I’ve lamented the two-faced stance of most makers of ‘energy’ bars in this space several times in the past. They talk ‘healthy’, but their recipes contain relatively high levels of Sugar, Salt and other unhealthy ingredients. ‘Natural’? Yes. But so are Arsenic, Carbon Dioxide and Crude Oil…
I’ve just read about a Canadian line of plant-based energy bars and related ‘healthy’ products that is making a big noise (as well they might) about having reformulated their recipes to be healthier. They were supposed to be healthy in the first place, of course, but manufacturer SimplyProtein says its products now have much less of the bad stuff many other ‘Protein’ and ‘Energy’ bars contain. And, in my book, that’s a laudable move.
The prevailing sad truth
I’ll start by enumerating the nutrition Facts listing for one popular, nationally sold Energy Bar, for comparison. (I won’t reveal its name, because I don’t want to bring down a conflagration of company and fan flames on my head.)
Pertinent Popular Energy Bar Nutrition Facts:
- 1 Bar = 68 g
- Calories per Bar = 250
- Total Fat per Bar = 8 percent of daily allowance (PDA)
- Total Carbs = 15 percent of PDA (44 g, including 21 g of Sugar)
- Sodium = 8 percent of PDA
- Protein = 15 g
The good news is, this bar is Cholesterol-free, rich in Potassium (7 percent of PDA), and high in protein (18 percent of PDA). And like most such Bars, it’s fortified with vitamins A; B1, B2, B3, B6 and B12; C; D; and E; along with Calcium, Iron, Phosphorous and Magnesium.
Pertinent SimplyProtein Bar Nutrition Facts (before reformulation)
- 1 Bar = 40 g
- Calories per Bar = 150
- Total Fat per Bar = 8 percent of daily allowance (PDA)
- Total Carbs = 5 percent of PDA (including just 2 g of Sugar)
- Sodium = 7 percent of PDA
- Protein = 15 g
Similarities and differences
One difference between the Popular Bar and the old SimplyProtein Bar is the carbs count. Simply had just 1/3 of the carbs of the Popular Bar. But the similarities are almost shocking! On the other hand, the Simply Bar is not fortified; no vitamins show up in measurable amounts and the only minerals present in appreciable amounts are Calcium and Iron.
But you have to take into account the difference in Bar size: The Popular Bar is 68 g while the Simply Bar is just 40 g – less than 2/3 the weight of the Popular Bar. However, I suspect the difference in weights is at least partly due to the Simply Bar’s ‘light and crispy texture’, in contrast to the Popular Bar’s dense, heavy composition. Overall, the Simply Bar clocks in at 100 Calories less than the Popular Bar.
The Simply message…
We weren’t able to find an example of the new Simply Bar Nutrition Facts label online, but the recent news release announcing its product’s reinvention says the recipe has been reformulated, “with additional ingredients like whole almonds, semi-sweet chocolate chips, oats, toasted coconut, peanuts and flax seeds.” That sounds like it will elevate the Iron and Calcium levels (thanks to the added nuts) as well as the fibre and non-sugar carbs. A lay person like me can’t really comment on what the changes might do to the total Calorie count.
“Plant-based protein is a mega trend, which has resulted in the steady increase in consumer demand over the past few years. This demand, coupled with the SimplyProtein brand’s unique offering, provided us with the perfect opportunity to reinvent our positioning and product line,” says Michael Lines, president and CEO of Wellness Natural Inc., makers of the SimplyProtein brand. “Through the reformulation of our line, we have been able to improve the taste and texture of our bars, while maintaining the light and crispy texture and low sugar content our fans already loved.”
My take
I’ve been advised that a certain amount of sugar is needed to stick all the other ingredients in Protein/Energy bars together. Okay. But both the old and new Simply Bars make a respectable dent in the amount of sugar other bars apparently use – just 2 g on average in the various flavours, compared to 21 g in the Popular Bar. And I haven’t heard anywhere that Simply Bars fall apart.
Add that to the recent research finding that the Sugar rush you get from an Energy Drink or Energy Bar will wear off in a relatively short period of time, leaving you feeling worse than you did before the jolt. And that often leads to consuming more sugar to make you feel better, which is sure to lead to a complete crash.
While it appears that Sodium and Fat content are the same as that in the Popular Bar, those numbers are small enough not to cause alarm to the casual user. But if you stuff several Protein/Energy Bars per run, you’re looking at significant Carb, Sugar and Fat intake (especially if we’re taking the Popular Bar!), measured against your daily recommended ‘doses’.
Do Protein/Energy bars really serve any good purpose if consumed immediately before, during or after exercise? We all sweat out Sodium and burn Carbs during heavy exercise. But we all know it takes a while for our bodies to process and absorb nutrients from food. I suppose the bars would do some good replenishing vital compounds after exercise. But I’d recommend planning a good, healthy meal afterwards instead – with lots of whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies. And a relatively small amount of protein. You don’t ‘burn’ protein during exercise. And if building muscle and strength is your goal, you’re probably dosing yourself with mega protein shakes and a whole shopping list of supplements already.
So… While I’m not convinced that Protein/Energy Bars are necessary at all, even for folks who regularly indulge in heavy exercise, I will opine that folks who do believe the Bars help them should choose the brand carefully. And they could do much worse than the new, reformulated SimplyProtein bars.
Muse on that…
~ Maggie J.