Protein bars

[Timeisright]

I eat a protein bar for lunch most days, and I generally don't each much more than that until dinner time. They keep me full enough, and I like to eat a nice breakfast and dinner, so I try not to overload on calories for lunch. It seems to be working well for me.

My mainstay is the Quest Protein Mint Chocolate Chunk bar. I've tried all of the Quest bars, and they are all OK, but not great. The only one I enjoy eating every day is the mint one.

I've tried the Mission bars but I think they taste terrible. Cliff bars are too high in sugar. My preference is a bar that is high in both protein and fiber, with no added sugar. Stevia sweetener is OK.

Has anyone found any other bars that taste good and also are high in protein and fiber and sugar free?

I've made my own before; oats, whey protein; walnuts, stevia, baking power, egg, bake at350 for 10-15 min. Cheap, tastes good and healthy.

[Mod Edit]

 

[Fedup]

My favorite protein bar is beef jerky. There is a specific type that I like and I know where to get it, not at Costco I'm afraid.

 

[mpeirce]

My favorite protein bar is beef jerky. There is a specific type that I like and I know where to get it, not at Costco I'm afraid.

Mine is hard boiled eggs.

I eat them all the time as a snacks at home. And when I'm driving too - I always have a cooler with me on trips.

 

[bjorn2bwild]

It has been awhile since I used them, but the Bear Valley Pemmmican bar was pretty stout as I recall.

 

[aja8888]

Mine is hard boiled eggs.

I eat them all the time as a snacks at home. And when I'm driving too - I always have a cooler with me on trips.

Nothing like pickled hard boiled eggs and cold beer. I sure miss those!

 

[NW-Bound]

I rarely eat protein bars, though I am not picky about which one I eat.

For lunch, here's my typical food intake: a sandwich or croissant with ham and cheese, then about 2 or 3 cups of quinoa salad (quinoa with tomato, cucumber, onion, mixed with a vinaigrette). Then, I will feel hungry in the afternoon and eat a boiled egg, or a couple of fistfuls of almonds. If I still feel hungry, I would eat a few handfuls of peanuts. And then I will eat a yogurt. And then a banana or 4 tangerines...

Enough food there for you? My BMI is still under 24, thank you.

 

[Ready]

I rarely eat protein bars, though I am not picky about which one I eat.

For lunch, here's my typical food intake: a sandwich or croissant with ham and cheese, then about 2 or 3 cups of quinoa salad (quinoa with tomato, cucumber, onion, mixed with a vinaigrette). Then, I will feel hungry in the afternoon and eat a boiled egg, or a couple of fistfuls of almonds. If I still feel hungry, I would eat a few handfuls of peanuts. And then I will eat a yogurt. And then a banana or 4 tangerines...

Enough food there for you? My BMI is still under 24, thank you.

Consider yourself lucky. If I ate like that I'd bloat up very quickly. Some are blessed with a fast metabolism. I'm very envious, as I love to eat. But I have to exercise every day and watch every calorie to maintain a healthy weight.

 

[Ready]

Nothing like pickled hard boiled eggs and cold beer. I sure miss those!

How did we get from protein bars to pickled eggs and beer??

 

[NW-Bound]

Consider yourself lucky. If I ate like that I'd bloat up very quickly. Some are blessed with a fast metabolism. I'm very envious, as I love to eat. But I have to exercise every day and watch every calorie to maintain a healthy weight.

I used to eat more than that. But I am getting old and slowing down.

How did we get from protein bars to pickled eggs and beer??

Eggs got protein. They are just protein balls instead of bars. And beer actually has protein. So, it's liquid protein (the alcohol is just a fringe benefit). All good.

 

[Scuba]

Mine is hard boiled eggs.



I eat them all the time as a snacks at home. And when I'm driving too - I always have a cooler with me on trips.

I agree that boiled eggs are a great protein source. I also like Sargento Reduced Fat cheese sticks for a healthy snack. Protein shakes are filling and usually less calories than a bar. All good alternatives to bars.

 

[brucethebroker]

+1 to nuts as a snack.

Lots of good leads here to alternatives of high sugar protein bars.
Also interesting about baked oatmeal, AllD. Thanks.

 

[Big_Hitter]

I just ate two powerbar clean whey protein bars - 20g protein each

 

[Chuckanut]

How did we get from protein bars to pickled eggs and beer??

It's amazing how a conversation or thread will twist, turn and take paths in different directions. That is what makes it so interesting.

Diet and and its effect on our health is a very personal issue. So if protein bars work for one person and pickled eggs+beer for another, so be it.

