Whether you are seeking a quick energy-boosting snack, a mini meal replacement or a protein pick-me-up, you will find what you are looking for in the snack bar aisle. Egg white-based, greens-filled and probiotic-infused bars are all available alongside old-fashioned granola and cereal bars. Snack bars are convenient bundles of ingredients, but some are more like “real food” than others. Select bars with whole-food ingredients such as intact fruit, nuts and whole grains, with limited added sugar and minimal ingredients high in saturated fat (such as chocolate or caramel coatings made with palm and palm kernel oils). Look for bars with no more than 2 grams of saturated fat and no more than 6 grams of added sugar per serving (one bar). Most snack bar manufacturers have adopted the new Nutrition Facts label, which discloses how much of the total sugar is added (from sources such as corn syrup, juice concentrates and fruit powders) versus sugar from dried fruit or real fruit, making it easier to make smart selections.
Want to learn more about eating well with diabetes? Read “Improving Your Recipes: One Step at a Time,” “Top Tips for Healthier Eating” and “Cooking With Herbs and Spices.”
