The Energy Bar Truth
The other day at the grocery store in the checkout line I was struck by the new display of energy bars. I was immediately taken back to a time when I literally lived off energy bars and thought it was the healthy thing to do.
It wasn’t.
When I was gigging as a dancer plus training several hours a day, I had little time to eat meals and have the time to digest them before exercising again. Energy bars became the source of fuel I depended on to get me through those long days and I believed they gave me the energy I needed. Little did I know that it was the wrong kind of energy.
I began questioning whether or not the kind of energy bars I was eating were good for me when I started experiencing terrible headaches and stomach cramps after eating them. It got so intense I actually went to see a doctor but he couldn’t pinpoint the problem. When I looked closer at what I was eating, I couldn’t help but wonder if the energy bars were causing the issue. Was there some ingredient that could have been causing these pains?
I never quite figured it all out, but I cut back on the bars and miraculously started feeling better.
I don't eat energy bars regularly anymore.
Turns out most energy bars are loaded with "all natural ingredients" that are not natural, plus so much extra sugar that they really are not much better than a candy bar. Pile on the marketing that tells us they are healthy and we end up believing they're a healthy choice and are enticed by them when in the checkout line.
It is true that some of the ingredients on the label like almonds and cashews will give you energy. When you read the rest of the label it may seem the bar really will give you energy, but in truth, the energy is short lived and can have side affects like the ones I noted above. We all know that too much sugar is a bad thing so if you are a culprit of the energy bar dependence that I was and wondering where you can cut some out of your current diet, try living without them for a while.
Not all energy bars are created equal. Some, indeed, are much healthier than others. I also understand that sometimes a situation calls for an energy bar to keep you going. Just make sure you are stocked with the best options. My rule of thumb is this:
BEST CHOICE: Eat real food. Whole natural food not packed neatly into a tiny little package.
One of my favorite combos for a nice energy boost: Either an apple or banana + almonds or cashews. You get the benefit of some protein and fat (the true sources of energy your body needs) plus something sweet that your body can use and digest easily.
In Emergencies: Have on hand energy bars that contain as little sugar as possible. Eat them sparingly and only in emergency situations.
I am not an "all or nothing" kind of person (or coach), and I also understand there are many times we are on-the-go with little time to eat. I find it amazing how easy it is for me now not to eat what was once an addiction for me. It’s because I know the consequences and don’t want to feel lousy nor can I afford to. Sometimes it takes negative feedback for us to change our actions especially when it comes to what we eat.
To keep it simple: follow the suggestions above and have bars only as the emergency choice. Allow a few of the better options to sneak into your pantry, bag or car, and don’t give in to the energy bar temptation in the checkout line.
MY FAVORITES
Energy Bars
When I opt in for a bar I look for the ones with the least amount of added sugar listed as glucose or a rice syrup. It's also important to remember that each brand carries a variety of different flavors and that one flavor may have more sugar than another. That being said, here are my top three:
RX Bars
Larabar
Bulletproof Collagen Bars