The LuLac Edition #5,503, November 22nd, 2025

 

FOOD-TASTIC NEWS

NUTRITION BARS

Wow! Just when we are gearing up for the most copious collection of calories for Thanksgiving, I’m talking about nutrition bars!!! Really?

Well they can be a constant in once’s life. That stated, keep these in mind for the after Thanksgiving cravings. Olivia Tarantino, nutrition expert says sure, your rumbling tummy might make the magnetic pull of the drive-thru seem irresistible, but silencing the temptation without expending all your willpower is simple with just a little planning. How little? Just throw one of these nutrition bars in your bag before you leave the house to put mindless munching to rest and continue melting away those love handles.

While the majority of nutrition bars are essentially candy bars in disguise, cleaner options that can help push you closer to your goals really do exist. But to find these fairy godmothers, there’s one important rule you need to follow: Read the label! Often, the options with the shortest and most comprehensible ingredient list are always going to be the best ones.

The fact that there might be more calories in a nutrition bar than in a candy bar should not be a justification for choosing the latter over the former. In my  lifetime of dieting, I have been acquainted with and give you my take on some of the bars on the market.

KIND bars—particularly the Nuts & Spices line—are some of the best options available across the board. This one is packed with healthy omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E thanks to the almonds, peanuts, cashews, and walnuts. These nutrients can help promote healthier, younger looking skin and ward off wrinkles. It’s also much lower in sugar than most bars (with only 4 grams!) which is important because eating too much sugar has been found to promote skin aging.

Larabars are great because they’re made with just a few simple, natural ingredients, but there’s a catch: Because they have a lot of sugar, the only time Smith recommends using them is for workouts. “Since they are lower in protein, fiber, and fat, digestion happens pretty quickly [and you can get a short burst of energy with no stomach upset]—it’s kind of like eating a banana,” says Smith. She recommends eating it about an hour before a workout for a natural boost of energy to carry you through your sweat session.

This UBER bar contains not one, but two chocolate ingredients; one of which is cocoa powder, and the other is pieces of pure dark chocolate—not that alkalized, chocolate-flavored “coating” stuff. Combined with almonds, peanuts, sea salt, and some of our Eat This!-approved sweeteners, you can’t get much more guilt-free than this.

Cliff Bars were a mainstay with me in my weight loss plan right at the beginning. In effect they became my daily lunch. Most bars have a calorie count of 260 and the flavors are very good. If you love peanut butter, there are a few options like Peanut Butter banana. Another great flavor are the white chocolate varieties as well as the chocolate bars that are enjoyable.

These and the Lemon Larabars were my go to. I still have a few in my desk when I get the craving. 

Misfits bars are made of plant based protein. There are varied flavors that weigh in on 190 calories. The flavors of cookie butter seem artificially rich but the Caramel Fudge and Peanut Butter Fudge are great.

The knock on many nutrition bars is the fact that they taste grainy. I have no issue with mouth feel and know that a protein packed bar is not going to have the taste of a Hershey bar. One has to make the choice if they want to have a 230 calories candy bar  or a protein bar.

Hey skip a formal lunch and have both.

 

THE FIRST PROTEIN BAR

WHERE AND WHEN?

In 1952, Bob Hoffman, the Pennsylvania weightlifting mogul of York barbells and Strength and Health magazine, launched his own soy-based protein powder and pills. It was the dawn of a protein craze in the lifting community. Distinguishing his brand in the new and crowded market, Hoffman, based just 23 miles from the “World Chocolate Capital” of Hershey, Pennsylvania, launched Hi-Proteen Honey Fudge and Hi-Proteen Cookies, circa 1953. He also sold Hi-Proteen bread. (Yes, that was the spelling.) As for the fudge, ten “candy like” bars came in a box, like fine chocolates. We’re unsure how much, if any, chocolate was included, because, according to Hoffman, the ingredients were his soy protein powder, peanut butter, and honey. Six cookies had an estimated 10 grams of Hoffman’s soy protein.