Are Protein Bars Good For Athletes?

A lot of people ask if eating a protein bar is a good souce of nutrients or meal replacement. I would suggest avoiding bars, whether they be protein, low-carb, meal replacement, etc. as the nutritional content is for the most part not ideal.

Protein bars did have a place in bodybuilder's sport bags when the powdered mixes available were only promising in the high teens to low twenties grams of protein. Now though these mixes are pushing the 60 gram threshold - something the bars can't compete with. These bars are convenient but perhaps too convenient as they are high in fats (saturated) and sugars.

It may be less convenient for you but try to carry two sport bottles with you. One with water and the other with a powder mix so that you can meet your nutritional requirements.

Just picking a random powder you can see the benefits over bars:

NB Isopure low-carb (packets) 1.71 (USD$) per serving

Calories 220
Fat 0g
Saturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 450mg
Potassium 900mg
Carbohydrates 10g
Fiber 0g
Sugars 0g
Protein 42g

Your low-carb bar ... PRICE ??? (more than 1.71 probably)

Calories 248
Fat 12.1g
Saturated Fat 3.7g
Carbohydrates 14.4g
Sugars 1.3g
Protein 23.4g

If you are in a real hurry and for some reason or another are unable to get to