Smart Snacking Students

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Smart Snacking Students and Granola bars!

Have you looked at and compared food labels recently? Sometimes it’s overwhelming!

We know we should be eating three meals a day plus a few healthy snacks. We all know we shouldn't go long hours without eating but it can be difficult to find time to pause for lunch, let alone meal plan and meal prep. With school, work and other responsibilities we are often relying on snacks to hold us over until we have time for a meal.

Fruits and vegetables make for great snacks but also tend to take more time to prepare. This could be one of the reasons so many of us are reaching for the box of granola bars on top of our refrigerators when we need a quick snack.

But are all granola bars created equal?!?


The bad news is NO, not all granola bars are created equal. Some granola bars are high in ingredients we should only have in limited amounts.

Some ingredients to watch out for are:
-Artificial sweeteners including alcohol sugars like xylitol and sorbitol
-Added sugars not from fruit sources
-artificial flavors and colors
-High amounts of saturated fat

These ingredients should be consumed as little as possible and ideally avoided whenever possible.

The good news? The good news is that there are some healthy granola bar choices out there. Sometimes it gets overwhelming to look at all the choices and compare food labels.


Below is a list of some brands that are better choices for our quick snacks.

                                          RXBAR
                                          KIND
                                          Cascadian Farm
                                          Naked Bars
                                           Lara Bars

Next time you need to research for a quick bite of energy between classes, try to grab one of these brands to know you're getting a healthy snack.

J.D

resources:
Artificial sweeteners and other sugar substitutes. (2023, January 10). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/artificial-sweeteners/art-20046936
Donofrio, J. (2021, October 10). Homemade Granola Bars. Love and Lemons. https://www.loveandlemons.com/granola-bars-recipe/
Non-GMO, organic, gluten-free: Are food labels overwhelming consumers? (2018). Genetic Literacy Project. https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2018/01/16/non-gmo-organic-gluten-free-food-labels-overwhelming-consumers/
Preservatives – Keeping our foods safe & fresh - Center for Research on Ingredient Safety. (2019, May 6). Center for Research on Ingredient Safety. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/preservatives-keeping-our-foods-safe-fresh
Rd, R. a. M. (2019, April 18). Are Granola Bars Healthy? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/are-granola-bars-healthy#downsides
Rd, W. J. M. (2023, March 7). The 12 Best Granola Bars of 2023, According to a Dietitian. Verywell Fit. https://www.verywellfit.com/best-granola-bars-4581325

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