Choosing a Nutritious Health Bar

There are many types of health bars on the market now and it’s hard to know if you are buying something healthy or just junk food in disguise. For instance, the first ingredient in a Slimfast bar is corn syrup, followed by sugar, hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors, colors, more hydrogenated oils and artificial sweeteners. Not only are the unhealthy, they don’t even taste good. Some people describe them as tasting like chemicals and way too overly sweet.

Look for simplicity in a health bar. Some of the healthiest ones have very few ingredients and by looking for the basic ingredients like nuts, seeds and fruit will help you keep on track. Try to choose bars with organic or raw ingredients if possible.  One good one to try is Organic Food Bars, which are made with a base of organic almond or cashew butter and have fruit, organic seeds, organic biosprouts and some rice protein. They are extremely nutritious and there are a lot of flavors to choose from like blueberry, cranberry, chocolate chip and high protein just to name a few. You can find these bars at Whole Foods, Trader Joes, and many health food markets.

Another good one to try is Larabars, which are made of 2 or 3 ingredients and you will never see chemicals on their labels. They are a blend of nuts and fruit and can also be found at many health food stores. Keep these on hand for a snack after you work out or if you just need a little something on the run. I always keep a couple in my bag and take them with me when I travel. This keeps you from making bad food choices like fast food and convenience store junk food when you need something quick.