 

[NW-Bound]

I should remember to buy and pack some protein bars for when I travel. I do not usually eat them when at home, and do not remember what brands I have tried. I thought they were all good, taste wise. I do not see how I could have just one for lunch. I would need 2 or 3.

 

[Sojourner]

I should remember to buy and pack some protein bars for when I travel.

This is exactly what I do. Almost never eat them at home, but I'll frequently eat one as a quick lunch while traveling. Gives me some needed protein and keeps my trip budget down by avoiding overpriced restaurants (at least for lunch). I also like the Quest brand.

 

[cathy63]

Protein bars always smell like vitamin pills to me and I find that smell unpleasant. Instead, I make baked oatmeal with eggs and milk once a week (lots of on-line recipes), cut it in slices, refrigerate it, and have a chunk for breakfast every morning. It's tasty, customizable, and I get a nice big chunk for the same number of calories as a tiny little protein bar.

I love baked oatmeal. If I'm making it just for me, I cook it in a muffin tin so I don't even have to slice it. Quaker's been advertising "overnight oats" recipes lately and I keep meaning to try those as well.

 

[Fedup]

This is exactly what I do. Almost never eat them at home, but I'll frequently eat one as a quick lunch while traveling. Gives me some needed protein and keeps my trip budget down by avoiding overpriced restaurants (at least for lunch). I also like the Quest brand.

I grab a lunch to go from the supermarket, like a pre-made sandwich or a Cobb salad. Plus I pack lots of dark chocolate, lots of fruits and nuts. We are in the land of fruits and nuts so why not take advantage of them. I try not to make any stop if I can.

 

[NW-Bound]

I grab a lunch to go from the supermarket, like a pre-made sandwich or a Cobb salad...

Can't do that when you are stuck in an airline seat, or while navigating through the countryside of a foreign country.

When I travel with my RV, I just find a place to pull off, and have a nice hot meal for lunch. Eggs, bacon, whatever suits my fancy. Quite often, it is by a stream, a creek, a river, a beach, or a meadow. And then, I take a nap for restoration from the driving. And when I wake up, have some freshly made coffee before driving on. Ah, that's the good life.

PS. Note that it would be hard to do the above if I had a huge RV.

 

[NoiseBoy]

I like Pure Protein's Chocolate Peanut Butter bar which has 20g of protein, 2g of sugar and 200 total calories. Can be had for less than $1 a bar in the 6 packs at Walmart. You'll find them in the aisle with the protein supplements.

I will also second the vote for Nature Valley's Peanut and Dark Chocolate high protein bars. These are found in the "granola bar" aisle, and have 10g of protein. They are my go to for travel as the Pure Protein brand bars don't travel well (they melt), whereas the Nature Valley bars are more robust.

I don't see anything wrong with a protein bar and a piece of fruit as a meal substitute, although it would not provide enough calories for me while I'm working. Interestingly, it's fine when I'm on vacation and trying to tied myself over until the museums close. Odd how sitting at a desk makes me hungrier than sight seeing.

 

[Ready]

I don't see anything wrong with a protein bar and a piece of fruit as a meal substitute, although it would not provide enough calories for me while I'm working. Interestingly, it's fine when I'm on vacation and trying to tied myself over until the museums close. Odd how sitting at a desk makes me hungrier than sight seeing.

I think we tend to get hungrier when we are doing something we don't enjoy that much (like working), but when on vacation and enjoying the day, we tend to forget about food. I think it has to do with eating being more enjoyable than working but not as much fun as vacationing and enjoying the day's activities.

I also find that when I exercise, the protein bar fills me up. On the days I take a break from exercising, I'm much hungrier.

 

[audreyh1]

Yep - nuts are my snack if I really need something between meals.

Nuts are nice and portable for carrying on a plane, taking in the car, etc.

 

[aja8888]

I just ate two powerbar clean whey protein bars - 20g protein each

Looks like you are screwed for sleep tonight. Just go do something strenuous or hand wash your four cars.

 

[Ready]

OK, all of this talk about baked oatmeal snacks is making me hungry. Could someone share a recipe that a novice cook like myself could make? I'm game for making it myself if my limited cooking skills will allow.

 

[CardsFan]

My favorite protein bar is beef jerky. There is a specific type that I like and I know where to get it, not at Costco I'm afraid.

Beef Jerky is my favorite snack!. Now that you say it, I need to make some more. Home made is best. You know what is in it.

 

[NW-Bound]

Thinking about this, how does one make a homemade bar that packs 20g of protein into something that small? Commercially, they have to use really highly concentrated stuff, because an egg has only 6 g.