but I think the definition of" life unfolding "is a little different according to the person," says Jeannie Boyer Rd, LD ofCooler East Cooper Bariatric Surgery. "A CLIF bar is great if you climb a mountain or bike for hours, but not if you type at your desk for hours or filter in an email mountain."

Kristin Brown, RD, owner ofHealth nutrition founded Accepts and says it's "really not a big fan of cliff bar. They are marketing well, but they are not the best option there. A bar contains only 9 grams of protein and 21 grams ofadded sugar. The sugar is the first, the third and the sixth ingredient if you look at the label of nutritional facts, but they try to convince you, it is a healthier sugar literating the "brown rice syrup" and "syrup cane "and" dried cane syrup ".

2. Atkins bars

atkins bars

This bar is marketed as a meal replacement bar, but provides less than 200 calories - certainly not enough to qualify as a meal for an average person. According to Scanniello, Atkins bars are made with poor quality ingredients and do not provide much in the healthy fat department.

3. Luna bars

luna bars

The Luna bars are a popular choice when it comes to a snack or desire for sugar, but they are sometimes used as a meal replacement.

Luna bars do not provide enough calories to be a lasting solution. In addition, they contain too much sugar for the needs of the average person and many varieties are manufactured with processed soy ingredients.


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