Energy Bars and Fake Food
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Energy Bars and Fake Food
| Sat, 10-04-2003 - 10:22pm |
This interesting read is from the Daily Dish (emphasis added):
Catherine
Energy Bars: Hands Off!
It's impossible to enter a grocery store without being bombarded by dozens of bars touted as meal replacements, diet aids, and muscle builders. Which of these, if any, are acceptable on the South Beach Diet? The answer: none. Why? All of these bars (even the ones claiming to be low carbohydrate) contain a substantial amount of carbohydrates. Additionally, none of them are an acceptable alternative to fresh, whole foods.
If you can't resist the convenience of such bars—despite our warnings—eat them before you exercise, read labels carefully, and keep the following information in mind:
- Energy bars (Power Bars, Cliff Bars, and Tiger's Milk) are meant to provide energy in a convenient form for high-performance athletes. They deliver large amounts of carbohydrates for sustained activities such as hiking, biking, and running. For those on the South Beach Diet, these high-carb bars can be a diet buster.
- High-protein bars (Atkins Advantage and Promax) are a popular way for body builders to increase muscle mass, but their "low-carbohydrate" labeling can often be misleading. Not only do these bars frequently contain large amounts of fat, they also have sugar alcohols that are not included in the carbohydrate count.
- Meal-replacement bars (Slim-Fast and Opti-Pro) are designed for the person who has trouble with portion control. These bars limit the amount of food you eat and can leave you feeling hungry—something that the South Beach Diet discourages.


Cheryl
Cheryl,
If you are losing weight and changing your body chemistry, then I guess this choice is working for you. Dr. A states that the diet must accommodate real life.
I understand what you are saying about the cooking thing. The ONLY thing I've found the work for me is to make a weekly menu and list on the weekends, and then go shopping (either daily, every few days, or weekly...for me, it doesn't seem to make a difference; just as long as I've made the menu). If it is to be eaten in the morning, and is more difficult to make than bacon on the George Foreman Grill (I have a little one) or coffee, then it must be made ahead of time if I am going to consume it!!! I like those spinach quiche cups for this reason. They can be taken out and microwaved, and are no more difficult to make than muffins. For variety, you can try different veggie combos. I thought maybe I'd try crumbling up some bacon to put in them, even.
Hope this helps!
Catherine
Cheryl
Ewww...gross.
Mine are in the fridge and are doing fine. I have
Cheryl
Maybe....ida know. I have used egg substitute for anything only a couple of times in my life...is it drier?