![]() ![]() “Just watch out for bars that contain more than 20% Daily Value of saturated fat,” she says. “Some granola bars are high in fat, but that doesn’t mean you have to avoid them.” Palinski-Wade says unsaturated fats coming from plant-based sources such as nuts and seeds can provide health benefits while making the granola bar more satisfying. ![]() “Don’t be afraid of fat, but focus on the source,” says Erin Palinski-Wade, a registered dietitan and author of 2 Day Diabetes Diet. ![]() So “if there’s a bar and the ingredients are dates, almonds, chia seeds, coconut and granola, you are getting nutrition and fiber without added sugar,” says Bellatti. That’s going to change, but for now, calling out added sugar on a label is voluntary. For most products, the amount of “sugars” listed on the nutrition facts labels don’t distinguish between the two. But it may be tricky to distinguish between sugar from whole ingredients like dried fruit, and added sugars. Bars that rely on sweetness from whole foods like dates, rather than table sugar, artificial sweeteners or high fructose corn syrup, are typically healthier. It’s also important to track where the sugar in each bar is coming from. Just keep in mind that not all protein powders provide the entire range of essential amino acids that natural forms of protein can. “The ingredients may be all good, but there can be a lot of added vitamins and minerals, and high protein levels will probably involve added protein concentrates.” While experts say getting protein naturally from foods like quinoa and chicken can offer extra nutrients and fiber, protein powders can be more easily added to foods like smoothies and bars. “The ingredient lists are long because Mother Nature doesn’t tend to consolidate a whole meal’s worth of nutrition into a single food,” says Keith Ayoob, an associate professor of pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Health System. Sometimes bars with basic ingredients have long lists, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. ![]()
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