After publishing my last post on the 5 Energy Bars to Avoid, I quickly received a great question: What are the best energy bars. Here is a list of the ones that I like the best, but this list is by no means comprehensive. In general, the criteria that I look for in an Energy Bar are as follows: at least 3g of fiber and protein, low in saturated fat (<3g), moderate amount of sugar (<18g but less is always better), no trans fats or hydrogenated oils, I try to avoid HFCS and I look for bars with ingredients that are mostly whole foods. Now, finding something that hits all of these goals every time is not easy. Some of my favorite bars:
Luna Bars
Lara Bars – love the Pecan Pie
Zing Bars – harder to find but whole food ingredients and yummy!
PowerBar Pria Complete Nutrition
Clif Mojo fruit nut crunch
Solo Bar
Balance Gold Bar
PowerBar Nut Naturals
ProBar Fruition Strawberry (pre-workout) – a little high in sugar but I am OK with that right before a workout.
I am sure there are many other good choices as well, just make sure to read your labels. Diabetics need to be extra careful on the sugar content. Keep in mind these are energy bars that we are talking about, not protein bars or meal replacement bars. Those are a completely different discussion. Energy bars are snacks for before activity!
These low fat and low sugar muffins make for a great start to the day or a good pre-workout snack. Make a batch on the weekend for a quick and tasty breakfast, then serve with a piece of fruit and a glass of low-fat milk.
25 Minutes to Prepare and Cook
Ingredients
1 cup quick oats (do not use instant oatmeal) 1 cup low-fat buttermilk
1 cup whole-wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1⁄2 tsp baking soda
1⁄4 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 egg
1⁄4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons Splenda Brown Sugar Blend
1 cup blueberries, washed and dried
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375° F. Spray the muffin
pan with nonstick cooking spray or line the
wells with paper liners.
2. In a small bowl, combine the oats and buttermilk
and let the mixture stand at room temperature
for 5 minutes. In a medium bowl, combine
the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon,
and salt; mix with a fork to blend and set
aside.
3. In a large bowl and using a hand mixer, beat
the egg, applesauce, and brown sugar at medium
speed for 3 minutes.
4. Blend the oat-buttermilk mixture into the egg
mixture, then stir in the flour mixture until just
combined (try not to overwork the mixture).
Fold in the blueberries. Fill muffin cups 3⁄4 full
and top with a sprinkle of ground flaxseed.
5. Bake 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted
into the center comes out clean.
Number of Servings: 14
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 muffin (53g)
Amount Per Serving
73.8
9.6
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1.1g
2%
Saturated Fat 0.3g
1%
Cholesterol 15.6mg
5%
Sodium 261.5mg
11%
Total Carbohydrate 13.4g
4%
Dietary Fiber 2g
8%
Sugars 2.3g
Protein 3.1g
6%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.
After publishing my last post on the 5 Energy Bars to Avoid, I quickly received a great question: What are the best energy bars. Here is a list of the ones that I like the best, but this list is by no means comprehensive. In general, the criteria that I look for in an Energy Bar are as follows: at least 3g of fiber and protein, low in saturated fat (<3g), moderate amount of sugar (<18g but less is always better), no trans fats or hydrogenated oils, I try to avoid HFCS and I look for bars with ingredients that are mostly whole foods. Now, finding something that hits all of these goals every time is not easy. Some of my favorite bars: