Are PowerBars really a healthy snack or meal substitute?

Just wanted some advice. I have noticed a lot of people in my groups eat powerbars daily. Are they really that healthy?
While we're at it, what about rice cakes? They have almost no calories or fat. Do they really fill you up though?

Tue. Jul 12, 4:31pm

Powerbars are not healthy

Next time you pick one up, read the ingredients and see how many of them you can actually pronounce. Most of the energy bars now a days are made either with tons of sugar and super refined products or are made with harmful sugar alternatives. I sometimes think you may as well eat a snickers bar and a multi-vitamin and you'll have the exact same product only better tasting!

Though not pleasing to the "low-carb" people, luna/cliff bars and odwalla bars are made with much better quality ingredients. Those are companies that have integrity.

Tuesday, July 12, 2005, 5:23 PM

Gratuitous Simpsons Reference

Reminds me of an episode of the Simpsons (The Murderhorn, I think), where Homer is convinced he can climb the highest mountain in Springfield just by eating "Powersauce" Apple Bars...alarmed, the manafacturers finally confess to him "Homer, those are just made of apple cores and sawdust."

Wednesday, July 13, 2005, 9:12 AM

Ha!

I thought as much.... Thanks!

Wednesday, July 13, 2005, 3:20 PM

Powerbars are healthy, when used for their purpose

Powerbars are specifically designed to get carbs into your blood ASAP. They are for sustained excercise, like long bike rides and runs, when you need simple fast fuel. You must consume them w/ at least 16 oz of H20. They don't have a lot of crap in them, but are soft and chewy because they are mostly corn syrup and fruit juice concentrates. They are not full of artificial chemicals, quite the opposite.

They are excellent when used for this purpose, but are Not the perfect meal replacement. A meal replacement bar needs to have a mix of protein, fiber and carb to be fufilling enough to replace a meal, and give you sustained energy for a few hours.

If it's the only thing you have in your car when stuck in 2 hours of traffic, it will do just fine. But don't use them as a lunch replacement at the office, you'll get a sugar buzz that may leave you munchy when you come down.

Check the basic ingredients of one of my fav flavors here -

Link

Thursday, July 14, 2005, 12:38 AM

the link is broken- does anyone know exactly what is in a powerbar?

Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 4:08 PM

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