Protein bars are an excellent addition to a well balanced meal plan.  Though not as "clean" as whole food, they are fast, convenient, and if you find the right ones, full of protien, carbohydrate and fat, thus making them a balanced meal or snack.  Of course the goal is to aim for as much whole, clean food as possible (see your Quality of Food Chart for ideas), but for alot of us, they are a necessity because of our busy lifestyle.

So what should you look for in a protein bar?  Aim for a bar that has approximately equal grams of protein and carbohydrates.  For example, around 20 grams of each, will help to keep blood sugar stable.  A bar that has alot of carbohydrates and only a few grams of protein, will cause a spike and crash in blood sugar, leaving you hungry and wanting more.  You should also make sure that the bar you choose has some fat in it (approximately less than 10 grams) because the fat slows the rate of digestion keeping you satisifed and keeping your blood sugar levels steady.

Some things to look out for in a protein bar?  Most, even the balanced ones, are high in sodium, loaded with artificial ingredients and usually have artery clogging saturated fat..  This is why we recommend that protein bars should only be consumed once or twice a day.  Also keep an eye out for "energy bars" which typically are loaded in carbohydrates and sugar and lack the protein you need to keep your blood sugar steady.  Most bars are really just glorified candy bars, but as I mentioned before, they can be a necessity in today's busy lifestyle, and are certainly better than skipping a meal!  Many protein bars can cause digestive disturbances if you have a weak stomach or are allergic to certain ingredients.  Read the label and experiment until you find a bar that works for you.

One thing to note is a quick home-made protein shake is generally a much better option than a bar simply because YOU are in control of what goes in it.  The Pro Complete Protein Powder (found in the Supplement Tab in Venice Nutrition's Online Store) is a high quality and delicious form of protein.  If you add skim or soy milk, some fruit and nuts or peanut butter, you have added natural and clean ingredients that will stabilize your blood sugar better than the artificial ingredients found in a protein bar.  Another excellent option is the Whole Gains Mango Shake, which is high quality and already has a good balance of protein, carbohydrate and fat (again find it in your Supplements Tab in the Online Store)

Here are some bars that have a good balance of protein, carbohydrate and fat

Greens Plus Protein Bar- my personal favorite because it's natural and doesn't contain a bunch of artificial ingredients that you can't even pronounce, never mind spell!  This bar is literally green in color (don't let it scare you!), but tastes like peanut butter and honey (you can't go wrong with that combo!).  Just make sure you get the Greens Plus Bar, not the Greens Energy Bar (which contains very little protein).

Zone Bar

Balance Bar

Cliff Builders Protein Bar

Avid Bar

Detour, Uturn, Oneway or Joyride

Lean Body

Odyssey

Pure Protein Bar