Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsGeneral GuidelinesBest Snack BarsKIND® BarQuest® BarsRX BarsKashi Chewy Granola BarsthinkThin® BarsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
General Guidelines
Best Snack Bars
KIND® Bar
Quest® Bars
RX Bars
Kashi Chewy Granola Bars
thinkThin® Bars
Frequently Asked Questions
Snack bars may be convenient, but nutritionally, they may more closely resemble a standard candy bar rather than a health food. With excess sugar, fat, and added ingredients, it’s important to read labels and know what kind of bars you are getting
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General Guidelines to Choosing a Healthy Snack Bar
There is no real science behind this, rather just trial and error and professional opinion. I tell my patients to aim to keep the counts close to this:
Keepingsnacksto about 250 calories or less can help to prevent weight gain and keep your metabolism revved up.
No Idle Snack Bar Eating
Make sure you eat them for a reason. For example, as pre-workout fuel to preventlow blood sugar, or to tidehungerbetween meals when you are on-the-go. But, remember that not all bars are created equal—some don’t stack up nutritionally to others. I asked my patients and peer certified diabetes educators to tell me their favorite snack bars based on flavor and blood sugar results. Before I reveal the “best picks,” here are some basic guidelines and things to think about before buying a snack bar.
10 Foods for Diabetes-Friendly Snacks
When Should You Eat a Snack Bar?
Managing High Cholesterol When You Have Diabetes
Do Not Use Snack Bars to Treat Low Blood Sugar
When your blood sugar is low(less than 70mg/dL) or when you are feeling symptomatic (shaky, sweaty, confused, or increased heartbeat), it’s important to test your sugar and treat it right away with a fast-actingcarbohydrate, such as 4 ounces of juice, 5 hard sugar candies, or 6 ounces of regular soda.
Eating a snack bar will not raise your sugar quick enough because fiber, protein, and fat delaycarbohydrate metabolismand take longer to break down.
If, however, you’ve treated your blood sugar and your meal is going to be delayed you can eat a snack bar to stabilize your sugar and prevent it from dropping again.
What Is Hypoglycemia?
The Best Snack Bars
KIND®Bars are one of my favorite snack bars because the ingredients are whole, natural, and not processed. No artificial sweeteners, no artificial anything. The bars are made of all-natural whole nuts, fruits, and whole grains, making them rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, healthy fats, and fiber.
The best part is that they taste great, too. If you have diabetes, avoid the bars covered in yogurt or chocolate as they will be higher in sugar.
Nutrition Information:
Calories: 180-200
Protein: 4-10 g
Carbohydrate: 16-24 g
Sugar: 4-10 g
Fiber: 3-7g
Fat: 4.5-16 g
**Also available in KIND Plus for added protein, fiber, antioxidants, or Omega 3s
Flavors to try:Fruit & Nut Delight, Almond Cashew with Flax, Apple Cinnamon & Pecan, Almond & Apricot
Where to find them:Target, Walmart, Amazon, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and online at www.kindsnacks.com
For more information go to:www.kindsnacks.com
Sweetened withstevia and erythritol,Quest Bars are a low-sugar, gluten-free protein bar which can be a good option for those people with Celiac disease or those that are sensitive to gluten. Quest does not use soy protein, but rather whey protein isolate and milk protein isolate.
I have never had one before, but I am told they taste good. Most of the carbohydrate in these bars comes from added fiber which can help to delay how quickly blood sugars rise.
Although Quest is not a whole-food product, its nutritional breakdown can help to regulate blood sugars. Takecaution when increasing fiber rapidly, 16 g of added fiber is quite a bit and can cause gas and bloating, especially if you are not used to eating this much fiber in one sitting.
Nutritional information:
Calories: 170-210
Protein: 20 g
Carbohydrate: 21-25 g
Sugar: 1-3 g
Fiber: 17-19 g
Fat: 6-10g (~2.g saturated fat)
Where to find them: Vitamin Shoppe, online at www.questproteinbar.com
For more information:www.questproteinbar.com
Calories: 210-220 calories
Protein: 12 g
Carbohydrate: 21-24 g
Sugar: 13-15 g (this sugar is not from added sugar rather from the fruit inside the bar)
Fiber: 3-6 g
Fat: 7-9 fat (~2 g saturated fat)
Flavors to Try: Blueberry, Chocolate Sea Salt, Peanut Butter, Coconut Chocolate
Where to find them:On-line,Amazon, Trader Joe’s, leading grocery stores, gyms, etc. To find the retailer nearest you:https://www.rxbar.com/shop.html
For more information:https://www.rxbar.com/
Can You Eat Fruit With Diabetes?
A favorite of many of my CDE colleagues these bars are convenient, tasty, and generally found everywhere. Keep in mind, not all Kashi bars are created equal. Aim to purchase one of the chewy bars to save on calories and sugar.
