If you reach for an energy bar as an afternoon pick-me-up, consider this: You’ll likely get a food that’s high in calories and perhaps high in fat—without an immediate energy boost. Other foods may offer more health benefits and perhaps better taste!
Energy bars were first launched as a convenient, quick-energy snack for endurance athletes. Unless you need to replenish your energy stores in a workout lasting ninety minutes or more, energy bars offer no special benefit. Even then, a slice of bread or a few crackers are just as good, for less cost and fewer calories.
Is an energy bar good after a casual workout? You may eat more calories than you just burned. If you eat a protein bar to build muscle, foiled again. Only working your muscles can do that.
If you reach for an energy bar anyway:
- Read the label. Check the calories and nutrients in a single serving. See if the energy bar is just one serving.
- Fit energy bars into your whole day’s smart eating strategy. That way their calories won’t add up to more than you need.
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