Some things are just Black and White: Raise the bar!

It really is Black and White

When it comes to Protein Bars

This week, we are raising the bar and taking a bite out of protein bars.
The choices are overwhelming…but here are a couple of tips when it comes to choosing one:
First, Read the label.  
That  is by far the best advice I can give you. 
What to look for:
Sugar, Protein and Fat content.  Some of the bars on the market are loaded with sugar. So just because it says it’s a protein bar doesn’t mean it’s any healthier than a candy bar. I suggest limiting the sugar to no more than 5 grams per bar—the less sugar the better.  As for fat, if your carb intake is low and the bar contains healthy fats, then the number is less important, still keep in mind that fat grams can add up easily. As for protein, the more the better. The ideal bar is packed with protein, low in sugar and moderate in fat. Fiber is a bonus, but keep in mind, the ones that are packed with fiber have a chewier consistency that may not appeal to everyone.
Here are my top two picks...

The Power crunch bar and the Quest Bar.
Here’s what you get with each:
The power crunch bar is a wafer cookie and tastes a lot like your typical wafer.
Each bar has 200 calories, 13 grams of fat, 8 grams of carbs, 5 grams of sugar and 1 gram of fiber. 

As far as I’m concerned, it is the best tasting bar on the market.

The Quest bar is chewy. My favorite is the cookies and cream but they come in a variety of flavors.

Each bar contains 180 calories, 7 grams of fat, 22 grams of carbs,  1 grams of sugar and 17 grams of fiber.

It is tasty and the high fiber content makes it filling...

Hope this helps! Happy snacking!!!

(I have been getting a lot of questions via email, so each week I will answer one in my blog)
Q and A:
Eric Sims asked:
“If you have a day where you eat a lot of carbs and sugar do you skip meals the next day?"
Absolutely not. I never skip meals. 5 to 6 meals a day, every day is the best way to keep your metabolism going. But here is what I will do: If I have overdone it with carbs or sugar one day, I simply make sure the next is better. Listen, depriving yourself all the time, often leads to overeating so it’s best to just have that piece of cake if you really want it, and then get over it. If you have specific goals and you have a short amount of time to get there, I suggest indulging no more than once a week. The most important thing to remember is that this is a journey. Eating well is not something you do temporarily to lose weight. If the changes are temporary then your success will be as well. So don’t beat yourself up over a “bad” day, instead look forward to the next with your goals in mind.