This Bar or That Bar?

Energy bars, granola bars, protein bars, snack bars, diet bars....whatever you call them, the bar that you should eat depends on what you want it to do for you. The calories, ingredients, fat grams, sugars, and vitamin values are so different that you need to know what to look for. Here are some hints....

For Fuel...Bars that are high in complex carbs and some fiber would be a good choice.

For Building Muscle...Bars that have 15-35 grams of high quality protein(whey, soy, casein, egg) would give your body what it needs to build and repair muscle fibers. Check the fat grams and make sure that it doesn't have more than 3 grams of saturated fat.

For Meal Replacement...Bars that not only have plenty of carbs, but have a sufficient amount of protein along with being low in fat. It should also have enough calories since you are using it as meal replacement.

For A Snack...Bars that are smaller and have less calories than a meal replacement bar. Watch out for the fats & sugars. Stay away from those that are made with high fructose corn syrup.

Tips for School Snacks

With school back in session (and childhood obesity on the rise), you're probably rethinking what to pack in your child's lunch. Before you stock up, make sure you know which fruits and veggies you should always buy organic. Nutritious peaches, apples, nectarines, strawberries, pears, and grapes are popular with kids, but their soft skin means they absorb more pesticides. Buy these organic when you can.

Can't always afford (or find) organic? No worry. When organic isn't an option, there are plenty of lunchtime favorites that are low in pesticides, like bananas, pineapples, mangoes, and kiwis. Happy packing!!