Calories: 140-160 calories
Protein: 6 g
Carbohydrate: 19 g
Sugar: 6-7 g
Fiber: 3-4 g
Fat: 5-6 g fat (0 g saturated fat)
Flavors to Try: Honey Almond Flax, Trail Mix,
Where to find them:On-line,Amazon, Fresh Direct, at your local grocery store
For more information:https://www.kashi.com/our-foods/bars
thinkThin Bars are a favorite of one of my longtime patients. While I don’tlovethem because they remind me of a candy bar, they work well for some people with dietary restrictions, especially those that need to followa gluten-free diet. They are all Gluten free and Kosher. Some are also vegan and dairy free.
thinkThin states that they use non-GMO ingredients, but this is limited to their crunch mixed nuts bars. thinkThin also is a low-glycemic-index choice. The sugar in thinkThin bars comes from sugar alcohols. Be careful when ingesting too many sugar alcohols because they can cause gas and bloating.
Calories: 170-250
Protein: 8-20 g
Total Carbohydrate: 19-25 g
Sugar: 0-10 g
Fiber: 2-5 g (important to choose the right flavor to maximize fiber)
Fat: 7-12 g
Flavors to try: Dark Chocolate, Blueberry, and Mixed Nuts, Caramel Chocolate Dipped Mixed Nuts
Where to find them:Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, online at www.amazon.com or www.thinkproducts.com
For more information:https://shop.thinkproducts.com/
Frequently Asked QuestionsThey can support a healthy diet when eaten appropriately. Bars high in protein and infused with other vitamins or nutrients can supply energy for sports activities or act as a meal substitute when watching calories.They may also be a better snack alternative than conventional desserts. Check labels and avoid high-sugar or nutritionally lacking bars.Learn MoreEssential Tips for Healthy EatingNo. If you’re having a hypoglycemic episode and need to quickly raise your blood sugar, eat or drink a simple carbohydrate that will break down easily, such as 4 ounces of juice, a tablespoon of sugar or honey, glucose tablets, or sugar candy like jellybeans.A granola bar won’t break down quickly enough to relieve your symptoms right away.Learn MoreHow to Treat HypoglycemiaYou may be able to enjoy a small serving, but anything more may lead you to consume too many carbohydrates. Granola is a concentrated carbohydrate, and it often contains added sugar, honey, or dried fruit, which adds additional carbs. Using a small amount as a topping on salad is a good way to enjoy granola.Learn MoreWhat to Eat to Regulate Blood Sugar
They can support a healthy diet when eaten appropriately. Bars high in protein and infused with other vitamins or nutrients can supply energy for sports activities or act as a meal substitute when watching calories.They may also be a better snack alternative than conventional desserts. Check labels and avoid high-sugar or nutritionally lacking bars.Learn MoreEssential Tips for Healthy Eating
They can support a healthy diet when eaten appropriately. Bars high in protein and infused with other vitamins or nutrients can supply energy for sports activities or act as a meal substitute when watching calories.They may also be a better snack alternative than conventional desserts. Check labels and avoid high-sugar or nutritionally lacking bars.
Learn MoreEssential Tips for Healthy Eating
No. If you’re having a hypoglycemic episode and need to quickly raise your blood sugar, eat or drink a simple carbohydrate that will break down easily, such as 4 ounces of juice, a tablespoon of sugar or honey, glucose tablets, or sugar candy like jellybeans.A granola bar won’t break down quickly enough to relieve your symptoms right away.Learn MoreHow to Treat Hypoglycemia
No. If you’re having a hypoglycemic episode and need to quickly raise your blood sugar, eat or drink a simple carbohydrate that will break down easily, such as 4 ounces of juice, a tablespoon of sugar or honey, glucose tablets, or sugar candy like jellybeans.A granola bar won’t break down quickly enough to relieve your symptoms right away.
Learn MoreHow to Treat Hypoglycemia
You may be able to enjoy a small serving, but anything more may lead you to consume too many carbohydrates. Granola is a concentrated carbohydrate, and it often contains added sugar, honey, or dried fruit, which adds additional carbs. Using a small amount as a topping on salad is a good way to enjoy granola.Learn MoreWhat to Eat to Regulate Blood Sugar
You may be able to enjoy a small serving, but anything more may lead you to consume too many carbohydrates. Granola is a concentrated carbohydrate, and it often contains added sugar, honey, or dried fruit, which adds additional carbs. Using a small amount as a topping on salad is a good way to enjoy granola.
Learn MoreWhat to Eat to Regulate Blood Sugar
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Constantin OE, Istrati DI.Functional properties of snack bars.IntechOpen; 2018. doi:10.5772/intechopen.81020American Diabetes Association.Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Constantin OE, Istrati DI.Functional properties of snack bars.IntechOpen; 2018. doi:10.5772/intechopen.81020American Diabetes Association.Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Constantin OE, Istrati DI.Functional properties of snack bars.IntechOpen; 2018. doi:10.5772/intechopen.81020American Diabetes Association.Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
Constantin OE, Istrati DI.Functional properties of snack bars.IntechOpen; 2018. doi:10.5772/intechopen.81020
American Diabetes Association.Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
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